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Re: Rafi"s "a public diplomacy gamble"

Reader comment on item: Avigdor Lieberman's Brilliant Debut
in response to reader comment: A public diplomacy gamble

Submitted by Wana 88 (United States), Apr 7, 2009 at 21:56

Given the situation Israel faces, how can this be called a "public diplomacy gamble"? Israel's FM understands the obvious (to those without blinders on): ultimately , NONE of its neighbors are true allies --with the possible exception of the Hashemites, the TRUE custodians of the Muslim Holy Land i.e. MECCA and MEDINA NOT Jerusalem (which has historically only been the Holy Land of the Jewish people and, much later, the Christians) --as long as their actions speak otherwise.

Two faced diplomacy is an art form in the Arab/Muslim world and they all "get it." They see a man with b---s actually willing to stand up for Israel's interests (who refuses to play the diplomatic dhimmi role that the US politicians have adopted and who blabber on about "peace" all day). They probably FEAR him (which BTW in that region = RESPECT). So they go whining to the press and their Europeans dhimmies. for "help" on such injustice! So much for their manhood.

As far as "hurting things on the diplomatic front" as Rafi mentions; frankly, there's nothing to hurt and much to gain. You see Rafi this isn't North America. Diplomacy --Middle Eastern style-- is built upon strength, violence and the willingness to use violence to gain diplomatic ends. This is the land of the BIG STICK. Read the history books replete with evidence to substantiate this. How can you really have true "diplomacy" with people who hate your very existence? That is the crux of the problem here.

