BIBI's Misadventures

++Bibi Netanyahu is scheduled to become the first person to address a joint session of Congress since Winston Churchill.

++John Boehner snarkily told the Imperial Post that he wanted the American people to hear a really strong leader as compared ,I guess, to a great one.

++It is true the White House had not been informed about the invitation or its acceptance. But that's isn't a breach of protocol, just disrespect. Congress has the right to invite any world leader it wants to address it.

++Everyone knows that Bibi wants to skuddle the Iranian nuclear talks and urges, as AIPAC does, additional sanctions. Yesterday, the foreign ministers of Europe wrote an op-ed in the Post that detailed all the elements that were agreed to in the interim agreement and the outstanding issues to be negotiated. They also made a powerful case of why additional sanctions would sink the negotiations.

++Last night it was reported that Mossad had broken ranks with Bibi and informed John Kerry that additional sanctions would be like throwing a grenade into the negotiations. 

++It seemed to be an administration generated story but Eli Lake and Josh Rogin has a story at the Daily Beast that shows that Mossad actually briefed John McCain and Senator Corker on this very point that additional sanctions were counter-productive. So the GOP leadership knows from the horse's mouth.

++Supporters of Israel have to be concerned about Bibi's hijinks. The French government informed him to stay home for the rally for Charlie Hebdo and the Jewish grocery store. He went anyway. Then Israeli press was concerned about his invitation of all remaining French Jews to migrate to Israel.

++I want to remind everyone since President Obama took office , Israel has tried to deliberately isolate itself. Recall Senator Mitchell and Hillary Clinton's shuttle diplomacy that brought a commitment from the Arab League to recognize Israel if Bibi would start talks--not conclude an agreement--with Mahmoud Abbas. Then he alienated then friendly Turkey by sinking the Turkish Ferry during the Gaza Flotilla. Turkey has gone off the charts now anyway. Bibi snubbed Joe Biden who came to stop the building of more settlements and met with Reverend Hagee instead. 

++Then we had the Israeli ambassador to Washington endorse Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney publicly sad his administration would do anything Bibi suggests in the whole of the Middle East. All this time Israeli military officials and Mossad are leaking out that coordination has never been better with the United States than under Obama. Bibi then refuses to meet with Susan Rice. 

++We have had the madness of Hamas and the Israeli bombing of the Gaza. The Palestinian Authority decdes to go for more traditional means of gaining recognition by seeking legitimacy by the Security Council. They fail by only one vote. Then they apply to the ICC. Bibi urges the world to cut off funding to the Palestinian Authority. Sweden recognizes Palestine. Her foreign minister has to cancel a trip to Israel. Foreign Minister Lieberman warns Israel that the American veto at the Security Council may not last more than one more time. Before Charlie Hebdo, France was preparing to recognize Palestine as was the UK. 

++Fast Forward, John Boehner invites Bibi because the sanctions bill hadn't reached a veto proof stage yet. AIPAC failed dramatically when President Obama asked a vote of bombing Syria. This time is do or die for AIPAC lobbyists. They are very close to a veto proof sanctions bill.

++Now you have the Foreign Ministers of the UK, the Prime Minister of the UK here alongside President Obama, urging no more sanctions until the negotiations process is complete. Ayatollah Khameini is lecturing Iran that the United States can't be trusted and that Iran can survive a $25 per gallon oil price. 

++So what do you think will happen when Bibi shows up and persuades the reluctant Senators to vote for additional sanctions? Will we see immediate pressure from France, the United Kingdom and Germany to recognize Palestine? Will we see the whole P5+1 collapse and everyone end their sanctions. So the wise guys at AIPAC and the GOP would have managed to end Iran's isolation,isolate the United States and put Israel in a very peculiar position of winning a battle and losing the total battle. The Obama Administration would be in the very lonely position of being the only vote holding up the recognition of Palestine just when your ally came to Washington and screwed you publicly.

++Americans should be concerned about the new Congress' willingness to try and drive American foreign policy since that's the President's authority. The GOP has doubled down on their war desires that President Obama has managed to contain until now.

++It really is very important that the press actually do its job for a change and constantly badger the GOP about what war with Iran would look like, how much would it cost, how many years would it take, and how are you going to man it and fund it.

++This isn't the same as bilateral Soviet-U.S. negotiations. These are multilateral with two rivals--Russia and China--now on your side. You really want to act unilaterally? 

++Boehner's invitation to Bibi was beyond irresponsible and today's full court leaks by Mossad show the Israeli national security establishment are scared shitless about Bibi. The man who pledged to prevent another Masada seems destined to bring one one.

++There is a petty interest of Bibi. Herzog has been ferocious in attacking Bibi for single-handedly destroying the American relationship. But a commercial showing Bibi getting standing ovations will neutralize that--maybe.

++The best case scenario is not really that great. Bibi gets his applause line, fires up the GOP about Islamic Jihadist Terrorism, since Obama commits the sin of just saying "terrorism" now. Still the sanctions bill gets filibustered. Bibi goes home and the negotiations continue. That still leaves the issue of the two-state solution rapidly vanishing. And I would argue Israel's position among the American people weakened.

++There can be no mistake--anti-semiticism in Europe is growing every day with the extreme right parties and the pro-Palestinian sentiment of the governments. The Divestment Movement has grown in theUnited States as well. A younger generation of Americans are losing any commitment to Israel. 

++Israel doesn't have any room for error . Unfortunately, Bibi as shrewd as he is, simply creates minefields all his own. The absolute worse thing he has ever done for Israel is come out so blatantly for Mitt Romney. Once Israel goes partisan,their very support in the United States is jeopardized.