BIBI’S MAGNIFICENT UN SPEECH
He stood in front of the UN General Assembly - sans the representatives of a few despots and thugs - and in a voice sometimes shaking with emotion, he threw down a moral gauntlet to the world, reminding us that there is such a thing as evil and that it is up to all of us to resist it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed an unpardonable sin during his magnificent speech.
He told the truth:
Yesterday, the man who calls the Holocaust a lie spoke from this podium. To those who refused to come here and to those who left this room in protest, I commend you. You stood up for moral clarity and you brought honor to your countries.
But to those who gave this Holocaust-denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people, the Jewish people, and decent people everywhere: Have you no shame? Have you no decency?
A mere six decades after the Holocaust, you give legitimacy to a man who denies that the murder of six million Jews took place and pledges to wipe out the Jewish state.
What a disgrace! What a mockery of the charter of the United Nations! Perhaps some of you think that this man and his odious regime threaten only the Jews. You’re wrong.
History has shown us time and again that what starts with attacks on the Jews eventually ends up engulfing many others.
It is rare that the UN is exposed to such truth telling. That’s because at bottom, the United Nations is not a serious place for serious people. It is a body that plays the child’s game of “pretend.” They pretend that Iran, Libya, Syria, North Korea, and other brutish states are equal to the US, Israel, Great Britain, and other liberal democracies. They pretend to address the serious questions that threaten world peace. They pretend to be evenhanded in their attempts to solve problems when a 7 year old knows their anti-western, anti-Israel bias.
But perhaps the biggest pretense committed by these corrupt, cynical bureaucrats is that they pretend to adhere to the principles in their own founding charter - as beautiful a document that has ever been written - while systematically and deliberately undermining the human rights and the dignity of all spelled out in detail in the document that is supposed to govern their actions.
And Bibi, a towering moral figure in a sea of petty, small minded men and women - reminded them of those founding principles in the most dramatic, and powerful way imaginable:
Last month, I went to a villa in a suburb of Berlin called Wannsee. There, on January 20, 1942, after a hearty meal, senior Nazi officials met and decided how to exterminate the Jewish people. The detailed minutes of that meeting have been preserved by successive German governments. Here is a copy of those minutes, in which the Nazis issued precise instructions on how to carry out the extermination of the Jews. Is this a lie?
A day before I was in Wannsee, I was given in Berlin the original construction plans for the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Those plans are signed by Hitler’s deputy, Heinrich Himmler himself. Here is a copy of the plans for Auschwitz-Birkenau, where one million Jews were murdered. Is this too a lie?
This June, President Obama visited the Buchenwald concentration camp. Did President Obama pay tribute to a lie?
And what of the Auschwitz survivors whose arms still bear the tattooed numbers branded on them by the Nazis? Are those tattoos a lie? One-third of all Jews perished in the conflagration. Nearly every Jewish family was affected, including my own. My wife’s grandparents, her father’s two sisters and three brothers, and all the aunts, uncles and cousins were all murdered by the Nazis. Is that also a lie?
Bibi might have kept going. Were the invoices for the poison Zyklon B, manufactured by the I.G. Farben chemical company and shipped to Nazi death camps a lie? Were memos from I.G. Farben executives to Nazi officials bragging about how efficiently the chemical could kill human beings a lie? Were documents showing competitive bidding among German firms for ovens at Auschwitz and other death camps a lie?
Netanyahu heads a state, surrounded by enemies who refuse to grant it the basic legitimacy given all countries who are signatories to the UN Charter; the right to exist. This is the reality that most critics of Israel either seek to downplay, ridicule, or ignore altogether. And the drive by some of these enemies who wish to destroy Israel to obtain or build weapons that can make their twisted, genocidal dreams come true is perhaps the greatest moral test the UN will ever face. What will this world body do to stop Iran from achieving the capability of destroying a member nation - a nation they have constantly and in the most brutal and direct terms threatened with annihilation? Has the UN become too cynical, too corrupt to deal with the greatest threat to peace and stability in its history?
