In prepared testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning, Gen. David Petraeus delivered the message that, as we’ve been writing over the last few days, Mark Parry reported on Saturday. Here’s the money quote:
Insufficient progress toward a comprehensive Middle East peace. The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR. Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas.
One can expect that some of the senators in attendance will want to follow up with questions on this, and it will be interesting to see how Petraeus elaborates. Part of the hearing, however, will be in closed session, so we’ll have to wait to see what leaks from that.
In any event, Petraeus’ willingness to publicly — and in uniform with all those decorations on his chest — make the connection between Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and the spread of “anti-American sentiment” and the deterioration of the U.S. position in the region — a connection which, of course, is completely evident to any casual observer of Middle East — marks what can only be considered a major breakthrough in the debate over the relationship between the United States and Israel.
And now that the neo-conservatives, staunch supporters of Bibi Netanyahu, have built up Petraeus as the greatest U.S. military commander since World War II, and, thanks to Bill Kristol, a presidential candidate to die for, how will they react? Remember, Petraeus is due to receive the 2010 Irving Kristol Award at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in May!
When Obama defined CENTCOM’s mission as ‘Do not lose the Middle East’, no one appreciated what profound changes that would bring.
You can fight the ‘long war’, or you could be treated as heros, liberators, and all the other accolades the military craves by sending a couple humanitarian supply ships to Gaza.
Petreaus may have done the math.
It’s a breakthrough if something changes as a result. Anybody wanna bet that Congress will cut funding to Israel, stop acting as if Iran were the second coming of Nazi Germany, or do anything else that significantly affects the state of play in the Middle East?
Someone please tell what is going to happen as a result of Petraeus’ testimony. Not what should happen, what will happen.
In my opinion, if McCain were president and events had unfolded in just the same way, Petraeus would have said something different on the Hill today. He’s a born politican, never forget that.
If Senators McCain, Graham and Lieberman come out strongly in support of Petraeus’ words, and state further that Israel must change its ways or face real consequences, I’ll start to believe we’re at a tipping point. I’m not holding my breath . . . .
Unfortunately, this spectacle is not new, and it will be covered up and forgotten in a couple of weeks. For decades, the United States has been the true enabler(financially, diplomatically, and militarily) behind the Zionist colonial project.
Israel: We’re confiscating yet more Palestinian land to build Jews-only settlements. (Jim Crow wasn’t really that bad. Apartheid is fine.)
Obama: That isn’t helpful. (We are seen as your enabler; please keep it down and don’t embarrass us.)
Israel: So? What you gonna do about it, black boy?
Obama: I’ll …um.. say so.
Israel/AIPAC: How dare you even mention it, you anti-Semite! You do not want to declare your loyalty to the Zionist enterprise, subordinate US interests to Zionist thievery and greed, and lick our A*S, that’s fine. Our Israel-firsters and bought-and-paid-for Congress always come through; they will keep the money and political support flowing.
You saw Secy. Clinton’s remarks of today, I daresay? This matter is being defused even more swiftly than I predicted. Game over, baby.
The negative press is new.