Obama, Netanyahu, Blair and Fayyad are in agreement
Essentially what Barry Rubin is pointing out is that the US position is in line with Israel’s position as I reported earlier when discussing Meridor’s speech. Obama, Netanyahu, Blair and Fayyad are all on the same page for now. Bottom up first.
Many people wrote to me to complain that they didn’t like Israel’s position because they didn’t want to build the Palestinians up. Perhaps they are right but they should keep in mind that Obama argued that negotiations should start without preconditions. That’s what Bibi wanted. Israel’s position is really “Autonomy only” for the Palestinians and no uprooting of the vast majority of settlers. She can still pull it off.
The Region: Quick, look busy!
By BARRY RUBIN
The Obama administration has signaled that it will go through the motions of Mideast involvement while awaiting some future opportunity for renewed talks.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a nominally routine communiqué last week after her meeting with Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain and now messenger of the Quartet on Israeli-Palestinian matters. This two-paragraph document, dated February 11, 2010, indicates the new direction of US policy on Israel-Palestinian/Arab-Israeli conflict issues.
It, somewhat disingenuously, defines the Obama administration policy as seeking a two-state solution right from the start through three tactics:
-
“(1) To help build the economy and capacity to govern a Palestinian state;
(2) to renew political negotiations to enable the earliest possible establishment of that state; and
(3) to achieve these in a manner that ensures the security of Israel and of the Palestinians.”
Wait a minute! Up until now, item two has been in the top position. Last September, the president announced that intensive talks to reach a comprehensive peace agreement would start in early November! Three months later, not even the most minor direct talks are in sight. So now the administration has shifted gears and the main priority is a process of state-building and community organizing among Palestinians to get them ready for statehood.
Notice it doesn’t even say the “earliest possible” renewal of political negotiations but implies that economic and infrastructure change will achieve the “earliest possible establishment” of a Palestinian state. To further this goal, while Blair and Senator George Mitchell, the US envoy, will act as partners to support political negotiations, Blair’s task is: “(1) to build support for the institutional capacity and governance of a future Palestinian state, including on the rule of law; (2) to improve freedom of movement and access for Palestinians; (3) to encourage further private sector investment; and (4) to bring change in the living conditions of the people in Gaza.”
This mission is defined as being “consistent with Prime Minister Fayyad’s plan for a future Palestinian state.” That means the Palestinian Authority prime minister’s two-year plan to build the Palestinian state economically and institutionally can be launched in 2012.
But in the Fayyad approach, negotiations with Israel come only at the end of the process, when everything is already prepared. This gives the administration the rationale to get nothing done in the meantime on the diplomatic level. It is thus a complete reversal in practice of previous administration policy. The US government can “look busy” while doing precisely what its predecessor did: realize nothing much is possible at the present while awaiting some future opportunity.
The emphasis is on helping the Palestinians and not pressing them to give Israel anything. At the same time, however, there is not going to be a big effort to pressure Israel except on two points: One is the “freedom of movement” issue, asking Israel to dismantle more roadblocks, which will depend, of course, on the security situation; the other is the phrase, “To bring change in the living conditions of the people in Gaza.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean overthrowing Hamas and freeing Gazans from that dictatorship of genocidal-minded terrorists. Rather, it implies more pressure on Israel to reduce embargos on the Gaza Strip without removing Hamas, blocking arms-smuggling, or forcing any change in Hamas’s plan for future attacks on Israel. In other words, still another Israeli concession, though Israel will keep it to a minimum.
MEANWHILE, THE United States won’t push the PA to come to the negotiating table, or reduce incitement, or really convey to its people the need to give up hope of wiping out Israel and taking all the land, or punish terrorists. Such activities would make the PA unhappy; stir up Arab and Muslim complaints, and not work anyway. Of course, failing to do these things will also make any real progress on peace impossible as well.
The truth is, of course, that Fayyad’s two-year plan will fail completely. He is too weak to strengthen Palestinian institutions; the regime is too corrupt, incompetent, and ready to toy with violence to attract foreign investment. Even the welcome Palestinian economic boom is merely based on spending aid money and real estate speculation, not any solid foundation.
In this context, the administration has made a choice it would never admit: maximum popularity, minimum friction, no real change. That is a reasonable choice under the circumstances. It is also in real terms the same policy the Bush administration had and the Obama administration has ridiculed.
