Obama did sort of turned his back on us and a lot of Israelis are frustrated about it, but there should be a clear line between sports and politics. Casspi got a one in a life time opportunity to light the Menorah/ Hanukkiah in the White House with Barack Obama, you can't refuse to that offer, I mean it's another milestone in Casspi's career. I will keep my opinion about Barack Obama private, because this is not the place to speak about politics, it's about sports, and I personally think it's a very reputable gesture and I'm sure Casspi and his family are honoured to be part of this.
I'm sorry but America has given billions in free aid to Israel every year and provides them with weapons and military support should anything happen and this needs to stop. All that has done is make us unpopular with the rest of the region and recipe for war. Neutrality is best. -end political rant
Lol meeting Obama is a career mildstone? I'm sick of Obama mingling with athletes and entertainers. It's really not in his job description as the president. But seriously I don't understand why US had to pick side between Isreal and Pakistan. How many billions of our tax money wasted on them? And in return we get hated by middle eastern extremists.
isn't this a basketball forum? in short, it's in both countries interests to be allays. you just need to understand how foreign affaires workes. Israel is the us proxy nation in the middle east, and the military aid bounds Israel in many ways. Israel can't develop fighter aircrafts ( had to cancel the lavi plane, because the us demanded). Israel needed to apologize to turkey, after the in declared that Israel acted as expected and did nothing wrong. Israel had to cancel arms deal to china and other countries and compensate them. the aid is one of many that the u.s give to countries, not only Israel( some, unlike Israel are very hostile to the u.s). Israel help the u.s in important intelegence and miltary developments. the monney from the aid must be paid only to u.s companies, and provide wore to u.s citizens. rest of it is in mutual developments like the anti balistic missile system Israel and the u.s have. when a missile will heading to America, the cities will be much safer thankes to Israeli and American cooperation. the u.s never fought for Israel in wars, but did it for Arab allies many times when Israel was under rocket attacs from iraq in 1991, the u.s forced israel not to retaliate, just because her Arab allies and wanted it to be this way. Israel will always be an allay and respect the u.s demands, including the citizens( there are almost the same amount of u.s flags, as Israel's on Israel independence day. if you really think that the death to america chants, will stop ones you throw Israel under the bus, than you are Bering very naive.
I have no love lost for Obama and what he's done to this country, but seriously, Casspi is just lighting a candle at the White House. It's not like he's being let into the Situation Room the way Jay-Z and Beyonce were. We can set aside politics for something like this.
Why? Obama loves basketball and hates Israel. Everyone who watches the news knows that. Not really a shocking opinion worthy of debate.
I am Israeli, and I don't think that Obama hates israel. he did some mistakes, but also prevented 2 wars, 1 with Syria and the second with Iran. for now his actions helped Israeli citizens and they aren't in bunkers hiding from rockets and chimical weapons aren't coming from Syria. peace is much better than war. I just wish for a stable and safe middle east. i live in the middle of 3 countinents, a drive from Africa, Europe and Asia, but I can't go nowhere because no Arab country will let me pass. we need an open and free world.
oh man, we're getting into politics now on CF? i can't help myself... while certainly legitimate points, you yourself said one has to understand how foreign affairs works. i dont know if you do lol. there are a million other things taking place that you don't see or know about. you honestly think the US's support for israel isnt essentially keeping at bay virtually all the arab nations around it from just diving in and tearing it apart? israeli interests are constantly thought about in the US and generally appeased, but that doesnt mean the US gives in to every demand or request or position. i think the current deal w/ iran is a smart one. you squeeze a country until it comes to the table and is willing to deal on your terms...you dont squeeze a country until there is nothing left and it is forced to either retaliate in a crazy way or completely crumble, leaving the region (and maybe the US) to pick up the pieces.
here's to an open and free world one day where tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs reigns supreme. And here's hoping that the volume of the alarmists who make sweeping, ignorant assertions about things they have know little about is lowered to inaudible decibels.
just read my other post. it's what I wrote, about the deals with Syria and Iran. u.s support of Israel helps, that's for sure. I know that other element are behind the curtain.I understand how foreign affairs work. what keeps Israel intact is mostly the M.A.D option. most leaders in the region are rational enoth, to keep the region stable, and not go there.
Just some balanced perspective and lets move on to basketball (Casspi seems like a class act and kudos to him for looking beyond politics and accepting the American invitation to celebrate his religion with the leader of a great nation) : Every modern president smoozes with athletes and celebs (EVERY; since at least the 60s; just not as public as others) Spoiler KingDragon22, I am sorry that Israelis can not leave their country to go to Europe, Africa, or Asia. I do find it ironic that i met israelis in Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. These folks below obviously don't deserve to travel across the street to school, work, or the hospital to give birth without crossing a checkpoint though: Spoiler http://frontlinecopy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Huwwara_Checkpoint_Palestine-curl.jpg Spoiler http://www.bearcanada.com/graphics/fae/israel/settlementscheckpoints.jpg
I know exactly, and this situation isn't something anyone want's. when dosens of sucide bombers, blow themselves on you in your cities you need to take porcations when they cross border to work in your country. I hope that you, unlike others know that gaza has a border with an Arab country also, egyept. they cant cross the border to egyept, also whenever they want, and you have to wonder why. Ismail haniya, the leader of hamas grandmother is hospitalized in Israel, altogh he declers the destruction of israel, and not acknowledge it. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4455190,00.html Israel provide gazan with electricity and work. Israel left gaza and destroyed every Jewish house in the area, Israel got rockets fired at her cities in return. let stop it and talk basketball from now. I'm a rocket fan, just like you and want to talk abou basketball. If you want to talk politics open a thread in the right section.
Pakistan? I suggest you keep watching sports. Obama is a leader of the world largest and most influencing superpower country in the world, I pretty sure it's an honor to meet with the guy. BTW: We write Israel* not Isreal.
Yea i'm pretty dumb and uninoformed when it comes to countries names and geography. I can never remember which is Palestine or Pakistan. Politics in general disinterested me. That's why I don't know what's good about meeting Obama. He is just one of a bunch politicians which is nothing to be proud of.
Yeah well so I will give you a little lesson OK? First of all, there is no such country called Palestine, actually there never was one and I hope there will never be one, the only group of people which actually have history and any sort of right on the land which people call Palestine are the Jews. Second of all, the whole new tension between Israel and USA is because the world signed a Geneva convention with Iran, only that unfortunately the world is blind and has no idea what a mistake it did. But again meeting Obama isn't something that happens everyday, it's still a festive event.
Let's just stop talking about politics, things tends to heat very quick. were all proud rocket fans, that want this team to succeed. if there was an iranian or Syrian player, on the rockets I will be happy if they played good and contributed to the team. everything else belongs to politics forums. here we need to be united.
