February 26, 2013

"Obama plans to 'listen,' not present Mideast peace plan: Kerry."

Don't present. Vote present.

Actually, I'm being unfair. SOS Kerry didn't use the old Obama-hater's buzzword "present." He said "sort of plunk":
"We're not going to go and sort of plunk a plan down and tell everybody what they have to do... I want to consult and the president wants to listen."
The insinuation is that those who present actual plans are clods.

Remember how Kerry, when running for President, was always supposed to be the man of nuance, in whose delicate hands we should place the troubles of all of the world? It was supposedly so important to snatch the power out of the clumsy paws of George Bush.

UPDATE: Saying hello to Secretary Nuance: "Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday fired a rocket into Israel for the first time since a cease-fire reached three months ago ended an Israeli offensive against the militant Islamist group Hamas...."

36 comments:

JAL said...

All those who voted for O:

Are you voting "Present?"

Thanks.

Actually I am happy with him doing nothing. All the time. Every day. All the way.

traditionalguy said...

To lead from behind and carry a big Drone.

That's not a bad idea if he expects not to need allies in the area...as if being pro-Muslim gives Obama all the allies he needs or wants.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I Kerry in the beginning stages of dementia?

Brent said...

Geez Ann - is the theme this morning "that time of the month"? I abhor the Obama admin but. . . C'mon. Coffee?

Seeing Red said...

Sometimes administrations are more target rich than other times, ebbs & flows like life.

I have to thank Barry for opening his trap yesterday, we're refinancing and he spooked the market, rates dropped. LOLOLOL

I hope he doesn't shut up for a few more days, I'd love another 1/4 of a %, but I'll take and 1/8th.

Anonymous said...

We're not going to go and sort of plunk a plan down and tell everybody what they have to do... We reserve that sort of treatment for the health-care system.

Wince said...

And we've got Hagel waiting in the wings at Defense?

Seeing Red said...

OTOH, can't let a good ginned-up crisis go to waste!

test said...

"We're not going to go and sort of plunk a plan down and tell everybody what they have to do...

Foreigners deserve respect so simply plunking down a unilateral plan is inappropriate. But Obama gleefully plunked down a unilateral plan called Obamacare, so what's the difference? The only explanation is that Obama doesn't believe Americans deserve respect, he believes government has the right to do whatever those in charge of it think best regardless of who objects.

Bob Boyd said...

Nobody likes a plan plunker.

YoungHegelian said...

Between this "plunk down", the "right to be stupid", and the MadeUp-izstan country name, I can tell that the next four years of Kerry as SoS are going to give us all at least one howler per week.

Anonymous said...

This needs to be put in the context of Kerry and Pelosi running off to politic with Assad, against the wihses of Bush 2, when we were trying to isolate Syria because of human rights issues and their support of Iraqi jihadists.

USA Today 2007:

On Tuesday, President Bush denounced Pelosi's visit to Syria, saying it sends mixed signals to Assad's government. "Sending delegations doesn't work. It's simply been counterproductive," Bush said.

Washington says Syria is fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory. It also accuses it of backing terrorism because of its support for the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups and of destabilizing the Lebanese government.

"We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace," Pelosi told reporters after her talks with Assad.

cubanbob said...

Hmmm either by accident or design Kerry might be on to something right for a change. Listening with feigned sympathy but actually not doing anything is the wisest course of action for the US with respects to the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Trying to come up with some grand comprise or bargain between the two sides has always been a fool's errand for the US. The Arabs want Israel to die and the Israeli's are not willing to oblige by committing national suicide. Best to leave things to the two interested parties and not push for the impossible.

If the democrats were wise enough to understand that allowing full on energy development in the US is not only absolutely needed for our economic recovery and future growth but by eliminating the need to import fuel from the Arab and Muslim world we don't have to care about them and hence interject ourselves into their madness. And if Israel succeeds in developing it's recent oil and gas discoveries they won't have to deal with the Arab and Muslim madness to the extent they currently have to.

Anonymous said...

Kerry Obama 2009:

Kerry said in Lebanon that US President Barack Obama's administration plans to adopt a fresh approach in the Middle East "but without any illusion."

"Unlike the Bush administration that believed you could simply tell people what to do and walk away and wait for them to do it, we believe you have to engage in a discussion," he said.

"So we are going to renew diplomacy but without any illusion, without any naivety, without any misplaced belief that, just by talking, things will automatically happen."

