"Inappropriate"? Why? Because, as explained by Kagan, "Allies don’t go big-footing around in each other’s politics." Kagan tells us how, in 1793, it was unacceptable for Citizen Genêt to seek support for revolutionary France in newly independent and neutral America. However, Kagan fails to mention that France and its citizens at the time were not facing threats of extermination. He also forgets to tells us of a letter from Texas Senator Ted Cruz and New York Representative Lee Zeldin sent on Thursday to Secretary of State John Kerry asking "for information regarding media reports that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to fund efforts to influence upcoming elections in Israel."
Oh sure, Kagan makes passing reference to the Iranian threat to Israel:
"In the case of Iran, Israel is uniquely threatened and, as a U.S. ally, it deserves a serious and appropriate hearing here. But it is a mistake for Congress to treat Israel as if it were fundamentally different from all other U.S. allies, some of whom also face dire threats."
Israel is "uniquely threatened"? Consider the following recent tweet from Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei calling for the "annihilation" of Israel:
"This barbaric, wolflike & infanticidal regime of #Israel which spares no crime has no cure but to be annihilated."
Yup, I suppose we can call that being "uniquely threatened," but it's not enough for Kagan to acquiesce to an address by the Israeli prime minister before Congress. After all, Netanyahu's mere words pose a "unique threat" to Obama's compulsive need to reach a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons development program. You will recall Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes's assertion regarding such an agreement:
"This is probably the biggest thing President Obama will do in his second term on foreign policy. This is healthcare for us, just to put it in context."
If you have the time, have a look at Charles Krauthammer's Washington Post opinion piece entitled "Do we really mean ‘never again’?" Krauthammer writes today:
"On the 70th anniversary of Auschwitz, mourning dead Jews is easy. And, forgive me, cheap. Want to truly honor the dead? Show solidarity with the living — Israel and its 6 million Jews. Make 'never again' more than an empty phrase. It took Nazi Germany seven years to kill 6 million Jews. It would take a nuclear Iran one day.
The Iranian bomb is a national security issue, an alliance issue and a regional Middle East issue. But it is also a uniquely Jewish issue because of Israel’s situation as the only state on earth overtly threatened with extinction, facing a potential nuclear power overtly threatening that extinction."
Me? I have never voted for Netanyahu, but I want him speaking before Congress and delineating the Iranian threat. I don't give a damn about Kagan's concern with what is appropriate or not. On the 70th anniversary of Auschwitz, my family and I are not prepared to walk passively into the gas chambers, and I apologize in advance to the Obama administration for any offense or discomfort that Netanyahu's factual exposition might cause.
Some people are born lucky. Take, for example, people with the name Cohen in the 21st century America. If you have this name (in any of its variations), you can chose between "respectable" media outlets who will compete for you. Nothing is as important for this or that "respectable" outlet as having a guy named Cohen. Hiring one gives freedom to the charming outlets (and their oil oiled masters) to place barking at Jews at the center of their "journalistic" production. And the Cohens of assorted Stuermers know their role well and they often lead other barkers with utter enjoyment and commitment. A life worth living.
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