On Doing the Opposite: Taking a Romney critique of Obama on Israel to its logical extreme, Adam Chandler (Tablet)

During a speech this weekend to the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney drew applause and laughter from the group when he answered a question about what he would do to strengthen the relationship between Israel and the United States and how he would handle Iran. He said:

“I think, by and large, you can just look at the things the president has done and do the opposite.”

What the sweet, guffawing crowd missed in Romney’s politely lame dig at Obama’s policies on Israel and Iran was the opportunity to take him at his word. So let’s imagine. What would the opposite of Obama’s actions since 2009 vis-à-vis Israel and Iran look like? Here’s the list.

Romney’s Israel/Iran To-Do List: January 20, 2013

• Take the military option against Iran off the table.
• Proclaim boldly and often that an Iranian nuclear weapon is acceptable and sponsor a policy of containment.
• Unravel the labyrinthine, biting international sanctions against Iran.
• Suspend or condemn attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.
• Stop engaging in cyberattacks against the Iranian nuclear program.
• Reframe Iran’s nuclear program as strictly an Israeli national security concern.
• Decrease military aid to Israel from its highest-ever apex.
• Dismantle the unprecedented military and intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.
• Ask Israel to reimburse the United States for the Iron Dome program.
• Endorse the original Goldstone Report on the Gaza War.
• Vote for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations
• Endorse every anti-Israel resolution placed before the United Nations Human Rights Council.
• Demand Israeli apology for the Turkish flotilla incident.
• Promote Holocaust denial and delegitimize Israel in a speech to the Arab World.
• Request rampant settlement expansion to drive a stake through the heart of a two-state solution.

As you can see, it’s really going to be a tough go for the Jewish State in 2013 if Romney gets elected and chooses to do the opposite of President Obama. Let’s hope he comes to his senses.

Mitt Romney Pleases Christian Group with Stance on Israel [LA Times]
U.S., Israel Build Military Cooperation [WSJ]
AJC Applauds Administration on Goldstone [JTA]

Published in Tablet, June 19, 2012