The American Spectator : McPeak on Display

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McPeak on Display

By Robert M. Goldberg on 3.24.08 @ 12:07AM

Obama's military adviser and campaign co-chairman can't stand Israel and its supporters.

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Interviewer: "So this is -- this is multilateral."

Instead of discussing Hamas and Hezbollah, McPeak returns to his primary target: Christian and Jews who support Israel:

McPeak: "There's an element in Oregon [sic], you know, that's always going to be radical in some pernicious way, and likely to clothe it in religious garments, so it makes it harder to attack. So there's craziness all over the place. I think there is enough good will on the Israeli side -- I've spent a lot of time in Israel, worked at one time very closely with the Israeli air force as a junior officer, and so -- but that's maybe the more cosmopolitan, liberal version of the Israeli population."

In other words, American policy is the product of "religious Jews and neocons" who in McPeak's mind are just as much to blame for a lack of peace in the Middle East as are Hamas and Hezbollah.

It will be interesting to see how the Obama campaign formulates what should be its latest disavowal and dismissal of yet another anti-Israel and anti-Jewish "adviser."

McPeak's comments are worse than McCarthyism. They reflect the views of Reverend Wright and other Obama advisers who believe that Israel is just a problem to be solved, not an ally to support.

McPeak is not the only member of the Obama campaign who holds such twisted views. Others such as Robert Malley or Zbigniew Brzezinski have found themselves downgraded to "informal" advisers as their anti-Israel views are made public. Samantha Powers was dismissed for calling Hillary a monster, not for sharing McPeak's belief in the malign omnipotence of the "Israel lobby."

Obama has a Jewish problem and McPeak's bigoted views are emblematic of what they are. Obama can issue all the boilerplate statements supporting Israel's right to defend itself he wants. But until he accepts responsibility for allowing people like McPeak so close to his quest for the presidency, Obama's sincerity and judgment will remain open questions.

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topics:
Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Military, Iraq, Israel, NATO, Oil

About the Author

Robert M. Goldberg is vice president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and founder of Hands Off My H ealth, a grass roots health care empowerment network. His is new book, Tabloid Medicine: How the Internet is Being Used To Hijack Medical Science For Fear and Profit, was published last month by Kaplan.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) | Leave a comment

Michael Swanson| 10.30.08 @ 5:55AM

Unfortunately, I served under this general while completing my Air Force career in 1995 and just as much unfortunately, live within a few miles of him here in the state of Oregon. I'm absolutely ashamed of both his personal and public behavior and his political stance. And he should be too. Gen. McPeak is a traitor to this nation and poor role model. Gen. McPeak, it's doubtful you'll read this, but I, a retired USAF First Sergeant, rebuke you and tell you that you ought to be totally ashamed of yourself. Perhaps you ought to review the oath you took as an Air Force officer and even perhaps read the Constitution so that you understand the vision the founding fathers had for our nation. You chose to drink and drive and thankfully you got caught. The fact that you are out stumping for the likes of a Barack Obama is further testament is merely further evidence of continued poor judgment. I salute the outstanding officers I served with during my career, including Col. Mike McPhail and Gen. Judd Blaisdell and I salute them. I do not salute you. You're a disgrace.

Sherrie| 11.6.08 @ 12:57AM

I don't know where I've been, but today is the first I've heard of this. It's so disturbing to know this man is still a military advisor!

McPeak in a 2003 interview with The Oregonian newspaper, compared evangelical Christians to the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah!
He said, "There's an element in Oregon, you know, that's always going to be radical in some pernicious way, and likely to clothe it in religious garments, so it makes it harder to attack. So there's craziness all over the place." Oregon has a large evangelical Christian community.

Obama’s military advisor can’t distinguish the difference! It's scary that he uses the word attack!

McPeak also charged that Jews and Christian Zionists manipulated American foreign policy in Iraq.

I can't beleive this is now accepted language in America.

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Robert| 1.10.09 @ 5:04PM

So? Ok the General ain't all spit and polish and might drop a few too many. Attacking him on his DUI is smoke and mirrors and about as low as one can get. Nice forget debating facts. Lets throw mud and besides what does any of that have to to with the Middle East?

The fact is that our relationship with Israel is one of the heart and not much more than that. Yeah I know they are our best buddies in the Middle East. The only military platform we have that we can depend on. Eh... since when? When was the last time the Israelis supported anything we did militarily outside of their own interests?

We do not need Israel as a military platform and Israel does not want that either. That would be stupid for both governments.

The facts are the facts.... Our close ties with Israel are politically and religiously based and that is all. And I am not saying that is a bad thing. But one we need to realize and understand.

Economically the our Israeli policy is very expensive to the US Taxpayer. What do we really get in return for our investment? Israeli companies compete against US Companies all the time.

Does that mean we should not support Israel? Not at all but that does not mean we need to support Israel all the time either. Especially when they are wrong. And killing innocent civilians is wrong. Military targets are one thing, civilian targets are another.

Now that does not mean that I support Hamas? BTW I don't. However lets be real here...

Remember Hamas is the democratically elected government. One of the reason why our policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East can be dangerous. More so, we need to be especially careful on what we support and do not support in the Middle East and killing innocent civilians by either government should not be condoned by the United States, PERIOD! No matter who starts what. And both sides have histories of breaking agreements.

Yes Israel has a right to peace there is no question of that. Even though there are those inside the Israeli Government who want no peace with Hamas. Just like there are those in Hamas who want no peace with Israel.

The best position that the United States can maintain is not to support either side. Just hammer away at peace between both side.

But then again there is New York, Miami and Religion....

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