Speaking after Saturday's meeting, Assad touched on that theme, saying it is necessary to "move away from a policy based on dictating decisions."

Future relations should be based on a "proper understanding" by Washington of regional issues and on common interests.

"Dialogue, based on the history of the region and the rights of its peoples, is the only way to understand and resolve problems," he said.

The administration of former US president George W. Bush repeatedly accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the arming and funding of insurgents in neighbouring Iraq and of supporting terrorism.

AlanKH said...

"The reason is, that's freedom, freedom of speech. In America you have a right to be stupid - if you want to be."

I'm no Kerry fan at all - and I think Winter Soldier should have sent him to jail (for either war crimes or perjury) - but I think the joke is funny.

It would have been brilliant to follow up with the statement "We don't entrust our government to define 'stupid'" - but a government with a Department of Education can't honestly say that.

"And you have a right to be disconnected to somebody else if you want to be."

Good to see Kerry agrees with the ruling in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale.

test said...

cubanbob said...
Trying to come up with some grand comprise or bargain between the two sides has always been a fool's errand for the US.


This is exactly right. As long as one of the principals believes they can convince outsiders to pressure the other into greater concessions there will be no agreement. The greatest step toward peace would be to announce that the issue is between Israel and the Palestinians.

Guimo said...

SOS Kerry? Does that mean Sack of Shit Kerry? I thought so.

Paul said...

Pitiful. Just pitiful.

Obama the 'community organizer'. So Kerry pretty much says we have zero foreign policy now. Just Z E R O.

And zero + zero = zero.

Hope you like voting for him gang. Way to go.

Tank said...

Everyone has a plan until they get hit. Mike Tyson.

A plan? The goal of one side is to push the Jews into the sea.

To paraphrase our former SOS, what difference does it make what the "plan" is? Waste of time.

traditionalguy said...

This anti Israel BS is spreading like the blob. Even the PCUSA Presbyterians are flirting with disaster again.

Their worshipers said we are fine with women clergy, we love female people.

Then their worshipers said we are fine with gay clergy, we love gay people.

But when they want to pronounce a secondary boycott by disinvestment in American Companies for selling equiptment or goods to the Jewish State of Israel, then they have attacked the people that we love and no amount of high sounding blabber about justice or Christian duty can cover up an overt act of war by Neo-Nazi idiots.

Phil 314 said...

Saying hello to Secretary Nuance

Say Hello..

Cedarford said...

Trad guy -

But when they want to pronounce a secondary boycott by disinvestment in American Companies for selling equiptment or goods to the Jewish State of Israel, then they have attacked the people that we love and no amount of high sounding blabber about justice or Christian duty can cover up an overt act of war by Neo-Nazi idiots.

Trad guy - you can "love" Israel the same as some other American can "love" Ireland or Vatican City or Russia or China from some religious or ethnic loyalty.

Just don't use the phrase "We love". Anymore than a Russia-lover should.

As for idiots, sure. Its the old South Africa disinvestment scam of the Left, the Soviets, and the progressive Jews that pushed it in Western and Soviet media organs..

But it is equally stupid to frame it as an "Act of war" (against whom??) or as it being neo-nazi for anyone or any nation or group to sanction or criticise the nation Tradguy loves so! on any matter.

edutcher said...

In other words, leading from his behind again.

That's gotten us Syria, Mali Egypt, Labia, running from Iraq and A-stan, and the Dinner Jacket and the Norks setting off A-bombs.

And the Russkies won't return Lurch's phone calls.

Oh, I can't wait for this.

Seeing Red said...

Most of Wretchard's latest posting:

Washington Post article suggests that the administration may have finally decided to “lead from front” in Syria. An influx of heavy weapons from ‘abroad’ is reportedly tipping the balance against Assad. The WaPo article strongly hints that the source of the weapons — through cutouts of course — is ultimately Washington.

The officials declined to identify the source of the newly provided weapons, but they noted that the countries most closely involved in supporting the rebels’ campaign to oust Assad have grown increasingly alarmed at the soaring influence of Islamists over the fragmented rebel movement. They include the United States and its major European allies, along with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar …

“The idea was to get heavier stuff, intensify supply and make sure it goes to the good guys,” said an Arab official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation. “If you want to weaken al-Nusra, you do it not by withholding [weapons] but by boosting the other groups.”

