Israel Matzav: Why has Obama treated Bibi so rudely?

Why has Obama treated Bibi so rudely?

Glenn Reynolds has an interesting post on why President Obama treated Prime Minister Netanyahu so rudely at the White House this past week. This is Glenn's theory (Hat Tip: Memeorandum):

But it’s also possible — I’d say likely — that there’s something else going on. I think Obama expects Israel to strike Iran, and wants to put distance between the United States and Israel in advance of that happening. (Perhaps he even thinks that treating Israel rudely will provoke such a response, saving him the trouble of doing anything about Iran himself, and avoiding the risk that things might go wrong if he does). On the most optimistic level, maybe this whole thing is a sham, and the U.S. is really helping Israel strike Iran, with this as distraction. The question for readers is which of these — not necessarily mutually exclusive — explanations is most plausible.

It's an interesting thought, but I really doubt it would work. Since I'm convinced at this point that there is no way in the world that Obama will attack Iran, I'd be happy at this point if Obama would just stand down and let the IAF do the job. But if he thinks that we're going to attack Iran and they won't retaliate against the US, I'm afraid he's fooling himself.

I also wonder whether an attempt by Obama to disassociate himself from an Israeli attack will also mean going along with all the inevitable UN condemnations, cutting off arms sales to Israel (to the extent not cut off already), etc.

William Jacobson (who sends me lots of readers by the way - thanks!) has some interesting thoughts on why Americans have been very affected by the way Obama treated Netanyahu (yes, fellow Israelis, this has been big news in the US too).

Part of it certainly is that the foreign leader in question was the leader of Israel, which is tremendously popular with Americans. In Israel the clear majority of Americans see a democratic nation surrounded by implacable enemies who also are our enemies, doing what it takes to survive and thrive. In so many historical, religious and political ways Israel is our kindred spirit, more than just one among many nations.

But that cannot explain the intensity of the reaction. Obama has shown disrespect for our British friends, with whom we share an even more intense historical relationship. There are very, very few countries in the world whose soldiers would die for us, and Britain is one of those countries. Yet the reaction to Obama's treatment of Britain has been muted.

I think the reaction to Obama's treatment of Bibi Netanyahu hits home because it was so personal in nature, and because it epitomized how the American people have been treated by Obama and the Democrats, with arrogance and disdain.

Hmmm. I wonder how many Jewish Democrats have been woken up by this past week. But I'm glad to hear that so many Americans feel all warm and fuzzy about Israel.

I spent the last day or so in Samaria in what some of you might call a 'settlement.' This is the first live post I've done since about 2:00 Friday afternoon, so for those of you who are wondering where your comments disappeared to, they should be up shortly.

Israel Matzav: Why has Obama treated Bibi so rudely?