At the end of his speech, Netanyahu challenged the UN to live up to its charter and warned that unless rogue regimes like Iran were dealt with by the international community, the outcome would be horrible for civilization.
Of course, the very people who desperately needed to hear this speech either walked out or never showed. That pitiful gesture is another lie because you know that they read the speech anyway back in their glitzy offices and plush apartments - living so far beyond the means of most of their oppressed, poverty-stricken people that it makes one retch at their dripping hypocrisy.
More Netanyahu, less Obama please.
No. I don’t think so.
At last.
A president who knows what he’s doing.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 11:28 am
This stems from the US ending the European missle defense project. Either that, or Obama’s a giant liberal pussy who rolled over when Putin glanced in his direction.
Comment by Chuck Tucson — 9/25/2009 @ 11:52 am
The owner of the blog doesn’t seem to think so and neither do I.
Defending the Poles against 1980 was stupid, moving ships near Israel to provide them real protection is smart.
Besides, I believe it was Saint Bush II who looked into Putin’s eyes and saw unicorns.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 12:19 pm
“President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain declared Friday that the revelation of a previously secret Iranian nuclear facility puts heavy new pressure on Tehran…”
–umm, not much of a secret if these doofuses (or is that doofi?) know about it.
–oooh, “heavy new pressure”, Aqua-Velva-Jad must be shakin’ now.
It’s NEW, it’s HEAVY…puhleeeze
—”held accountable”
to what? Without a real “or else” this is more posturing from the poseur
I can’t go on, it’s too laughable.
And BTW, I think GW was a colossal letdown, too.
It doesn’t mean we have to roll over for 4 years of different nonsense.
Or was that 10 years?
Posters from all 57 states should chime in here, please…
Thanks for another great blog post, Rick
Comment by jondough56 — 9/25/2009 @ 12:24 pm
More Richard Bottoms too!
The vaunted rhetoric of BHO is becoming ever more tedious, the more often he subjects us to his babbling inanities.
Now we can easily see the difference between our juvenile naif of a president and a real leader!
And we’ve gotta live with this poor excuse for a president for another 3 years. Dear merciful heavens.
Comment by Gayle Miller — 9/25/2009 @ 1:07 pm
The poseur who had both Britain and France by his side when making the announcement.
This time around we’ll have France on board for whatever action will have to be taken and not the Island of Palau in the coalition of the willing.
Matt Latimer’s book has you guys spending the next serveral weeks telling the public the parrot of conservatism is not dead but merely resting while Obama is busy saving the country from the multiple disasters the last GOP president left behind.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 1:16 pm
“And BTW, I think GW was a colossal letdown, too.”
At least Bush learned his lesson with Putin and saw him for the snake he is. 0bama still is and always will be trying to get into Putin’s pants.
“Defending the Poles against 1980 was stupid”
Not what the Poles or Czeks think.
Comment by Alarm1201 — 9/25/2009 @ 1:16 pm
And we care what they think because why? Or do we care about what is in our interests.
Putin is in the position of power he is today because George Bush, not because of Obama’s eight months in office.
You guys are the suckers who voted for Bush.
Twice.
Putin is in the position of power he is today because George Bush
You are obviously one of those people who believes George Bush caused the tsunami in Indonesia or the earthquake in Pakistan if you believe Putin needed anybody’s help to achieve the position in Russia he holds today.
Get real.
ed.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 2:15 pm
I’ve never cared much for Netanyahu, as he never seemed sincere about making peace. Since his corruption filled administration in the 90’s ended though, things have actually gotten worse, with Sharon’s disengagement from Gaza being about the only step forward. Olmert was such freaking disaster on all fronts, that Bibi comes across rather well these days.
And that speech was quite good, though it will mostly fall on deaf ears (in the arab world) where its needed the most. Just goes to show that even a greasy politician can be an admirable patriot.
