Netanyahu: chickenshit
This administration has such class:
The other day I [journalist Jeffrey Goldberg] was talking to a senior Obama administration official about the foreign leader who seems to frustrate the White House and the State Department the most. “The thing about Bibi is, he’s a chickenshit,” this official said, referring to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, by his nickname…
“The good thing about Netanyahu is that he’s scared to launch wars,” the official said, expanding the definition of what a chickenshit Israeli prime minister looks like. “The bad thing about him is that he won’t do anything to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians or with the Sunni Arab states. The only thing he’s interested in is protecting himself from political defeat. He’s not [Yitzhak] Rabin, he’s not [Ariel] Sharon, he’s certainly no [Menachem] Begin. He’s got no guts.”
The article goes on to discuss the administration’s further criticism of Netanyahu in a way that can be summarized as: all he cares about is politics. What an extraordinary accusation for this group to make!
I am also in awe of their judgment and knowledge of history:
Netanyahu is the first Israeli prime minister born in Israel after the establishment of the state. Netanyahu joined the Israel Defense Forces during the Six-Day War in 1967, and became a team leader in the Sayeret Matkal special forces unit. He took part in many missions, including Operation Inferno (1968), Operation Gift (1968) and Operation Isotope (1972), during which he was shot in the shoulder. He fought on the front lines in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, taking part in special forces raids along the Suez Canal, and then leading a commando assault deep into Syrian territory. He achieved the rank of captain before being discharged.
If you’re not familiar with the Operation Isotope, it involved the rescue of the hijacked Sabena Flight 571:
Soon after the hijacking, the hijackers separated Jewish hostages from non-Jews and sent them to the back of the aircraft. The hijackers demanded the release of 315 convicted Palestinian terrorists who were imprisoned in Israel, and threatened to blow up the airplane with its passengers. Seeing the terrorists crying and hugging each other goodbye, Reginald Levy managed to send a message and ask for help to be delivered as soon as possible. The security minister Moshe Dayan conducted negotiations with the terrorists while also making preparations for a rescue operation, code-named “Operation Isotope.”
On 9 May 1972 at 4:00 p.m. the rescue operation began: a team of 16 Sayeret Matkal commandos, led by Ehud Barak and including Benjamin Netanyahu, both future Israeli Prime Ministers, approached the airplane. The commandos were disguised as airplane technicians in white overalls, and were able to convince the terrorists that the aircraft needed repair. The commandos stormed the aircraft and took control of the plane in ten minutes, killing both male hijackers and capturing the two women. All the passengers were rescued. Three of the passengers were wounded, one of whom eventually died from her wounds. Netanyahu was wounded during the rescue, presumably by friendly fire. The two female surviving terrorists were eventually sentenced to life imprisonment, but were freed as part of a prisoner exchange after the 1982 Lebanon War.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill: some chicken, some shit.
Oh, and by the way, extreme bravery (and airplane hostage rescue) runs in the Netanyahu family. His brother, Yonatan, was the only Israeli soldier killed in the famous Operation Entebbe:
Netanyahu joined the Israeli Defence Forces in 1964. He volunteered to serve in the Paratroopers Brigade, and excelled in the Officer Training Course. He was eventually given command of a paratroopers company. On June 5, 1967, during the Six Day War, his battalion fought the battle of Um Katef in Sinai, then reinforced the Golan Heights. During the battle, Yonatan received a wound to his elbow while helping rescue a fellow soldier who lay wounded deep behind enemy lines.
After the Six Day War, Netanyahu went to the United States to study at Harvard University, but returned a year later because of the War of Attrition. Instead, he studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, returning to active military service after half a year.
In the early 1970s he joined Sayeret Matkal (Israeli special forces), and in the summer of 1972 was appointed as the unit’s deputy commander. During that year, he commanded a raid (Operation Crate 3) in which senior Syrian officers were captured and exchanged in return for captive Israeli pilots. The following year he participated in Operation Spring of Youth, in which the alleged terrorists and leadership of Black September were selectively killed by Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet-13 and the Mossad.
During the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, Netanyahu commanded a Sayeret Matkal force in the Golan Heights that killed more than 40 Syrian commandos in a battle which thwarted the Syrian commandos’ raid in the Golan’s heartland. During the same war, he also rescued Lieutenant Colonel Yossi Ben Hanan from Tel Shams, while Ben Hanan was lying wounded behind Syrian lines.
