Shimon Peres to present Obama with Israel’s Presidential Medal of Distinction for some reason
posted at 10:41 am on February 19, 2013 by Allahpundit
If he was qualified for the Nobel Peace Prize despite having accomplished nothing, I suppose he’s “qualified” for this. Next year’s honoree, presumably: Chuck Hagel?
From the Times of Israel:
“Barack Obama is a true friend of the State of Israel, and has been since the beginning of his public life,” Peres and the award committee said in explaining their decision. “As president of the United States of America, he has stood with Israel in times of crisis. During his time as president he has made a unique contribution to the security of the State of Israel, both through further strengthening the strategic cooperation between the countries and through the joint development of technology to defend against rockets and terrorism.”
Obama’s presidency is typified by “an unswerving belief and ongoing fight for equality without any regard for religion, race, sexuality or gender and the strengthening of the weakest in society in the United States; and for the fulfillment of the values of democracy, human rights, solidarity and peace across the world,” the announcement stated. “Through his personal story and his agenda as president of the United States of America, Barack Obama is a symbol of democratic values and he exemplifies the spirit of equality of opportunity in American society.”
What’s he done for Israel? Well, there’s Iron Dome, and he did help out when Egyptian goons attacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo. Then again, by backing the revolution over Israel’s partner Mubarak, O made both of those things more necessary than they might otherwise have been. (A Tel Aviv University poll conducted shortly before the election last year found 57 percent of Israeli Jews hopeful that Romney would win versus 21 percent hopeful that Obama would.) Oh, wait — he gave Shimon Peres a medal last year too, which, per Israel Matzav and the JPost, is likely the true reason Peres is honoring him now:
In the business of presidential medals, reciprocity is the name of the game.
President Shimon Peres will honor US President Barack Obama with Israel’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Distinction, just as Obama conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award, on Peres at a presidential dinner in Washington in June…
It was more or less on the cards that, if and when Obama visited the country during his second term, Israel would find a way of showing its appreciation for his contribution to the Jewish state’s national security. This sentiment will be emphasized in the citation accompanying the medal.
Yep, but there’s politics involved too. Peres has pushed a more dovish line on Iran than Netanyahu; revisit this NYT interview from last month recounting his public efforts to pressure Bibi into holding off on an attack. By honoring O, he’s providing a symbolic vote of confidence from Israel’s left in the White House’s diplomacy/sanctions approach. Commit this quote from the Times piece to memory, though, because even Peres has his limits: “But in the end, if none of this works, then President Obama will use military power against Iran. I am sure of it.” Show of hands: Who else is sure?
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So…? Tape a warrant to a JDAM and be done with it…
CPT. Charles on May 21, 2013 at 4:04 PM
If they were Tea Party people, they’d be dead by now.
The Rogue Tomato on May 21, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Drip. Drip. Drip.
oldroy on May 21, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Send the IRS, OSHA, ATF etc after them
forest on May 21, 2013 at 4:06 PM
Yet they had ZERO qualms about arresting that video maker…
annoyinglittletwerp on May 21, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Did they make Mohammed videos, too???
coldwarrior on May 21, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Darn it! You beat me to it.
Aitch748 on May 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
When has “lack of evidence”, or anything else for that matter, ever stopped Obumble from ordering a drone hit in another country?
dentarthurdent on May 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
One thing that I think you may be missing, although you hint at it with your point about the “embarrassment” of how they handled security: If the jihadis were to go to trial, then the truth about the video that “riled them up” would most likely receive further coverage, reinforcing the fact that the administration told a big fat whopper of a lie.
nukemhill on May 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
In other words…
Let’s stage a PR Intervention or something…
workingclass artist on May 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Very suspicious that President Dronestrike doesn’t want to take any action against these five. It’s almost as if he considers them allies.
rbj on May 21, 2013 at 4:09 PM
I say, they really don’t have suspects. This makes it seem like they know who they want, but cannot get them.
Zaggs on May 21, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Do tell. Then what exactly does qualify for “enough” for a drone strike or civilian arrest?
heroyalwhyness on May 21, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Obama’s leading from his behind, again.