Comment by Surabaya Stew — 9/25/2009 @ 2:28 pm
Quite real.
Real enough to know that a president who turned our prestige, the world’s sympathy after 9/11, and surplus into a trillion dollars of debt to China is why we had zero leverage against Putin’s Russia.
We didn’t vote for Bush. Twice.
We warned you against Iraq and the lack of focus in Afghanistan.
Obama is cleaning up the mess and you guys are stuck with the teabaggers and the snake handlers. I’m not sorry we weren’t nicer about how we said it because we were right.
If people like Michelle Bachmann have a conscience, which I doubt, they will look at incidents like the murder of the census worker and finally start to realize that their spew is coming home to roost.
(Or do you believe GPS coordinates of your front door is prelude to the blue helmets? Same crap, different days. It’s the militia nuts and Y2K all over again.)
What will likely happen is Beck will turn the volume up to 12, you guys will continue to lament how you were fooled by George Bush, and simultaneously say the Democrats are always worse.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 2:39 pm
And BTW, anything I believe I put in writing. So if you can’t find a quote of me having expressed a certain view please don’t assume.
You may however ask.
I am quite good about citing my sources with links and very rarely quote anyone without citing where I got the information about who said X or holds X view.
As for Indonesia.
We should be spending less money on approaches to missile shields that don’t work and more money Tsunami warning systems.
And spending more than a few paltry millions on asteroid collision detection might be a wise use of funds too, as long as we’re on the subject of disasters.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 3:34 pm
I thought this is about Bibi. Undoubtedly, deniers of the holocaust want some justification for future killing of Jews (however, let’s not forget 1.5 million gypsies were also murdered and plenty of others too). No reasonable person can deny it happened. What I fault Bibi and his coalition with is that they have no real plan for the future. Now it is true that the Palestinians have a knack of slamming the door on almost ready peace deals. In fairness, it wasn’t they who killed the the Jews but us the German people. So what does Bibi want from the Palestinians? Annex the West Bank? That should never be the American position and in the long run it is questionable if a Jewish state is sustainable in a constant state of antagonism. It isn’t that the Israelis don’t know that and our role should be that of an honest broker.
Comment by funny man — 9/25/2009 @ 4:12 pm
“The poseur who had both Britain and France by his side when making the announcement.
This time around we’ll have France on board for whatever action will have to be taken and not the Island of Palau in the coalition of the willing.”
If Obama can get France on board for “whatever action” the US has to take in protecting our allies or our national security, I will be impressed. Until then, having France “by our side” doesn’t give me warm fuzzies.
“Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone.”
I hope Obama remembers that and echoes it often when the going gets tough for some of our “allies”.
Comment by sota — 9/25/2009 @ 4:52 pm
We have no permanent allies, and no permanent enemies. Only permanent interests.
Bush via Rumsfeld told old Europe to piss off, result we are alone in Iraq and still carrying a huge portion of the load in Afghanistan.
Why use scare quotes. We need them more than they need us in a lot of endeavors these days.
It as fun to strut around like the cock of the walk in 2000. Not so much swaggering to be done these days.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 5:02 pm
sota,
yeah, sure, France is the enemy. What kind of allies do you think of when excluding France? Just because some conservatives make it a habit of hating France I don’t really see the alternatives. I’m German and I think all Europeans have their own interest (that’s normal by the way) but France, Germany, Great Britain, Canada etc. that’s the core of the ‘West’. Similar culture, similar interests, natural allies. Saudi Arabia, China, Russia? Just a thought.
Comment by funny man — 9/25/2009 @ 5:40 pm
“If people like Michelle Bachmann have a conscience, which I doubt, they will look at incidents like the murder of the census worker and finally start to realize that their spew is coming home to roost.”