If the way the Hashemites run their small kingdom is any indication, leadership that genuinely tries to seek conflict resolution rather than fan the fires of hatred and injustice is sorely needed in the ME. The current rulers and their cadre are a big part of the problem: magnify an external --ideally religious based-- issue/threat (Israel is the primary bogeyman/punching bag) to focus their citizens hate/energy on external enemies. So pretending to conduct "diplomacy" with such "leaders" is ludicrous. Israel's new leadership realizes the grave situation it faces today; and knows the gloves may have to come off. World opinion be damned.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (64) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
The Obama Administration Reaching Out In All Directions For Help On Israel and The Palestinian Question [133 words]Renee BouvierMay 20, 2009 17:06155868
It Isn't Fair [400 words]ArlindaApr 24, 2009 19:19154403
What a world:: [507 words]MayApr 23, 2009 03:12154334
Right On [43 words]Harold GoldApr 20, 2009 21:09154173
Liberman [17 words]Jon PurizhanskyApr 19, 2009 09:14154093
A Splendid Speech [41 words]MatthewApr 16, 2009 15:21153974
MISLEADING NOMENCLATURE [70 words]HOWARD PAGEApr 13, 2009 21:15153827
1Loyalty Oath [435 words]SarahSueApr 11, 2009 21:31153753
Israeli - American kinship [87 words]pdmApr 10, 2009 09:22153681
Nothing "Brilliant" About Avigdor Lieberman [230 words]Amy WatkinsApr 9, 2009 17:16153657
Blind [40 words]thefalloftheUKApr 11, 2009 13:03153657
Avigdor Lieberman is right [71 words]BZD5Apr 7, 2009 23:31153550
THE RIGHT POLICY FOR ISRAEL. [38 words]GEORGEApr 7, 2009 16:17153522
The American government may not be at war with islam.... [48 words]pdmApr 7, 2009 13:38153507
A public diplomacy gamble [342 words]RafiApr 7, 2009 12:57153503
Re: Rafi"s "a public diplomacy gamble" [351 words]Wana 88Apr 7, 2009 21:56153503
Try to argue with THIS guy, little Hillary [8 words]George BorosApr 6, 2009 21:58153470
Good for Avi and bad on Obie [147 words]Doug CorriganApr 6, 2009 18:56153457
Lieberman's Honest Assessment [198 words]Wana 88Apr 6, 2009 17:54153450
About " Brillant début " of Avigdor Lieberman [29 words]Simon NéhméApr 6, 2009 02:51153381
COMMENDING LIEBERMAN AND DAN PIPES [297 words]JERRY BORISApr 5, 2009 22:38153371
The original two-state solution was enacted in infamy. [1943 words]JennyApr 5, 2009 11:38153350
Quite a bit of baggage [637 words]JKFApr 5, 2009 04:36153333
performance [156 words]yuval Brandstetter MDApr 4, 2009 13:11153311
1Arabs and Honor [65 words]aspaciaApr 4, 2009 07:45153296
Just to remind all of us - The Two - State Suggestion is 87 Years Old [9 words]GRIGGApr 4, 2009 04:57153289
Now hear this! [180 words]MFApr 4, 2009 00:20153279
Good on ya, Avigdor. [31 words]Michael KayApr 3, 2009 21:15153277
New World Priorities [482 words]DemsciApr 3, 2009 18:04153274
1Brilliant Brilliant Debut! [23 words]LeslieApr 3, 2009 17:57153273
Dont worry Dr Pipes-The Israelis Inspector Javers (from Les Mis) have moved onto his case as they always do in Self Hate mode [15 words]alanApr 3, 2009 17:29153272
Time and Time Again [233 words]BlackspeareApr 3, 2009 16:54153270
Lieberman is encouraging indeed. [264 words]BernieApr 3, 2009 15:54153269
Avigdor Lieberman's debut as foreign minister [147 words]MauriceApr 3, 2009 15:16153268
please [29 words]bartApr 3, 2009 10:47153258
Responsibility, accountability both ways [194 words]DemsciApr 3, 2009 10:36153257
For once good dialogue from Avi Lieberman [25 words]VigilantApr 3, 2009 10:28153256
Annapolis allergy [75 words]Mladen AndrijasevicApr 3, 2009 07:03153252
I support the Lieberman view, but... [67 words]BenichouApr 3, 2009 03:53153247
Lieberman has the courage of changing the paradigm. [164 words]Isaac HaskiyaApr 3, 2009 03:36153245
Thank you for being a voice of reason. [120 words]Michael NussbaumApr 3, 2009 01:20153241
Lieberman [41 words]DavidApr 2, 2009 21:53153230
Lieberman is denying the Palestinians their cherished underdog status [55 words]Mark JamesApr 2, 2009 21:40153229
respect [89 words]Felipe OrnelasApr 2, 2009 18:42153224
Wow [60 words]Patricia BischoffApr 2, 2009 17:50153220
Israel is back? [262 words]Abu NudnikApr 2, 2009 17:39153218
I am with you, Mr. Lieberman [42 words]mariApr 2, 2009 17:04153215
Lieberman shows courage and knowledge. [143 words]DeborahApr 5, 2009 19:18153215
The truth about Avigdor Lieberman [331 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
David PintoApr 2, 2009 14:28153201
Peace for peace war for war [84 words]Francesco MangasciàApr 2, 2009 14:21153200
An enigma wrapped in a mystery [342 words]Ken BesigApr 2, 2009 14:09153199
The era of intimidation is over. [147 words]batya daganApr 2, 2009 13:49153195
I agree. [33 words]DONALApr 2, 2009 22:38153195
We are agree with you dear Batya Dagan and Menachem Dagan [17 words]Hava and David HagoelApr 3, 2009 02:14153195
I Too Agree with Batya; However, As For "that child in our White House"... I Doubt He's Susceptible To Teaching.... [960 words]marianaApr 6, 2009 16:33153195
Lieberman's "Realism" [322 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Prof. Paul EidelbergApr 2, 2009 13:06153193
Where is the PA state? [66 words]yuval Brandstetter MDApr 5, 2009 15:54153193
AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN'S SPEECH [160 words]JACQUES HADIDAApr 2, 2009 12:43153190
There Is a "Palestinian State" [125 words]Art VictorApr 24, 2009 16:00153190
Now, If Only Lieberman Can Keep Bibi From "Going Wobbly"! [133 words]marianaApr 2, 2009 11:43153185
thank-you for the clarification [205 words]John W McGinleyApr 2, 2009 11:40153184
Bravo To Lieberman's Maiden Speech [209 words]Adina Kutnicki,IsraelApr 2, 2009 11:27153183
SPEECH AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN [69 words]MannyApr 2, 2009 11:20153181
LA Times. [133 words]SvetlanatchkahApr 2, 2009 11:05153179

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