Politics | 05/04/2009 8:30 am
Gingrich Invokes Hitler in Iran Warning at AIPAC
Newt Gingrich doesn’t think the Obama administration should open diplomatic channels with Iran.
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Newt Gingrich took a decidedly bellicose tone when he suggested that American engagement with Iran would be like trying to negotiate with Hitler. Winston Churchill and his allies had seen the threat of Hitler’s rise and failed to stop him. Gingrich claims that government should be aware that Iran threatens the world and needs to act.
Gingrich, the former speaker of the House who is said to be mulling a 2012 presidential run, was speaking to lobbyists and policy makers at a conference for AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Gingrich describes the Iranian government as "evil," JTA reports, and insisted that the destinies of the United States and Israel are linked: "AIPAC is not just about Israel," he said. "AIPAC is about the American-Israel relationship, because the future of America and Israel are inextricably intertwined. A world which destroys Israel will certainly destroy the United States."
Gingrich went on to suggest that the United States and its allies cut off Iran’s access to the oil market, thereby reducing their economy to rubble.
Meanwhile, in related news, Rep. Jane Harman used her platform at AIPAC to insist she’ll clear her name after Congressional Quarterly revealed NSA wiretaps caught her agreeing to help two AIPAC employees accused of espionage in exchange for political help. The charges against those lobbyists were dropped last week.
Read more about: Adolf Hitler, AIPAC, Barack Obama, Congressional Quarterly, Iran, Israel, Jane Harman, News, Newt Gingrich
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31 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
"Here we go again. The same ole same ole everyone else is evil and we are good."
Yes, that’s right…pointing out that a genocidal regime (that has called for the destruction of Israel, has denied the holocaust, and perpetrates terrorism and murder of Jews) is evil is saying that "everyone else is evil and we are good". Neville Chamberlain would be proud of you…
I’m sorry, but equating the holocaust and waterboarding is an atrocious thing to do. That might not have been your intent, but putting them side by side like that, saying that "the holocaust did exist" and "was a horrible thing" and "waterboarding is a horrible thing too", is equating them. That would be like me saying, "Mass murder is a terrible thing. So is stealing your neighbor’s car"; they may both be terrible, but in completely different degrees — and to compare them is terrible in and of itself!
Diplomacy is important; but Israel’s safety and the sovereignty of the Jewish state is not open to question — and, since Iran has made its intentions patently obvious, Iranian acquisition of nukes should not be a possibility, either. Negotiations are only going to work if all parties have at least some ideas in common, and they can work together toward a mutual compromise. Iran wants something that can not be compromised on. Just like Hitler wanted the destruction of Jews, Iran wants the destruction, utter and complete, of Israel (this is not conjecture, speculation, etc. — this is their own stated position, voiced again and again and again); that can’t be "negotiated". Allowing Iran to acquire nukes is implicitly giving consent to their murderous schemes of annihilating Jews.
"Just because it is someone you deem unhuman does not make it so."
SG, saying that waterboarding is not comparable to the Holocaust has nothing to do with my opinion of those who were subjected to waterboarding. The simple fact of the matter is that the waterboarding that the US did does not compare, in terms of cruelty, number of those affected, effect of the act, etc., etc. to the Holocaust. The albeit highly unpleasant experience of a limited number of people simply does not compare to wiping out millions and millions of people — and that has nothing whatever to do with how I "deem" any one…
"I do not want anyone to harm anyone."
Neither do I. But my desire to live peaceably does not mean that everyone shares it.
"One no better than the others."
Again, history indicates that is pure nonsense. We choose what and who we are; we can choose to be good or bad. Some people choose one thing, others choose another. Some people choose to be cruel and violent, and to cause great harm to the world. Adolf Hitler, for example…
"Whatever the culture murderous schemes as you say from whatever government is wrong."
Again, I agree; but where does the differentiation by "culture" come in? It’s not "culture" that says that Israel is a disease that must be wiped out. The government, and in large part the people, of Iran support the annihilation of Israel, though — and no amount of dancing around it is going to change the fact of the matter. Trust me, I don’t give a darn who it is that says it — but anyone who wants to wipe out Jews and destroy Israel is my enemy (that’s right: enemy). I will not negotiate the point, ever, and no moral person would. It has nothing to do with "culture", and everything to do with genocidal intent…
"Anger once again gets us nowhere"
Absolutely true. Neither does refusing to face reality. You need to know where you stand to figure out where you’re going. You can — and should — acknowledge fact without being/getting angry; but the facts are what they are, whether you open your eyes or close your eyes to them.
"Peace to you."
And you.
Newt needs to put a lid on it. So, Israel and the USA are intertwined? That’s not exactly rocket science, Newt, or late breaking news. So, the USA needs to act? By doing what? Firing a few missiles over to get their attention? The nuclear empowered USS Reagan has kept close watch over it in the past. Does Newt think Iran hadn’t noticed that?
Is this the GOP’s sick idea of a front runner?