Nobel laureate Professor Robert (Yisrael) Aumann says Israel can learn from Iran how to stand its ground and get its way • Aumann supports Netanyahu’s Congress address: “If you chase peace it only eludes you. That’s not game theory; that’s history.”
By Nadav Shragai, ISRAEL HAYOM
Nobel laureate Professor Robert (Yisrael) Aumann is convinced that both Iran and North Korea are making a mockery of the international community.
“Iran in mocking the entire world and it is still getting its way. North Korea is also mocking the entire world and it too is getting its way,” says Aumann, 84, who in 2005 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics.
“The world aligns itself with those who are strong, even if they are the embodiment of evil. That is why [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s insistence on addressing Congress in an effort to prevent a deal between the United States and Iran is vital,” Aumann says.
Internationally renowned for his contributions to the field of game theory, Aumann believes the prime minister should hold his ground.
“Capitulation, sycophancy, and cowardice will only undermine us,” he says. “Sometimes, you have to courageously follow your own path and not try to curry favor with anyone.”
Israel’s actions during the 1967 Six-Day war and the 1976 Entebbe hostage crisis, as well as its decision to bomb the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, “garnered worldwide sympathy. Eventually, this will be the case here, as well. The world will learn to appreciate Israel’s determination against the Iranian threat, and something good will come of this adamant stance.”
I spoke with Aumann at a conference hosted by the Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“Rationality addresses the question of whether what you are doing, the actions you take, further your objectives or not, meaning whether or not you using you head to reach your goal,” he said. Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress, he said, “is well within the realm of the rational.”
Even if the chance that Israel will be attacked by Iran is slim, “the result of such a strike would be so destructive that the risk cannot be measured by probability alone. Probability isn’t everything. It has to be multiplied by the variable of potential damage, should the threat be realized.”
Aumann dismissed suggestions the address might do more harm than good, and might even jeopardize Israel-U.S. relations.
“I don’t accept that,” he said. “This is a matter of life and death for Israel. Obama may be president, but you have Congress, and you have [American] public opinion, and I believe Netanyahu is exercising reasonable discretion in this case.
“The Iranians not only withstand U.S. [pressure], they scoff at it. They are able to endure economic pressure and sanctions, and they are able to make more headway than someone capitulating and showing weakness. In that respect we can learn a lesson from them on how to withstand pressure. So far, on this issue, Netanyahu has been able to withstand pressure. He has to speak before Congress.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said this week that the prime minister’s concerns over the impending deal with Iran were unfounded, and vowed Tehran “will not have nuclear weapons,” but Aumann doubted the assertion.
“We can trust only ourselves. The president of the United States has to look out for U.S. interests — that is what he was elected to do. He does not have to look out for Israel’s interests, nor do I expect him to. The bottom line is that Obama is president of the United States — not the world — so when it comes to Israel’s interests I trust the prime minister’s discretion.”
The Nobel laureate dismissed the opposition’s assertion that Netanyahu’s Congress address is an election campaign ploy.
“I heard the government has been paralyzed for 13 out of the past 32 months — 40 percent of the time — because of election time. That’s inconceivable,” he says.
“A government must be able to operate even in election time. If the police can investigate Yisrael Beytenu, and if the state comptroller can release reports on the Prime Minister’s Residence and the housing crisis, than Netanyahu can go to the U.S. to try to do everything he can to prevent a deal between the U.S. and Iran — even in election time.
“There is no such thing as ‘things you can and cannot do during election time,’ especially when some things are crucial to our security. It is inconceivable that you can run police investigations and publish reports [during election time], but running the country and dealing with something as critical as the nuclear talks — that you cannot do.”
Aumann was deeply pained by the 2005 disengagement from Gush Katif, although even today he applies rational standards to the issue.
“This expulsion, which was born out of weakness, concessions, and gestures [to the Palestinians], only bolstered Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and resulted in massive rocket fire at Israel,” he says. ‘This expulsion led to [the 2006] Lebanon War. This expulsion was supposed to bring about peace, but it only brought war and terror. Gestures rarely result in respect — only in contempt.”
While Aumann refused to hedge about Obama’s frame of mind, he made no secret of his opinions on the American president’s moves.
