U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth: Infected and Dangerous

Yesterday I received the following e-mail from U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth of Kentucky, which states in relevant part:

"Given the persistent instability in the Middle East, I believe it is especially important that we encourage peaceful negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Palestinians and the Israelis both have a right to have a state, safety, and security, but none of these goals can be achieved with a military solution. I believe sincerely that the search for a negotiated solution to this political and security crisis is more critical than it has ever been.

That is why I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama in April 2010 in support of enhancing the security of both Israel and the United States through strong U.S. leadership in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Achieving these goals is essential for American interests in the Middle East and for the region as a whole. Unfortunately, Israelis and Palestinians have not been able to achieve peace on their own, and, therefore, American leadership is essential to achieving meaningful progress.

Further, current restrictions on residents of the Gaza Strip limit access to basic building supplies, foodstuffs, and medicine. Such restrictions have left parents unable to keep their children warm and well fed. I believe these conditions harm the peace process. In fact, they may have the effect of consolidating support for Hamas and others who would respond with terrorist violence. That is why I joined many like-minded colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama requesting the U.S. work for tangible improvements to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and affirming our support for the Administration's commitment to a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians. Achieving these goals is essential for American interests in the Middle East, for Israel's long-term security, and for the region as a whole.

It is also important to note that building Palestinian capacity in the economic and security sectors and building transparent institutions of self-governance are important goals, deserving of American support and central to the future success of a Palestinian state. These are goals that can be effectively realized over time once a Palestinian state has been created, with extensive international assistance, involvement, and oversight particularly in the security arena."

I know it's long and bloated, but read Yarmuth's e-mail a second time. Observe how Yarmuth twice labels a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "essential for American interests in the Middle East."

Does Yarmuth really believe that Afghanistan's Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Aimaks, Turkmen and Balochs, immersed in their own tribal conflicts, care a fig about Israel? On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan are indeed concerned with Iranian inroads into Gaza and U.S. impotency in blunting these advances, and all are tacitly supportive of Israel's efforts to contain Hamas terrorism.

Can Obama's "leadership" achieve "meaningful progress" in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Over the past year Obama's diplomatic initiatives have consisted of:

- appeasing Ahmadinejad;
- bowing to Abdullah;
- making nice to Karzai;
- smiling at Qaddafi;
- embracing Chavez;
- undermining U.S. allies in Europe and Asia;
- ignoring human rights violations in Darfur, China, Myanmar, Iran and Syria as part and parcel of his diplomatic overtures.

Obama will dictate the terms of peace between Israelis and Palestinians? Thanks, but no thanks.

What of Yarmuth's allegation that Gazan parents are "unable to keep their children warm and well fed"? The image of shivering children evokes much pity; however, Gaza borders on the southern Mediterranean, and I suggest Yarmuth personally donate 1,000 air conditioners to cool Gazan homes. Starvation? No reported incidents. In fact, not long ago Hamas complained that Israel was exporting lascivious chewing gum into the Strip, intended to corrupt the morals of minors.

Yarmuth conveniently forgets that Gaza also borders Egypt and that Hamas has constructed hundreds of tunnels under this boundary to transport tons of military goods into the Strip. Yarmuth holds Israel accountable for preventing Gazan mothers from feeding their children? Sorry, John, but this is base hypocrisy.

Yarmuth would have us believe that Palestinians, with American assistance, can build transparent institutions of self-governance. I invite Yarmuth to identify a single "transparent" institution in the Muslim Middle East.

Yarmuth's e-mail doesn't mention ongoing rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel. Yes, it's sporadic since Operation Cast Lead, but still occurring. Does Yarmuth honestly believe that were Israel to ease restrictions on the transfer of goods into Gaza, the residents of the Strip, who voted Hamas into power, would be less supportive of this terrorist organization?

Yarmuth also fails to mention Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas into Gaza in 2006, and who has never been allowed to meet with Red Cross representatives.

Is Yarmuth a well-intentioned, kind-hearted soul? I never had the pleasure of meeting the man; however, this congressman is obviously infected with the notion that Obama knows best, a delusion which is fast being shed by the American electorate.