Following the war, Netanyahu was awarded Medal of Distinguished Service, Israel’s third highest military decoration, for his wartime conduct. Netanyahu then volunteered to serve as an armor commander, due to the heavy casualties inflicted on the Israeli Armored Corps during the war, with a disproportionate number of these in the officer ranks. Netanyahu excelled in Tank Officers course, and was given command of the Barak Armored Brigade, which had been shattered during the war. Netanyahu turned his brigade into the leading military unit in the Golan Heights.
In June 1975, Netanyahu left the Armored Corps and returned to Sayeret Matkal as unit commander. He was killed in action on July 4, 1976, while commanding an assault unit in Operation Entebbe, his first big operation since returning to the unit. Netanyahu was the only Israeli soldier killed during the raid (along with three hostages, all of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members, and dozens of Ugandan soldiers). Netanyahu was shot outside the building being stormed, and would soon die in the arms of Efraim Sneh, commander of the mission’s medical unit. The operation itself was considered a success by Israel, and is known as Mivtsa Yonatan (Operation Yonatan) in honor of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu was buried in Jerusalem’s Military Cemetery at Mount Herzl on July 6 following a military funeral attended by enormous crowds and top-ranking officials. Shimon Peres, then Defense Minister, said during the eulogy that “a bullet had torn the young heart of one of Israel’s finest sons, one of its most courageous warriors, one of its most promising commanders ”“ the magnificent Yonatan Netanyahu.”
Of course, that was back when the US had Israel’s back.
[NOTE: I speculate who the “senior official” might be. My leading guess is John Kerry.]
Netanyahu has more guts in his pinkie than this entire administration.
The real chickenshit is the “Senior official” who is too chickenshit to go on the record.
This administration is like a bunch of 12 year old Hamas groupies.
Pathetic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Why do I say today’s Dems, as a rule, are simply rotten people to the core and that is the best and whole interpretation of them?
There goes Exhibit A
How disgusting.
I am perfectly willing to believe that Kerry would say something like that. Of course, as a Navy vet, if for no other reason, I detest the man. Still, there are any number of others who are slimy enough to fit the bill.
The ultimate irony, certainly not lost on you or any of your readers, is that this should come from anyone in this feckless–dare I say cowardly?–Administration.
Over the nearly six decades since the USN first sent me abroad, and then through the years after, which involved professional travel to various parts of the world, I never felt ashamed to identify as an American. We were often unpopular, but it did not matter. I felt that we were generally trying to do right; and we were strong. I am glad that I no longer have to face foreigners–excepting, of course, for the large number in my own SoCal community.
I am speechless.
Everyone NEEDS to vote on Tuesday, we cannot let this administration continue on like this – we need a strong Senate and House to stand up to this crap.
Remind me again what Obama’s record of courage was in the big leagues of business, industry, science or the military.
Seriously? That reads like another old white guy’s boring resume. Obama is cool, and cool rules.
The horrors from this administration just keep coming. This statement should settle the question whether this administration is populated by knaves or fools – they’re knaves.
Netanyahu’s personal courage in war is not what the administration hack is discussing. The Obama regime’s definition of courage is the attitude of a national leader who knowingly acts against the best interests of his/her own country and against the express wishes of its citizens.
I am embarrassed for my country.
OK, I am now channeling my mother, a Latvian helping fellow Letts during the war, regardless of their religion or where they ended up. My relatives landed in Australia. I got lucky when Mom snagged Dad at a USO event…..
Sorry, I cannot rely her words. “Chicken shit” was only a mild term for her. I can’t repeat the other stuff.
This Administration is just so bad. AARRGGHH!
Aside from the fact the I know who I would rather share a foxhole with, I am pleased that these revelations from this garbage administration are surfacing just one week before the mid-term elections.
Now, a national watch on federal buildings too. My heart goes out to anyone, especially the innocents, who may get injured or killed, but that is all beyond my control or influence.
Hubris has begotten Nemesis for thousands of years.
Hmm… My guess is, senior state and other office holders of this admin have been talking like that, about many of our allies, the whole time. It’s just that, while beholding to this admin, and perhaps with real and inferred threats, such news never made it to print. I guess, as papers are dying, and yet beginning to believe the witch is dead or dying, they are trying to get readers back and not as afraid of the tyrant and thug “cru”.