All this greater recognition of reality – whatever the rhetoric employed – should be accompanied with a corresponding shift in wider public understanding. Solving the Arab-Israeli conflict is not the key to the Middle East. There isn’t going to be a peace deal. The reason is internal Palestinian politics. The leadership is still radical, more eager to reconcile with Hamas than to make peace with Israel. The world view is extremist and geared toward total victory. PA media and clerics encourage violence and teach that Israel is temporary and illegitimate.
Nevertheless, the new US policy is not bad, especially given where the administration could have gone. It does seem as if the White House has realized the PA is not ready for peace and is thus reluctant to commit much effort to the issue.
Meanwhile, it will just go on saying how much it loves the Palestinians and look active while trying to keep things quiet as it deals with other issues.
In Honor of this Love affair between Obama, Netanyahu and Fayyad, and since it is Valentines Day:
I LOVE YOU, Maybe Baby?
http://davidovit3.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-love-you-maybe-baby.html
Cupid’s bow has pierced our hearts. Storefront windows abound with heart-shaped mobiles and chocolates packaged in red velvet boxes. Long-stemmed roses overfill the buckets lining the street corner markets. Flower delivery men scurry across town, their faces hidden behind big bouquets. Finely dressed businessmen clutch their briefcases in one hand and swing small, pink Victoria’s Secret bags in the other.
As an ebullience of amity overtakes the ever-hectic Manhattan on Valentine’s Day, it appears that love is in the air. But when all the accessories are stripped away, I question, what is love? Do we know how to love? And what is the greatest love of all? Whether it is love of people, God, or country, what is the real proof that we love something? Can you be patriotic if you refuse to fight for your country? Are you a loving husband if you don’t believe in Valentine’s Day? Are you a person of faith if you never attend temple or church? Can you really love your country if you don’t vote?
Who is to say that how we love is wrong or right? Could it be that Democrats love this country more than Republicans profess to? Can you really love yourself if you don’t take care of yourself? If we follow God’s decree to love our neighbors as ourselves, but in fact we hate ourselves and treat our neighbors with equal odium, have we fulfilled our obligation? If we only love what we can’t get, do we really love anything we have? If we love only what’s lovable, is that love?
The group Foreigner came out with a song in the 1980s, I Want To Know What Love Is. I think they are not alone in this quest. With on-line dating growing by the minute and divorces keeping equal pace, people are continually in the search for love and yet seem to ruin it once they have it. Can it be that we just don’t know what love is?
Maybe we can learn something from this week’s Bible portion in which God gives exact measurements and details of how he wants the Jewish nation to build His sanctuary. God does not leave his love affair with a people to chance, He explains explicitly what He wants. The burden is now upon His people to prove their love.
How often in our lives do we walk away from a relationship saying, “I gave that person everything I have and they didn’t appreciate it? The better question is, “Did you give them anything THEY wanted.” Jews can keep a perfect “Sabbath” on Wednesdays but at the end of the day would that mean anything to God who asked that the Jews keep it on Saturday? Perhaps love is not about giving what YOU want to give or giving all you have, but rather doing what you don’t feel like doing and giving what you don’t have–be it, time, patience, understanding, and yes even materialistic things.
Maybe it’s time we rejected the romanticized Hollywood version of love where lovers ride of into the sunset to some pop song and live happily ever after. In this generation where everything is easy come and easy go, even love is a casualty and subject to the revolving door syndrome that plagues our ability to appreciate and work hard for anything.
I don’t profess to be the love guru, but I do know that the words “I love you” are a lot easier said than done.
Happy Valentines Day to anyone I may have overlooked!!
Foreigner somehow morphed from being a kickass rock band to being a group of Morris Albert wannabes.
You know Morris?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyBcHUe4WeQ
Foreigner never sounded this way and with no accent even.
I loved them for about 2 months and then they sort of disappeared from the charts. But then we had Santana at that time so …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2cUX0CNA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtAaQrHYNE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtAaQrHYNE&feature=related
You know Morris?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyBcHUe4WeQ
Foreigner never sounded this way and with no accent even.
I loved them for about 2 months and then they sort of disappeared from the charts. But then we had Santana at that time so http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2cUX0CNA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtAaQrHYNE&feature=related
My cousin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nGYFopaAI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knE6auTbrPg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUgdEgp4Os&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFr03FpjVP8&feature=related
February 13, 2009, – 5:07 pm
On Valentine’s Day a/k/a “Doghouse Risk Avoidance Day”: Big Day for Catchin’ Cheaters; White Castle Candlelight Dinners
By Debbie Schlussel
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/4825/on-valentines-day-aka-doghouse-risk-avoidance-day-big-day-for-catchin-cheaters-white-castle-candlelight-dinners/
I have always hated Valentine’s Day.