Richard bottoms
You might want to take another look at that. The area where he was found and was doing his census work is one of the largest marijuana growing areas east of the Rockies. Rural growers are some of the most violent and dangerous people out there. I’ve been a street cop for 24 years so yes, I do know what I’m talking about. Moonshiners fought the government for decades and in similiar locations. It’s not just among right wing circles that ‘feds’ is a curse word. If you insist on calling this a right wing militia killing be prepared for a nice crow dish. A sandwich perhaps?
“We warned you against Iraq and the lack of focus in Afghanistan.”
Richard bottoms
And now this administration is making noises about ignoring the theater commander and possible withdrawal. Maybe. Not too sure. We’re asking around. Where’s that focus now?
“Real enough to know that a president who turned our prestige, the world’s sympathy after 9/11, and surplus into a trillion dollars of debt to China is why we had zero leverage against Putin’s Russia.”
Ah, an oldie but a goodie. Yes, Bush was a fiscal socialist. There, I said it. Happy now? I am certainly not alone in that view.
On the other hand, this administration is spending to the tune of 1.2 trillion in projected new debt every year, much of which China is buying. And that’s without cap and trade and health care.
The gripping hand? We had zero leverage against Russia because…wait for it… we have zero leverage against Russia. Putin is an old school, hard line russkie and he plays the game the way he wants to. He doesn’t care a whit for what anyone thinks or does, short of expressed military power. No one has leverage on the man.
Comment by Six — 9/25/2009 @ 6:59 pm
“We have no permanent allies, and no permanent enemies. Only permanent interests.”
I completely agree.
My “scare quotes” (see what I did there?) weren’t meant to apply specifically (or certainly ONLY to France). And I certainly wasn’t stretching to say France is the enemy. I was following what Obama said at the UN. Furthermore:
“We have sought - in word and deed - a new era of engagement with the world. Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.”
Or to quote a tough guy:
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.” - Col. Jessup
Comment by sota — 9/25/2009 @ 7:03 pm
Oh wait. In my happiness at having another litarg to annoy and school I almost forgot.
Rick that was a beautiful post on Bibi. At this moment in time, regardless of his past difficulties, I believe he is the right man at the right time for Israel. With the latest news that the leadership of Iran have been lying like bill clinton at a grand jury hearing (Ooh, too soon?) can a forced resolution be far away? It’s nut cuttin’ time as my grandfather liked to say. Why do I think obama will be found wanting? Again.
BTW. I got here from the empire. I like it. Can I hang out with you guys for a while?
Comment by Six — 9/25/2009 @ 7:13 pm
That would be the man who let his subordinates beat a recruit to death and then lied about it? Sounds like he would have fit in at Bhagram, airbase a few years ago.
His predecessor did such a bang up job of it by comparison of course.
Every president should lead the nation into an ill-conceived war, spend $1,000,000,000,000 to find didly-squat to justify the stated cause for the war and prove his manhood to his father while racking up 40,000+ wounded and 6,000 dead.
As a former soldier (not a fictional one) I find George Bush wanting.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/25/2009 @ 9:17 pm
Fictional??? I’m assuming you’re not referring to me. I served 8 years, 9 months, 4 days U.S.Army. Not that I’m counting.
I find Bush wanting in many ways too, I just find obama wanting in every way that counts. Fiscal, Constitutional, foreign policy, etc., ad nauseum.
At least Bush served. What branch of service was obama in? None? Merchant Marine? Boy Scouts? Girl Scouts maybe? No? Nothing?
The Iraq War? Is that the best you can do? I thought the litargs wanted us out of both Iraq (and Afghanistan). I thought obama was going to do that post haste. Where are the anti-war protests demanding obama get us out of Iraq immediately? I haven’t seen one lately. Could it be that you don’t really care about Iraq? That you only care about pushing a liberal agenda?
Until the left stages an anti-obama war protest you need to find a new dead horse to flog.
Comment by Six — 9/26/2009 @ 12:39 am
I was referring to the quote from A Few Good Men.
You mean President Obama?
