Obama Microphone Slip Shows Scary Israel Rift: Jeffrey Goldberg

[Purveyor]

OK, so now we know for sure that President Barack Obama more or less detests the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Obama made this plain when he was overheard on an open microphone getting catty about Netanyahu with the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

It was Sarkozy who first brought the harsh on Netanyahu, calling him a liar. But Obama chose not to demur. He said instead, “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you.”

One mistake here is that the two violated a sacrosanct rule of microphone-wearing, which is: Always assume your mic is broadcasting your lowest-decibel mutterings directly to your most dire enemies. But the incident also revealed two mistaken interpretations of Middle East politics that could have grim consequences as the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program moves to a boil.

The first misinterpretation is one often committed by Obama’s conservative critics, who argue that the president’s feelings toward Netanyahu reflect his feelings toward Israel. Here’s Elliott Abrams, a Middle East expert in the George W. Bush administration: “If this were only a matter of personal relations between Obama and Netanyahu, it could be left at that. But it is far more consequential, for by that comment -- and especially as it was made in private and can be interpreted as his actual view -- President Obama has joined the chorus of assaults on the Jewish State.”

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[FSogol]

1. Unrec. Disliking a leader does not = joining "the chorus of assaults on the Jewish State.”

Secondly, there were zero experts in the Bush administration.

[Turbineguy]

2. Obviously

we should panic immediately. Never miss an opportunity to over react. Especially if you can score points against Obama at the same time.

To call a politician a liar is a non-event. To suggest that he's an asshole also. To say that Netanyahu is a lying asshole is a tautology. And what's more, I'm sure Netanyahu knows exactly what he is and what others think of him. I doubt it worries him.

[ck4829]

3. Elliott Abrams is also a convicted criminal, I wonder how come nobody calls him an expert in that

[midnight]

4. This is good advice: "Always assume your mic is broadcasting your lowest-decibel mutterings directly

to your most dire enemies."

[saras]

6. The important part is: USE THIS FEATURE, DON'T IGNORE IT

[larkrake]

5. truth is Bibi is a liar and a tyrant to Arabs. That is what politicians do

They lie to build trust among allies. I am sure Obama has stretched the truth as well to get nation leaders on his side of issues. He is NOT anti-Israel, he did NOT agree with the Frenchman, he merely said he had to deal with bibi more often, which is true. BIBI is a blatant bully and liar. If you defend Bibi you are insane. Doesn't mean Obama is anti Israel.

[JDPriestly]

8. Israelis are demonstrating against their own government too.

So Netanyahu has friends but also critics everywhere. Has nothing to do with how people feel about Israel.

[bemildred]

7. Your link does not lead to the indicated story. nt

[Purveyor]

9. My bad. Here is the link to the story...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/goldberg-obama-microphone-slip-shows-scary-israel-rift.html

Was too late to edit. :(

[bemildred]

10. Happens to the best of us. nt

[dtexdem]

11. Actually, it shows a "scary" grasp of the real world on the parts of two presidents.

Now what is really scary is a politics that labels a reasonable evaluation of a state's leader as an "assault" on that state.

[Little Tich]

12. Perhaps Israelis should listen to what their allies are saying about Netanyahyu.

The world is watching with great apprehension as the current government is dismantling democracy at an alarming rate. It has become increasingly difficult to defend what is going on in Israel for anyone but the staunchest supporters. Just look at the article, Jeffrey Goldberg comes out as an Israel apologist when he writes crap like this. Nobody with more than half a brain would agree with the article, which is slanted and full of fallacies. If there are any viable arguments for criticising Obama and Sarkozy for their comments, they are not in the article.

The only good thing I can say about Netanyahu is that his international standing is at least better than that of his Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman.