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Yes, a fine speech.
Where else could Israel go to be heard outside their own country? And what better place than Washington to make your statement to the world (still good for something). If this was an embarrassment to the current administration they had their chance to turn it into a more favorable event but they just damn refused- so they got what they deserved...
I commend Netanyahu for going forward under such conflict and condescension that he encountered in D.C.
You have to take your hat off to him- he dominated the American news scene for awhile which also got him world coverage. Smart.
I hope that we will not see the day that there be a destruction of Israel... it will be a turning point for not only America but for mankind.
The world still makes it an advantage not to be one- a Jew.
prompter, and Bibi is a master at the pause moments between pages to make his points. I did not get to see the speech live, but me and my crew did get to review it in a bar in Oslo, Norway. The vast majority of the planet, and I get to see, in my profession, a large part of terra firma, see's the US as divisive and insecure, without viable leadership. What I observed watching Netanyahu's speech was the reactions of the people in the bar looking at US leadership in Congress. I heard a myriad of comments (and admittedly the average age in the establishment of several hundred was under 30) about how old and toothless US leadership was. Now, at almost 60, I am no spring chicken, but looking at these slobbering fools in wheel chairs made me long for a stud like Putin. It was embarrassing for me and my American crew to hear the laughter at how inept, at not only the advanced years, but even the slack jaws and blank stares of the younger members, looked. And without exception, Reid, Pelosi, Boehner, are laughing stocks where ever I go. Who votes for these people? I find it hard to believe that welfare recipients on the take from "the Great Society' votes, so I suspect it is a combination of the uninformed and the unengaged.
In 2014 I was on every continent on the planet, but I retire May of this year, a tad under my 60th birthday. My greatest fear is that before I can get back home the SHTF and all my work on building my Gulch will be for naught, at least for me, as I will not be able to make it home to Texas (it's a long swim). But at least my bride can enjoy the fruits of my labor. Speaking of, I have a good friend who owns a ranch next to mine. I have a green card Honduran that works the ranch when I'm gone. My friend tells me, "you know, your hand calls your wife Senora Patroness when you are home, but when you are gone, he call's her Babe."
Which reminds me to put a top knot on my buddies noggin when I get back.
Stay safe. Stay Sovereign.
Well now, I am curious to know what you do... When you said you might not make it back to finish your Gulch if the SHTF, I thought- military. Did I get it?
Beware of feisty Hondurans...
Keep in touch.
I sold my company back in 2009, because I was tired of jumping through govt hoops for the honor of making sure I had 100 + employees working to pay Federal taxes, and getting taxed (to death) myself. Hence my Galt name.
I spent a year after buying a section of undeveloped land in the Texas Hill country building a Gulch when 5 of my ex employees, 3 EE's, 1 ME, and 1 geologist asked me to consider going into partnerships with them. Which I did. We have a contracting firm that specializes in providing alt e all over the globe. From solar panel arrays in Tel Aviv, to geothermal in South America, to 1.5 MW Vestas V90 wind turbines in North Dakota, we provide energy in places where there is not any. And as an equal partner instead of an employer, I have a lot more freedom to produce than I did as a govt tax collector, aka, administrator of a shackled for profit business responsible for employees, at the point of a gun or prison. Apparently, what I did is growing rapidly, as for the first time in collected US history, there are more business going out of business than there are start ups. When I say business, I'm talking about conventional, brick and mortar and regulated employee firms.
We have done well and most of my team have achieved our goals, and ready to retire. I have two young firepissers in their 30's however wanting to carry on, one Electrical, one Mechanical, engineer. They signed a multi million watt solar contract near Cape Town, South Africa. Good for them.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I could care less if the grid goes down. I produce more than enough wind, solar, and NG energy than I need. And with 5 solar powered water wells, I don't worry much about going thirsty either.
And yes, K Halling, I have been to Antartica. Tis a target rich environment for those few souls who want to live there and still have the comforts of home, energy wise ;-))
I enjoyed this narrative greatly. But I have to ask: Antarctica too?
It was nice that he acknowledged America's support (Iron Dome is just a Patriot Missile Battery with some source/vector launch point determining software).
Israel - of necessity it may be argued - is a viable weapons manufacturer in its own right. The UZI submachine gun is of Israeli design, as are several other very reliable firearms. Israel also sports its own tank designs that are every bit as good as the German or American ones. The only area they have to rely on the US for really is in aircraft - it's just too big an industry for Israel to economically support. And the Navy for the same reason.
With all due respect, obviously, Netanyahu is also an accomplished liar ;^)
Israel has every right to defend itself against foreign powers.
I only wish that there was a leader in the Dark Center who cared as much about American security against real enemies foreign AND domestic.
I got it from Star Wars lore. There was a planet Byss where "Emperor Palpatine's dark side energies were everywhere, corrupting not only the inhabitants, but the planet itself."
It was described by Luke Skywalker as "If there is a Dark Center of the Universe, this is it."