Looks like you thought wrong.
As for service, quite a few chest beaters couldn’t find their way to a recruiting office either before or after 9/11.
Vice-President Cheney, Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, Jonah Goldberg, Matt Drudge, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Bobby Jindal and practically every conservative cheerleading the war.
I cared enough to try re-enlising in 2004, back before they got desperate enough where there probably would have taken a 49 year old back in. Back when I already saw Bush was practically destroying the Army.
But now I wonder isn’t one trillion dollars and a busted Army enough? Aren’t 6,000 dead and 40,000 maimed enough?
If Iraq is so vital why don’t I see every GOP family urging their sons and daughters to go fight the damn war the way my father went to fight in WWII, even before he was able to vote without risking life & limb.
Our interests were never threatened by Saddam and it is now obvious that Afghanistan has languished, practically forgotten while we pour blood and treasure into a country that never attacked us.
What slim chance we had of victory may be gone and the man who blew that chance has skipped town to clear brush back on his ranch full time I guess.
Comment by Richard bottoms — 9/26/2009 @ 1:04 am
“That would be the man who let his subordinates beat a recruit to death and then lied about it?”
That’s him. Bad deeds don’t mean someone can’t say something meaningful. I also quoted Obama.
Comment by sota — 9/26/2009 @ 6:10 am
“If Iraq is so vital why don’t I see every GOP family urging their sons and daughters to go fight the damn war the way my father went to fight in WWII, even before he was able to vote without risking life & limb.”
Go back and look. I didn’t say Iraq was vital. I did send my daughter off to war with a tear and a prayer. By the way, I’m not GOP, I’m a registered Independent and primarily a Libertarian Conservative.
The Army is not busted. I’ve kept enough contacts within to be confident about saying that. It’s no thanks to the left though. You do remember code pink don’t you?
“You mean President Obama?”
This isn’t a totaliarian society just yet. I’ll refer to obama in any way that seems good to me.
“What slim chance we had of victory may be gone and the man who blew that chance has skipped town to clear brush back on his ranch full time I guess.”
The balance in Iraq is still in doubt, no argument from me there, but it has a better chance of survival now than it had before General Petraeus. Of course who was it that argued that the war was lost and the surge would fail? Remember when the left called him General Betrayus? I didn’t see anyone on the left clamoring for a victory strategy just unconditional pullout and abject failure. The reasons we went there, good, bad or indifferent, the positive gains made in that country are because Bush (finally) put the right person in charge and gave him the tools he needed. It’s called leadership.
“I was referring to the quote from A Few Good Men.”
Try a history book instead. You might even learn something.
Comment by Six — 9/26/2009 @ 12:50 pm
Bibi Netanyahu is as big an obstacle to peace in the region as Hamas. He’s a religious fanatic who, by the way, doesn’t give a rat’s rear about his “ally” (what a joke–total one-way alliance there). He wants us to yet again sacrifice our soldiers, money, credibility, and safety to carry out missions which serve Israel’s interests, not ours. The “threat” from Iran is overblown–even hardcore conservatives like Pat Buchanan admit this.
My grandfather died a few months ago at the age of 92. He had been a lifelong Republican and had worked in state and federal government. He also fought in WWII against Japan. He was horrified by what had become of the country he loved so much and what had become of the party he had dedicated so many years to. The Bush years took an emotional toll on him that I would have never imagined possible, and to have people like Six praising Bush’s non-service and standing up for the man who did immeasurable damage to our country is pretty upsetting. My grandfather fought for freedom: Bush sent our men & women to war over ideology, not freedom (with the far right in Israel having a huge hand in that decision). American ideals seem to be in the express lane on the Tidy Bowl highway–patriotism has been replaced by nationalism and the “home of the free and the brave” has become the police state (see Pittsburgh for a recent example) of the paranoid (Beck and teabaggers).
Comment by Todd — 9/30/2009 @ 11:21 am