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Obama's defense secretary wanted Netanyahu banned from White House
Ynet
Published: 14.01.14, 08:47
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28 Talkbacks for this article
1. It's about time that Netanyahu realizes
Chaim ,   Israel   (01.14.14)
that the Hussein Obama, Kerry and the Clintons are no friends of Israel and are doing everything to destroy Israel. It's about time that Israel becomes a sovereign state and not dependent on phony friends who are actually Israel's enemies.
2. Sounds such a blatant hogwash: even an amateur like myself
tom ,   tel aviv   (01.14.14)
can see, that something's "off" with Gates' logic. Birthrate, isolation, Islamisation ... and Bibi is supposed to get rid of as much Israeli territory as possible and as soon as possible and to a non- existing Palestinians?! Their pseudo-existence is grounded in one thing only: to get politicians like Gates, to help getting rid of the Jewish State once and for all. He could have called his memoirs "My Fight II" :-)
3. Bibi must be doing something right!
Gate's Memoirs..   (01.14.14)
Bibi should weaken Israel to satisfy this has been Mr. Gates? Obama, Kerry and the rest of this administration, won't be around forever, and I don't give a flying hoot what they write in their useless memoirs.
4. US policy is in a shambles in the ME
Shalom ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.14.14)
The US failed to make a follow-up agreement with Iraq when it withdrew forces, so it has no influence on the recent deterioration of events there . It infuriated Egyptians with its support for the Muslim Brotherhood. It has alarmed the Gulf states by weakening its line on Syria and Iran. So if Netanyahu criticized US policy, maybe he had a point.
5. Bring modernity to the Arabs of Israel...
Sam ,   NY, NY, USA   (01.14.14)
Then watch the birthrates drop, as they do when Arabs living in other countries join modern societies. Israeli-Arab birthrates are lower than Arabs elsewhere in the middle east, and it is easy to see why.
6. A STRONG FRIEND WOULD RESTORE THE BALFOUR.
BUTSeriously ,   Sydney   (01.14.14)
Strong friends do not foster multiple 2-state demands in the same tiny land, change the 3,000 year name of Samaria to West Bank, transfer the name Palestinians from Jews to Muslims and invent a place called EAST Jerusalem. Who's kidding whom!
7. Too bad obama/kerry /clinton/gates
BUILD BABY BUILD ,   United States   (01.14.14)
don't read these posts. They are seem hell bent on ruining Israel. Good thing Bib wont let them. Hell, the three stooges have ruined America, isn't that enough for these far left wing nut jobs? Each with an opinion and not one relevant to Israel's national security and, trying through flawed logic and 'talks' to uplift the dismal horrid lowest poll approval #s in years. ( well deserved, I might say ) KEEP BUILDING!!!!!! obama/kerry/clinton are finished. Israel is eternal.
8. Gates & the US Foreign policy
IESKY ,   KY Israel   (01.14.14)
If you sere to read what jeffrey Goldberg has to say about Israel, you would understand that he is proud and happy as an American to quote the "Gates Rubbish" about Bibi, and no doubt, agrees with it too! The US still thinks it can push us to accept its failed policies! But, like Arik Sharon z"l and all other great leaders of the Jewish People, Bibi knows too that he is carrying responsibility for the future of his people. None of these great men will bend over and take the criticism from these passing politicians who think that only they understand what's going on here! Bogi Ayalon's statement about Kerry fits in well with this line too... The fact that the USA cannot recognize Jerusalem as our capital and move their embassy from Tel Avivn nor can they release Jonathan Pollard, shows us exactly where they stand!
9. Gates would never dream of banning the Saudis
CJK   (01.14.14)
gates has it in for the jews. the muslims must be delighted. of course, gates is known to be a liar. gates had been heavily criticised during his tenure for running a very lose operation. was he the point man in tehran? yes, he most likely was. gates shou;d stick to what he knows best: women, and fake negotiations.
10. Is there any one that Gates approves of?
BUILD BABY BUILD ,   United States   (01.14.14)
I don't think so, sounds like Gates has a napoleon complex, a small man trapped inside of a body filled with an ego the size of Alaska. Too bad he didn't quit in protest of obama's inabilities and arrogance but, the two seem nearly equal in criticism. Gates acted the coward by waiting and then complaining. I trust Bibi over obama any day. "If you like your insurance plan you can keep it period." Suuuuure. BUILD ALL OF ISRAEL IT'S SOOOO WORTH IT !!!!
11. White House
didi ,   usa   (01.14.14)
good idea. The further Bibi is from the white house the better. If you believe that when Israel will give away Judea and Samaria to the Arabs that there will be peace then you have had your eyes and ears closed for the last 60 years. Do Gates, Kerry and Obama really believe this?
12. Ho, what a double standard?!
AVouskila ,   South America   (01.14.14)
So, Bob Gates may be allowed to criticise Israel's politics, but Israel is not allowed to reciprocate! Hm, what's friends are for? But, what Bob is really doing is reflecting his own personality traits onto Bibi (we all know that BibiIs: Hautain, Arrogant, Dissmissal, Disdain, Neurotic, Disagreable; that is why he is PM) and those have nothing to do with the substance of National Policy. Lots of great politicians have disagreed strongly with their allies (Winston Churchill having to fight his ennemy from without Hitler and one from within De Gaule) but it did not became a stone unturned on the national level as the "fair-minded" Bob Dates is performing, well in writing anyway. I always contented that though America is still a very strong superpower, albeit relinquished that domination under Obama, is unreliable ally.