Apparently Luke had not been to Earth's Dark Center (or George Lucas was having a laugh behind the scenes.)
She does not understand the sci-fi fire in our belly.
*Mimi shakes head*
Lol.
I agree with Bibi's appraisal of Iran more than Obama's, we have no reason to trust the Persians, they have never given us an adequate cause to do so (trust them).
I guess I'm basically fine with 'talking' to the Iranians, I don't think that the current state can go on indefinitely, but warming relations with them is ignorant to do. The people that overran our embassy and took its occupants hostage are the leaders in their government right now. We really need to wait another generation... kind of what we did in Cuba, wait them out, they die off soon enough.
Any threat to Israel would be answered, regardless of who is in the Oval Office at the time. That is a certainty of our unique relationship, as it is with Britain and NATO.
The only thing the Israelis really need from us is for us to just look the other way while they mop the floor with the Gaza Strip and occupied territories. Admit that there is going to be some political damage, but let them solve the problem rather than continuously playing Tiddly Winks with it. Much like they did last year, but 'finish the job'.
I do disagree with Bibi on one point - there really isn't anyone in the Middle East that is an existential threat to Israel. Even if Iran was armed, so are the Israelis. Iran will never seriously try anything directly, as they would be flattened by the US. They know that. Their Ayatollah spits off his mouth all the time in an attempt to remain relevant in their political structure, convincing the army that the prophet commanded them to start Armageddon is very different... We're talking about the most inefficient and under-equipped army on the planet. Israel would do better to openly have a dialogue with its less-than-hostile neighbors - Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, etc. They don't "like" Israel, but offering to share intelligence on terrorism, offering trade of Israeli manufactured products, firearms, etc., in exchange for goods from those countries might help to improve their place in the middle east. Even it is regularly "no", making the offer every few months shows an interest in being a good neighbor and you can not like your neighbor, but show respect for them. In the last conflict, we actually saw a lot of Arab countries supporting Israel as it was obvious they were defending themselves and they showed reasonable restraint.
They would "act out" and show their disbelief but "flatten" Iran.... not do sure.
Maybe this would be an American wake up call!
Imagine an nuclear warhead in one of these...I'm afraid even our Patriot system would be useless. The ONLY way to stop Iran is to stop their weapons program.
We did start taking out mobile scud launchers after it started, I was there, we devoted a pretty significant percentage (about 40%) of sorties to mobile scud search & destroy. The attempt by Iraq was never to start a war with Israel, they were hoping to widen the war and provoke the Palestinians and Lebanese into the fight against Israel. When that didn't happen, it really only reaffirmed what I've always believed.. the Palestinians and the Persians are really the dogs of the Arab World. When it comes down to it, none of the other Arab countries care much for them, they like to take up the Islamic torch and rhetoric as a public relations piece, but they don't want Palestinian refugees in their own countries either... they are pretty happy to let Israel deal with it and just keep their mouths shut.
I would consider that a legitimate threat.
The blast radius on something like that is about a mile, it would probably kill someone, but it would take a lot of luck to hit anything in Israel without wiping out their buddies in Hamas...
I think Obama is under reacting, and Bibi is 2 weeks from elections and is a wartime prime minister.
70% of the Vaticans budget comes from donations from US parishes, and there isn't a Sunday I'm in church that they are not pushing political agenda. on core issues of faith and holy sites, it would happen. So much so that between the Catholic, Mormon, and Evangelical churches, the Dems would have no choice but to comply with the call to arms. As I said, all politicians check their philosophy at the door when it comes to votes. I even question whether many Dems believe that crap themselves or if they are towing the line to keep the gays / atheists / etc.
If I ask myself, if the Vatican asked me to support a new holy army (basically expanding the Swiss Guard), I and everyone I know would aid the cause. Realize, there is historical precedent for that, be it the Vatican providing intelligence from behind the Iron Curtain after Ronald Reagan requested it from John Paul II, or the armies of the Pope during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, or the fact that the Swiss Guard has a rather substantial armory at the Vatican and its own secret service and intelligence apparatus, its not like the ragtag Lutheran stuff... its a sovereign nation with its own embassies and its own treaties and the financial support of a billion followers and a heck of a lot of industry (ever heard of Mercy Healthcare?). I don't see the Vatican standing by silently after the destruction of Israel. I think religious leaders would interpret it as the beginning of Revelation and would mass armies if the west did not.
It is my opinion that he would tell Catholics to take up the sword were Israel attacked with nuclear weapons.
Jan
Under John Paul II, the equation obviously changes a little.
We're also not talking about something that happens tomorrow. I'm saying that over time, if the West doesn't act, I don't think its out of the question for the Vatican to consider it.
Problem two is, that if Iran gets nuclear weapons and strikes first, Israel is a small enough target that a double handful of weapons will effectively destroy them. They might not kill everyone, but will make the place uninhabitable for those remaining. In that circumstance they will have achieved their stated goal of "destroying Israel'.
