House Foreign Affairs Chairman Condemns Carter's Hamas Meeting

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday criticized fellow Democrat Jimmy Carter for plans to meet with Hamas, saying the former president holds "warped" views on the Middle East.
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"Jimmy Carter's view of the forces at work in the Middle East and how he likes to attribute blame and responsibility is so warped to my way of thinking that I'm skeptical of any initiative he undertakes," said Berman, a longtime supporter of Israel.

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Berman took over the Foreign Affairs Committee in March after the death from cancer of its previous chairman, Democratic Rep. Tom Lantos of California.

In Monday's interview he also raised doubts about whether Democrats can use an upcoming emergency war spending bill to alter Bush's war strategy for Iraq. Democrats plan to push for withdrawal timelines to be included in the bill, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been adamant about trying to get Bush to change course on Iraq.

"We're going to need an election and a new administration to fundamentally change Iraq policy," said Berman, who initially supported the war and stuck with that position longer than most Democrats.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/17678154.html

oh, that would be all of them. oh well

Doncha wish that obamahillary would stand up against bush at least once before the dems convention?

Msongs

No surprise there, either.

The Israel Lobby has many good paid friends in congress.

.... with Lieberman leading the pack. I still say the nr. one reason bushcheney invaded with plans to occupy Iraq = Big Brother to Israel. Oil too, but there are just too many Zionists in this administration and Congress, along with all of their aides, to think that the protection of Israel isn't the prime objective. Un-Constitutional, but what about this administration isn't?

that we do. I don't think the Iraq war was Israeli-led. I think it was Israeli-followed--that is, it was designed of, by and for Exxon Mobil & brethren, and their frontmen--Bush, Cheney, Rove et al--cobbled together a coalition of forces (the 'christian' nutballs, various war profiteers and global corporate predators, the sheiks of araby, and the rightwing/war profiteer leaders of Israel, as well as the rightwing-connected electronic voting companies and the war profiteering corporate 'news' monopolies) to get it done. The Bushites are loyal to NO ONE. They are looters and brigands. And they will abandon Israel in a cold minute, if they see profit in it. This is where Jimmy Carter differs from them. He is a genuine statesman and humanist. He would never abandon Israel, and understands well that, to survive and prosper, Israel needs peace, and it cannot exist as a medieval fortress in a permanent state of war. Nor can we--the people of the U.S.--afford to keep our entire army in the Middle East to protect Israel. But the crucial point is that the army is NOT there to protect Israel--it is there to protect the oil contracts!

Kneejerk Israel-supporters like Howard Berman don't seem to understand what a disaster it has been for Israel to ally itself with the hated Bushites. What do Berman and allies think--that they can force this disastrous Iraq policy on the American as well as the Israeli people INDEFINITELY? Well, we are at the end of our rope, financially. We simply can't afford it--and its cost is precipitating Great Depression II. So, what is Israel going to do when our financial structure succumbs to vast looting and malfeasance by the Bushites and their corporate predator pals?

Jimmy Carter is THINKING AHEAD--which is what we all should be doing. The American peoples' continued support of Israel is contingent upon a peace settlement in the Middle East. The current course will lead either to the American peoples' abandonment of Israel or to bloody revolution here, if there is no peace. Berman, Lieberman and others are short-term thinkers, and, in the current situation, short-term thinking leads straight to catastrophe--for all of us--whether by nuking Iran, or simply running out of money and credit. We're already up to our ears with a $10 TRILLION deficit! Multi-millions of jobless and homeless, and breadlines, are next. And for what? So that Exxon Mobil can keep gas-gouging us? How long can that go on?

Excellent

:(

Though you should have no doubts that names ARE being marked down.There has been one middle east treaty that has held in my lifetime and Carter arranged it.

:shrug:

Where the ***&^%)+!!! is Pelosi?

Vacationing in Eilat?

Can you imagine the hew and cry if, for example, Carter, who has spent his years since he held office trying to talk sense into warring parties, had talked with someone who the French considered dangerous and persona non grata, and then the French refused any security to Carter in a situation in which security was highly advisable?

People would be screaming their bloody lungs out and Freedom Fries would be back in style.

Both France and Israel are friendly countries with which we do not have formal alliances (I believe), and should be treated in a similar manner should they treat a former president in such a shabby manner.

...as everyone else.

Tesha