13. Gates' glibness and arrogance
Israella   (01.14.14)
I doubt very much that surrounding Arab countries truly ''share Israel’s concerns in the region'', not matter what Gates thinks or says. What these countries do share is no secret, they want a weak or non-existent Israel. Gates is blind to the hate and venom emanating daily from these countries. Gates thinks he got the measure of Netanyahu but in effect he, like so many others, prove over and over how little they understand the Arab mentality, or for that matter, Netanyahu's behaviour.
14. ...and he did not eat his peas.
Gideon Reader   (01.14.14)
...Why? Oh why does eveeryone know better that the people who reside there how best to deal with an unrelenting and murderous threat? Sometimes you cannot pet the nice doggie without losing a finger of two. We have observed for the last fifty of so years a failed and basically stupid foreigh pokicy that what is good for the USA politically is not necessarily good for Israel.
15. Gates was mistaken in 2007
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (01.14.14)
He told Pres.Bush not to allow Israel to strike the Syrian Reactor that it would cause a major Mid East war.Pres Bush agreed with Israel.There was no Israeli Arab war after the Israeli strike on the Syrian Nuclear reactor ,but we all know that.
16. A very strong friend
DSV ,   Arnhem, Netherlands   (01.14.14)
Anyone who feels the need to call himself 'a very strong friend and supporter of Israel' probably isn't.
17. Gates
(01.14.14)
That Gates disliked Netanyahu is really a minor part of his book. Far more important is his accusation that Obama and Clinton sacrificed American lives for political gain. If Gates is telling the truth, he is accusing these two of treason.
18. a little bit emotional for defense secretary
zionist forever   (01.14.14)
Robert Gates wanted Netanyahu banned from the White House because he didn't show gratitude to the US.
19. to right-wing Talkbackers: it's probably impossible...
Rafi ,   US   (01.14.14)
... for you to not react defensively & impulsively in response to each inidvidual who questions Israel, particularly Bibi Netanyahu, accusing them of being anti-Semitic, self-hating, etc. Nonetheless I suggest you wake up & smell the roses: Netanyahu's personal style as well as his poliices ARE detrimental if not disastrous to Israel. Countless #'s of world leaders who are otherwise pro-Israel (such as France's Sarkozi ) have called Netanyahu what he is: an outright liar and demagogue. He's Israel's equivalent of Turkey's Erdogan... and he has done the State of Israel a lot of damage. Most of Gates' points are legtimate and he is not the first to articulate them.
20. To: Didi at No. 11
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.14.14)
No, they don't really believe it; they just don't like Jews. But you have to understand that American foreign policy, as fashioned under Truman, never really accounted for a State of Israel, because no one ever expected the State of Israel to withstand the Arab onslaught in 1947. Or any time since. The fact that the State of Israel not only survived, but has thrived, has kept the United States in a tizzy for a very long time. Oh well. Too bad for the U.S.
21. I told you so.
Ben Ish   (01.14.14)
I have been warning for years that Iran would have a bomb by mid 2014, and at least two of them by 2015. I also warned that the primary mechanism that enabled this to happen is TALKS. Talks are designed as a delay mechanism to keep Israel from acting. Talks have been 100% effective at bringing Iran to power, refining uranium to weapons grade, and constructing housings and missiles to accommodate nuclear warheads. The only detail I did not foretell was the development of IR-3 centrifuges. Bibi has a hard road ahead of him. He has been told not to act, and he has been heavily restricted. I don't know the details of those conversations, but he must choose Israel first, regardless of the conditions and threats made against him.
22. Never trust anyone who works and obeys the Muslim in Chief.
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (01.14.14)
It includes Gates, Kerry and Hillary. Trust the lying, cheating and deceiving Obama and his lackeys at your own peril.
23. USA biggest mistake is
Sheik rattle & roll ,   USA   (01.14.14)
getting involved with this conflict. The USA should disengage from the Middle East "peace process". For some strange reason Israel feels that the US is indebted to it. We owe Israel nothing. We should pull our VETO and abstain from any future resolutions in the security council. I personally support Israel 100 percent, however we should let the Israeli fend for themselves and we should fend for our selves. America has had enough. I am quite sure the Russians, Chinese and there Arab friends will sure welcome Israel into it's fold of nations, wink wink.
24. Gates gates gates
(01.14.14)
Israel will prevails, against evolution thinkers like Gates because the God of Israel will not share His land and not for sale.
25. Gates is emotionally insecure (end)
Joseph ,   Malta   (01.14.14)
26. #16 - 'strong friend and supporter of Israel'
split ,   US   (01.14.14)
If you know any foreign leaders that are, name them ,...
27. #1, et al
An American Citizen ,   Washington, DC   (01.14.14)
Brent Scowcroft was the National Security Adviser to George HW Bush, so Gates' comments about Netanyahu probably occurred during the early 1990s and long before Obama was in government, but please don't let that get in the way of your usual Obama/Clinton/Kerry hatefest.
28. Most interesting
Cameron ,   USA   (01.14.14)
This Gates is damn blunt & pulls no punches. Not surprised at all with his take on Net, and what a bad impression Net left with the powers that be in DC. Powerful credit to Obama in his efforts to clip Net's wings, and putting this patron - client relationship back on a more healthy, properly positioned level.
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