USraeli Talking Points

The USraelis have still to come up with a talking point on the Arab revolts they can all agree with. Here are 3 specimens so far:

With its if-you've-got-chutzpah-why-not-flaunt-it? approach, this one's got so much front, I reckon it'll end up front runner:

"Mr Bush and his supporters were condemned for the Iraq project... yet there is no doubt now that citizens of the Arab street, who knew no Arab democracy, have seen the troubled, difficult, but nonetheless free democracy struggling to its feet in Iraq, and decided they, too, prefer that over tyranny. Where President Barack Obama previously has been apologetic for the US interventions, he must now contemplate action. For all the pitfalls and weighty considerations to be made, he won't find guidance in the councils of the UN or the counsel of the liberal commentariat, but rather in the principles that the US has long inspired." (Editorial, Iraq democracy inspires Arabs: Bush deliberately fostered freedom in the Middle East, The Australian, 10/3/11)

Let me gloss that for you: Bush & his neocon cabal are finally vindicated. It was their project (aka shock & awe invasion; brutal military occupation; millions of deaths, maimings, woundings, displaced persons, and refugees; the unleashing of rampant sectarianism; and the impoverishment & dismemberment of a once intact, proud, and sovereign nation) which vanquished the tyrant and brought the grateful Iraqis the precious gift of US-style democracy (fries optional). And now, transfixed by the beacon of this US-bestowed, Iraqi-style democracy (where the fries are still a work in progress), millions of Arabs are now in the business of throwing off their shackles and taking their first, faltering baby steps on the path to freedom and the USraeli way. And you know what, as Kevin Rudd would say, the UN, international law, and all those who, until now, have scorned Bush and all his works, can all get nicked. So, Obama, it's time to pull your finger out and get in there and kick some Libyan arse confident in the knowledge that this is what the fabled Arab street really wants you to do, because, hey man, hasn't it worked a treat in Iraq!

Now here's an early and somewhat amateurish let's-go-with-the-flow-and-keep-our-fingers-crossed effort. Pathetic actually. I can't really see it lasting the distance:

"Australia's Jewish community is right behind Arab democrats, with the top brass issuing statements of support for Middle East countries on the brink, particularly Egypt in the wake of its revolution. Following the resignation of Egypt's long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak, a joint release by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Zionist Federation of Australia acknowledged the courage shown by the Egyptian people and applauded the decision of Egypt's interim military rulers to honour the country's peace treaty with Israel." (Community stands behind Egyptians, The Australian Jewish News, 25/2/11)

Finally, there's this little don't-get-your-hopes-up, been-there-done-that number:

"Of course, what we would all like to see is a repetition of what happened in Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1991, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, democracy in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, a united Europe', [Itamar Rabinovich, the former Israeli ambassador to the United States] said. '[But] are we witnessing the same thing in the Middle East? Not really. Because the Middle East is not ripe for democracy'. He said it was naive of the US to believe that democracy merely meant holding elections. 'This is not limited to Barack Obama. George W Bush also wanted to bring democracy to the Middle East, and he leaned very hard on Ariel Sharon to allow free elections in the Palestinian community', he said. 'And the free elections... produced the Hamas government in Gaza'." (Middle East not yet 'ripe' for democracy, The Australian Jewish News, 11/3/11)

Shucks!