Of course, mentioning “Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar” in the same article as making sure weapons go “to the good guys” is bound to make Israel nervous. And indeed the Jerusalem Post says the Israelis are watching warily to see what eventually happens to the “heavy weapons”. Washington is arming men not far from their borders. Where will those weapons go when Assad is gone?

“On the one hand, there is a great deal of pressure on the Western world to bolster arms to moderate – what we call ‘friendly’ – rebel groups so that they are on a level playing field with the groups that might be getting support from Islamist movements,” this official told McClatchy.

“On the other hand, once you send a weapon somewhere, you can’t control where it goes. The fear is that the same gun used to shoot a Syrian soldier will one day be used to shoot an Israeli soldier...


Colonel Angus said...

, when we were trying to isolate Syria because of human rights issues and their support of Iraqi jihadists.

Ironically, jihadists are largely among those trying to topple Assad.

Colonel Angus said...

On the other hand, once you send a weapon somewhere, you can’t control where it goes. The fear is that the same gun used to shoot a Syrian soldier will one day be used to shoot an Israeli soldier...

You would think that after Fast and Furious and Libya, this administration would have learned this is a plan made to fail.

Then again, he has no love for Israel or Israelis so this perhaps it is his plan.

Rabel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rabel said...

"The WaPo article strongly hints that the source of the weapons — through cutouts of course — is ultimately Washington."

Early reports on the Benghazi attack stated that two of the men killed were working with the CIA to collect, among other weapons, the 10 to 20,000 Stinger-type missles which had gone missing in the overthrow of Gadaffi.

The microchip that FEMA planted in my brain tells me that there is a connection.

Cedarford said...

Colonel Angus said...
On the other hand, once you send a weapon somewhere, you can’t control where it goes. The fear is that the same gun used to shoot a Syrian soldier will one day be used to shoot an Israeli soldier...

You would think that after Fast and Furious and Libya, this administration would have learned this is a plan made to fail.

Then again, he has no love for Israel or Israelis so this perhaps it is his plan
==========
Every President from Truman on has supplied weapons to friendly Arab nations (friendly in the sense of being anticommunist at least).
Even in the Soviet Union, powerful and influential Jews that had their way on many things, and were strongly pro-Israel as much as they were pro-communist - were unable to block "their side in the Cold War" from using weapons sales to gain influence over nations like Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Syria.
Then the Egyptians saw the Israelis and their US Jewish Lobby were finagling a 3.5 billion annual welfare check for agreeing to Camp David and were smart enough to as terms of the Treaty, demand their own 2 billion welfare check they could only spend on US aid or weapons.
Of course, the Zionists grumble, but they or their AIPAC lobby have yet to really go after the Egyptian welfare entitlement - hard to protest if you have to surrender your guaranteed welfare checks.
The 65 billion and 105 billion US taxpayers gave to both nations in the last 30+ years would have ended long ago BUT for the efforts of the Jewish lobby to keep the bucks coming.
Of course, after the Cold War, the rationale shifted more to Zionists, defense contractor cronies, and banks all wanting weapons to keep going to Israel and the Arabs.
(1)To recycle petrodollars.
(2) To sell them weapons because if we don't, the Euros, Russians, and Chinese are ready to sell quite nice products instead.
(3) The deal Israel and the Jewish Lobby concocted at Camp David continues.

JAL said...

@ edutcher That's gotten us Syria, Mali Egypt, Labia ....

Something on your mind, e?

(Sorry it just struck me as too funny.)

Michael K said...

"If the democrats were wise enough to understand that allowing full on energy development in the US is not only absolutely needed for our economic recovery and future growth"

They're not. Next question ?

Methadras said...

Part of his larger broad based context sensitive listening tour that yielded nothing.

Gary Rosen said...

C-fudd's head is crammed so far up his ass you couldn't blow it out with a tactical nuke. He keeps yammering about "powerful jooooooos in Russia" even though the Soviet Union was completely on the side of the Arabs during the Cold War. Thank G-d he's a nitwit, misfuck and born loser like the rest of the antisemites.

Gary Rosen said...

C-fudd's head is crammed so far up his ass you couldn't blow it out with a tactical nuke. He keeps yammering about "powerful jooooooos in Russia" even though the Soviet Union was completely on the side of the Arabs during the Cold War. Thank G-d he's a nitwit, misfuck and born loser like the rest of the antisemites.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

John Kerry, bless his heart ... always just goes ahead and says what he thinks.

My Mama told me, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Seeing Red said...
This comment has been removed by the author.