It's not a facetious question. Over the past two days, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has exhibited some errratic, even bizarre behaviour that calls into question his mental stability.
The current Israeli war on Gaza was the brainchild of a triumverate made up of Olmert, his defense minister, Ehud Barak, and his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. It's widely believed that Olmert opted for war, not on account of any feeble rocket barrage by Hamas, but in hope of rehabilitating his reputation left in tatters after Israel's failed incursion into Lebanon in 2006.
Despite the tense developments underway in Gaza, Olmert is reported (by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz) to be deliberately avoiding both Barak and Livni. These are Olmert's right and left hand in this war, the most senior members of his cabinet, and he's shunning them? That is, at the very least, erratic.
Then there was Olmert's bizarre stunt yesterday when he went out of his way to needlessly humiliate both George w. Bush and Condoleeza Rice. Olmert made Bush out to be his minion, his vassal, and depicted Rice as a conniving liar.
Olmert said Rice had hatched the Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. He claimed that Bush wasn't even aware of it, that Condi was running a fast one behind her boss's back. Olmert's dramatic saga had him reaching Bush aides while Shrub was in the middle of some speech and making them pull the American president away so the Israeli leader could read the Riot Act to him. The disgraced, outgoing Israeli prime minister says he literally made Bush rush to contact Rice to rein her in, leading to America's abstention on the resolution.
It's quite possible Olmert's account is true. That, however, doesn't begin to explain why he went to such lengths to boastfully publicize it which could only heap embarrassment on his one true benefactor, the White House.
I suppose its possible that Olmert is so desperate for some positive resolution of his failed Gaza war that he wanted to be seen to have gone Berserker to shake Hamas but what a stunningly stupid hope that would be. Why would he trash his remaining, critical goodwill with the White House? Why would he call both Bush and Rice liars? Why would he demean Bush by portraying him as Israel's bitch?
Olmert's emotional stability is very much in question. The man might just have gone off the deep end.
The current Israeli war on Gaza was the brainchild of a triumverate made up of Olmert, his defense minister, Ehud Barak, and his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. It's widely believed that Olmert opted for war, not on account of any feeble rocket barrage by Hamas, but in hope of rehabilitating his reputation left in tatters after Israel's failed incursion into Lebanon in 2006.
Despite the tense developments underway in Gaza, Olmert is reported (by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz) to be deliberately avoiding both Barak and Livni. These are Olmert's right and left hand in this war, the most senior members of his cabinet, and he's shunning them? That is, at the very least, erratic.
Then there was Olmert's bizarre stunt yesterday when he went out of his way to needlessly humiliate both George w. Bush and Condoleeza Rice. Olmert made Bush out to be his minion, his vassal, and depicted Rice as a conniving liar.
Olmert said Rice had hatched the Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. He claimed that Bush wasn't even aware of it, that Condi was running a fast one behind her boss's back. Olmert's dramatic saga had him reaching Bush aides while Shrub was in the middle of some speech and making them pull the American president away so the Israeli leader could read the Riot Act to him. The disgraced, outgoing Israeli prime minister says he literally made Bush rush to contact Rice to rein her in, leading to America's abstention on the resolution.
It's quite possible Olmert's account is true. That, however, doesn't begin to explain why he went to such lengths to boastfully publicize it which could only heap embarrassment on his one true benefactor, the White House.
I suppose its possible that Olmert is so desperate for some positive resolution of his failed Gaza war that he wanted to be seen to have gone Berserker to shake Hamas but what a stunningly stupid hope that would be. Why would he trash his remaining, critical goodwill with the White House? Why would he call both Bush and Rice liars? Why would he demean Bush by portraying him as Israel's bitch?
Olmert's emotional stability is very much in question. The man might just have gone off the deep end.
5 comments:
Let's see, he's a corrupt leader most likely guilty, mismanaged the Lebanon war and looking to have a positive legacy....
First the comments about Condoleezza Rice and his "I don't give a fuck" this will make me popular stance....
Insane is a little strong - deranged surely.
"Why would he trash his remaining, critical goodwill with the White House? Why would he call both Bush and Rice liars? Why would he demean Bush by portraying him as Israel's bitch?"
They are no longer needed. With Ob & his admin. taking over in a few days it could be a ploy to look good, somehow, in the eyes of Ob's "new" govt. by denouncing the last admin. & it's chief. Although it, most likely, won't make an ounce of difference.
Olmert does appear deranged. Political gamesmanship for what purpose I'm unsure.
Is it certain that Olmert is ignoring Barak & Livni?
Is he a few bricks short of a full load? If one's actions are any measure, then it appears the answer is yes. Makes one wonder about the plight of mankind when like him lead Nations.
When I read about this recently, I saw it as further confirmation of that governments lack of interest in International opinion. Such a shame really.
MoS, it was an unfortunate era of lunatics. World had Bush, John Howard of Australia, Tony Blair of Britain, Olmert of Israel and Stephen Harper of Canada. Two are gone. Bush and Olmert are on their way out. It is hoped that Stevie will be gone soon but the tragedy here will be who will replace him? Iggy? Another loony who may make a comeback is Netanyahu of course. It looks that world will have always a few.
Just more of the same.
There is so much misinformation, lying overwhelming the truth and denied background that no young person could possibly have the slightest understanding of the reality of the mid-east/palestine
here though is a start towards truth
http://www.alternatefocus.org
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