Israel Surfing

Near the end of last week, Fred Thompson announced an upcoming trip to Israel. This was welcome news for supporters of Israel but at the same time, some in the other candidates camps (who claim strong Israel support themselves) snickered that FDT's first campaign trip after the I'm With Fred website was unveiled (the theoretical beginning of the official run for the nomination) was to Israel, not New Hampshire. (a New Hampshire trip was announced this week).

Interestingly, I received in my email a paid advertisement from "Join Rudy 2008.com" coming from the Jerusalem Post. Here is the text:

Dear Friend,
As a longtime friend and staunch supporter of Israel during my entire public life, I want to share with you my deep concern for the Jewish state and ask for your support as I campaign to become the next President of the United States.

We are at a crucial moment in history. We are once again at a point where the free world's resolve in fighting evil is being tested.

In the 1990's, we had the blinders on with regard to Islamic terrorism. Coddling terrorists-even applauding for winning the Nobel Peace prize as was done with Yasser Arafat-is a policy we cannot return to.

Yet, these blinders are still worn by some people who wish to lead our country.

In neither of their debates did the Democrats mention Islamic fundamentalist terrorists and the threat they pose to our country. One candidate has even said that the global war on terror is nothing but a bumper sticker slogan. It makes the point that I've been making over and over again - that the Democrats, or at least some of them, are in denial.

I promise you that if elected President, I will make sure this country remains on offense against terrorism. But I need your help and support to get there. Will you consider giving $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50 to my campaign?

Israel and the United States share common values. We cherish freedom, democracy, and human life. Our shared values have attracted common enemies. The terrorists Israel is fighting are the same terrorists America is fighting, and we must continue to fight them together.

Last week Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced that the world would soon witness the destruction of Israel. This 2008 presidential campaign will determine how we deal with statements like these and the madmen who make them.

I stand by Israel and I'll never embrace a terrorist like Arafat, a tyrant like Ahmadinejad, or a party like Hamas.

Will you join me and support my campaign for President so we can continue to work together? Your contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50 will go a long way in helping us to ensure victory.

Please consider signing up for my email list as well. Doing so will keep you up to date on the latest news from my campaign.

A Giuliani administration won't accept business as usual. We will stay strong amidst the threats of tyrants and we will stay on offense against the terrorists.

Sincerely,

Rudy Giuliani

Overall, a pretty good statement. Not quite on the level of Fred's article posted at the end of May but strong enough to justify and verify the support Rudy has received from the concerned for Israel crowd.

For the sake of fairness, Duncan Hunter has chimed in demonstrating his support for Israel. IsraelForum.com reported a statement of support for Israel that Rep. Hunter posted on LGF the very same May 31 that FDT's article appeared. Wonder who tipped off Hunter that FDT was publishing a pro-Israel piece at the same time?

Hunter's comments are very good but I question why he felt the need to couch his comments in politicianese. For instance, "So, until the Palestinians renounce terrorism and stop their attacks on the Israeli people, peace will be out of reach." Are we to presume that if the so-called "palestinians" would meet Hunter's demands than there would be peace? Hunter certainly knows that these demands are unrealistic and will never be met. Is he looking for political cover to continue the status quo or does he want an end to the conflict? Would he support transfer? And, what if the so-called "palis" met his demands but retained their own demands of half or all of Jerusalem, full right of return and full withdrawal from the Yosh? Would Hunter support a "peace" process under those circumstances?

Compare Hunter's words above to FDT. Thompson's remarks clearly demonstrate a different level of understanding. FDT's comments rely upon Hamas as a whipping boy, but this allows him to carve out a stronger statement.

• "Israel is at war"


• "...repeats its official promise to destroy Israel entirely and replace it with an Islamic state"


• "The Palestinian strategy is to purposely target and kill Israeli civilians"


• "Palestinians claim to be the victims."


• "sympathy and support from a gullible or anti-Semitic media"


• "Islamic extremists are using their own populations as human shields"


• "Israel has the military might to easily win the war"


• "{Israel's} compassion for Palestinian civilians"


• "That balance of power is about to change, though. If Iran develops nuclear weapons the very existence of this tiny nation of Israel will be threatened. The Iranian regime has left little doubt that it intends to see Israel “wiped off the map.” Hamas is using the same language, not coincidentally, and has announced it will begin launching missiles into Israel from the West Bank too.".

Rudy's strongest points are:

• "In neither of their debates did the Democrats mention Islamic fundamentalist terrorists and the threat they pose to our country. One candidate has even said that the global war on terror is nothing but a bumper sticker slogan. It makes the point that I've been making over and over again - that the Democrats, or at least some of them, are in denial. "



• "Israel and the United States share common values. We cherish freedom, democracy, and human life. Our shared values have attracted common enemies. The terrorists Israel is fighting are the same terrorists America is fighting, and we must continue to fight them together. "



• "Last week Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced that the world would soon witness the destruction of Israel. This 2008 presidential campaign will determine how we deal with statements like these and the madmen who make them. "



• "I stand by Israel and I'll never embrace a terrorist like Arafat, a tyrant like Ahmadinejad, or a party like Hamas."

Good for Rudy to bash the democrat party candidates. Rudy calls the democrat weakness "denial". He's being nice. It is not denial but a calculated decision to not lead in the world and to not provoke the barbarian enemy. It demonstrates a cowardice and mind of failure, {for convoluted reasons} to recognize there is a multi-generational conflict underway for world-wide domination actively being fought by one side and passively, if not nonchalantly by the other side. FDT has left no doubt what he believes.

Rudy correctly points out that the world-wide islamo-facist terror effort is indeed one larger movement. As for sharing common values, it is nice words which are more true probably than not provided that he truly doesn't believe that Israel and the US have identical visions. Israel will one day, indeed remove, some how the arabian populations from her midst. Will Rudy support that initiative? It is not "American" not to believe in the power of secularization and acculturation.

Finally, it is not "statements" made by the Iranian madman Mahmoud which must be dealt with but the madman himself who must be dealt with. With all fairness, Rudy probably meant this, but sometimes when you are a fast talking yankee, you make word mistakes. Words, of course have meaning but we will excuse Rudy this time for an otherwise strong statement of support for Israel.