Yes the fallout would go east from Israel, but I don't see Iran caring about that either. After all they are not adjacent. Before Iran gets any fallout, it hits Syria, Jordan, Iraq, & Saudi Arabia, depending on wind direction.
I don't believe the US would destroy Iran in retaliation after something like that either. Not given current Washington sentiment, especially the White House.
We have generally better intelligence than they do, we don't give them everything. We have been watching - definitely, Iran recovered that MQ Reaper spy drone in their desert a couple of years ago. We can tell how well they are doing on nuclear refinement by testing air & soil samples.
I'm sure we have fully infiltrated their government computer systems as well, we probably see their own testing results to know exactly where they are.
If the Islamic world really wanted Iran to have a bomb, Pakistan would have given it to them.
I really think Iran is all bluster and not a lot of substance, we are probably getting assurances as well that the Ayatollah is old and when he passes things will change in the regime. They have been under heavy sanction for decades, like Cuba, they are pretty much still stuck in the 80's technologically. You don't see a lot of innovation or scientific advancement coming out of the Islamic world.. the madrassas are not known for creating independent thinkers or inventors.
Our support of Israel isn't only Jewish support, it's Christian / Catholic as well.
Imagine watching someone like ISIS desecrating the holy lands like they are in ancient Assyria.
DNC pressure would be after the feces hit the rotary impeller however, which would not do the smoking remains much good.
It might end up with a hang-grenades in a closet scenario, but my bet would be on Israel. Between the Iron Dome, better targeting, better defense and better infrastructure (with a war-knowledgeable population) I think that they would come through in shape that would allow them to continue to fight.
And, whatever the politicians in the US said, a lot of the people in the US would be p!ssed.
Jan
You are right, a whole lot of us in the US would be pissed if Israel is attacked.
The big question is who strikes first, Israel or someone else. WMDs getting through to locations in Israel would set off a major conflict in the region assuming Israel is able to retaliate afterward.
WMDs would be required by the other players in the region, Israel can hold their own in a conventional conflict. As they have demonstrated more than once already.
Another thing to keep in mind, WMDs come in a variety of forms. Nuclear weapons are only one category, Biologicals and Chemicals could also be used. Tougher to deploy effectively of course, but still something to consider.
Jan
America has lost her way.
Pettiness has become our face to the world, demonstrated by the White House in every action.
Great Nations are not petty.
The Iranians have an ancient Air Force... air superiority would not be an issue. As a former Air Force troop, I'd also add that "having" an Air Force, and having sufficient spare parts, maintenance crews, and pilots to keep it in the air is a very different challenge.
He obviously knows who really runs The Senate.
I would have expected some kind of wishy-washy, mealy-mouthed reply, calculated to give no offense I could put my finger on. What I got was a brazen slap in the face.
Well that I would consider progress down that road of disintegration- just like in AS, when you lose control it is difficult to fake it!
I did not hear much of what he said.
Once again, I changed the channel because I saw his lips were moving.
I did laugh at his face, though.
I Don't know which made him more angry:
(1) that he would disapprove of inviting a world leader to speak, and congress went ahead and did it anyway...
(2) that it was the group best known as opposing the socialist designs that were there,
(3) that he was so well received by not only those present, but by the public at large, or
(4) that his alleged reason for not being present not only fell flat, but was pretty much proven to be a piss-poor excuse rather than a legitimate reason for snubbing a world leader.
Ungracious... Strike one.
Lack of humility... Steeeerike two.
Refusal to stand up for what's right, and in fact, promoting what's wrong? Steeeeerike Three, Yeeeeeeere Outtathere.
(If only it were *that* easy...)
Yes, 3 strikes and you're out!!'
I, sometimes, read alArabia and Al-Jazirah
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/ne...
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0...
who both think that Netanyahu makes more sense than OB.
Quotes-
Middle Eastern countries are collapsing and that “terror organizations, mostly backed by Iran, are filling in the vacuum”
Netanyahu managed to accurately summarize a clear and present danger, not just to Israel (which obviously is his concern), but to other U.S. allies in the region.
Since Obama is the godfather of the prefabricated revolutions in the Arab world, and since he is the ally of political Islam, [which is] the caring mother of [all] the terrorist organizations, and since he is working to sign an agreement with Iran that will come at the expense of the U.S.'s longtime allies in the Gulf, I am very glad of Netanyahu's firm stance and [his decision] to speak against the nuclear agreement at the American Congress despite the Obama administration's anger and fury. I believe that Netanyahu's conduct will serve our interests, the people of the Gulf, much more than the foolish behavior of one of the worst American presidents.
And Obama's reply? I just have no words for the disgraceful amateur.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.
I doubt Obama would attack Iran if they attacked our own mainland, might upset some Muslims somewhere. Valerie Jarret would not stand for that.
Israel has been in a category of its own as far as being despised by this White House.