This administration is vulgar, as is the entire progressive movement.
If you want to know how this administration thinks, read Bill Ayers, Van Jones or any other sophomoric representative of the enlightened.
Pathetic fact about Van Jones, read that growing up
he & his pals thought it was great sport to put live kittens into somebody’ s gas tank.
Juveniles playing at having adult minds.
Powerline has posted a great photo comparison of Netanyahu as a young man in combat gear and Obama when he was a member of the “Choom Gang”.
The idiocy of the Obama Administration is astounding.
I am surprised that this post didn’t bring out the Hamas loving fools.
Pure projection, hate and insignificance otherwise known as chickenshit from Obama.
I cannot forget the look in Obama’s eyes when Netanyahu schooled him on national TV. That look, that mask, of supposed indifference behind Obama’s eyes clouded with hate so that they literally dripped with it, I won’t forget that look. I was surprised that it wasn’t more remarked upon, more known. The mask wasn’t effective against a man who truly inspires fear and loathing from our President.
What a bunch of pathetic posers. They think they are sitting on top of the world, but they will be mere footnotes in the ash heap of history. Yeah, them and the horses they road in on.
The interesting thing about the current left narrative is that it can accuse Israel government of genocide and of using disproporcionate military force, and at the same time of lacking guts to enter a real war.
Coherence? What´s that?
Ann, I saw a version of those two pictures together. On one it said “Smoked ganja”. On the other it said “Smoked terrorists”.
The Obama Administration: Just when you think they couldn’t be more brashly idiotic, they prove that they can.
I wish Netanyahu were our president.
Susan Rice is reportedly quite the guttermouth.
waitup, I have also been struck by that look of pure anger/hatred in Obama’s eyes. I recall that he looked at Romney that way during the debate “moderated” by Candy Crowley. It’s a bone-chilling look. Eyes are the windows to the soul, indeed.
We must endure 2 + more years of this kind of crap. And who doubts that it will only get worse?
FEARING HE’LL LEAVE OFFICE
the first and only US President to win a Nobel Peace Prize without making peace anywhere on earth a very desperate Barack Obama is turning the scews on Bibi Netanyahu to negotiate peace with the Palestinians when Israel has no peace partner. This pressure will build on Bibi until Obama leaves office having nothing to show posterity for his eight ruinous years but a world in perilous turmoil and a chickensh*t peace prize.
http://www.apollospeaks.com
Liz:
“Everyone NEEDS to vote on Tuesday, we cannot let this administration continue on like this — we need a strong Senate and House to stand up to this crap.”
While I agree with you on voting these “chicken*hit” political hacks out, I’m not sure the opposing team is much better :-(.
They do not seem to have any principles other than getting their perks of Power and keeping their donors happy.
I wish the Republicks understood this quote but their actions do not match their pontificating. 🙁
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Ronald Reagan
“I speculate who the “senior official” might be. My leading guess is John Kerry.”
Oh…….. you don’t mean the “John Kerry” who served all of FOUR MONTHS in Viet Nam and received at least one of his Purple Hearts for a SCRATCHED ASS, do you??
My goodness, I believe that you do……….
Manufactured, fake, and stolen courage/valor in this Regime, as always.
Well written, Neo!
[sarcasm] My feeling is that, when an unnamed Administration Official calls Prime Minister Netanyahu a “chickenshit”, we can rely upon that. After all, this Administration also correctly identified ISIS as “the jayvee team”, didn’t they? [/sarcasm]
(Answer: they’re only the jayvee team if there’s a major-league team nearby. If they’re the only ones playing, they DEFINE the major league. In other words, the jayvee team BECAME the major-league team when the real majors declined to show up. Nice going, Mr. President.)
People with genuine courage are reviled and misunderstood by those who do not have it. The same goes for a sense of honor. Mr. Netanyahu has both; Mr. Obama has neither.
My guess as to the source of this gem quote?
The same person who said Obama was leading from behind.
I fully agree as to the ludicrous and self-serving nature of the administration’s attack on Netanyahu.
““The good thing about Netanyahu is that he’s scared to launch wars,” the official said, expanding the definition of what a chickenshit Israeli prime minister looks like. “The bad thing about him is that he won’t do anything to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians or with the Sunni Arab states.”
