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Health & Fitness

Jim Himes Sees Conflict Between Support for Israel and Loyalty to America

Himes accused Obsitnik of dual loyalty for supporting Israel in their debate on October 10.

 

In the debate on October 10 between Jim Himes and Steve Obsitnik, Himes is quoted in a local newspaper as saying: "Mr. Obsitnik just told you that his primary mission will be to defend Israel.  My primary mission is the security and peacefulness of the people of the United States of America." This was during the discussion about Iran and whether the US should set a red line in cooperation with our ally, Israel, to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Congressman Himes, why do you think that coordinating our policy on Iran with our ally in the region, Israel, means that one does not put America first?  Would you feel that way if we were talking about England and our policies toward Hitler in the 1940s? Israel is our closest ally in the Middle East. Iran is the gravest threat faced today by both the United States and Israel. Why would standing with our ally, Israel, to draw a red line beyond which we would not permit Iran to proceed with the development of nuclear weapons, in any way compromise American security and peacefulness? It seems to me that it would strengthen and enhance our security as Iran would know that there would be consequences to be faced for proceeding and would hopefully reconsider its course of action. Himes subscribes to the Obama Foreign Policy which stands for leading from behind and for putting daylight between the United States and Israel in an attempt to gain credibility with the Arab world. But that will not buy one bit of respite or sanctuary from an Iranian attack on us or on our strategic American assets overseas. 

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Jim Himes was clearly trying to draw a distinction between his position on Israel and Steve Obsitnik's. But what was he implying about Steve Obsitnik for his support of close cooperation between America and Israel? Is he implying the canard of dual loyalty if one supports a close working and military relationship between America and Israel? It has nothing to do with Congress's power to declare war, as Himes also stated. It is not a declaration of war. It does not put that power in "...the hands of others."  But it is a warning to Iran that if they continue on their current path to nuclear weapons while threatening to exterminate Israel from the earth, they will have to face a united front of America and Israel. Because make no mistake, they are also coming for us.

I am disturbed and offended by the insinuations in Himes' statements. Those of us who support a strong relationship between the US and Israel do so because it is America's interest. Polling over the years has shown that not only does a majority of Americans agree with this policy but support for it has grown steadily.

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I support Steve Obsitnik for Congress. The Fourth District needs a leader in Congress, not a follower who votes 94% of the time with Pelosi and Obama. Steve Obsitnik is a good friend of Israel's.   urge my fellow American citizens who support a strong alliance with Israel to vote for Steve Obsitnik on November 6.

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