It turns out that the latest critic of Ariel Sharon's Palestinian policies is ... (drumroll please) ... the Israeli army chief .
[blatantly out of context excerpts below]
The chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces has added his voice to those criticizing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's hard-line policies for dealing with the Palestinians.
In a "background" briefing given to three of Israel's top political commentators, General Yaalon sought to describe an ongoing debate within Israel's military establishment over how to handle the conflict.
According to Nahum Barnea's account in the Wednesday edition of Yedioth Ahronoth, Yaalon said many officers favored easing a strict "closure" on the Palestinian territories because the restrictions ultimately exacerbate tensions
Yaalon also outlined the frustration that many senior officers apparently feel about the government's policy toward former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas stepped down in early September, saying he had been undermined by Israel and the government's call for the removal of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, which has served to reinforce the Palestinian leader's popularity among his people. The chief of staff also relayed criticism of the route planned for the "security barrier," which Israel is building to prevent terrorist attacks by walling in the Palestinians.
In Thursday's coverage of the controversy, military officers were quoted supporting Yaalon's view. "Yaalon felt a public duty to warn and to bring to the public's attention the sense that many commanders feel, which is that the IDF is putting the Palestinian people into a pressure cooker that is liable to blow up in our face," said one unnamed officer quoted in the Maariv daily.
Professor Van Creveld, author of a history of Israel's military, says Yaalon was not necessarily out of line in sharing his views. "I would be inclined to think it is rather the duty of the chief of staff to speak out," he says. "I'm a bit disappointed that he's done it only now."
[p.s. what's with LGF anyway ? They make Fox News look Fair and Balanced, and the last time I read it, it was nothing but radio call-in show style vitriol. I saw one article where people claimed that Jews were prohibited from getting security clearances in the US government (?!?). They love Boykin there, but ignore the fact that he thinks of America as a Christian nation. Basically, they think that Islam is the enemy and that any muslim is inherently a traitor. Sorry, I'm not going back to get the links to link this properly, I don't want to look at it any more.]
| Middle East | Palestine | LGF |
Jews have been having troubles getting clearances; I've been collecting first hand experiences since I got to Washington. I had an interview myself (for a job that would have required a clearance) where the interviewer's first question was about Jonathan Pollard, and after that he went on and on about how few Jewish colleagues he had and how surprised he was since Jews were so smart and all. I didn't get that job. It's an odd contradiction, since there are so many prominant Jews in the administration, particularly the Pentagon. Don't know what to make of it myself.
Comment #1 :: link :: October 31, 2003 09:00 AMThat is odd. In the LGF case, they were inferring from the fact that the pentagon was reluctant to hire ex-Israeli intelligence people for intelligence jobs to widespread anti-semitism in the intelligence community. It then spun out of control to the point where somebody had to point out to them that some Jews have clearances and others were shocked.
What you're saying is the discussion I wish they had had.
Coincidentally, I heard Pollard's dad is a Professor at Notre Dame.
I hear Pollard's dad is a big crucifix thief.
Comment #3 :: link :: October 31, 2003 09:00 AMYou mean Old Doc Pollard, the vampire Ph.D.?
Comment #4 :: link :: October 31, 2003 09:00 AMWho's Doc Pollard, the vampire Ph.D.? I met a few grad students in my day who struck me as un-dead. Of course I kept hoping to meet a vampire-slaying Ph.D.
Comment #5 :: link :: November 1, 2003 09:00 AMhttp://www.nd.edu/~prinfo/news/2002/1-26z.html
Comment #6 :: link :: November 3, 2003 09:00 AMMS -- the crucifix-theif thing is a reference to this post about Notre Dame.
Comment #7 :: link :: November 6, 2003 09:00 AM