“I would rather focus on our interests, and Netanyahu is doing a good job promoting them,” he says.
Indeed, Aumann has been focusing on Israel’s management of the Iranian threat. Several years ago, during a lecture at Bar-Ilan University, he told the audience: “All these cries for peace we hear in Israel, especially from our side, do not bring peace any closer — they only push it away. If you chase peace it only eludes you. That’s not game theory; that’s history.”
He advised the audience to remember the Romans, and the fact that as “disagreeable” as they were, the Roman Empire ruled in peace for 400 years.
“Their motto was, ‘If you want peace, prepare for war,’ so they knew the game theory,” he says.
Despite the scathing criticism leveled at Netanyahu over the Congress address, Aumann described the move as “right,” adding that “if, as foreign reports suggest, we have nuclear deterrence, the chances of [an Iranian] attack are slim, but the situation is still dangerous enough for Netanyahu to do something unusual, even unpopular, to try to counter it.”
@ watsa46:
thanks for this excellent post
Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised “Meet The Press”. From Sunday’s 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised “Meet the Press” THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann, USAF, (Ret) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn’t follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171…
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, “Stand and Face It”.
Senator Obama replied :
“As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides.” “There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression…” “The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing.”
Obama continued: “The National Anthem should be ‘swapped’ for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing’. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as ‘redesign’ our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It’s my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails – – – perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ……”
When I Become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past”.
“Of course now, I have found myself about to become The President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside . I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country’s First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America.”
Yes, you read it right.
Dale Lindsborg, Washington Post
@ yamit82:
If he really wants to rile up the american Jews he can mention the increased campus anti semitism and tell them that Israel is ready to welcome them.
Obama is trying to deceive congress and the american people with a fait accompli. That is his reason to block BB. The Israeli left is treasonously colluding in this dangerous agenda.
He’s Here!
Obama’s Demon of the Middle East, his personal Great Satan has landed!
…
should be an exciting week…
@ bernard ross:
I wonder what BB will say to AIPAC and how it will differ from his speech before congress???? What he has to say there will be enlightening.
yamit82 Said:
I like this sheet, no latin
Confrontation exposes intent and Bibi’s intended address is certainly exposes Obama’s deadly intent towards Israel and his weakness in protecting USA. In a world full of Putins and ISIS variants we have a pacifist, narcissistic lame fisted spin doctor sleep on guard at the gates.
This may be the tipping point , which in future we may look back and recognize as the key moment we lost the power struggle with our enemies.
yamit82 Said:
I think they did the same the last time. Certainly they should be advising the Jews to leave as opposed to continuing to advise Jews to stay and put their families in physical danger. This time there are choices, escape routes with forewarning and historical fact. I blame these false leaders for many deaths of Jews, past and future. Perhaps their anti zionism is the cause of their advising jewish families to die in europe. They should be held responsible.
yamit82 Said:
you are right….. he is already threatened to immediately veto the senate poposal to make his deal subject to congressional approval. Looks like he wants to push through his deal even without congressional or public approval.
yamit82 Said:
I expect Obama to be vindictive and to hurt Israel. However, I believe that was always his MO but before it was not overt, it was deceptive. BB has brought him out of the closet and it is best that Israel and diaspora Jews meet the truth. It makes no sense to delude oneself and to stall the reckoning with ignorance. Obama would have harmed Israel anyway and his latest betrayal of having Israels back and keeping Israel out of the loop is the proof. I suspect that he has withheld info from congress and the US public in a bid to get his deal implemented, I thin deception is his MO, judging by his current record(birth certificate, fast&furious, obamacare, immigration, irs etc….. all contained deception at their core, a deception of the american people.
yamit82 Said:
I expect you see the value in weaning Israel off the US.
My biggest disappointment is the lack of support in Israel for his position and how transparently and opportunistically the left has put Israels safety under bowing to Obama.
what is this Dagan business? Isnt he the mossad head who advised 3 PM’s NOT to attack Iran and instead rely on the US and the foreigners to “solve the problem”? I understand now he is trying to say that BB is wrong, but it looks like Dagan put Israel in this position: between a rock and a hard place.
