This new endeavor comes to remedy the lack of respect many Thomas L. Friedman readers start to experience after reading two (or, as it was measured, maximum of three) of his articles in NYT. The best remedy is to follow a single article or even a part of it, accompanied by comments written by someone really enlightened. Or someone less busy, like yours truly. So we are starting today with TLF’s latest: Reality Check.
“Reality check” means in this case “a loud complaint with whiny overtones about some no good people who repeatedly ignore my edicts printed in the world leading progressive newspaper and who will be sorry about that later”.
The failed attempt by the U.S. to bribe Israel with a $3 billion security assistance package, diplomatic cover and advanced F-35 fighter aircraft — if Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu would simply agree to a 90-day settlements freeze to resume talks with the Palestinians — has been enormously clarifying.
“enormously clarifying“: “It was absolutely clear and self-evident to me all along, and if someone can’t catch up – this is the only reason I am bothering to write another article in the world leading p…”
Oil is to Saudi Arabia what unconditional American aid and affection are to Israel — and what unconditional Arab and European aid and affection are to the Palestinians: a hallucinogenic drug that enables them each to think they can defy the laws of history, geography and demography.
“Oil is to Saudi Arabia…“: “I don’t know why the heck I mentioned the Saudis here, but it’s a long statement and it ends in long words too. Commands respect, I say”.
It is long past time that we stop being their crack dealers.
“crack dealers“: “It’s a good one. A punch in the face that is bound to get their attention. They will talk about it, these no good…”
The people running Israel and Palestine have other priorities. It is time we left them alone to pursue them — and to live with the consequences.
“And to live with the consequences“: “That one is gonna learn these assholes for sure. You shall see them running to Obama (my loyal disciple – never misses an article, that kid) covered by snot and tears.”
I understand the problem: Israeli and Palestinian leaders cannot end the conflict between each other without having a civil war within their respective communities.
“I understand the problem“: “Ha! Speak about the British art of understatement. Not only do I understand every tiniest bit of the problem – I AM the problem, the solution and the only ONE who will show them the WAY. And ‘them’ includes Hilary too, accidentally.”
Make no mistake, I am for the most active U.S. mediation effort possible to promote peace, but the initiative has to come from them.
“I am for the most active U.S. mediation effort possible to promote peace“: “That one is a pointer for Obama, so he would know what to do with hisself come Monday. And where the pointer comes from too…”
The Middle East only puts a smile on your face when it starts with them.
“That one is a doozy, ain’t it? I don’t have a slightest what starts where and who puts what on whom, but who cares? It all comes from ME and it is printed in in the world leading p…, so who will dare to ask?”
For those who are still feeling foggy after reading the linked article and don’t fully appreciate the depth and wealth of TLF’s wisdom and magnanimity, more lessons will follow.
Cross-posted on SimplyJews
Moral equivalence at its best (actually worst) between Israelis and Palestinians. Friedman would have done the same between the Czechs and Germans in 1938 claiming that both were “unreasonable” even as he would spend most of the time lambasting the Czechs. Also have you ever noticed that Friedman loves to dredge up Israelis (usually obscure left-wing academics) that nobody ever heard of to buttress his spurious claims and straw man arguments?
Moral equivalence is a much abused tool for NYT in general and Friedman in particular, true. And re quotes from obscure academics: no, I haven’t paid particular attention, but it strengthens my point of TLF’s godlike omnipotence and infinite wisdom/knowledge.
A great dis of Friedman:
The latest — and thus, by definition, worst — Thomas Friedman column is a real beaut.
What is this? I stop blogging and everyone has to get in on the fun?
Well, you have created a vacuum people are trying (in vain) to fill, you know.
And thanks for that quote and link. Worth repeating at another opportunity.
Israel will survive if US aid is cut off. The Palestinian Arabs, on the other hand, would not survive for long if international welfare was cut off, the welfare payments that prop up the PA and Hamas thugocracies and trickle down to put a few pennies in the hands of the ordinary Palis.
You want peace between the Palis and the Israelis? Cut off the former from all international doles. No more money from the UN, the US, patsy Euros, or from Israel. Perhaps their “Arab brothers” or their “Iranian Muslim brothers” will pick up the slack, but I rather doubt it. They are pretty chintzy with their money and they despise the Palis. Their “Arab brothers” treat the Palestinian Arabs like dogs, worse than the Israelis do. They have killed more of them than the Israelis have. Some Arab coutnries won’t even let Palestinian Arabs work there, as for example Lebanon, let alone allow them to become citizens (the naturalization law of the Wahhabist Entity explicitly prohibits Palestinian Arabs from becoming subjects of His Wahhabist Majesty).
Cut the Arabs off. Let them work or starve. If they have to work for a living they won’t have time, energy, or extra money for terrorism, as they now have on welfare. At any rate that is what I hope from this strategy. Right now they have neither inclination nor need for peace. As long as that is the case the Palis will never negotiate in good faith and make a peace agreement with Israel. If it doesn’t work we would be no worse off than we are today. Alternatives to cutting off the welfare will require much more bloodshed.