Deeds perspective on Israel
By JR Hoeft | Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 | PolicyAs Israel remains embroiled in conflict with Hamas, it’s interesting to see what perspective our state elected leaders have on the subject.
Ironically, Sen. Creigh Deeds, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, recently visited Israel this past fall with a Virginia delegation and he shared his thoughts in a position paper on how Virginia should and could partner with the Jewish state.
“Our first and most vital commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel,” writes Deeds. “The U.S. and Israel, with other partners and allies in the region and around the world, must work together to guard against the threats posed by religious fanaticism, rogue countries like Iran and Syria, and terrorism (Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and others). The United States must continue to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge, a critical investment for all Americans and Virginians to support.”
He also says that as governor he would try to continue and expand on partnerships between Israel and Virginia on research and development in agriculture and technology, encourage increasing investment in Israel (which includes investment by the commonwealth in Israeli bonds), and work with Israel towards energy independence for both nations.
“I am and will continue to be a staunch supporter of the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and Virginia and Israel,” said Deeds. “I will work to ensure a safe, secure, and prospering Israel and a more stable Middle East; indeed there is no better way to help make America and Virginia safe, secure, and prosperous.”
I think it’s clear and safe to say that Sen. Deeds supports Israel’s right to defend itself, and that he will seek opportunities for Virginia to partner with them in the future.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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5 Responses to "Deeds perspective on Israel"
Those statements appeal to Democrat constituencies and well as to security minded independents & Conservatives not happy with McDonnell as a choice. While safe statements to make, I like them.
Those ideas have more to do on a national strategic level than in state politics but, let’s not forget that the military is a core group in the VA. economy. We also have quite a few military contractors and shipping organizations here in the Commonwealth.
One reason that, as a Republican, I see Deeds as the toughest opponent is because on gun control and Israel along with a few other things he is pretty conservative.
Question: Has Virginia passed a divestment act concerning Iran?
Here is the problem. We militantly promote democracy, we economically destroy countries, cause their populations to hate us, then force free elections, the people that hate us win (because the people in general hate us) and then we cut off all contact with them and impose sanctions.
If you cannot see why these people hate us then you are truly blind. Hamas firing homemade missiles into Israel is wrong, but it is certainly justifiable from their prospective. If an occupying power blockaded my home area and would not let food and medical supplies in and would not let me go to school I sure as well would be making homemade rockets and firing them off.
You hear all this BS about Hamas using citizens as human shields. Come on, this is one of the most densely populated regions on earth and Hamas is the legitamately elected government, they have to be among the people, people who are not “terrorists” are members of Hamas to run Gazan schools and public services. This is much the same case as good meaning people being bathists in Iraq in order to be teachers or doctors.
Max, you are arguing whether the egg came before the chicken.
Hamas will make your arguement while Israel will say those blockades are due to Hamas and other terrorrists firing rockets into Israel killing innocent Israeli people.
Believe it or not Max, the Israeli people have real families too. They get killed and have commerce disrupted due to rocket fire and until lately, suicide bombers. Many of those people are just as innocent as those joining Hamas out of political expediency. Then again how did you feel about Byrd of West Virginia formerly being in the KKK? What about those that became a Nazi for the same reason?
Israel doesn’t have to just sit there and take the casulties because much of the UN sees Palestinians and Hamas as people but, Israeli citizens as jewish devils. There are PEOPLE on both sides. All people have the right to defend themselves, Palestinian or Israeli.
All that said, your point that some Hamas are Hamas in name only is well taken. The same goes for some of the Bathists. I would agree that the Bathist purge was a strategic error. I also would agree that nation building and being the world’s police force is not a legitimate US role.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t agee with Criegh Deeds on Israel because, I do agree with him. Israel and the US should maintain good relations. Diplomatically, if there is a way to find a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, I’m all for it.
Some political entities derive their purpose based on a common enemy that they all hate. The problems start when peace becomes a possibility. At that point, the strength of that political entity dries up and the way to maintain power is to not give peace a chance but, provoke further bloodshed. That bloodshed is then used as an excuse.
A political solution where commonalities are found, joint programs established, PR campaigns conducted, and a “Political Triangulation” where the common person(both sides) can see the extremeists from both sides as the danger would be one thing to try.
Maintaining Israel as a key ally is still essential. I won’t back away from that and I’m glad that Creigh Deeds won’t either.
The blockade is not because Hamas has been firing rockets, if it was then you would think it would have worked. These rockets are homemade, 19 people killed in 7 years. What Israel is doing now is an exercise in futility. I hate to cheapen human life, but 19 people in 7 years hardly calls for an invasion of Gaza. This is not a pressing issue, at least not to the point where immediate large scale military action is a necessity. This invasion will solve nothing, it will accomplish nothing. The rocket attacks will not stop, if anything they will get worse as foreign fighters enter the fray. This was a huge strategic mistake by Israel, they would have been much better off treating the causes of the problem as opposed to making the causes (hate for Israel) a million times worse.
Also please remember it was Fatah who attempted to overthrow a legit government. The media would have you think it was Hamas, but why would the incumbent government stage a coo against itself?
The Gaza situation is a clear example of huge media bias and a total disregard for the truth or facts.
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