Is this another one of Obama's "expiration date" pronouncements?
...Responsibility and leadership in the 21st century demand more. In an era when our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero sum game. No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation. No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. No balance of power among nations will hold. The traditional division between nations of the south and north makes no sense in an interconnected world. Nor do alignments of nations rooted in the cleavages of a long gone cold war...
Well, how's that working out? In the case of Israel, not so much - being an ally of the United States seems to be a downer instead of an upper. Just for allowing building housing in an area that was exempt from a previous agreement? Yes, sir - the Chicago way - the Alinsky way! From Powerline:
Haaretz reports that Israel has not only received a tongue lashing from Secretary Clinton delivered to Ambassador Michael Oren, but has also received four peremptory demands:
1. Investigate the process that led to the announcement of the Ramat Shlomo construction plans in the middle of Biden's visit. The Americans seek an official response from Israel on whether this was a bureaucratic mistake or a deliberate act carried out for political reasons. Already on Saturday night, Netanyahu announced the convening of a committee to look into the issue.
2. Reverse the decision by the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee to approve construction of 1,600 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo.
3. Make a substantial gesture toward the Palestinians enabling the renewal of peace talks. The Americans suggested that hundreds of Palestinian prisoners be released, that the Israel Defense Forces withdraw from additional areas of the West Bank and transfer them to Palestinian control, that the siege of the Gaza Strip be eased and further roadblocks in the West Bank be removed.
4. Issue an official declaration that the talks with the Palestinians, even indirect talks, will deal with all the conflict's core issues - borders, refugees, Jerusalem, security arrangements, water and settlements.It's quite a package, if accurate, and it's hard to see how any self-respecting Israeli government could submit to it. Item number three in addition gives expressive form to the notion that it is dangerous being an ally of the United States in the Age of Obama.
Oh, another thing from that UN speech:
We have fully embraced the millennium development goals.
Think the ONE campaign. Think an additional tax on the US taxpayers - 2.5% of national GDP. That's $350,000,000,000 / year.
Obama said "...spread the wealth...". He's working on that too.
