The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has returned to Israel and the fray of a hotly contested election. He briefly left home during the campaign to poke his finger in the eye of the Obama administration through an inflammatory speech in Congress. So much for the billions in aid Israel receives from the States.
Netanyahu is dead-set against the United States negotiating a deal with Iran regarding the development of nuclear weapons. No one wants Iran to have a nuclear arsenal, but we get the impression that Netanyahu would rather nuke Iran to stop them having nukes than work out a deal. He just doesn't trust them.
Many pundits and politicians are supportive of John Kerry's efforts just the same. Marauding around smiting our enemies has its limits and it is very costly. Besides, the US has been relying on Iran to help out in the fight against ISIL/ISIS in Iraq. It is a 21st century "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" geopolitical reality.
Since I'm a tree-hugging, peace-mongering leftie pinko I'm glad that the US is in negotiations with Iran even though our government is inclined toward "evil empire" rhetoric. But I find global politics to be incredibly hypocritical. It was just a minute ago that we were celebrating sport at the Russian Olympics even though Putin was an oppressive dictator whose true colours have really shown since the games came to a close. We are currently in a coalition of nations fighting ISIS, the miserable band of assassins which beheads people. One of our partners is Saudi Arabia, a nation which regularly beheads people. We all know how awful the Syrian regime is, having murdered a couple of hundred thousand of its own citizens, but we are rather quiet about Assad and his henchmen because we're --yes, you've got it-- we're fighting ISIS.
We listen to grim and earnest announcements from politicians about our enemies and our friends, except that if we're paying attention some of those enemies are former friends and the friends are former enemies.
I'm sticking with Jesus, who told me to love my enemies and follow him as the non-violent Prince of Peace. It sure sounds goofy, but consider the alternatives.
Thoughts?
Yes, there is so much hypocrisy when it comes to politics and alliances.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of a discussion I had with an Iranian a couple of years ago. He said that the media makes it sound like Iranians hate Israelis, yet that is not the case. In fact, many Iranians like Israel because Israel had showed support for Iran during the horrific Iran-Iraq war in the 80's.
However, the Iranian government is a whole different matter, and does not represent the feelings of the average Iranian. That government detests Israel, and has not been afraid to express it.
The whole thing is a mess, and I would rather just take a step back and watch my Steelers or Canadiens!
It is indeed a mess.
ReplyDeleteIn fact it goes back to 1953 with the overthrow of a democratically elected prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh. His crime? Daring to seek an audit of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's (now BP) records. After their refusal, the Iranian parliament moved to nationalize the assets of the company.
Enter British Intelligence and the CIA to initiate the coup and set the stage for the installation of Shah Palahvi, the Shah of Iran. His subsequent supression is legendary.