MichaelGabriel on May 21, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Naw – these are just AQ terrorists. It’s not as if they’re TEA Party members or donated to Romney or the RNC – then it would be nasty AUDIT time…. and no more guns for you….
dentarthurdent on May 21, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Keystone Cops.
Who’s surprised?
portlandon on May 21, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Not surprised. If captured the AQ terrorists will tell how the US State dept sold them the weapons.
txhsmom on May 21, 2013 at 4:11 PM
Lord, I’d love to see the book on how they determine what constitutes “enough”.
dirtseller on May 21, 2013 at 4:11 PM
My theory: One of these dudes would spill the beans that they were provided Steven’s exact whereabouts that night by someone who Team Bark doesn’t want anyone to know about.
Bishop on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
Stonewalling on Benghazi.
Stonewalling on IRS.
Schadenfreude on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
What ? We miss the last flash mob at the falafel shop .
Lucano on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
The questioning of the Benghazi suspects—
“Well, we burned down the consulate because they were trying to take away the surface to air missile Hillary sold us just last month. I mean, is that any way to do business?”
dirtseller on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
So, Obama is all but telling the killers to escape. Seems he really does not want them to have a chance to talk, as they might have some interesting things to say about the whole Benghazi catastrophe.
Mayday on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
Here is another scandal that will tick you off:
IRS Official At Heart Of Tea Party Scandal Lois Lerner Will Invoke The Fifth Amendment Before House Committee…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/05/21/irs-official-at-heart-of-tea-party-scandal-lois-lerner-will-invoke-the-fifth-amendment-before-house-committee/#disqus_thread
Zcat on May 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM
Pork-Chop on May 21, 2013 at 4:13 PM
They’re saving the drone strike for when the other scandals hit critical mass and zero’s approval rating craters. Duh!
Rational Thought on May 21, 2013 at 4:13 PM
What ? They missed the last flash mob at the falafel shop .
Lucano on May 21, 2013 at 4:13 PM
If Obama wanted a war with the press, he’s going to get it good and hard. AP would have sat on this a year ago.
Doomberg on May 21, 2013 at 4:13 PM
Hey, look over there…squirrel!
d1carter on May 21, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Someone needs to leak the info that 2 of the 5 are actually Ethel Olafson and her sister Edith, women who tried to start a non-profit called “Tea Party Grannies” in Wichita. Dog Eater would be whistling-up a B-52 strike on them quicker than shiit.
Bishop on May 21, 2013 at 4:15 PM
If only these 5 had done something serious, like posted a video on YouTube, they could be locked up instantly!
LASue on May 21, 2013 at 4:15 PM
They are not freaking US citizens are they??? We smoke those with drones but can’t bring ourselves to hit foreign terrorists who alredy killed four of our own? I give up.
2ndMAW68 on May 21, 2013 at 4:16 PM
I think the big takeaway here, especially in regards to US citizens targeted by drone strikes, is that Obama done strikes clearly are not meeting the “beyond a reasonable doubt” of guilt standard. So, when Obama orders a drone strike from his “disposition matrix,” he is clearly saying that he does not have enough evidence to show that these people have done the deeds he is claiming they have done, and as a result, it is okay to kill them rather than try to prove they in fact did those acts.
Bear in mind, I’m not condemning drone strikes on terrorists, I’m just wondering how, given this revelation, it is more humane and legally permissible to drop a bomb on a suspected terrorist, than to capture a suspected terrorist and detain the terrorist in a place like Gitmo.
Conservative in NOVA on May 21, 2013 at 4:16 PM
I should add that detention in Gitmo of suspected terrorists does not mee the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard either, which eliminates any claim that he cannot simply detain the suspected Benghazi terrorists (or other terrorists for that matter).
Another point. How is it only a focus on “five” people? Is he claiming that it only took 5 people to storm the compound in Benghazi? If yes, then Howard Dean is right. Benghazi is a joke–at least as far as showing how we protect our ambassadors abroad.