Getting a Valentine’s card from someone with whom you do not want to deal on that level is quite awkward.
Going all the way back to kindergarten, I remember being so uncomfortable on this day.
I have never (voluntarily) given anyone a Valentine for just that reason: what if they don’t want one from me?
When we had to make them for our classmates in grade school, I would always cut the cards in the shape of coffins and write on them something like, “Be My Valentine And Die With Me”.
After my mother saw the Addams Family movie she laughed and claimed that when I was a little girl I was exactly like the Wednesday character as played by Christina Ricci.
I am afraid that I am a little lacking in the romance department.
But if you want to stand on the Santa Monica Freeway overpass and moon all the left wing motorists, I am your gal.
Look no further.
But if you want to stand on the Santa Monica Freeway overpass and moon all the left wing motorists, I am your gal.
I’ve actually done that!! No shit!!
If Your character is Wednesday Addams Which Character included do you ascribe to me? I’m definitely in there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0pc2c2GPyE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJDyWe4M8B4&feature=related
I wouldn’t recommend it by no means however, if you were to decide on it as an insurance agent I would recommend you review your insurance coverage, especially your personal liability and that should include either a personal excess or umbrella policy with at least $5,000,000. limit you will must likely be held responsible for a number of accidents.
You can forget the whole thing and still be my Valentine and it’s unconditional.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsCK0TdGnPA/S3guvxMTAYI/AAAAAAAAFrw/34RkdQk0liU/s1600-h/CUPID+dies.gif
That’s about it, but I never like to hurt people unless they are begging for it.
I will plead non compos mentis.
Gomez.
Some prefer Raul Julia, but John Astin is hard to beat.
I can see you standing on the front lawn of your mansion smoking a cigar while holding a hose watering the grass in the midst of a monsoon.
Or doing gymnastics on the dining room chandelier.
“Tish…you spoke French!”
description of the character gomez from addams family
Hmmm Gomez? Yes it seems to fit. I loved Raul Julia, in everything he ever did. Fine actor.
Gomez Lothario? Gomez is portrayed as naive, but also a handsome,and successful man, although he has a child-like, eccentric enthusiasm for everything he does. For instance, his personal portrait depicts him as standing gleefully on his head. Though a peaceful man, he is known to be well-versed in many types of combat. He and Morticia fence with foils sometimes.
Gomez has an endless love for his wife, Morticia. He studied to be a lawyer, but rarely practices, while taking great pride in losing his cases. Gomez is also quite pleased with the fact that his law class voted him “Least Likely to Pass the Bar”.
Gomez is extremely wealthy from inheritance and extensive investments, but he seems to have little regard for money. Although he invests in the stock market, to the point where there is a ticker tape machine in their living area, he seems to play the market primarily to lose. One novel claims that Gomez became wealthy after he discovered that it is possible to make a killing in the stock market. Despite his macabre sense of humor, he is extremely generous and known for going out of his way to help those he considers friends.
Gomez is of Castilian origin and loves to smoke cigars and play destructively with his model trains. Of the names Addams suggested for the family members, “Gomez” was the only one that was not “ghoulish” (in the manner of Morticia or Fester).
So that’s what you think of me LOL
Nathan Lane playing Gomez on Broadway Musical Addams Family Musical.
When Young returned to his office, he was confronted by his irascible editor, Graydon Carter, who had already gotten an earful on the incident.
“What were you thinking?” stormed Carter. “You can’t ask celebrities whether they’re Jewish or gay. In the future, just assume they’re all Jewish and all gay, OK?”
To get to the bottom of this important Jewish story, this reporter flew from Los Angeles to New York earlier this month to see if we could do any better than the hapless British journalist.
The press junket was underwritten by Universal Pictures, which flew in some 35 reporters to meet with the stars and director of the musical movie version of “The Producers,” a monster hit on Broadway and elsewhere, which was released Dec. 16.
We had been warned that Mel Brooks, who has guided and created every aspect of “Producers” in its various incarnations as nonmusical film, musical play and musical movie, wouldn’t be available.
Right on schedule, though, was Lane, followed by Matthew Broderick, who portrays Leo Bloom. Each was allotted 25 minutes to field questions from a gaggle of three dozen reporters, so there wasn’t much time for probing analysis and follow-ups.
Here’s how my dialogue with Lane went:
Q: “Even though you were born into an Irish Catholic blue-collar family, just about everyone assumes that you’re Jewish and that you changed your name from Rabinowitz. How did that impression catch hold and how do you feel about it?”
