A response to Caroline Glick
A response to Caroline Glick
Caroline Glick's last Column One article has been the subject of IsraPundit posts: see 1 and 2. Below is the letter I sent to Ms Glick concerning Douglas Feith. I present the letter with apologies for coming yet again with a wet blanket, but the truth must be faced.
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 18:40:29 -0500 (EST)
From: "Joseph Alexander Norland", dt804@yahoo.ca
Subject: Your article about Douglas Feith
To: "caroline glick", caroline@jpost.com
Dear Ms Glick,
In your laudatory article about Douglas Feith,
<http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1102752565828>
you write,
Disliked in liberal circles in the US and internationally, Feith, a staunch supporter of Israel, began his government career in 1981 as an assistant to Soviet expert Richard Pipes at the US National Security Council in the Reagan administration.
Indeed, Douglas Feith wrote the seminal paper, "A Mandate for Israel", establishing Israel's right, under international law, to Judea, Samaria and Gaza (JSG). But that was in 1993:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_n33/ai_14538698/print
Since then, the "staunch supporter" has hardly justified the accolades. Here is an example of an article posted a short time ago:
http://216.26.163.62/2004/ss_israel_06_06.html
This article, published in the World Tribune, is entitled "Pentagon's Wolfowitz, Feith pushed for Gaza pullout", and includes this quotation:
TEL AVIV – The U.S. Defense Department was recruited in the Bush administration's effort to press Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
...
In one case, officials said, Defense Undersecretary Doug Feith pressed Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to ensure government passage of the withdrawal plan. Feith, officials said, asked Mofaz how long the Cabinet would debate Sharon's proposal.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king; in this sense, Douglas Feith may be considered a "staunch supporter", but you should have no illusions about the truth. Nor should your readers.
Joseph Alexander Norland
IsraPundit.com
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at December 13, 2004 03:43 PM
1.
Tamar
said:
Excellent Joseph! Excellent!
We need a TRUE peace with our neighbours...and an open, honest relationship with the US Govt. Right now, we lack both.
Tamar
Posted by: Tamar on December 13, 2004 05:27 PM
2.
Bennett
said:
I don't know whether your evaluation of Feith is correct or not, but it is misleading.
You imply that Feith has not come out with anything supporting Israel since 1993, but in point of fact he has.
Just doing a google for "feith israel" turns up in the first 2 results:
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/feith/feith.php
In 1999 Douglas Feith wrote an essay for a book entitled The Dangers of a Palestinian State, which was published by ZOA.
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9524480.htm
In 2000, he helped author a paper, "A Clean Break," that advised incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt a much tougher approach to the Palestinians and Israel's Arab neighbors.
As opposed to examples of Feith's actual position, you give an example which explicitly deals with members of the Defense Department being "recruited in the Bush Administration's effort to press Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip." There is nothing in what you quote to indicate any change in Feith's position.
As a member of the Defense Department he was doing what he was assigned to do.
Having the position he has gives him influence, which, given the record of his views, allows for potential benefit for Israel, but at the same time he will carry out assignments that he may not agree with.
That is a real distinction to bear in mind.
Posted by: Bennett on December 14, 2004 12:40 AM
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A response to Caroline Glick
Caroline Glick's last Column One article has been the subject of IsraPundit posts: see 1 and 2. Below is the letter I sent to Ms Glick concerning Douglas Feith. I present the letter with apologies for coming yet again with a wet blanket, but the truth must be faced.
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 18:40:29 -0500 (EST)
From: "Joseph Alexander Norland", dt804@yahoo.ca
Subject: Your article about Douglas Feith
To: "caroline glick", caroline@jpost.com
Dear Ms Glick,
In your laudatory article about Douglas Feith,
<http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1102752565828>
you write,
Indeed, Douglas Feith wrote the seminal paper, "A Mandate for Israel", establishing Israel's right, under international law, to Judea, Samaria and Gaza (JSG). But that was in 1993:http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_n33/ai_14538698/print
Since then, the "staunch supporter" has hardly justified the accolades. Here is an example of an article posted a short time ago:
http://216.26.163.62/2004/ss_israel_06_06.html
This article, published in the World Tribune, is entitled "Pentagon's Wolfowitz, Feith pushed for Gaza pullout", and includes this quotation:
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king; in this sense, Douglas Feith may be considered a "staunch supporter", but you should have no illusions about the truth. Nor should your readers.Joseph Alexander Norland
IsraPundit.com
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at December 13, 2004 03:43 PM