Conservative in NOVA on May 21, 2013 at 4:18 PM
So let me get this straight…
- If people attack the US with military weapons that is enough to get the military to seize them, but not enough to hit them with a drone strike?
- If people attack the US with military weapons, which is an act of war, then why do you NEED to build a CIVILIAN case when THEY have committed an ACT OF WAR?
Remember an attack upon our Ambassador is an act of war.
This isn’t murder, it is unlawful war by the rules of war and the terrorists have set the venue by their activity.
Just how bass ackward is this Administration when they can’t tell the difference between an act of war and a mere civil crime?
ajacksonian on May 21, 2013 at 4:18 PM
Are you kidding? They’re in secret talks with the five terrorists to convince them to claim they did it b/c of the video. They just received a “warning” via the AP.
No less crazy than any other news today.
LetsBfrank on May 21, 2013 at 4:18 PM
Since they insulted the Libyan gov’t, via Rice, those guys laugh their heads off at the US.
Boytoys for Stevens
Schadenfreude on May 21, 2013 at 4:18 PM
Isn’t there an aspirin factory somewhere that Obama can blow up to make this go away?
hawksruleva on May 21, 2013 at 4:18 PM
If this were Facebook, you’d have my like.
Good Lt on May 21, 2013 at 4:19 PM
This is why they should have dropped a few bombs on the attackers DURING the attack. Which is exactly why the question of WHO stopped them is critical!
Freddy on May 21, 2013 at 4:19 PM
Yup, he wants them here as “protected witlesses” and on welfare , maybe getting PhDs on taxpayer dime !
burrata on May 21, 2013 at 4:19 PM
Nope. Workplace violence, really no different than a dude slapping someone in the office after they ate the sandwich he put in the break-room fridge.
Get with the program and lean forward, bigot.
Bishop on May 21, 2013 at 4:20 PM
It really bothers me that Obama is judge, jury and executioner.
Mayday on May 21, 2013 at 4:20 PM
Given a choice, BHO would authorize a drone strike on Rosen in a heartbeat…
PatriotRider on May 21, 2013 at 4:21 PM
Sic the IRS on them, a good auditing is what Obama’s enemies usually get. Except Obama doesn’t really consider these his enemies, does he?
Fenris on May 21, 2013 at 4:22 PM
And a bookmark from the DOJ, Homeland Security, and the IRS.
oldroy on May 21, 2013 at 4:23 PM
but first…..tell the plan to the Turks so that they can alert them ” terrorists” .
burrata on May 21, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Is that NewSpeak for audits these days, “bookmarks”?
Bishop on May 21, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Obama: “Can’t I just vote present and eat my pancakes!”
Deano1952 on May 21, 2013 at 4:27 PM
This makes me wonder if the big panic in the White House over a new potential scandal is this:
The Obama administration is in ‘peace’ negotiations with al Qaeda to come to some kind of a truce.
Just a wild guess.
slickwillie2001 on May 21, 2013 at 4:27 PM
Are any of these five, the three who the Feds couldn’t identify and were searching for back on May 1/2, or are there now 8 suspects, those three from May 1/2 they still haven’t identified?
Dusty on May 21, 2013 at 4:27 PM
So when Obama says “bring those responsible to justice”, he means “justice” with a really big asterisk leading to a couple of pages of reeeeely tiny print.
Marcola on May 21, 2013 at 4:27 PM
They’re all in the State Department.
p0s3r on May 21, 2013 at 4:28 PM
And an audit!
Good Lt on May 21, 2013 at 4:29 PM
My chin is permanently attached to the floor now. Too much jaw dropping news. This has to end if not with a resignation then with handcuffs. Time for a frog march!
bopbottle on May 21, 2013 at 4:29 PM
These guys are probably the ones that the Ambassador was trying to buy the Stingers back from that the State Department- over the objections of the CIA- gave them. They do NOT want these guys in American court! Obama would rather they got away with murdering our ambassador and other Americans.
michaelo on May 21, 2013 at 4:30 PM
OT:
Anyone mentioned this yet?
WASHINGTON — A top IRS official in the division that reviews nonprofit groups will invoke the 5th Amendment and refuse to answer questions before a House committee investigating the agency’s improper screening of conservative nonprofit groups.
