The vote today on the Lieberman-Kyl was a very bad vote. It wasn’t as bad as
the Iraq vote many Democrats in the Senate cast, but it’s certainly how the
Iraq war began. This is an ominous development. I’m with James Webb, as well
as Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, who also voted against the legislation.
Those who regret their vote five years ago to authorize military action in
Iraq should think hard before supporting this approach. Because, in my view,
it has the same potential to do harm where many are seeking to do good. …
.. … We haven’t had one hearing on this. I’m on the Foreign
Relations Committee, I’m on the Armed Services Committee. We are about
to vote on something that may fundamentally change the way the United States
views the Iranian military and we haven’t had one hearing. This is not
the way to make foreign policy. It’s not the way to declare war.James Webb
(via Think Progress)
There are reports on MSNBC that Obama wasn’t feeling well, but he missed the vote.
That’s unfortunate and he certainly wants to be his best in the debate tonight,
but it doesn’t say much since this is the second time he’s walked around taking
a stand on something important, though obviously missing the vote on Iran today
far outweighs his Cornyn behavior. This is a bad pattern for him whatever the reasons.
As for Clinton, this is the path she took on her way to voting for the Iraq
war. Posture strongly and load up for the worst. It’s not surprising, because
she wants to show toughness. Let’s also remember she is still the junior senator
from New York. Let’s also be honest about something else.
This non-binding resolution was about Iran’s moves in Iraq, but it was also
very much about Israel. We’ve been talking about this a lot lately, which brings
me to something I read recently that is foreshadowing for worse things to come.
But one sentence from the Hillary Clinton press release of September 10 stands
out. (Curiously, the the statement is not up on Clinton’s campaign website.)
In staking out her position on "Standing with Israel against terrorism,"
Hillary Clinton defends Israel’s right to exist with "… an undivided
Jerusalem as its capital." Oddly enough, this places her in direct contradiction
with the plan put forward by a certain President Bill Clinton in December
2000.He proposed dividing Jerusalem:
The general principle is that Arab areas are Palestinian and Jewish ones
are Israeli. This would apply to the Old City as well. I urge the two sides
to work on maps to create maximum contiguity for both sides. … ..(snip)
So, candidate Hillary Clinton is running to the right, not only of former
President Bill Clinton, but also of the centrist Israeli Government. In fact,
Hillary Clinton’s press release says nothing at all about a two-state solution,
about a Palestinian state, or even a peace process. (Palestinians do, though,
exist as terrorists and/or as promoters of incitement). … ..
The Clinton
Parameters are important. They are also where Democrats have stood since
his presidency. I have a request for a comment into the Clinton camp, as well
as having asked for the press release quoted from above, or a link, so I can
read it for myself and verify it. I have yet to get a response, though I’ve
had a conversation about it and traded emails as well. I hope to have an answer
for you and when I do I’ll report it. They’ve responded to every single request I have made so far, so stay tuned.
Clinton’s vote today is a harbinger for more saber rattling on Iran. It also
shows she’s learned nothing from her earlier Iraq vote. It is also a sign that
her Middle East policy will likely be weighted towards Israel, which hasn’t
been doing the U.S. or Israel any good at all. There’s only one thing Clinton
and others who voted in favor of Lieberman’s Iran amendment fear more than Iran’s
possible involvement in Iraq, or them going nuclear, and that’s standing up
to the Israel lobby at large. It’s not going to happen. As much as people talk
about change, things surrounding our policy towards Israel stay the same. It’s
dangerous, but no one seems to have the courage to join with liberal Israelis
who truly want piece. Clinton voting with the neoconservatives today was wrong any way you analyze it.
Biden and Dodd voted against the Lieberman-Kyl legislation when all eyes were
on them (full
roll call). Coupled with Biden’s Iraq legislation today that passed, he’s had one hell of
a day. They both deserve a lot of credit. The Democrats who voted for Lieberman’s
nonsense don’t know what they’re doing, which is how we got into Iraq. Like Iraq, it signals danger and a possibility of one small
step at a time to kaboom.
Comments are closed.