During Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s recent trip to Washington, he said the following:
“We in the Middle East have followed the American policy in Iraq for a long time, and we are very much impressed and encouraged by the stability which the great operation of America in Iraq brought to the Middle East. We pray and hope that this policy will be fully successful so that this stability which was created for all the moderate countries in the Middle East will continue.”
He was rightly ridiculed for such inanity. But he hasn’t stopped further embarrassing Israel’s name in the international community:
“I stand with the president because I know that Iraq without Saddam Hussein is so much better for the security and safety of Israel, and all of the neighbours of Israel without any significance to us.”
Israel’s safety has improved since the Iraq invasion? Iran is emboldened, Iraq has become a centre for international jihad and hatred for the US and Israel in the region has never been higher.
When “realists” talk about wanting “stability” in the Middle East, this is simply code for maintaining the Arab autocracies. They know that if free and open elections were ever held across the region, Islamist parties would likely win.
Perhaps Olmert feels, like our own Prime Minister, that he has to worship at the feet of George W. Bush, no matter the circumstances or political reality. Israel is so reliant on the world’s only superpower – militarily, diplomatically and financially – that a figure like Olmert has to prostitute himself to keep Washington on side.
So what’s John Howard’s excuse?