Lois Lerner, the head of the exempt organizations division of the IRS, won’t answer questions about what she knew about the improper screening
Bishop on May 21, 2013 at 4:31 PM
Well I really want to see the handcuffs….
dentarthurdent on May 21, 2013 at 4:31 PM
Sounds a little fishy. Perhaps there are no “real” suspects. What if this was “leaked” to folks at AP to see who would take the information public? Nothing better than a little fishing expedition, and no wire taps or phone records needed.
TexasTea on May 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM
A “Dead or Alive” notice, with a strong preference for “Dead”, and promising a pile of cash for said death, might get the job done.
Jihadi on jihadi violence can’t be helped, dontchaknow, especially when America lacks the moral grit to do it’s own killing.
MTF on May 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM
I am confused. It would seem to this feeble mind seizing/droning/arresting them would take alot of heat off of them reference the Benghazi scandal…after Bin Laden, there is still another end zone on the football field he has yet to use…
hillsoftx on May 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM
STEAM….continues to come out of my ears
CoffeeLover on May 21, 2013 at 4:33 PM
This was Fast and Furious Benghazi Edition… they purposely armed Al-Q and knew it. I believe this is what will come out in the end… Plus more whistleblowers coming forward.
I think O’s days are numbered. He’ll probably feign illness and step down.
Key West Reader on May 21, 2013 at 4:33 PM
Did anyone in the Administration think it might be a better idea to keep quiet about this until the evidence is there to make a move? Or is Obama looking to score some political points and good mention with, “See? I’m on top of this and we’re going to get justice!”
If they’re Libyans, will Tripoli extradite them if we ask? I doubt it. Besides, at this point, I imagine they have gone deeper underground — maybe even to be on their way to another country that will surely never extradite.
Good going there, Obama! /
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 4:35 PM
from your lips to God’s ears.
CoffeeLover on May 21, 2013 at 4:35 PM
A leaked list of the suspects was released, Obama, Biden, Hillary, Panetta……
Minnfidel on May 21, 2013 at 4:36 PM
He’s pissed off the spooks.
He’s pissed off the Libyan president.
He’s pissed off the CIA.
He’s pissed off the Seals with the ridiculous ROEs.
He’s pissed off the media, his base, taxpayers, “dreamers” , the gays.
He’s running out of groups to alienate, yet still holds a 53% approval rating.
Spit double spit
can_con on May 21, 2013 at 4:36 PM
Sure, all of what AllahPundit says is plausible… But the main reason that 0bama doesn’t want to go after these guys is that they are his Brothers, and were doing what he wanted them to do.
LegendHasIt on May 21, 2013 at 4:39 PM
A lot.
Good Lord In Heaven, I hope NOT! Do you really want a President Joe Biden?!
Think before you speak. I have always said I would take a bullet for Obama, just to prevent Crazy Uncle Joe from ascending to the throne.
BigGator5 on May 21, 2013 at 4:42 PM
That must be the wrong list. Those folks are obviously just co-conspirators; aiders and abettors who plied the terrorists with underestimation and by feigning competence.
Dusty on May 21, 2013 at 4:43 PM
So basically, we made Libya’s President Magariaf look like an idiot for correctly describing the terrorist attack on Benghazi, now we have to work with his government so we can get those same terrorists, yes, the terrorists we said didn’t exist and didn’t attack our facility. Well done.
I have a better idea, we trade Hussein to Libya, and get Magariaf and the 5 terrorists in return. At this point, it can’t be a downgrade.
rightmind on May 21, 2013 at 4:43 PM
It could be worse. It might shock people into a little self-awareness of just how far over the edge we’ve gone. The mocking (from foreign press) would be merciless. And it might make Congress less likely to pass any new laws.
Fenris on May 21, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Yes. I actually think Biden is the more honest of the two and he’d be more diligent in his job responsibilities.
Dusty on May 21, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Who knew it took 5 people to hold the camera and edit that video.
can_con on May 21, 2013 at 4:47 PM
What sort of Adminstration gives non-citizens more Constitutional Rights than they do citizens?
