You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
More Details: The Honourable President Obama Ignores The Ebil Juices For Dinner Alone
2010-03-26
For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of.
The man has no manners and few morals beyond a determination to be present as a father and husband. May his post-presidential life be very long and filled with reminders of how he made himself despised in his chosen nation and around the world, and how quickly his greatest triumphs were overthrown.
Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night.
The majority of Israelis saw through Candidate Obama's glamour before the election. Even more see him for what he is, now that he's been President Obama for a while. It strikes me as a reasonable proposition that, in turn, President Obama will insult each of the special interest groups that voted for him so enthusiastically in 2008.
After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on settlements, Mr Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisers and "let me know if there is anything new", a US congressman, who spoke to the Prime Minister, said.

"It was awful," the congressman said. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting "a hazing in stages", poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House telephone line.
Gentlemen, of course, neither read one another's mail nor listen in on their phone calls. This simple statement encompasses my opinion of the situation.
Another said that the Prime Minister had received "the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea".

Left to talk among themselves Mr Netanyahu and his aides retreated to the Roosevelt Room. He spent a further half-hour with Mr Obama and extended his stay for a day of emergency talks to try to restart peace negotiations. However, he left last night with no official statement from either side. He returned to Israel yesterday after what Israeli media have called a White House ambush.
It seems to me Prime Minister Netanyahu ought to spend his next trip to the America with everyone else: his old friends from MIT, old friends from the military, CIA, both houses of Congress, various Jewish groups. President Obama has wasted enough time, and they both are busy men; it would be a courtesy to work with visitors from America who are ready to do something useful toward common goals, rather than waste time expressing childish pique.
Posted by:trailing wife on the other computer

#19  "the only decent thing for Barry to do"

Just when the hell has that narcissistic whiner ever done the decent thing, Steve?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2010-03-26 22:34  

#18  Seems to me that if Bibi drove all that way for a meeting, the only decent thing for Barry to do is take him out for a beer and a burger. If not, swing by Crawford, TX. I'm sure George and Laura would show him some hospitality.
Posted by: SteveS   2010-03-26 19:18  

#17  So Netanyahu didn't have to eat dinner with the Nagging Nanny-in-Chief?

Lucky Ben.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2010-03-26 13:32  

#16  I'm thinking that, for the most, part American Jews are liberal and that trumps Zionism. Many liberals Jews in America seem have a blindness to the threats of totalitarianism. Hell, they even vote for it. Israeli Jews seem to be a little more grounded in reality.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-03-26 12:26  

#15  Obama doesn't like kosher?
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-03-26 12:16  

#14  When Israel finally realizes it can't count on America and attacks Iran, I wonder if Obama will act surprised.
Posted by: AuburnTom   2010-03-26 12:09  

#13  a reasonable proposition that, in turn, President Obama will insult each of the special interest groups that voted for him so enthusiastically in 2008.

Trailing Wife, I have to disagree. Israel was never a supporter of Obama.

Obama seems to believe that the US is the most evil country in the world, and he must modify it.
Instead Obama seems to be insulting/betraying everyone who admires and respects America. First Poland and the Czech Republic, then Georgia, then the UK, Sarkozy and Merkel. You can be certain Canada and Australia are on his list.

I do not expect him to insult any of his bolshevik progressive base.
Posted by: Frozen Al   2010-03-26 11:37  

#12  1. After their Dem masters have herded them.

2. Unbelievably, Yes We Are!
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2010-03-26 10:48  

#11  When will American Jews wake up and stop supporting the party that will eventually see them herded into camps again?

Are Jews in the US on the whole as politically stupid as blacks, basically cattle to be herded by their Dem party masters?
Posted by: OldSpook   2010-03-26 10:27  

#10  DonÂ’t waste your time speculating on the motivations behind ObamaÂ’s recent less then cordial behavior. ItÂ’s been reported that he viewed the timing of the infamous “settlement announcement” as a personal slap in the face. By now most should realize that Obama is not simply arrogant but he is clinically narcissistic. And people with that character flaw are incapable of rising above their personal emotions. “No Drama Obama”? ShiiyaatÂ…he feeds on the stuff.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2010-03-26 09:45  

#9  I would add to Wide5539's analysis by saying that Obama wishes to avoid any sort of confrontation with Iran, even if it means the potential destruction of Israel. Obama is concerned about things domestic, not internatinal. Remember his Islamic roots, his disdain for Great Britain and the west. Remember also that according to his administration, there is no longer a "Global War on Terrror." The sooner he can withdraw from military commitments overseas, the sooner he can undertake the dismantling of the military and harvest the dividends of our military budget for his give-away programs. His recent efforts at nuclear disarmament are yet another important stepping stone toward this goal. Accommodation with the Russians is yet another proof of his peacenik at all cost intent. Getting involved in a conflict with Iran or anyone else takes him further away from his bold domestic agenda of "change" and "social justice", not closer. The radicals of the 1960's are now in charge. It's all about power and "change".
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-03-26 09:05  

#8  Obama is neither stupid nor is he a genius (contrary to the claims of his cult of personality.)

He's a politician pursuing political objectives, sending messages, rewarding friends and punishing enemies.

The obsequious apology to Gaddafi was an implicit permission for Libya to sponsor terrorist attacks on Switzerland.

The appalling treatment of Netanyahu, especially in contrast to his bowing to the ruler of the Saudi Entity, is an implicit permission to attack Israel.

This is how the Libyans, Hezbollah, Fatah, Syria, Iran etc interpret the Obama administration's actions, and Obama knows that this is the case.

Obama's message is as clear as it can be if he wants to maintain (somewhat) plausible deniability.
Posted by: Jolump the Wide5539   2010-03-26 08:08  

#7  This, like so many things Zero does, seems stupid, but he is NOT stupid, so it must be on purpose. WHAT is the purpose? To force Israel's hand in attacking Iran? Political 'cover' for us if/when they do? Part of a deal with the KSA for oil supply/price or GWoT (or whatever it's now called) promises? I'm sure I have missed some qualifying motives, but I believe there is one, and this is not just stupidity or boorishness.
Posted by: Glenmore   2010-03-26 07:41  

#6  Muslims and Jews just don't get along.
Posted by: airandee   2010-03-26 07:39  

#5  What's even sadder is that American Jews will probably overwhelmingly still support Oblahblah in 2012.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2010-03-26 07:23  

#4  For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of.

Change, baby! You asked for it; you got it!
Posted by: Bobby   2010-03-26 06:23  

#3  For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare.

Posing for fotos with Jews is not Halal. Furthermore, what would Jeremiah Wright or Louis Farrakham think?
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-03-26 01:45  

#2  What a complete fool. Obama has secured nothing-- zilch, nada-- in the way of concessions from the Palestinians, and yet he's bullying our ally to make unilateral concessions first? He's secured nothing from Iran-- in fact, he's getting his ass kicked, again and again, by not just Iranian but also Russian and Chinese leaders who now see him for what he is: the proverbial patsy at the poker table, the dolt whom everyone can plunder at will.

This jacka$$ is making war with Iran MORE, not less, likely.
Posted by: lex   2010-03-26 01:13  

#1  Obaby pouts when he doesn't get what he asks for.
Posted by: gorb   2010-03-26 00:22  

00:00