The I's of March - Israel and Iran

Plenty has been written about Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress yesterday, but on the serious side, I like David Ignatius's analysis - in brief it is simply that the Israeli PM raises some serious points that can lead to a better agreement with Iran, if one is to be had. 

Personally, I believe it's a fool's errand, in the long run, to think we can prevent other nations from "getting the bomb," but if they're going to get it, we should be on cordial diplomatic terms with them if possible -- and that's the crux of what Obama is doing.

Beyond the finer points of negotiating with Iran, however, there's quite a mixed brew of "angles." Some are noted below, with my take.  

• Does Netanyahu go by "Bibi" because he fears being referred to as "that nothin' yahoo"* instead?   (I suspect so.  But he may deserve the second appellation because of his unyielding hard line on such issues as settlements.)
                                     *(Note this is "yahoo" in the Swiftian sense, long "a".)
• Is his willingness, in a fit of pique, to make this end-run to supporters in Congress an insult to President Obama?  (Yes, but both of them will get over it.)
• Isn't the PM being rather high-handed in assuming he, or we, can dictate to Iran?  (Of course.  U.S. diplomacy - especially when influenced by Congressional interest in an issue -- does this all the time, usually with negative consequences.) 
• Is it true that Bibi's main motive is to help himself win the upcoming election in Israel?  (I don't doubt that a bit; for any politician, winning an election is far more important than foreign policy realities.)

Well, none of those is really too serious, but here's one that is:   This whole episode clearly demonstrates a fundamental issue with our Israel policy, namely, that we can't step back and consider our policy toward the near Middle-East region because everything tends to be skewed to an "Israel first" approach.  That flaw is like a turd in a punchbowl -- it attracts all the attention, and it isn't very healthful.  It would be preferable if our Israelocentric citizens and their supporters in Congress could identify more readily with the broader U.S. interest. 

Comments

[PiedType]

Israel has a hugely disporportionate influence on US policies that I do not understand or appreciate. Our interests are far broader than Israel's, and Bibi's demands (demands!) are completely out of line. He's got a hell of a nerve addressing our Congress as a guest and insulting Pres. Obama in the process. He continues illegal settlements and makes demands of the US while at the same time taking (and no doubt expecting) a lion's share of US foreign aid. Israel proved in 1967 that it is perfectly capable of defending itself. I don't know why we keep letting the tail wag the dog.