By Ronn Torossian
In 2016, America will have elections. As a Jewish-American who cares deeply about Israel it has been sad to see such poor relations between America and Israel throughout the administration of President Barack Obama. This administration has been openly hostile towards Israel.
Allies –including America and Israel– will not always agree, and sometimes they will openly disagree. Yet, when both sides agree there are shared values and interests, the dialogue and trust is different.
A different time existed during the Gulf War in 1991 when there was also tension between both countries. At the time, Israel’s Prime Minister was Yitzhak Shamir, also a member of the right-wing Likud Party which Benjamin Netanyahu today leads.
Shamir stood down at the request of the White House, as there was a trusted partner in President George H. Bush.
To brush up on the details of that incident, here’s a few quotes from a speech former New York Governor George Pataki said in a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition some years ago:
“In the first gulf war, I don’t know how many of you remember when we were leading this coalition to remove Saddam Hussein. Israel was being attacked by scud missiles and no one knew if those missiles may have contained chemical or biological weapons.
“I remember the images of Israelis in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem wearing gas masks, old men and babies, not knowing if they were going to have their lives risked, not because of anything they had done, other then being Jews.
“Those who don’t understand how important it is that we stand with Israel, because of its values and its greatness and because its such a wonderful ally, don’t understand what Israel has done for us.
“I again think back to 1991 first Gulf War, when those scuds were raining down on Jerusalem and on Israel. The Israeli army –and American people have to remember this– had the ability to go into Western Iraq and take out those missiles, before they were able to hit the people of Israel.
“But Israel was such a strong and loyal ally, that they couldn’t jeopardize the coalition that President Bush put together, so they allowed their civilians to be attacked, so our military and coalition could succeed.
“What better example of an ally, who will go beyond the call of duty in support of us, then Israel showed us in 1991.”
Ronn Torossian is an author, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Read more of his writings at ronntorossianupdate.com
Noone’s perfect they may both have problems but one has way more and bigger problems, namely obama. Your the one thats kidding yourself if you think they’re similar. Liberals/democrats do “good” things for appearance not because its right. And the proof is all over the place. 2 easy examples: obama will take your hard earned money and give it to someone else because it doesn’t hurt him, but if you look at his tax returns you would know that he gave a oathetic amoumt of charity. And you tell me that he cares about anybody else? Yeah sure because it… Read more »
Not a very good argument. Israel stayed out for their own good. Saddam was a major threat to Israel. They knew that staying out would mean the American coalition could do the job. It was in Israel’s own interest not to get involved.
Bush forced Ariel Sharon to expel all Jews from Gaza and give it to a bunch of terrorists.
Obama does not want to go to war with Iran. He never forced Israel to return any land. Do I like the guy? Certainly not.
Democrats are wolves. Republicans are wolves in sheeps clothing.
Stop kidding yourselves.
Moshiach now
Complete and total disgrace. The incredible weakness he has shown over the past 6 years has turned the entire world into a free for all. Biggest mistake the American people have made since America was founded was to elect this inadequate, dishonest, weak, joker as the president of the USA!!
Pataki is a great man
Hope he runs in 2016