Felix Quigley Said:
to whom do you direct this statement, have you not learned to use the highlight and quote tool yet?
Felix Quigley Said:
HMMMMM? today?
Felix Quigley Said:
Assad and the hezbullah jihad are one and the same in alliance with Iran. the opposition jihadis are fighting agianst the bigger threat of the syria, hezbullah iran axis for years and have been on Israels border for years and giving no trouble. You advised Israel to support its worst enemies and biggest threat.
I think you should eat crow and apologize and admit that you are indeed the liar, or:
Felix Quigley Said:
…or perhaps you should admit that your “rule of thumb”, your ideology, your trotskyite obsession has clouded your judgement your ability to perceive facts and caused you to overlook Israel’s safety and instead to be more concerned with the promotion of your ideology even where it is irrelevant?
Quite a number of you remind me of the Fascist “lefts” (who are antisermitic and in Alliance with Islam) that I am always fighting in Ireland
I do not suggest you are the latter but your method is very similar, which is always deliberate obfuscation of what your opponent says.
For example I refer to Yamats crapology of saying the American veto is finished and should be replaced with China or Russia. That is such subjective rubbish. Do I have to spell out whyhistory says that is such dangerous crap.
At the same time I said that Yamit is correct in one aspect re Netanyahu that the speech may (I think unlikely) solve nothing.
But I am most careful to point out that Netanyahu must be defended UNCONDITIONALLY against the Antisemties especially Obama
So I say defend Netanyahu UNCONDITIONALLY against the Antisemites but reserve your right to be critical
I am more disturbed than before about these posters on Israpundit. Ross simply is a liar. I never said defend Assad AND Iran…that is a BIG Lie and I challenge Ross to say when…
I say as a rule of thumb defend the secular against the Jihad
as in
Sukarno
Milosevic
Gaghbo
Tunisia Ben Ali
Mubarak
Gadhafi
Assad
Always defend the secular even if dictatotial against the Jihad
Rest assure, they will ALL watch!
This is a UNIQUE event in the history of humanity. David against Goliath!
Never before, one man is defending the freedom and survival of the Western world in spite of many in the Western world and in Israel.
dove Said:
Two suggestions either get out or get guns legal or illegal.
My personal opinion-is that they are still in Europe means they have learned NOTHING from the Torah or Jewish history especially the last century and a little. If the Rabbis leave many if not most of their flock will follow. They should lead not follow.
@ dove:
https://vimeo.com/103084974
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s97-8HUwGs
@ yamit82:
I could be jumping the gun. I suppose that with all this publicity that the speech is getting I am hoping that the world sees that the Iran issue is not just an Israeli/U.S. concern. The rest of the world should be very concerned about it.
Your right that Obama could cause you alot of grief…he is trying to cause alot of grief for Canada too. Your grief is much more iminent. Did you see that rabbi’s in Europe are training in self-defense? It looks like they won’t go down without a fight – and they are too stubborn to be driven out of another continent again!
http://bcove.me/fn7maqon
dove Said:
I don’t see how Israel and BB have won anything yet. Wait first for the speech and see what Obama does afterwards.
Remember the power of congress is limited and they are now divided over Iran and Israel. Obama can give us a lot of grief. He ain’t running for any office anymore and still has a lot of support in America and in Congress.
Don’t get me wrong i think it would be a good thing for many reasons….. Let’s see if it has any influence on our elections?
@ watsa46:
@ dove:
Black caucus is boycotting the netanyhau speech
26 ANTI-JEW DEMOCRATS to Boycott Netanyahu’s Speech on Survival of Israel
Barack Obama will not attend.
Vice President Joe Biden will not attend.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry will not attend.
I don’t know what the majority of the rank and file members are but they have a leadership subservient to Obama like (Rosy) Rosenberg. AIPAC has not won a battle for Israel since Reagan beat them to a pulp on the AWACS to Saudi Arabia.
They been living on Pre-Reagan Hype for all these year always siding with the current American Admin or remaining sidelined and very quite.
Jewish money counts but must big Jewish donors are not pro Israel or pro Zionist and most are JINOS in fact and practice. They have in fact been quite outspoken in opposing BB’s speech to congress.
