Biden and Kerry: Israel and America Inextricably Linked

Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

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In the wake of backlash over President Obama's decision to have diplomatic talks with Iran, high level Democrats are assuring the public that the U.S. commitment to Israel is as strong as ever.

But, "One enduring essential principle that will not change--United States support for Israel,” said Vice President Joe Biden to a standing ovation of more than 6,000 people at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee's annual convention.

“The path we have been on in recent years has not produced peace and security for Israel and Palestinians, nor will they produce these results,” Biden said. “Because peace has not occurred, does not mean that it cannot occur."

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who also spoke at the event, supports the Obama Administration’s policy with Israel. “You can count on Vice President Biden and President Obama in the future,” he said.

Kerry tried to calm fears about Obama’s decision to engage in open discussions with Iran because he believed that the previous administration’s strategy with the Middle Eastern country failed, and that a change is warranted. But, if diplomacy fails, hardline sanctions will be sure to follow, Kerry said.

Since December 2008, foreign criticism of Israel reached new levels. Israel decided to retaliate against Hamas by launching a full military incursion into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Government maintains that the action was an attempt to halt hundreds of rockets that are launched over Israeli borders by militant groups in neighboring countries.

“I heard of (Israeli) children in the second grade who had spent literally everyday of their lives never 15 seconds from danger/ Fifteen seconds... No child should live that way,” said Kerry to the audience.

Kerry is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and pledged to do everything in his power “to ensure that the $30 billion in security assistance that Congress pledged to Israel is delivered in full.”

Kerry and Biden presented a challenge to Israel: that the country needs to work toward a workable, long lasting and sustainable peace.

Biden believes that any peace is a “show-me plan,” that each side must make efforts to demonstrate their dedication for the process to continue.

Biden said that the building of Israeli settlements must be stopped and that Palestinians must be given freedom of movement so the young people see hope, and do not join Hamas.

But peace must be sought from Paestinians and Israelis. “You cannot make peace out of one side of their mouth and preach hate out of another,” said Kerry, adding that Palestinian geography books should be realistic by including Israel on the map.

Netanyahu likely to be Israel's next Prime Minister

After a close and inconclusive election, with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party holding 27 seats, and Tzipi Livni's Kadima party holding 28 seats, it seems that coalition negotiations will turn to favor Netanyahu as the next Prime Minister of Israel.  This became apparent when Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the third largest party in the Israeli parliament, expressed his support for Netanyahu. While coalition negotiations should take several more weeks, this election showed a substantial loss for the left wing parties and a decisive voting shift to the right.

The Brookings Institution held a panel today with authors Martin Indyk, Senior Fellow and Directory of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, and Stanley Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, to discuss what this outcome means for the future of the peace process and the U.S. relationship with Israel.  Both authors have recently published books dealing with Israeli politics, and both expressed insight that even though the coalition will likely be right-wing, it will not necessarily halt the peace process.

"I don't think we should assume that because the election, which was waged in the middle of the Gaza conflict and produced a majority for the center, or the right block... I would not assume that distribution controls what happens when we get an Israeli government," Greenberg explained, pointing out that the coalition agreement will have more control over the future actions of the government.  Indyk pointed out that both Livni and Lieberman are proponents of a two-state solution with the Palestinians, and Netanyahu will likely need their support in building a stable coalition.  As a result, negotiations of West Bank land for peace will be possible, even though Netanyahu's party historically opposes giving back this land.

Greenberg also pointed out that Israeli public opinion has historically shown to be dynamic, and this means that peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria are possible under this right-wing government.  He explained, "If Israeli leaders with U.S. support decide that this is necessary for Israelis sustaining Israel, for Israel's security, for Israel's future, I believe the Israeli public moves."