Hope and Change, indeed
See you at the Gulag.
kingsjester on May 21, 2013 at 4:49 PM
The terrorists are just laughing at us. They don’t have to hide because they know President Stumblefoot isn’t going to do a damn thing.
RebeccaH on May 21, 2013 at 4:54 PM
They’re looking for the Ring leader..you know, the
guy Filming it.
ToddPA on May 21, 2013 at 4:57 PM
There you go again. Making me post Cicero, who understood precisely this situation 2100 years ago..
LegendHasIt on May 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Is “See you at the Gulag” going to be the new pass-phrase for the underground resistance? Just kidding! It could never happen here.
Fenris on May 21, 2013 at 5:10 PM
So if the POTUS i.e Valerie Jarret orders a drone strike,
can Hussein override her and order a stand down ?
burrata on May 21, 2013 at 5:10 PM
These terrorists are special because they are Obama’s Libyan Arab Spring army. Even if he wanted to take them out, his Arab League allies, who assembled the army for Obama, are likely nixing the idea.
Buddahpundit on May 21, 2013 at 5:12 PM
LegendHasIt on May 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Biden is relatively manageable compared to Il Duce
workingclass artist on May 21, 2013 at 5:20 PM
The Il Duce,Jarrett,Holder Troika have got to go.
workingclass artist on May 21, 2013 at 5:21 PM
textbook example of how you deal w/ workplace violence,
chasdal on May 21, 2013 at 5:36 PM
LegendHasIt on May 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Why all traitors s/b hung in public.
Schadenfreude on May 21, 2013 at 5:38 PM
We never did find out what those horrific scars on the back of his head were from. Looks like significant brain surgery to me.
Maybe that explains his low IQ.
slickwillie2001 on May 21, 2013 at 5:40 PM
Somebody should add
These names to the Hit List.
They’ll be dead by lunch.
You know if these guys
Belonged to a Tea Party,
They’d be a crater.
Haiku Guy on May 21, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Dontcha mean Il Douche?
Haiku Guy on May 21, 2013 at 5:44 PM
Bill Cunningham tried to make this same lame argument a few weeks ago on his radio show. Biden would be a gift to the republican party, not to mention the nation. But it’s a moot point. Obama isn’t going anywhere. Anyone who believes he will be impeached,or (LOL) that he will resign, are experiencing some serious serious denial.
xblade on May 21, 2013 at 5:47 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, this is liberalism on full display.
The five Benghazi
terroristsuspects? I say deliver one personalized Hellfire missile to each. Boom.Zorro on May 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Marching Orders
Schadenfreude on May 21, 2013 at 6:16 PM
This is what happens when you try to conduct a war as a law-enforcement exercise.
Those five should be picked up, flown to Cuba, and be allowed to rot in GITMO.
We are being led by fools.
Another Drew on May 21, 2013 at 6:20 PM
You are right, this is a lame argument. In Joke Biden we get someone who genuinely loves our country and wants the best for us. He’s about the same intelligence as the REB without the malice and hatred. I’ll take him any day over the REB.
Downside, he would be better set for a run in 2016.
slickwillie2001 on May 21, 2013 at 6:33 PM
The search for the real killers continues.
StubbleSpark on May 21, 2013 at 6:37 PM
TRANSLATION: Put it on the back burner until people forget about it.
GarandFan on May 21, 2013 at 6:49 PM
You mean there will be no sequel to Zero Dark Thirty?
Bummer!
IndieDogg on May 21, 2013 at 7:04 PM
There’s also the over/under on who gets prosecuted first, the Attorney General or the Benghazi terrorists.
Another intriguing issue: If Holder has to prosecute himself, will he recuse himself from the prosecution? And, will he tell anybody?
IndieDogg on May 21, 2013 at 7:07 PM
And they aren’t even US citizens.
farsighted on May 21, 2013 at 7:07 PM
Funny how they came up with photos and info on these terrorists at the same time the scandal began.
PattyJ on May 21, 2013 at 7:12 PM