A: “Well, I did change my name. I was born Joseph Lane, but when I applied to the actors union, they said they already had a Joe Lane on the books and I’d have to change my last or first name. I had played the character of Nathan Detroit, whom I liked very much, in ‘Guys and Dolls,’ so I took the name Nathan.
“I’m really an honorary Jew, you know, all the best people are. I really do feel Jewish, even though I’m a Catholic. The way the Church has been behaving, I’m happy to be Jewish. You know, I’ve played so many Jewish characters, it’s been a great part of my life.”
Next it was Broderick’s turn.
Q: “In playing Leo Bloom, and other Jewish characters in Neil Simon plays, did you draw on your own background?”
A: “I suppose so. My mom was Jewish, so some would call me Jewish. Neil Simon and Mel Brooks and ‘Your Show of Shows’ guys are what I grew up loving. So I probably drew on my New York background and my Jewish background for that, sure.”
So there you have it. But what about the movie itself? Well, “The Producers” has become part of our folk culture, and watching it is a bit like listening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony or Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” You revel in the familiarity and listen for the nuances and emphasis, rather than the main themes.
Then there is the memory of the very first “Producers,” the 1967 nonmusical film, with the unforgettable Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder in the title roles. Broderick himself observed that he could unspool the entire movie in his head at any time.
The new “Producers” is a great piece of showmanship, harking back to the days of Busby Berkeley and the grand old MGM musicals. Hundreds of high-kicking chorus girls (and one klutzy one for comic relief), water fountains galore, Broadway lit up with blinking billboards, the whole works.
Lane and Broderick have practically patented their roles; Uma Thurman, in her first singing and dancing role, is God’s gift to mankind; and Will Ferrell is a hilarious addition as the Nazi “playwright.”
Among the 18 musical numbers, one showstopper is “I Wanna Be a Producer,” in which director Susan Stroman displays her roots as a choreographer. In “Betrayed,” Lane’s Max Bialystock, behind bars, acts out a miniversion of the show.
Ted, I did not understand – is this YOUR position:
If yes – then you are completely disconnected from the reality, and from the Jewish people, maybe that’s the reason why you have mainly three groups of readers:
the orthodox Jews – who disagree with most of your positions
the leftist Jews – who disagree with most of your positions
the xtians – who agree with most of your positions
“Tish…you spoke French!”
“Darling! Please! The pet.”
I want it all. That is not to say that I wouldn’t make some concessions to get most of it.
The deal must be on our terms. I would like to give them autonomy so we don’t have to give them citizenship.
But so long as the Arabs won’t compromise, I’ll stick with all.
Spoken like a true liberal galut Jewish Lawyer.
‘So long as the Arabs won’t compromise’ is better than any plan proposed so far.
“I don’t care whether” is your prefered “argumentation”, like “I don’t care whether the xtian zionists want to convert us” etc…
The lesson to be learned is that Israel should give the Arabs nothing zero zilch nada bupkis.
There is nothing to be gained from good faith gestures or tactical retreats since such actions are invariably interpreted as weakness.
“Tish…you spoke French!”
Size does matter. It is okay to have a house for your family only, not for strangers. It is acceptable to enforce basic shared values in a gated community. It is, however, immoral to impose values on or exclude strangers from a huge country like Germany, and even there it would have been tolerable if the Germans had merely relocated Jews to Switzerland or Palestine. The only difference between the imposition of communist values on one-sixth of the Earth’s surface in the USSR and enforcement of Judaism in Mea Shearim religious district of Jerusalem is the size.
It is perfectly liberal for people to form communities and subscribe to similar values, whether at a nudist beach or in a Quaker village. Israel is a country the size of a community. Religious and nationalist Jews need exactly this minuscule place to practice our values; indeed, no one would suggest a mountaintop to nudists asking for a beach: the land should be proper for the intended use. On the other hand, it makes no difference whatsoever to the leftist Jews whether they live in Tel Aviv or Toronto; indeed, every value of theirs is better realized in Toronto.
Cara Mia!
Che canzone sentimentale…Cara mia, ti voglio bene!
Linguine!
Provolone!!
Manicotti!!!
Mangiare!!!!
I haven’t had spumoni in decades.
I really miss that crap.
I used to make my own home made. Mangiare Bene!!
I love Italian food. With a good table wine. Great language as well. My ex was brought up in Italy and Italian was a first language.. Many stories for another time, maybe?
I make a killer Tiramisu
I understand that it was implicated in the death of Heath Ledger.