@ yamit82:
Oh Yamit…..that’s a bit extreme. Anyway, what we are talking about here is the current Israeli PM making a speech.
@ yamit82:
Of course AIPAC will fully support BiBi. Most AIPACs are not liberal Jews.
@ dove:
Puts AIPAC in an impossible position. To support BB and Israel or the Black Plague? I predict they go with the Black Plague.
Shavua Tov
@ mar55:
Thanks mar55. My pleasure! I have been training for this my whole life – still in training. No ever has full knowledge or expertise! Shabbat Shalom! It’s still Shabbat here!
The cowards have short or no memory except for their resurgent antisemitism. No need for memory there. It never dies.
@ dove:
Keep on going Dove, you are doing fine. You are hitting your targets.
@ Felix Quigley:
The only crapola in this forum is the one coming from dead brain Quigley. Do the world a favor and go to the outhouse. Preventive measure to keep the rest of us from listening the communist crapola coming out of your mouth. As a RED you are envious of Bernard Ross, yamit82 and every brainy person commenting in this site.
Clean your mouth and look at yourself before you insult anyone. Your contribution of words without thought or meaning should be sufficient to deflate your ego permanently.
I just tried posting in stages…it doesn’t work for me. 🙂
yamit said
I tried posting it again but I guess it’s too long.
too impatient to wait…
BB has spoken on the same subject several times at the UN, Wwicw before both houses of Congress. To individual Congressmen and Senators and hundreds of Interviews on American and European TV over the years. If anyone is left in America and the World who is not aware of his message then they are either obtuse or disinterested by now.
True enough but this time it is different. There has not been this much public opposition towards an Israeli P.M. from a U.S. admin before that I can recall.
I think that they know that BB has a legitimate timely concern. The U.S. admin has always operated on stall and delay tactics that have deadly consequences for us all.
They just want to call the shots and be in control of Israel. I suppose you heard that the Brit who has been making the ISIS videos has been identified. My thought was ‘So what, it will probably take them 10 years before they find him.” That is the confidence level that I have with the U.S. admin – it doesn’t matter WHO is in charge.
In my opinion Obama just wants BB to shut up so he can save some face. Get so tired of this ‘ego saving face crap’. The idiot obviously cannot make decisions based on the ‘greater good’ or he is too stupid to actually know what the ‘greater good’ is!!
comment to Yamit in moderation. 🙂
@ yamit82:
True enough but this time it is different. There has not been this much public opposition towards an Israeli P.M. from a U.S. admin before that I can recall.
I think that they know that BB has a legitimate timely concern. The U.S. admin has always operated on stall and delay tactics that have deadly consequences for us all.
They just want to call the shots and be in control of Israel. I suppose you heard that the Brit who has been making the ISIS videos has been identified. My thought was ‘So what, it will probably take them 10 years before they find him.” That is the confidence level that I have with the U.S. admin – it doesn’t matter WHO is in charge.
In my opinion Obama just wants BB to shut up so he can save some face. Get so tired of this ‘ego saving face crap’. The idiot obviously cannot make decisions based on the ‘greater good’ or he is too stupid to actually know what the ‘greater good’ is!!
@ bernard ross:
Felix has a history of always being on and choosing the wrong side. That’s the result and price for letting ideological dogma to dictate illogical and mostly incorrect behavior thinking and analysis based on logical fallacies.
Felix Quigley Said:
got any more good advice for Israel today Felix as to who they should support next?
Felix Quigley Said:
Felix Quigley Said:
Huh??????????????????????
Can’t make up your mind???????? 😛
Felix Quigley Said:
Stinking Commie!!!!!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10346216_10205391716893659_5425574527593373714_n.jpg?oh=3612dbea7cb17ea93e1e0233edd53630&oe=558732FD&__gda__=1434754434_f96d4f5a74d311ec442810101cc7871f
I too am full of distrust for Netanyahu but you are taking the correct position. He must be defended bercause it is a defence against the Antisemites who focus on Netanyahu in the way they did on Milosevic or Putin. They personalise hatred always and this personalisation always has a political message.
