He is a devoted supporter of Israel, committed to maintaining Israel's military superiority.
By STUART E. EIZENSTATObama smiles and waves 224.88(photo credit: AP)
I have spent much of my adult life serving in our government to promote America's interests at home and abroad; I have made it a special calling to help Jews around the world, including Holocaust victims, and to strengthen the US-Israel relationship. It is with great pride that I support Senator Barack Obama to be our next president.
We are fortunate to have a youthful, brilliant, charismatic senator, whose vision is firmly planted in the 21st century, and whose best years are ahead of him, to help America meet the unparalleled challenges of a new era. He can get America back on the right track at home and abroad. The times and the person have come together for Obama.
We need fresh, new leadership and a clean break from the policies of the past eight years (many of which would be continued by Sen. John McCain) - at home to deal with the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression; to restore America's competitive position by a new emphasis on innovation, science and technology; and to strengthen our middle class, which is struggling to make ends meet, by providing educational opportunities, universal health care, and tax cuts targeted to them, not to those who need it the least (which has been the focus of the Bush tax cuts McCain would make permanent).
Senator Obama would rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and launch a Manhattan-type alternative energy program to make our country independent of Middle Eastern oil within 10 years.
And we need new leadership abroad, unencumbered by the Bush legacy, to restore our shattered standing abroad, so that we can forge alliances to advance America's national security interests around the world.
FROM MY service with three American presidents there are several qualities which make a successful president, all of which Sen. Obama possesses:
Sound judgment and steadiness, together with a first class mind to distill huge amounts of data, intellectual curiosity and a willingness to seek a wide range of advice, regardless of party affiliation, before making decisions.
The temperament and steady hand to deal with the enormous daily burdens of the hardest job in the world, and to firmly and calmly handle with unexpected events, like the global financial meltdown we have witnessed before our eyes.
A personality that mobilizes public support at home and inspires people abroad to follow America's leadership.
A keen understanding of the great challenges of our day.
Senator Obama's career and the long presidential campaign have demonstrated he meets each of these litmus tests:
His sound judgment has been shown by understanding, against the prevailing opinion from both parties at the time, that the invasion of Iraq was a profound mistake, built on erroneous assumptions, that would distract our attention and deplete our military resources from crushing the Taliban and destroying al-Qaeda in Afghanistan - the real sources of 9/11 and worldwide terrorism, and that would strengthen Israel's greatest enemy Iran.
It has been shown by his opposition to putting Hamas on the ballot in the Palestinian elections, when it was dedicated to Israel's destruction, as part of the administration's ill-fated attempt to democratize the Middle East overnight. And of supreme importance, his judgment has been shown by the most important decision a presidential candidate can make for the nation - choosing a Vice Presidential running mate - Senator Joe Biden, who is ready to become the President on day one if the need arises.
His temperament and steadiness have been displayed by the calm, positive, bipartisan way in which he has dealt with the financial crisis.
His charismatic personality and eloquence have inspired American flag waving crowds from Berlin to the mammoth outpourings throughout our country yearning for new leadership and a new direction; qualities which, in the words of former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, will make him a "transformational figure," who will "not only electrify our country... (but will) electrify the world."
These unique qualities will help restore the trust and confidence of the American people needed to deal with our economic crisis, and to build coalitions to promote America's interests and values abroad.
And he is the only one of the candidates who genuinely understands the challenges of a new globalized, interdependent world.
All of these qualities commend him to all Americans. But as American Jews there are special reasons to support Senator Obama:
His life growing up with a single mother, for a time even on food stamps, embodies the values embodied in the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, the obligation to repair the world; to pursue, in the words of our prophets, "Justice, Justice"; and to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and let the oppressed go free.
He is uniquely able to rebuild tattered bridges between the African-American and Jewish communities, as he has spoken out courageously against anti-Semitism, not just in synagogues, but in black churches.
He is committed to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of Iran, which threaten America's security interests, but especially Israel's, through a new combination of strengthened sanctions, including his bill encouraging divestment from companies doing business with Iran, along with incentives, while leaving the military option on the table.
He is a lifelong, devoted supporter of Israel, who relishes its accomplishments, shares its pain, is committed to maintain Israel's military superiority; who opposes negotiations with Hizbullah and Hamas, and the Palestinian demands for a return of refugees; and who will pursue peace negotiations with a passionate commitment for Israel's security.
He supported Israel's response in Lebanon to the kidnapping of its troops because he believes that Israel has a right to defend itself.
His visits to Israel, including the one this summer, deeply impressed him and made a strong and positive impression on a broad spectrum of Israeli leadership and the Israeli public.
The writer was Chief Domestic Policy Adviser to President Jimmy Carter. In the Clinton Administration he was US Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
