According to the Atlantic magazine (based in Washington DC) Republican congressman Mike Rogers from Michigan, told WJR radio station in an interview, that a meeting last month between the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the American ambassador Dan Shapiro had degenerated into a sharp confrontation. He indicated that he had never been witness to such high-level confrontation before. He went on to say that Israeli leaders as being at "wits' end" over what they see as President Obama's unwillingness to provide them with his "red lines" in the effort to stop Iran's nuclear program.
It is my observation, after reading the article, that while representative Rogers seems to paint a picture of Mr. Netanyahu being aggrieved by the Obama administration's lack of aggressiveness towards Iran, this event illustrate how Mr. Netanyahu maybe overplaying his cards during a crucial election season in the United States.
It wouldn't be a stretch to assume that no American president likes to be openly bullied into changing his or (future her) foreign policy.
Israel risks long term damage to its strategic relationship with the United States if it fails to bridge the gap between its expectations of the United States, and what the US is willing to do. Even if Mr. Romney gets elected, he may not want to look like he is copy-pasting his foreign policy from Mr. Netanyahu's wish list.
Israel's image with Jewish Americans, at least those who happen to be solid supporters of president Obama, is also at stake. It is worth noting that ambassador Dan Shapiro is a former National Security Council official, and a former Obama campaign Jewish liaison. Mr. Netanyahu should be careful whom he yells at.
Last but not least, It is interesting that congressman Rogers didn't find it disturbing that a foreign leader was sharply confronting the ambassador of the United States, and forcefully demanding a change in US policy, how unpatriotic of the congressman!
To read the Atlantic magazine report please go to:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/09/intelligence-committee-chair-describes-explosive-confrontation-between-netanyahu-and-american-ambassador/262056/