Indyk explained that he also believes peace talks with Syria are likely, because of Netanyahu's political history.  "Here we go back to the 1990s experience with Netanyahu, understanding that he's likely nevertheless to face pressure from Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, and George Mitchell, to move on the political level when it comes to negotiations with the Palestinians. I believe that it's likely that Netanyahu will adopt the tactic that he adopted back then which was to attempt to deflect American pressure by seeking a deal with the Syrians."

Obama Orders Detention Facility at Guantanamo Closed

Moving to make good on one of his key campaign pledges, President Obama this morning signed a series of executive orders to close the detention facility at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The orders, signed at a West Wing ceremony, specify the closure should occur within 12 months. Obama is also ending what the new administration believes are harsh interrogation techniques used previously. Obama has said the United States will fight terrorism "in a manner consistent with our values and ideals."

The timetable means the clock is ticking on figuring out just what to do with the 245 detainees being held at Gitmo. Among them: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

A senior administration official says detainees will eventually be classified into various groups, ranging from those who could be released, to those who cannot. The official said that some detainees could still be "in detention for years," but added "but not without due process."

Among the options at the administration's disposal for detainees: repatriation to their home country or a willing third country, civil trials in the U.S., or a special civil or military process. The official told reporters that prisoners would be released or transferred on a rolling basis, based on how their individual cases are determined.

The administration is now in contact with foreign governments to take detainees who may be released at a future date. The official said detainees would not be sent to countries with a reputation for torturing prisoners; he did not say what countries were under consideration. No countries have stepped forward and volunteered to accept anyone to date; the official said "We hope some will help us."

Future interrogations of detainees will be done within the parameters of the Geneva Conventions, the official said, and will use only techniques listed in the Army Field Manual - a reference to waterboarding, which will be discontinued.

The administration's review process for detainees will be overseen by a high level committee comprised of the Attorney General, the Secretaries of Defense, State, Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Conservatives hope for power in 2010

The Heritage Foundation hosted a discussion with Michael Medved about his thoughts on the major falsities surrounding America as developed in his book "The Ten Big Lies about America". Medved focused on three of his ten lies beginning with the idea that the one solution for economic downturns is to respond with aggressive government programs. Medved singled-out FDR and the New Deal as a perfect example for failure in terms of economic recovery. He believes that the new Obama administration will not "waste a crisis" and will behave in an extremely Rooseveltian capacity.

The second lie Medved specified was that the United States is an imperialist power and a constant threat to world peace. The alleged past of isolationism and pacifism that is believed to have existed at some point in American history is a fabrication that "never existed", said Medved. He continued to deny America's imperialist tendencies by pointing out that Canada is still "allowed to exist" almost undefended against our borders.

The final lie believed to distort America's political dialogue is that America is in a state of "irreversible moral decline." Medved says that every generation since the inception of America has believed they were the worst generation in the history of the world. However, conservatives can be reassured and encouraged by the passing of legislation like California's Proposition 8 that created an amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state, as opposed to the discouragement they felt with the overwhelming support for Democrats.

No matter what, Medved called himself a "tremendous optimist even at the age of the dawn of Obama". He encouraged the conservative tone of the discussion by invoking the memory of Bill Clinton's 1992 election. A similar sense of hope and change was in the air at the turn of that election, and by 1994 the Republicans had gained more seats (55 in the House of Representatives) than had ever been gained before in one election. Medved says this brings hope to the Republican Party for the possibilities in 2010.

Terrorist victims finally receive justice from Libyan bombing

The families of the victims killed by the Libyan bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, from December 1988, are finally celebrating the restitution of justice from the Libyan government.

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) joined the victim's families one month before the 20th anniversary of the fatal crash that killed 270, including 38 from New Jersey. On October 31, 2008, Libya was "freed from the family of terrorist nations," Lautenberg said, when the final amounts owed to the families was deposited in an American bank account from the Libyan government. Kara Weipz, a family member who lost her 20-year old brother in the bombing, spoke about the "long fulfilled justice" that was due to the families. Although they do not forgive Libyan leader al-Gaddafi, Weipz said, the families are "free now to close this chapter in our nightmare."