James Zogby: Here’s Why Obama Treats You Like This, Israel!

In a previous post I showed that James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, predicted two months ago that UNSC Resolution 2334 would happen.

In that same article, after a litany of complaints against Netanyahu’s arrogant misbehaviour toward Obama, Zogby finally makes it clear how Israel is truly regarded by Obama. He does this while talking about the reaction he expects from Israel following the predicted UNSC resolution:

As long as the U.S. allows this pattern to continue, the spoiled child will take advantage of the situation — taunting, acting out, and getting his way. [emphasis mine]

And:

Israel will throw a tantrum (as spoiled children are wont to do).

So, if Israel is the spoiled child, then the adults need to keep us in line.

Is Israel a spoiled child because of Netanyahu? Those who do not like Bibi would probably answer in the affirmative. I do not agree. I think if even the most appeasing Israeli prime minister were to balk at obeying an Obama diktat, he or she would end up being treated like a child.

I wonder what kind of child the Palestinian Arabs are. Zogby does not say, so let me guess: Probably the youngest child, the baby of the family, the one that the parents have to take special care the older kids don’t mistreat. And, of course, the one who is never blamed for acting out.

And the other Arabs? The Syrians certainly seem to be the unwanted child, the one that is easy to neglect and leave out in the cold. The Saudis seem to be a good child these days. The Egyptians likewise, although they do sometimes misbehave but not in ways that merit serious punishment. The Iraqis have been smashed into unrecognizable form and for the moment seem to be sulking in their room, sometimes opening the door and flashing out looks of disdain and perhaps lobbing a ball or two at the living room furniture. The Iranians, while not Arab, may be the bully child, the one the parents appease, a bit afraid of disciplining him because of his unpredictable violent responses.

In short, the Middle East is regarded as a nursery that must be handled as if they are a bunch of kids by the more mature and knowing adults of the West, with Obama as the father and the others playing the part of the mother. And as good parents do, the West periodically invites (some of) the children to the dinner table to discuss family matters. That is when they all gang up on the spoiled child who is very rarely invited to the table, even for dinner.

This situation apparently satisfies the Arab (and Iranian) children, but I do hope they wake up soon to realize that they are not anyone’s kids but fully grown adults capable of deciding what is truly best for them. Perhaps they will see that their best interests are probably not far different from those of their sibling, Israel.

I have the feeling that if James Zogby of the Arab American Institute, and Arabs actually living in the Middle East, cannot decide to grow up on their own, they will be getting a wake-up call come January 20 or shortly thereafter.