Shallowness of politicians - winning is everything!

Every once in a while I post something from a fellow memo reader. This is particularly meaningful because the person who wrote is is one of the brightest and most patriotic people I know. He has served our nation in a variety of capacities and we are better off for his service. (See 1 below.)

Is Olmert's fate going to be that of the former Governor of New York for somewhat different reasons? Olmert will probably finesse this latest investigation as he has all the others. Corruption is just something that goes with Israeli politics. The pay for service is poor so most of the politicians seeking very high office need to do something to pay for the cost of climbing the slippery ladder. In Olmert's case, however, he is a reasonably well off individual. (See 2 below.)

Clever response by an Aussie General. (See 3 below.)

Not to be outdone by the Aussies, Lincoln had something to say that has stood the test of time as well. (See 4 below.)

The cost of an ally? Jimmy Carter has cost us far more than Israel. (See 5 below.)

And this is something all should watch at least once or daily depending upon your ability to remember: http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036.


Obama wins more super-delegates after finally throwing Rev. Wright under the bus which he could have- should have- done initially but the ever clever Obama calculates votes before deciding which speech to give.

Super delegate Joe Andrew, demonstrates how shallow loyalty can be among politicians. Winning is everything or even the possibility of it.(See 6 below.)

Have a great weekend.

Dick



1) Hi Dick, just a short note to tell you that I have really been fascinated by your articles on the Middle East and politics in general.
Incidentally: Jimmy Carter is a disgrace: he is self-seeking and sanctimonious to a pathological degree. Someone should put him on a very short leash. He is a shame to the USN,a shame to the state of Georgia, a shame to the Baptist Church, and a shame to the Presidency.

2) PM faces calls to take leave after questioned under caution


Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was questioned under caution on Friday morning at his offial residence in Jerusalem, prompting a number of Knesset members to call on his to suspend himself pending the investigations.

The questioning began at 10 A.M. and lasted for about an hour and a half. The reason for the investigation is not known. Olmert is a suspect in several corruption affairs involving real estate deals and questionable political appointments, but has never been charged.

Shelly Yachimovich, a member of Olmert's ruling coalition from the Labor
Party, on Thursday called the scope of charges against Olmert unprecedented and said he should suspend himself immediately.

"It has been proven beyond any doubt that the prime minister can't be under serial investigations and also suspected of crimes and also lead the country," she told Israel Radio.

Likud party chairman Gideon Sa'ar, meanwhile, urged the Labor Party to quit the government coalition immediately, calling it a "government under constant suspicion."

"Olmert is the prime minister who has been investigated more than any other in the history of Israel. The Labor Party is responsible for the survival of the coalition and if it stands to present values, control of law and clean hands, it needs to quit immediately," he said.

MK Zahava Gal-On also called on the prime minister to take temporary leave pending the proceedings of the investigations, Israel Radio reported.

Detectives from the national police fraud unit on Wednesday had asked to meet with Olmert urgently, within 48 hours. The summons were made after receiving special permission from the attorney general.

The police attempted to keep the questioning secret but it was reported last night by Channel 2 television news. Despite the report and despite previous promises by National Police Commissioner David Cohen and other senior police officials to notify the media in advance about Olmert's investigation, national police headquarters Thursday refused to comment.

"The prime minister intends to fully cooperate with law enforcement officials as he has in the past and he is convinced that once the truth is disclosed in the framework of the police investigation, the suspicions against him will disappear," a statement issued Thursday by the Prime Minister's Office said.

It is not known which affair Olmert was questioned about. In the past, it was reported that three concurrent investigations were being conducted against Olmert: the Investment Center affair, the affair surrounding political appointments in the Small Business Authority and the house on Cremieux Street affair.

Olmert has been questioned in the past under caution. Last October a police fraud unit team came to his home to take statements regarding changes in the tender for Bank Leumi. At the time, Olmert was suspected of having acted to alter the conditions of the tender to favor a friend, Frank Lowy, who was considering submitting a bid. Olmert was questioned for two days, following which he fell ill with a cold. In the end, the police announced that Olmert was not suspected of criminal behavior in connection with the affair.

A few months before that, detectives came to the prime minister's residence to hear Olmert's version of events vis-a-vis the Tax Authority affair. At the time the police announced that Olmert was not a suspect in the affair, but was merely being questioned over the appointment process for senior officials in the organization and over the role of his office manager, Shula Zaken, in the affair.

In November, the fraud unit conducted a major evidence-gathering operation relating to investigations against Olmert. One hundred detectives raided 20 different sites simultaneously, confiscating a large number of computers and documents. The material involved all three of the affairs reportedly being investigated.

Among the sites raided was the office of the minister of trade and industry and other offices in the ministry; the Israel Lands Administration; the employment bureau; the Small Business Authority and the Investments Center. Documents were also collected from the offices of attorney Uri Messer, the Alumot real estate developer, the postal authority and the Jerusalem municipality.

Police secrecy over Olmert probe leads to questions

Senior Israel Police officials and investigators maintained a veil of secrecy Thursday over the circumstances of the impromptu questioning of Olmert.