But I distrust deeply these “Zionists” who give Netanyahu a blanket endorsement.
I defend Netanyahu against the Antisemites. I await to see what he says in his speech and then what he DOES
I have contempt for those who say do not rock the boat etc. at this critical time.
It is necessary to defend his right to speak. It is also necessary to treat what he says in a critical manner which also means giving open praise if praise is due. That two sided approach will strenghen Israel not weaken it.
Those who say shhh say nothing, be careful etc., are dangerous very dangerous people.
I question this in what you say “it’s simply too late to stop them…..” I would wish for that to be far more fully discussed in a far more comprehensive manner.
I wish people would focus more on that.
More bilge from utter crapologist Yamit:
No it is not FOOL!
And anyway who cares what nonsense you spout. You change your opinion more times than you change your shirt
You spout your utter nonsense from morning to night and sadly I have had to read most of it.
There IS a veto from America and it just will not be thrown out the window because some madman in the Negev says so.
Your advice is worth zero. Deinflate your ego.
comment to dove in moderation
dove Said:
BB has spoken on the same subject several times at the UN, Wwicw before both houses of Congress. To individual Congressmen and Senators and hundreds of Interviews on American and European TV over the years. If anyone is left in America and the World who is not aware of his message then they are either obtuse or disinterested by now.
If he is only going to rehash all previous dire warnings etc then his speech is only political as a zingger to Obama or he considers it an asset to his political campaign less than two weeks before our elections promoting him as a statesman and patriot.
Sactions cannot be put together again and Iran has a green light to the bomb and nobody anymore takes BB or Israel seriously about attacking Iran it’s simply too late to stop them…..
I think BB should speak because he already committed to it and it would weaken Israel more if he backed out under pressure again so I support him but don’t expect the speech to have any effect vis a vis Iran.
@ bernard ross:
State controller has now teeth except for embarrassing the government of the military unless there are indications of criminality. In the end the reports are ignored and lip-service only is usually paid by politicians.
You are correct as much of the report is criticisms of the present government that in a few weeks will have been replaced by a new one…
It is only politics with regards to the timing but the public doesn’t care. They want affordable housing and BB keeps the speculators thriving.
Everytime BB approves and announces building starts in Jerusalem he quiety kills the effort each time causing losses for contractors and contracting the sector. Builders want to build expensive apt and homes because they make the most profit and foreign buyers are snapping them up as investments.
I agree. Netanyahu has already won this round with Obama. Hopefully his speech will be powerful – not only to the American congress and American people but to the whole world!
@ Eric R.:
For once I agree with you although in the past I favored closer ties with Russia. That said, I think Russia for Israel would be a more dependable power even though diminished to what they once were.
I am not in favor of alliances as they tend to last as long as national interests of both sides consider them worthwhile. Russia would be more loyal and dependable than America and demand much less like making peace with Palis Arabs or anyone else.
The negatives is that we should not expect Russia to abrogate her interests or alliances with our enemies just like America has not jettisoned her ties with Israel’s Arab and Muslim enemies. Israel like before the 6 day war, should play the field making agreements with anyone willing even China, if it does not conflict with our relations with India. I pick India over China. Israel should and is enhancing ties with china but America is holding us back.
Our dependence on America is 90% psychological and 10% real need. We really don’t need American military aid. We ain’t that poor and could do a lot better and more cost effective without the strings attached to their aid… A Russsian or Chinese veto in the UN is as good as Americas and even with no veto let them pass resolutions we shouldn’t care in any-case.
Facts: American support of Israel is not exceptional. The United States gave France a billion dollars annually for the colonial conflict in Vietnam before getting directly involved there at much greater cost. American stakes in the Middle East conflict are much higher, well hedged by supporting both Israel and various Arab states, particularly, Egypt, which receives only a little less aid than Israel, though no country threatens Egypt. America pays for regional influence. The cost of weapons increases faster than the amount of aid to Israel, diminishing its importance. America even supports the Palestinian Liberation Organization, openly and vehemently anti-American and anti-Israeli, instead of suffocating it. Palestine gets $2 billion annually, 120% of its GDP. Israel’s special relationship with America is a delusion.
