Kim and Jay have done such a great job covering Israel the past week, that I have not posted anything on the subject. This quote the Anchoress posted was too good to resist, though.
The Israelis know that if the Iraqi or the Iranian army came across the Jordan River, I would personally grab a rifle, get in a ditch, and fight and die."Betsy Newmark says in answer to the question of whether Bill Clinton would make good on his pledge, "I guess it depends on what the meaning of "army" is. Perhaps, firing missiles doesn't count."- Former US President Bill Clinton, July 31, 2002
Update: Now Bill Clinton is calling on Muslim countries to send troops to Darfur. I wonder if he is planning on grabbing a rifle and joining them, as well.
Update II: Bruce Kesler has some ideas about ways those of us who would like to do something, can help those in Israel. And none of them involve picking up a rifle.
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Comments (20)
Lee should be along momenta... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Luke | July 17, 2006 12:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Lee should be along momentarily praising Clinton and saying, "aw shucks, he didn't really mean to say that".
1. Posted by Luke | July 17, 2006 12:15 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 00:15
2. Posted by The Listkeeper | July 17, 2006 12:41 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Now, now... He was specific... They have to come across the Jordan River, not the Lebanese border.
2. Posted by The Listkeeper | July 17, 2006 12:41 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 00:41
3. Posted by Wanderlust | July 17, 2006 12:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Clinton has a rep for saying what his audience wants to hear. Unfortunately, on occasion, what they want to hear involves you actually committing yourself to their cause.
And, just as unfortunately (for your audience), saying what your they want to hear means you usually haven't paid any real attention to the potential ramifications of what you just said.
That is, until someone dares actually hold you accountable for all your pretty words.
Beware what you wish for, Bill Clinton: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might just grant you that wish.
3. Posted by Wanderlust | July 17, 2006 12:43 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 00:43
4. Posted by LissaKay | July 17, 2006 12:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Fight and die .... for WHO?
4. Posted by LissaKay | July 17, 2006 12:46 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 00:46
5. Posted by jeebus | July 17, 2006 1:38 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Thank you so much for your blog! Everyone in the world is so proud you are of all the good you are doing.
Jeebus loves the little children!
5. Posted by jeebus | July 17, 2006 1:38 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 01:38
6. Posted by Mitchell | July 17, 2006 3:02 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If Jeebus loves the children, he ought to be on Israel's side--Jeebus likes very graphic pictures.
Clinton is Mr. Phony. What an Idiot.
6. Posted by Mitchell | July 17, 2006 3:02 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 03:02
7. Posted by Jay Tea | July 17, 2006 5:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Listkeeper's got it right. When you're listening to Bill Clinton, you have to parse every single word and find the least amount of obligation behind his promises.
Taken literally: IF -- and only if -- the Iraqi or Iranian (and no other nation or group, such as the Syrian army, Hezbollah, Hamas, or any other terrorist organization) army (not navy or air force, and certainly not any missiles or artillery shells) were to cross the River Jordan (and not bypass it and come in from the north or south), then and only then would Bill Clinton be obligated to take up arms.
Anyone who thinks otherwise of Bill Clinton is a self-deluding idiot who doesn't know what the meaning of "is" is.
J.
7. Posted by Jay Tea | July 17, 2006 5:30 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 05:30
8. Posted by Rick13 | July 17, 2006 8:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And you thought Tony Snow looked goofy in a helmet, wait until you see bubba!
8. Posted by Rick13 | July 17, 2006 8:54 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 08:54
9. Posted by jainphx | July 17, 2006 9:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Who's Bill Clinton?
9. Posted by jainphx | July 17, 2006 9:55 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 09:55
10. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 17, 2006 9:59 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The only thing Bill Clinton would/will be grabbing is his ankles. He's a disgrace.
10. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 17, 2006 9:59 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 09:59
11. Posted by Faith+1 | July 17, 2006 10:04 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay, even more obvious--or obscure as the case may be--is that Clinton did not indicate who's ditch he'd get in, who's rifle he'd pick up and who's side he'd die for.
11. Posted by Faith+1 | July 17, 2006 10:04 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 10:04
12. Posted by mc harrison | July 17, 2006 10:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Are those children dead because of Israel's bombs or because the terrorists surround themselves with civilians? We'll be hearing about the barbaric Israelis killing babies now. I'm assuming that Jeebus has no problem with terrorists targetting Israeli women and children. And since the primary objective of education among the Palestinians is the fine art of suicide bombing - how many of those children would eventually blow themselves up in Israel or elsewhere? Just asking, Jeebus- I know where you stand on all of this.
12. Posted by mc harrison | July 17, 2006 10:37 AM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 10:37
13. Posted by LJD | July 17, 2006 1:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jeebus has opened my eyes to a very pressing problem in Lebanon. How old do you have to be to get a drivers license? Don't they know it's dangerous having such young kids cruising around the country without an adult in the car?
13. Posted by LJD | July 17, 2006 1:08 PM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 13:08
14. Posted by kbiel | July 17, 2006 1:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Someone close to Mr. Clinton might want to point out to him that, while a gun is slighly phallic in shape, it probably would not be as useful for his purposes as, say, your average cigar.
14. Posted by kbiel | July 17, 2006 1:12 PM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 13:12
15. Posted by Mark A. Flacy | July 17, 2006 1:36 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He'd grab a rifle to go deer hunting. Get in a ditch to shake some construction worker's hand in an effort to get out the vote. Fight with Hillary. Die of old age.
See? Perfectly honest!
15. Posted by Mark A. Flacy | July 17, 2006 1:36 PM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 13:36
16. Posted by BorgQueen | July 17, 2006 9:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe if we convince him that we'll send him lots and lots of care packages full of Big Macs he'll go?
16. Posted by BorgQueen | July 17, 2006 9:01 PM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 21:01
17. Posted by DOUG BOOK | July 17, 2006 10:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So 35 years ago Clinton was a draft dodger, but now he's going to volunteer? As pathetic as Jimmy Carters example has been, Bill Clintons shameless self-absorbtion and unrivaled arrogance serve to make the over-matched peanut farmer look almost presidential by comparison. Sorry Will, but you'll never be much more than a bum with a mouthy wife.
17. Posted by DOUG BOOK | July 17, 2006 10:26 PM |
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Posted on July 17, 2006 22:26
18. Posted by 914 | July 18, 2006 4:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bill Clinton could not even defend His privates from violating women on a regular basis!
Give Me a break!
18. Posted by 914 | July 18, 2006 4:35 PM |
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Posted on July 18, 2006 16:35
19. Posted by targertowels | July 20, 2006 12:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe if Hilary is elected she could get Olmert and Hezbollah's leaders to shake hands on the White House lawn to signify the beginning of a long lasting peace, like Bubba did. After all, once the Republican warmongers are out of office, the Islamofascist murderers that rule and live in the Middle East are only mad at the Republicans. Once we get Bush out of office, this unbridaled hate and rage aimed at America will go away through diplomacy. Right!?!
19. Posted by targertowels | July 20, 2006 12:34 PM |
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Posted on July 20, 2006 12:34
20. Posted by John | July 23, 2006 7:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If you guys can get past your hatred of Clinton and recognize what he is saying--this is retoric, not literal speaking. He's saying that the US supports Israel and will not allow it to be pushed into the sea. Do you have a problem with that?
20. Posted by John | July 23, 2006 7:49 AM |
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Posted on July 23, 2006 07:49