Police intended to keep word of the questioning secret from the public, yet the leak to Channel 2 TV caught the upper echelons of the police and the spokesmen off guard. Repeated inquiries from the press were met with no comment.

In the absence of an adequate explanation as to the reasons behind the surprise investigation, one can only speculate as to why the police chose this particular course of action:

# Have there been any significant surprise developments in one or more of the current investigations ongoing against the prime minister?

# Have witnesses given incriminating statements to police against Olmert or his aides with reference to one or more of the investigations against him, which would then prompt authorities to seek out the premier for his version of events?

# Do investigators suspect Olmert, a sitting prime minister, may take steps to interfere with the investigation against him - steps which would include coordinating testimony or destroying evidence? If the premier is made aware of which pieces of evidence the police are in possession of, would the police move quickly in questioning him before he would have the opportunity to tamper with or destroy such evidence?

# Police sources hinted Thursday that, due to the leak, investigators are likely to postpone the questioning. In years prior, police have carried out "investigation drills" in which they announce, by way of the news media, their intention to question a particular public figure. Do police want to keep tabs on those being investigated so as to observe their reactions to news of Olmert's imminent questioning? Will the questioning be eventually cancelled?

# Given the police silence on the matter, it is unclear whether the evidence being used by investigators forms the basis of an investigation in which Olmert is the prime suspect, or whether his statements are needed to incriminate somebody else.

# Why did the police commissioner, the head of the investigators unit, and the head of the police fraud unit elect not to notify the public of their intention to question the prime minister today (Friday), despite prior understandings according to which news of any investigation of the prime minister will be made available to the public? Why did the police high command "go underground" Thursday and refuse to respond to questions concerning the investigation?

3) General Cosgrove was interviewed on the radio recently.


You'll love his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children. Regardless of how you feel about gun laws you gotta love this! This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of an ABC interview between a female broadcaster and General Cosgrove who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military headquarters.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.


FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.


FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.


FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL COSGROVE:
Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

The radio went silent and the interview ended.

4)During this political season, let's be reminded of these wise words:

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

Abraham Lincoln

5) Israel and the United States
By Gerardo Joffe


The United States is without question Israel’s most important ally. Also, without question, Israel is the staunchest and most reliable friend of the United States. But there are some who believe and vigorously advocate that Israel is a burden to the United States and that, were it not for Israel, peace would prevail in the Middle East.

What are the facts?

The “Israel lobby.” A patriotic-named foundation urges, in full-page ads in national newspapers (very expensive — who pays for it?), to influence Congress to withhold support for Israel. Professors from prestigious universities write essays in which they aver that the United States is in thrall to the “Israel lobby.” This lobby is said to pull the strings of American policy. Its supposed main promoters are AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and the so-called “neo-cons,” some of whom are indeed Jewish. They are said to exert an almost magical spell over policy makers, including the leaders of Congress and the President. Some even say that the Iraq war was promoted by this omnipotent “Israel lobby,” that the President was flummoxed into declaring war on Saddam Hussein, not in order to defend the United States or to promote its interests, but in order to further the interests of Israel.

Israel is indeed a major recipient of U.S. aid. Israel receives yearly $1.8 billion in military aid and $1.2 billion in economic aid, a substantial portion of our yearly aid budget. Almost all of the military aid is spent in the United States, making Israel one of the major customers of the U.S. defense industry. Virtually all of the economic assistance goes for repayment of debt to the United States, incurred from military purchases dating back many years.

America’s staunchest ally. A good case can be made that aid to Israel, certainly the military portion, should be part of the United States defense budget, rather than of the aid budget because Israel is, next only perhaps to Britain, by far the most important ally of the United States. Virtually without exception, Israel’s government and its people agree with and support the foreign policy objectives of the United States. In the United Nations, Israel’s votes coincide with those of the United States over 90% of the time. The Arabs and other Moslem countries, virtually all of them recipients of American largess, almost reflexively vote against the United States in most instances.

Israel is the major strategic asset of the United States in an area of the world that is the cradle of Islamo-fascism, which is dominated by tyrants and permeated by religious obscurantism and shows almost total disregard for human rights. During the decades-long Cold War, Israel was America’s indispensable rampart against the inroads of the Soviet Union. It is now the bulwark against the aggressive intentions of Iran. During Desert Storm, Israel provided invaluable intelligence, an umbrella of air cover for military cargo, and had personnel planted in the Iraqi deserts to pick up downed American pilots.

Gen. George Keagan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, stated publicly that “Israel is worth five CIAs,” with regard to intelligence passed to our country. He also stated that the yearly $1.8 billion that Israel received in military assistance was worth $50 to $60 billion in intelligence, R&D savings, and Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the Pentagon. In contrast to our commitments in Korea, Japan, Germany, and other parts, not a single American serviceperson needs to be stationed in Israel. Considering that the cost of one serviceperson per year — including backup and infrastructure — is estimated to be about $200,000, and assuming a minimum contingent of 25,000 troops, the cost savings to the United States on that score alone is on the order of $5 billion a year.

