re: #470 Joo-LiZ

Yeah, that’s a point I (and others) have raised a lot.

The reason for that is because Bush had the trust of Sharon and the Israelis. They truly felt in their gut that they could take the risk and he would be in their corner.

Obama would have a much rougher time because that trust isn’t there on a gut level.

I don’t think there are concerns about things like US Aid and defence co-operation, but that aspect of the alliance is not the only thing that matters. Especially in the level of decision making required for taking risks.

The feel of the cable, the personal aspect of the relationship—I think all of that is very real and essential. And I don’t get the impression that Obama is overly concerned with fixing the situation.

I have to say, though, that I think some of that lack of trust was a self-fulfilling prophecy—I saw my right-leaning Anglo-Israeli friends going into hate-Obama mode as soon as he had the nomination, portraying him as a potential disaster, and I don’t think that helped a whole hell of a lot.