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The Obama Watch
The Hurt Can Be Much
Obama's Romeo policies threaten Israel's security and much else.
Many of us remember reading, or watching, the great Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.
In the scene of street brawling in the Italian city of Verona, Romeo comes between his dear friend Mercutio and Tybalt, one of the leaders of the teen gangs. Tybalt, we know, is actually fair Juliet's brother, so Romeo sincerely wants to end the incessant violence.
While Romeo's arm is extended, Tybalt stabs Mercutio -- and flees the scene. The Prince has vowed dire punishment to any who continue their roistering ways. Romeo was trying to protect his friend, and does not realize how seriously Mercutio has been wounded.
"Courage, man," he says to the stricken Mercutio, "the hurt cannot be much." Mercutio replies, at first, with his characteristic wit about his stab wound:
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for
me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.
Mercutio's jests end with this bitter rebuke to his dear friend, Romeo:
…Why the devil came you between us? I
was hurt under your arm.
Realizing at last how grievously his friend has been injured, Romeo says pathetically, "I thought all for the best."
This scene comes to mind as I view President Obama's policy toward the mortal threat Israel faces as Iran's nuclear ambitions proceed unhindered toward a bomb. The leading ayatollah in Tehran has described Israel as "a one-bomb country." About that, he is right. One nuclear weapon is all that it would take to kill millions of Israelis. It would be a twenty-minute Holocaust.
President Obama has wasted his first year in office "reaching out" to the mullahs in Tehran. Even now, he absurdly says that the Iranian clerics and the United States have a "mutual interest" in stopping the Taliban in Afghanistan. Just who does he think is now aiding the Taliban? Can he really be so naive?
For the past year, although they would never admit it, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been pressing a "re-set" button on U.S. policy toward Israel.
Clinton -- at Obama's urging -- has demanded that Israel submit to UN oversight of its investigation into the violent boarding of the Turkish supply ship that tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Hamas, the terrorist organization committed to the immediate destruction of Israel, runs Gaza. From Gaza, Hamas has launched thousands of missiles into Israel.
The world, including the UN bureaucrats, yawned as Israeli cities and farms came under this rocket attack. Tehran, it is widely known, is arming Hamas, just as it is supplying Hezbollah, the terrorist outfit that rules in Southern Lebanon.
The Israelis were determined not to allow the Turkish ship to enter a Gaza port without being inspected. If even one of those cargo containers held weapons of mass destruction -- anthrax, nerve gas such as that released in the Tokyo subway, or some other biological or chemical agent -- the densely populated Jewish state would be in mortal jeopardy.
About the Author
Ken Blackwell, a board member of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and a senior fellow at the Family Research Council.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
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michigander_sandusky| 8.19.10 @ 7:38AM
Pretty sad commentary when Hillary actually looks like she would have been a better alternative than Barry Hussein. Please, someone wake me up from this horrible nightmare!
Alan Brooks| 8.19.10 @ 4:47PM
Ahmadinejad has got to be sent to that great Persian rug shop in the sky.
If only there were a Claus von Stauffenberg in Iran.
Cassandra| 8.19.10 @ 8:12AM
Why should anyone awaken? William Borah told FDR just before Pearl Harbor that there won't be any war. Actually we've been at war long before 9/11. we roused a bit then went back to sleep.
Mimi| 8.19.10 @ 8:32AM
Thanks Ken, The hurt is too much and that is because of the pressed down ANGER. How did we ever put this " KID " in the White house? Is he a Saudi-Soros BOY? I know this: America always fixes errors and mistakes! Always she is protected by Divine Providence, this ANOMALY will end!!!
Beer for My Horses| 8.19.10 @ 9:22AM
The U.S. should lease its stealth technoligy to the Israelis and then let them have at it with Iran. It won't be pretty, but it will buy the Israelis and the West about a decade to deal with the Iranian problem.
Red Phillips| 8.19.10 @ 2:50PM
"Obama's Romeo policies threaten Israel's security and much else."
That's funny. I thought that Americans were supposed to be concerned about whether or not Obama's policies threaten America's security, not some foreign country. Silly me.
Cabermon| 8.19.10 @ 11:23PM
I'm glad I'm not your friend or ally, since you obviously would not support or defend them. Methinks thou art a very small man, like Blackadder.
Mad Max| 8.20.10 @ 5:34AM
Do you remember my movie "Beyond Thunderdome"? I had to fight a dumb giant who had a smart midget sitting on this shoulders. Each had a club to hit you with, and the midget gave the orders. That's where we are now.
Howard| 8.20.10 @ 3:37PM
That may be true, Red. But, do you think Iran would respect us if we appeased them? Regardless of Israel, Iran isn't going to play nice with us.
Saint Marching In| 8.20.10 @ 5:37AM
If Israel pulls us into armageddon and I don't get raptured up, who can I sue?
Believer| 8.23.10 @ 2:55PM
Hey Saint marching I dont like making religious comments as readers usually dont bother reading them but In the book of Ezekiel it says of that coming war that Israel will be 7 months burying the dead of their enemy's. Lets just hope America will be on the right side.
GW Bush| 8.20.10 @ 5:39AM
"If even one of those cargo containers held weapons of mass destruction -- anthrax, nerve gas"
So that's what happened to the WMDs! I always knew they were there somewhere. I grew up with sneaky commies, and now we got sneaky islammies.
greghawk| 8.20.10 @ 6:05AM
You voted for this administration, thanks for nothing!
Oso Politico| 8.20.10 @ 8:22PM
Does even Blackwell himself believe this unadulterated bullshit? There is absolutely no evidence what-so-ever that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and so what, if they did? Israel has 100-200 real nuclear devices. They can defend themselves, if need be. Does the US have the right to say who shall, or shall not, have the means to defend themselves? The last I read, it was Mullen who was threatening Iran, not the other way around.
W.L. Barton| 8.22.10 @ 1:31PM
Hell with Israel. They can handle themselves, and keep their hands out of our pockets. The miserly beggars. No wonder God called them "a stiff necked people".
And Blackwell, in my opinion, is Diebold's BOY.
Michele San Pietro| 8.22.10 @ 5:40PM
Obama in really acting like a madman in the Middle East.
Joanna| 6.6.11 @ 4:42AM
What an interesting article- I hope to read more like this, thanks!UTI Treatment