With all the problems that Israel has, ranging from terrorism to international bias to internal identity crises you would think Israeli officials would have some sympathy for problems here in the United States. Well, if you thought that, you clearly have never met an Israeli.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met today with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with both leaders affirming their commitment to cooperation and mutual interest. But, before mentioning anything about strategic interests, Barak felt it necessary to make a crack about General McChrystal’s comments in Rolling Stone magazine. Barak just couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it’s a pleasure to welcome back an old friend and someone who is certainly deeply involved in every important decision that affects Israel’s security and the prospects for peace. I’m looking forward to talking with Minister Barak on a wide range of matters and I thank him again for making time to be here.
DEFENSE MINISTER BARAK: Thank you. I’m glad also to be here. I thought we had come from a place where there is never a dull moment. I find that even here it can happen from time to time. (Laughter.) But we are fully committed to work together with the Secretary to try to find a way to move forward with the peace process in Israel and put aside all the difficulties that arose in the recent weeks and put them behind us in a cooperative manner in order to concentrate on how to change the direction of the events in the whole area. In this regard, I cannot – no one can underestimate the importance, the commitment, devotion, the resources that the Secretary puts into helping players in the region to find a way to move forward. Thank you very much.