It’s not fear of war that restrains Netanyahu, it’s Obama’s repeated threats to end all American support for Israel, especially in the UN. Obama is looking for any excuse to do so and is IMO as much Israel’s enemy, as is Hamas.
As for the outright and evil lie that it is Netanyahu that refuses to “reach an accommodation with the Palestinians or with the Sunni Arab states”, that is political pressure to get Israel to commit suicide, part of the left’s ‘final solution’ for its ‘reactionary’ enemies.
Yann
Coherence? What´s that?
Demos are all about making the point/attack/snark of the minute. As long as it wins them votes, consistency from day to day or month to month doesn’t matter. Which is one of the reasons I left the Demos.
Can you imagine that sack of self-regarding botoxed vainglory, Mr. Teresa Christmas-in-Cambodia Heinz, calling someone a “chickenshit”?
Too rich.
The worst thing is that there are SO MANY choices as to which “senior Obama administration official” would make such a stupid remark.
“Obama is looking for any excuse to to end all American support for Israel, and is IMO as much Israel’s enemy, as is Hamas.”
I think that this “official” was actually trying to goad Netanyahu to give the administration the “excuse” they feel they need to denounce Israel completely.
WRONG again!
Whoever made that remark to Jeffrey Goldberg (and I have my theory about which “high ranking official” that would be, based on Goldberg’s past interactions with this White House) chose to use a term well known to Godwin’s Law enthusiasts.
Hinkledreck, in the original tongue, was a typical sneer of the German far right, including Himmler, in some unfortunate contexts regarding the Jews. It’s almost irrelevant if this particular usage was intentionally evoking that history or merely clueless as to its provenance, the effect is still kind of shocking in the insensitivity and malice displayed.
I think we all now fully understand what we are dealing with as regards to the fundamental mentality of Barack Obama and those closest to him.
My guess is that it’s someone in his 60s or older. I associate that epithet with someone of my parent’s generation, not mine.
You could be dead on with John Kerry.
Neo, your paraphrase is even better than the original!
I just love the comparisons between Barack Obama and Netanyahu. This is another black eye for the Obama administration, henceforth to be known as the “gang the couldn’t shoot straight”. It is mid boggling that the administration would have encouraged this comparison.
And, if it was Kerry, the comparison is even worse. Still got your medals, Kerry?
John Boy Kerry and Barack Obama x 200 aren’t deserving of one crumb off Bibi’s chin. What absolute cheap moral cowards. Thank God for Bibi.
Netanyahu promised that Iran would not be allowed to go nuclear. We’re prone to think in terms of air attacks with precision munitions. But don’t forget Iran’s nuclear facilities seem to have a consistent way I’ve just blowing up. Hmm.
Funny that you mention Churchill. Sometime ago, I said to my brother, “Bibi may be our Churchill. Who’d a thunk?” He is the most prominent political figurehead to stand up for the West. At least, he’s got Abbott for company.
And this will have no effect on the liberal Jewish vote.
After just reading the book by Robert Gates, my first guess is Joe Biden.
Call this “portrait of a chickenshit” —
http://www.timesofisrael.com/saving-sergeant-netanyahu/
This is not the story of how Benjamin Netanyahu was twice wounded in combat for his country. It’s the story of how he very nearly drowned in fierce fighting in the Suez Canal. It describes his strength and determination, which were apparently a significant factor in his survival, then and at other times. (It also includes some great photos. I like the one of him holding a loaded Uzi.)
Isn’t it amazing that, when one writes about the Israeli war hero Netanyahu, it’s necessary to give his first name too? His big brother was very much the war hero too.
John Boy Kerry and Barack Obama x 200 aren’t deserving of one crumb off Bibi’s chin.
Bibi gets no food or water at the White House unless his puppetmasters deem it useful to reward their self proclaimed puppet.
One wonders if this wasn’t done as an attempt to taunt Netanyahu into actually attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities so that the Obama administration had a public justification to completely end all support of Israel and repudiate the Israeli state.
Susan Rice has ALREADY been quoted using exactly that term in other venues.
(Remember the slurs against European diplomacy that were taped and then revealed?)
Such a potty mouth.
“…self proclaimed puppet.” (of Obama)!!!! Bibi??
BWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa..!!!