Fuuny! He may have been considered a good and promising actor but taking a toxic mix of meds , if true is dumber than dumb. He deserved to die just because of his shitti taste in women, M. Willams who looks like a blond miss piggy and N watts? eeech!!! just to name a few that come to mind.
He was just one of those shallow slobs who cared about more than looks, the ignorant fool.
My friend was dating Jon-Erik Hexum when he died an amazingly stupid death.
That may rank among the dumbest ways anyone has ever died.
How do you know? Or are you making assumptions? May he just had terrible taste and dug ugly?
Shooting ones self in the head with blanks certainly puts him up there.
The son of a past girlfriend was playing Russian roulette with some kids and one blew his head off. He only got two years in prison. Today he an exec. for IBM in Atlanta.
How do you know? Or are you making assumptions? May he just had terrible taste and dug ugly?
That may rank among the dumbest ways anyone has ever died.
Shooting ones self in the head with blanks certainly puts him up there.
The son of a past girlfriend was playing Russian roulette with some kids and one blew his head off. My friends son onlygot
two years in prison. Today he an exec. for IBM in Atlanta.
Hey keep your mitts of Naomi Watts. She’s mine. I loved her in King Kong and most everything she does.
Not to worry Ted, I named Watts because I read she was connected with him but I don’t know what watts even looks like. at least I can’t associate any face with the name. Williams I know mostly from Dawson’s creek and I hated her persona and always connect how she physically looked to her character in that TV series. Maybe in real life she is the exact opposite and if so I really couldn’t know that could I?
Anyway at a quarter to 5 am, I tend to babel on unconsciously, with inane drivel.
Naomi Watts looks like the poster girl for Behold The Aryan Race!
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2008/12/08-15/naomi_watts.jpg
Ted may experiencing the old fantasy about the Jewish internee and the Nazi concentration camp matron.
If only she were albino!
Actually, I agree with you both.
Naomi is lovely.
yamit is unconscious.
After considerable effort, we have finally achieved consensus.
OK I deserved the rebuke but that said, with supreme effort I do have moments of lucidity.
Remember my song; “I like you, I like you, even if your tall or short, fat of thin, rich or poor etc”
My favorite Ayran Type when she and I were younger was Candice Bergen.
Then there was Eva Marie Saint Her parents lived next-door to us. I never saw or met her though. When I was born she was already a name in Tinsel Town. We moved away when I was about 5.
Lovely is in the eyes of the beholder.
The reason they not only sell vanilla but also chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch, butter pecan (one of my favorites).
Besides, lovely is only skin deep like I told a friend years ago who was contemplating marriage, the book cover may be inviting, the material inside may be terrible.
Marriage is for life and you could be living with beauty and the beast all in one.
The beauty inside will resonate the real beauty and your lifetime partner will make you happy.
.
I still can’t stand Michelle Williams no matter how she looks.
With a slight makeover, or on a bad hair day, she could do Gollum.
http://www.danperezstudios.com/images/workshop/gollum%20maquette.jpg
Thank you Ann Landers or is it Dr. Phil these days?
With a slight makeover, or on a bad hair day, she could do Gollum.
I think Sméagol is more like her.
My Favorite Aryan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgNBtwwurQI&feature=player_embedded#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVsq6SYqHJM&feature=related
Especially for AYN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268F5osfi8c&feature=related
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/4/10/128838681324274488.jpg
http://people.famouswhy.com/candice_bergen/candice_bergen_photo2_9.jpg
http://people.famouswhy.com/candice_bergen/candice_bergen_image3_4.jpg
http://totallylookslike.com/upcoming?pid=6048
http://totallylookslike.com/upcoming?pid=7594
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/14/th_128711785605951636.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/21/128953355887509435.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/11/23/129034709267480986.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/8/kanttuchdis128653940108754898.jpg
My Favorite Aryan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgNBtwwurQI&feature=player_embedded#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVsq6SYqHJM&feature=related
Especially for AYN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268F5osfi8c&feature=related
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/4/10/128838681324274488.jpg
http://people.famouswhy.com/candice_bergen/candice_bergen_photo2_9.jpg
http://people.famouswhy.com/candice_bergen/candice_bergen_image3_4.jpg
http://totallylookslike.com/upcoming?pid=6048
http://totallylookslike.com/upcoming?pid=7594
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/14/th_128711785605951636.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/21/128953355887509435.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/11/23/129034709267480986.jpg
http://images.cheezburger.com/ThumbnailCache/affinity/images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/8/kanttuchdis128653940108754898.jpg