A chance for a Middle East peace
March 30, 2009 2:36 PM Subscribe
Cheney, who worked closely with the Israeli leadership in the lead-up to the Gaza war, portrayed Obama to the Israelis as a “pro-Palestinian,” who would not support their efforts (and, in private, disparaged Obama, referring to him at one point as someone who would “never make it in the major leagues”)."
Yeah, fuck that guy.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:17 PM on March 30, 2009
Yeah, fuck that guy.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:17 PM on March 30, 2009
Cheney, who worked closely with the Israeli leadership in the lead-up to the Gaza war...
You know, the idea that the Israelis would work closely with and be friendly toward Cheney is one of the most damaging allegations I've heard about them. Way to consort with evil, guys.
posted by Mitrovarr at 4:50 PM on March 30, 2009
You know, the idea that the Israelis would work closely with and be friendly toward Cheney is one of the most damaging allegations I've heard about them. Way to consort with evil, guys.
posted by Mitrovarr at 4:50 PM on March 30, 2009
Typically good, 40 minute Fresh Air interview with Seymour Hersh from today.
posted by shothotbot at 8:03 PM on March 30, 2009
posted by shothotbot at 8:03 PM on March 30, 2009
The Hersh article was featured on the Rachel Maddow Show tonight on MSNBC. Video clips will be available in the morning.
posted by netbros at 8:28 PM on March 30, 2009
posted by netbros at 8:28 PM on March 30, 2009
Here are a couple of clips of Hersh on CNN today:
CNN - Seymour Hersh - Israel-Syria peace prospects; Cheney interferes with Obama détente?
CNN - Seymour Hersh - Cheney's JSOC hit squad(s) update
posted by homunculus at 8:44 PM on March 30, 2009
CNN - Seymour Hersh - Israel-Syria peace prospects; Cheney interferes with Obama détente?
CNN - Seymour Hersh - Cheney's JSOC hit squad(s) update
posted by homunculus at 8:44 PM on March 30, 2009
I still think Hersh was misled by Cheney et al into writing those stories about how we were going to invade Iran. Maybe that's why Hersh still has it in for them. Not that he would need an excuse. Still, I was hoping the Fresh Air interview would at least touch on that; what does he say about those stories now?
posted by atchafalaya at 8:51 PM on March 30, 2009
posted by atchafalaya at 8:51 PM on March 30, 2009
Hersh kept us out of Iran. Every American owes him a debt of gratitude.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:57 PM on March 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:57 PM on March 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
Cheney, who worked closely with the Israeli leadership in the lead-up to the Gaza war...
Normally "WTF?" is a rhetorical question. Every now and then it gets an answer. Cheney is the fuck. Seriously. The dude is the anti-strategist. He is Opposite Man.
posted by srboisvert at 3:27 AM on March 31, 2009
Normally "WTF?" is a rhetorical question. Every now and then it gets an answer. Cheney is the fuck. Seriously. The dude is the anti-strategist. He is Opposite Man.
posted by srboisvert at 3:27 AM on March 31, 2009
I still think Hersh was misled by Cheney et al into writing those stories about how we were going to invade Iran.
My feeling is that he was accurately reporting on what Cheney et al wanted to do, but were never able to do. I have little doubt that the plans were in place.
Hersh kept us out of Iran.
I think it's more like circumstances in Iraq kept us from hitting Iran. If Iraq had gone as smoothly as Cheney and Rumsfeld thought it was going to, I don't think Hersh's articles would have kept the Bush administration from launching a strike. But as things kept getting worse, there was less and less will to open another front, and that last NIE was the final nail in the coffin. Hersh deserves credit for his reporting, but I don't think he single-handedly prevented another war. We'll probably never know for sure.
posted by homunculus at 10:01 AM on March 31, 2009
My feeling is that he was accurately reporting on what Cheney et al wanted to do, but were never able to do. I have little doubt that the plans were in place.
Hersh kept us out of Iran.
I think it's more like circumstances in Iraq kept us from hitting Iran. If Iraq had gone as smoothly as Cheney and Rumsfeld thought it was going to, I don't think Hersh's articles would have kept the Bush administration from launching a strike. But as things kept getting worse, there was less and less will to open another front, and that last NIE was the final nail in the coffin. Hersh deserves credit for his reporting, but I don't think he single-handedly prevented another war. We'll probably never know for sure.
posted by homunculus at 10:01 AM on March 31, 2009
And speaking of circumstances in Iraq, Iraq: the unraveling?
posted by homunculus at 10:41 AM on March 31, 2009
posted by homunculus at 10:41 AM on March 31, 2009
Hersh kept us out of Iran.
Perhaps a bit of an oversimplification. Tell you one thing though: Ol' Dick Nixon kept our boys out of Northern Ireland, and for that we owe him plenty.
Speaking of Syria, though, I recommend europic's flickr sets for an interesting and intimate look at the country from street level.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 PM on March 31, 2009
Perhaps a bit of an oversimplification. Tell you one thing though: Ol' Dick Nixon kept our boys out of Northern Ireland, and for that we owe him plenty.
Speaking of Syria, though, I recommend europic's flickr sets for an interesting and intimate look at the country from street level.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 PM on March 31, 2009
Sy Hersh might be the most credible journalist in print today. Like the above posters, I have no doubt that the plans were in place, but forced to be tabled because of current political situation. Having lived in Syria for a third of my life (4 months a year, every year), i can say the country is ripe for US contact. It is not the same Syria as was under his father. The Golan Heights are still a sticking point, but the population as a whole want to reach a peaceful solution with Israel. I have significantly more pictures from my travels than Europic, on flickr...
Syria 2008
Syria 2006
Syria 2004
Syria 2003
posted by Heliochrome85 at 6:38 AM on April 1, 2009
Syria 2008
Syria 2006
Syria 2004
Syria 2003
posted by Heliochrome85 at 6:38 AM on April 1, 2009
Countdown: Seymour Hersh on the Dick Cheney "Stay Behinds"
posted by homunculus at 9:51 AM on April 1, 2009
posted by homunculus at 9:51 AM on April 1, 2009
Israel's new ultra-nationalist foreign minister has said it is not bound by a US-sponsored 2007 agreement to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
posted by homunculus at 10:48 AM on April 1, 2009
posted by homunculus at 10:48 AM on April 1, 2009
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"The Obama transition team also helped persuade Israel to end the bombing of Gaza and to withdraw its ground troops before the Inauguration. According to the former senior intelligence official, who has access to sensitive information, “Cheney began getting messages from the Israelis about pressure from Obama” when he was President-elect.
Cheney, who worked closely with the Israeli leadership in the lead-up to the Gaza war, portrayed Obama to the Israelis as a “pro-Palestinian,” who would not support their efforts (and, in private, disparaged Obama, referring to him at one point as someone who would “never make it in the major leagues”)."
posted by CunningLinguist at 3:12 PM on March 30, 2009 [1 favorite]