Israel effectively secures NATO’s southeastern flank. Its superb harbor, its outstanding military installations, the air and sea lift capabilities, and the trained manpower to maintain sophisticated equipment are readily at hand in Israel. It is the only country that makes itself available to the United States in any contingency. Yes, Israel is not a burden, but a tremendous asset to the United States.

Israel is indeed America’s unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East and the indispensable defender of America’s interests in that area of the world. The people of the United States, individually and through their Congressional representatives, overwhelmingly support Israel in its seemingly unending fight against Arab aggression and Moslem terror. But that support is not based on the great strategic value that Israel represents to the United States. It is and always has been based on shared values of liberty, democracy, and human rights. America and Israel are aligned by their shared love of peace and democracy. Israel and the United States stand together in their fight against Islamo-fascist terrorism. These shared values, these common ideals, will bind Israel and the United States forever.

6) Obama’s Wright response wins him superdelegates
By Sam Youngman


Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) sharp denunciation of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright this week has superdelegates moving in his direction.

While the reverend’s controversial remarks and his widely panned appearance at the National Press Club caused many pundits to wonder if super delegates would be frozen into indecision, those who moved into Obama’s column this week cited the Illinois senator’s reaction as one of their reasons for backing him.

Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Joe Andrew was perhaps the biggest jewel of the week for Obama. Until Thursday, Andrew had supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). He was appointed DNC chairman in the 1990s by her husband.

Andrew cited a number of reasons for his defection. Chief among them was his concern that the protracted nomination battle was hurting the party and helping presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

But Andrew said Obama’s “principled stand” on Wright was “shocking.”

While Andrew’s crossover was the big story Thursday, Obama also picked up endorsements this week from Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) and Baron Hill (D), who is also a native of Indiana, the next battleground state on the calendar.

Hill, who is from a conservative district, included Obama’s response to Wright in his endorsement statement even as Republicans criticized his decision.

“I am pleased that Sen. Obama clearly and unequivocally denounced Rev. Wright’s remarks,” Hill said. “Hoosiers don’t feel that way about our country, I don’t feel that way about our country and Sen. Obama made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t feel that way either.”

Clinton maintains a narrow lead over Obama 98-97 in congressional endorsements, despite published reports to the contrary. Obama, however,leads in Senate backers, 14-13, following Sen. Jeff Bingaman's (N.M.) endorsement earlier this week.

The Obama campaign said Thursday that Wright’s public comments over the past week haven’t deterred new super delegates from backing the Illinois senator.

“After 14 months, the campaign has been tested, and it’s clear we’re still forging ahead and the campaign is still on track,” Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, said. “Our eye is still on the ball.”

With both candidates not yet at the delegate count needed for the nomination, the focus of the race has turned to the uncommitted super delegates or those committed to one candidate who might defect.

Obama has made strides to catch up to Clinton in the super delegate count, but the New York senator’s campaign made a point Thursday of showing her lead continues to grow.

In an effort to presumably blunt the attention Andrew was getting, the Clinton campaign unveiled five new super delegates on board Thursday — four from New York and one from Connecticut.

The Clinton campaign also circulated a memo from senior adviser Harold Ickes that was addressed to the super delegates and included polling data suggesting Clinton is more electable than Obama in November.

Andrew making all kinds of news

Super delegate and former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Joe Andrew made a lot of news Thursday when he announced that he was switching his support from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

And he didn’t stop there.

Andrew, an Indiana native who was appointed to the DNC by former President Bill Clinton, immediately thrust himself into one of Washington’s favorite parlor games: speculating as to who will be the nominee’s running mate.

The longtime friend to Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), who has been a staunch supporter of Clinton especially in the lead-up to Tuesday’s Hoosier State primary, added to the controversy by suggesting an Obama-Bayh ticket.

“I believe that Evan Bayh would be a great president, and therefore a great vice president,” Andrew wrote in his open letter to Hoosiers. “I will continue to argue that he would be a great choice to be on the ticket with Barack Obama.”

Super delegates unite for new foreign policy

A group of 16 super delegates, both committed and uncommitted, announced an effort Thursday to push the Democratic Party to adopt a platform that would drastically alter President Bush’s foreign policy.

The super delegates, led by Win Without War’s national director, former Rep. Tom Andrews (D-Maine), called for the eventual Democratic nominee to embrace a platform that would end the Iraq war, avoid war with Iran and close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility.

To that end, the group announced it would circulate a petition among superdelegates seeking to persuade the eventual nominee to adopt a platform containing those facets.

Andrews and several members of Congress — some supporting Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), some supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and some uncommitted — held a conference call with reporters Thursday morning where they said they are unified on adopting a new foreign policy.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a member of the group and an Obama supporter, said the petition was necessary to “hold the nominee accountable.”

“We know that [Arizona Republican Sen.] John McCain will continue to bring us more of the same, and that’s war without end and war at any cost,” Lee said.