(Washington, D.C., March 20, 2013) -- To say that the pundits have
low expectations for President Obama's trip to Israel and Jordan this
week would be putting it mildly. Most expect a series of photo ops, but
no serious progress on the three major issues: the Iran nuclear threat,
the implosion of Syria, and the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace
process.
"It is hard for me to recall a less-anticipated trip to Israel by an
American president," noted Thomas L. Friedman in his recent column in
the New York Times. "But there is a message in that empty bottle: Little
is expected from this trip -- not only because little is possible, but
because, from a narrow U.S. point of view, little is necessary."
Actually, much is necessary. The president needs to "re-set"
U.S.-Israeli relations in a positive way after a contentious
relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first
term. But that is the just the beginning.
There are three critical questions the president needs to answer on this
trip:
1) Have diplomacy, sanctions and covert operations failed to stop Iran
from building nuclear weapons?
2) If so, will President Obama order airstrikes against Iran, or give
Israel the "green light" to hit Iran's nuclear sites since other
measures have failed?
3) If not, why not?
The administration has been giving mixed messages in recent weeks. Top
officials have suggested diplomacy and sanctions are not working, but
the President seemed to suggest the world has at least another year
before Iran could get The Bomb, implying there is quite a bit more time.
The Israeli leadership has a different view. They believe time is short
and the clock is running.
These questions need to be asked by PM Netanyahu -- and by journalists
-- and answered clearly and decisively by the President.
Meanwhile, Syria -- already on the agenda for the President's trip -- is
taking on growing importance. CNN reports a "high probability" that
chemical weapons were used Tuesday in Syria, killing dozens and wounding
dozens more. The White House chief of staff is calling the development a
"game changer" if proven true. Much of the US and Israeli media is
talking about the chemical weapons story as part of the President's
arrival coverage, and there is speculation about possible US and allied
airstrikes against Syria's WMD storehouses.
Please keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem and all in the region,
and wisdom for our leaders to know how best to proceed.
[To read my full column -- these are just a few excerpts -- please go to
the blog.]
KEY STORIES I'M TRACKING ON THE BLOG:
* For the next few days, I'm live blogging and live Tweeting through the
President's visit to the epicenter -- Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan.
I'm also be re-Tweeting key tidbits, stories and analysis I'm seeing
from others. Please send me stories you find interesting, and please
follow along - @joelcrosenberg
* What does Bible prophecy say about the future of Syria? Could the
countdown to the destruction of Damascus be underway. Please watch my 30
min interview on CBN's Stakelbeck Report -- the link is on the blog.
* "Syria rebels, regime blame each other for first alleged chemical
weapons attack": Report
* Will Israel & Iran go to war in 2013? Exclusive interview w/fmr CIA
Director Porter Goss
* "Damascus Countdown" to debut at #7 on New York Times list
* "Damascus Countdown" hits USA Today & Publishers Weekly best-seller
lists
[To read these articles -- and/or learn more about DAMASCUS COUNTDOWN;
or to find links to the latest news and analysis of events and trends in
the U.S., Israel, North Africa, Russia, and the Middle East -- please go
to: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/.]
http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/
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