How come we never hear an opinion like this on the Jim Lehrer News Hour?

I wouldn't be  adverse to the idea of Israel being included in NATO but I suspect the proposal when it comes from the likes of Zbigniew Brzezinski. It is not a new idea and it is one that Israel herself has been toying with for quite a few years now. As you can read in this article from 2006:

www.washingtonpost.com/.../AR2006022001121.html

It would be a good thing if Israel, which is never going to be accepted by the Arab world,

www.memritv.org/.../1916.htm

were to be adopted into Europe as as a bona fide member, with all the cultural, economic and military benefits that such a union might imply.  It would allow Israelis to feel less isolated and enjoy the feeling of actually having a neighbourhood inwhich they are not threatened daily and hourly.  However, being thrust upon NATO with the result being that Israel would need NATO approval to defend herself militarity as she sees fit is a risky business. Because, quite frankly, I wouldn't trust the Europeans where the Jewish state's survival and prosperity, without some very robustly articulated principles and pre-enforced rivets. It won't happen.

Zbigniew Brzezinski wants to get rid of what he sees as the Israel monkey off America's back,  on the cheap.

As if NATO has done such a great job elsewhere:

"Civilization walks the plank"

Caroline Glick , T

HE JERUSALEM POST

"A Somali pirate and a former US defense secretary are flying to London for vacation. One of them is stopped at immigration at Heathrow airport and arrested on suspicion of committing war crimes. Which one do you think it was?

On Tuesday, Somali pirates, sailing in little more than motorized bathtubs, armed with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, and sustained by raw fish and narcotics, successfully hijacked the Sirius Star, a Saudi-owned oil tanker the size of a US aircraft carrier. The tanker was carrying some $100 million worth of crude oil. News of its capture caused global oil prices to rise by a dollar a barrel.

The next day, Somali pirates attempted to hijack the Trafalgar, a British frigate, but were forced to flee by a German naval helicopter dispatched to the scene. They did manage to hijack a Chinese trawler and a cargo ship from Hong Kong. They nearly got control of an Ethiopian ship, but it, too, was saved by the German Navy that heeded its call for help in time.

Piracy is fast emerging as the newest old threat to stage a comeback in recent years. Over the past week and a half alone, 12 vessels have been hijacked. And according to the International Maritime Bureau, in the three months that ended on September 30, Somali pirates attacked 26 vessels, capturing 576 crew members. Britain's Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) assesses the ransoms they netted at between $18m. and $30m.

And with financial strength comes increased military sophistication. The US Navy expressed shock at the pirates' successful hijacking of the Sirius Star. The pirates staged the hijacking much farther from shore than they had ever done previously. ..."

read the rest

www.jpost.com/.../Satellite

If these clowns can't contain a few pirates how can they be expected to take on Hamas and Hizbollah or other countries threatening Israel?

Israel can only rely on itself for its security.

"It would be a good thing if Israel, which is never going to be accepted by the Arab world,.."

No, Noga, it would not be a good thing since Israle would have to abide by all the EU bureacratic rules and give up some of its sovereignty.

What do you think would happen when Palestinians start petitioning Brussels to allow them to settle in Israel?

This is very dumb idea.

"What do you think would happen when Palestinians start petitioning Brussels to allow them to settle in Israel?"

Could they do that, if they are not part of the EU?

a) As I understand it Zbig & Scrow aren't offering real membership to Israel, but that Israel should allow NATO to assume responsibility for Israel's defense.  Frankly, I am not in favor of Israel joining NATO, let alone outsource its defense to NATO, for far too many reasons than I could list here.

While many (though I suspect not a majority) of Israelis wouldn't object to Israel joining NATO, very very few would go along with Israel surrendering its defense to NATO.

b)  There was NO great celebration in Israel when Obama won.  Arguably there was some admiration and respect that the US has gotten to the point where a black man could get elected president, and hopefully be criticized and voted against because of his positions and policies, without being labeled a racist (as one starry-eyed Obama supporter did to me when I expressed my severe reservations about Obama as president).

Indeed the local polls consistently showed that were the elections held in Israel, McCain would have won.  Hands down.

After the election, a few of the local pooh-bahs of punditry speculated that the election of Obama would shift more support to Netanyahu & the Likud in the upcoming (February 10) Knesset elections as many Israelis would prefer a P.M who is more likely to stand up to Obama's perceived left-wing leanings, particularly regarding demands that Israel make even more concessions to the Pals, Syrians, and most of all, the Iranians.

Hershel Ginsburg

Efrata / Jerusalem

In today's Washington Post Zbigniew Brzezinski and Brent Scowcroft serve up perfectly predictable "Middle East Priorities For Jan. 21" After expressing their glee with the election of President-elect Obama, they tell us the advantage his election presents

Here is a mock letter addressed to Pres. Obama by Hamas leaders, a-propo Messrs Scowcroft and Brzezinski 's ideas, imagined by Ami Isseroff, who could be the ideological twin of Marty Peretz:

"The Islamic stand of Hamas on peace and negotiations is clear. As it is written in the Hamas charter, all of the land of Filasteen is a holy waqf granted to the Muslims by Allah and we must rule all of it. Negotiations and international conferences are a waste of time. Jihad is the only way. And by Jihad, we don't mean "inner spiritual struggle" either. You know we mean what we say regarding Jihad. You have seen many examples.

I am sure Barack, that as your name indicates you are blessed. If you are blessed with wisdom, then you know that a wise man seeks wise advisers and follows wise advice, and not the counsel of fools and madmen. You will know what to do. "

www.zionism-israel.com/.../00000628.html