American military support to Israel is modest compared to what America gives Islamic countries—which received even more from the Soviet Union. The aid to Muslims should be counted combined, because their power is combined in conflicts with Israel. Saudi Arabia and Egypt routinely buy more American weapons than Israel, and China becomes an important and uncontrollable supplier of inexpensive arms to Islamic countries. Kuwait buys almost as much as Israel, and tiny Qatar sometimes even more. The United Arab Emirates, a country never threatened, bought a large number of F-16 attack jets superior to those of the USAF and Israel, uniquely equipped with a software code that lets them target United States or Israeli planes, and several Arab countries are expected to buy next-generation Joint Strike Force jets. The United States fought for Kuwait, something it did not do for Israel in 1973. America cooperated with the Iraqi military during the Reagan—pro-Israeli—years and gave Saddam the green light to use chemical weapons, unthinkable for Israel.
After liberating Kuwait, America did not ask it to sign a peace treaty with Israel or sell Israel oil to break Arab boycott of Israel. The U.S. supports Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, both bastions of radical Islam threatening Israel and now is courting Iran allowing them to become a regional and world nuclear power.
American aid to Israel is not aid but are bribes to Israel who allows in turn America to control Israel buying them influence with Arab and Muslim countries….. Israel has sold out at bargain basement prices.
It has th eopposite effect on me… I automatically disregard and ignore these reports, dismissing them as electioneering because of their obvious timing. I have not read a single one of them whereas in other times I would be interested. Therefore the effect on me is to see the left as hysterically frantically gasping at any straw which reduces my assessment of their competence and judgement.
Not only that Obama and Kerry are proven to be liars when they said “they had Israels back”…… once a liar, always a liar and not to be trusted in anything
The big question is : what is Obama hiding from Congress and the American people that he is so afraid BB might tell them? There must be a reason for his frantic hysteria beyond his girlish petulance. If there was nothing he would let BB speak and let the facts discredit BB themselves. Obama must have lied to America.
Arnold,
While I agree with you that Israel has to lessen its ties to an increasingly leftist USA, I still have qualms with Russia for a number of reasons:
a) Its historical strong anti-Semitism, under both Tsars and Soviets.
b) Its traditional aversion to aligning with democracies – both under Tsars and Soviets.
c) Russia’s willingness to sell SAMs to Iran and Syria.
Care to address this? I do not consider Putin anti-Semitic personally, and in fact, Judaism is probably doing better in Russia under him than it has for more than 200 years. But he seems like somebody to whom you would not want to trust your existence.
Professor Robert Aumann has captured my interest to the point that I shall read one of his treatises on game theory as applied to countries. I also cannot avoid writing that he looks pretty good for a man going on 85 years of age. In any case, my instincts as well as my intellect tell me his assumptions are correct in terms of mutually assured destruction. I hope Israel can avoid any destruction to the Jewish state and the Jewish nation, but preparations must be made to destroy any enemy that attempts such destruction of Israel.
I also think the time has come for Israel to balance its international connections to the USA with friendly and cooperative connections involving Russia and China, as well as India. None of them are as treacherous to their friends as repeated presidential administrations in Washington have been not only toward Israel, but also to neighboring Arab states including Egypt, Transjordan, and Saudi Arabia. All this leads me to consider that, in fact, Mr Obama really favors jihadist Islam over stable and Western-oriented societies.
Probably, that man cannot easily be removed from office by congressional impeachment. But even so, Americans are going have real need of finding a way to read whatever lurks in his soul, and defend this society accordingly.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
“Nobel laureate Professor Robert (Yisrael) Aumann is convinced that both Iran and North Korea are making a mockery of the international community.
“Iran in mocking the entire world and it is still getting its way. North Korea is also mocking the entire world and it too is getting its way,” says Aumann, 84, who in 2005 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics.”
This just goes to back my belief that Bibi should drop the ambiguity and threaten nuclear annihilation to the MidEast and Europe if there is a second Shoah.
Again, this may not prevent a second shoah, as history has shown that Europeans and Muslims will choose Jew-killing over their own survival. However, if they make that choice this time, their existence would come to an end — forever.