Barnicle Gossips: On Foreign Policy, ‘Nikki Haley Makes Sarah Palin Sound Like Henry Kissinger’
CFR’s Richard Haass: moving US embassy to Jerusalem would put US military, diplomats at risk around the world due to ‘Muslim outrage’
Mike Barnicle might not bring much to the table, but he is still capable of passing along nasty remarks by unnamed sources. On today’s Morning Joe, discussing Nikki Haley’s preparations for her confirmation hearing as UN Ambassador, Barnicle said, “I was told by somebody within the world of diplomacy and international relations that Nikki Haley makes Sarah Palin sound like Henry Kissinger.”
Joe Scarborough seemed to have intentionally teed Barnicle up to take his anonymous shot at Haley, asking him “what are you hearing about her?” After Barnicle’s gossip, Scarborough weighed in, saying that he’d been hearing for weeks “real concerns with the people that had been prepping her over her complete ignorance of foreign policy.”
Note: a bit later in the show, Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations—someone whose name has been mentioned as a possible Deputy Secretary of State—warned that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem would endanger US military members and diplomats around the world because of “Muslim outrage.”
Scarborough suggested that Trump views everything as a negotiation, and that in return for backing off the embassy move, the Palestinians would be willing to make concessions on other issues.
Former Obama car czar Steve Rattner said it was one thing to use such negotiating tactics with US companies, but “it’s another thing to start messing about with the most emotional issues in the world.”
SENATOR ED MARKEY: Do you agree with President-elect Trump that NATO is obsolete or do you agree with General Mattis that it is vital?
NIKKI HALEY: I think NATO is an important alliance for us to have and now we need more allies than ever and we need more alliances than we have ever had and I think it’s one we need to strengthen.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: That was South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley yesterday at her confirmation hearing to become the next ambassador to the United Nations.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: What are you hearing, Mike, about Nikki Haley?
MIKE BARNICLE: Well, in perhaps the world’s snarkiest town, Washington, DC, I was told yesterday by someone who is within the world of diplomacy and international relations that Nikki Haley makes Sarah Palin sound like Henry Kissinger.
MIKA: Yikes. That’s harsh.
JOE: We started hearing several weeks back real concerns with the people that were prepping her over her complete ignorance of foreign policy. She certainly seemed to go through the hearing very well yesterday. But foreign policy experts that were working with the Trump team to prepare her were shocked by her lack of knowledge of matters dealing with foreign policy.
. . .
JOE: On Jerusalem, that is a horrifying thing for the Arab world to hear somebody say we are going to move the capital [sic, presumably embassy] to Jerusalem. He doesn’t understand that perhaps but he does understand that he’s talking to the Palestinians who are now saying, back off of that and we will give you some concessions in other areas.
RICHARD HAASS: That would set off protests around the world. Every American embassy would be vulnerable I think because of Muslim outrage. The Israeli-Palestinian talks aren’t going anywhere. This would have real implications for American servicemen, American diplomats around the world.
JOE: You know you’ve now said that twice. You have ensured peace in our time!
MIKA: But all the diplomats are coming home. Like this week!
STEVE RATTNER: But what Richard is saying is that it’s one thing to do this to a couple of US companies. It’s another thing to start messing about with the most emotional issues in the world.
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Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations—someone whose name has been mentioned as a possible Deputy Secretary of State—warned that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem would endanger US military members and diplomats around the world because of “Muslim outrage.”
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That’s an unimpeachable statement of the obvious. It’s just true.
That does not suggest it would be wrong to do it. It also doesn’t even suggest much of a departure from the status quo.
But in Jerusalem, the Embassy will not get vaporized when the Iranians nuke Tel-aviv. And, unless something happens to change the course that will happen in next 5 years.
People need to start getting versed on what an Iranian bomb actually means. It sucks.
https://conflictandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1752-1505-7-10
LOL. Because our U.S. military and diplomats around the world are perfectly safe from “muslim outrage” now, right? So we wouldn’t want to do anything to change that.
The anticipated response of the Religion of Perpetual Outrage shouldn’t dictate our foreign policy decisions — especially when the muslims’ claim to Jerusalem is so bogus to start with.
LOL. Like I said.
“Mike Barnicle might not bring much to the table,”
Not true.
He brings man-boobs, a sizable muffin top, an over-inflated ego, and a first-class ability to plagiarize.
http://bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/99/03/04/image/Barnicle_Antoniou.gif
Much like that other clown on CNN, Fareed Zakaria.
http://theweek.com/articles/442125/three-major-publications-have-acknowledged-plagiarism-by-fareed-zakaria-does-cnn-have-no-shame
Hey, Barnicle. Get Scarborough to do a special on how The Boston Globe fired you for lying and plagiarism. That would be a great show.
Moving the embassy to Jerusalem would cause muslims to hate America and cause violence? This is different from the way the muslim world is … how?
Although I personally agree with Ann Coulter that Haley is a dumb bimbo, I think Trump is very smart in picking Haley. She’s still popular within the party and keeping his enemies close is a wise strategy. Plus, it keeps the Republican bench strong, unlike the Democrats who have nobody except the geriatric Fauxcahontas Warren and Bernie Sanders.
Strike 1: Nikki Haley is a woman. HATE!
Strike 2: Nikki Haley is a member of a minority group, and has brown skin. DOUBLE HATE!!!
Strike 3: Nikki Haley doesn’t believe in bending over and kissing Islamic butts. HOW DARE SHE! HERETIC! BURN THE WITCH BURN HER WE SAY!!!
as far as this line: “On Jerusalem, that is a horrifying thing for the Arab world to hear somebody say we are going to move the capital [sic, presumably embassy] to Jerusalem.”
Umm, didn’t the US Congress say that when they voted to do exactly that, some years ago? Is it now completely outrageous for a President to ask to follow the law, because Muslims now have an absolute veto power over our actions?
I agree with Coulter. Haley is the weak link in the Trump cabinet chain, tolerable only if Trump is eventually going to (1) move the UN headquarters out of America (say to Brussels), (2) defund the UN and (3) form a new organization of countries like-minded with the USA/Trump and our interests (not the rest of the mutts on the planet).
Otherwise, I guess she can sit there an veto everything while we cut funding to zero.
What-evs.
Name a better Indian American choice?
Bobby Jindal, perhaps.
For UN ambassador? I don’t see that as his strength. HHS would have been right up his alley.
The costs of establishing an embassy in Jerusalem far outweigh any benefit. The cost of the land in crowded Jerusalem will be massive. The design and construction costs for a physically secure and cyber-secure facility will be huge. There will be delays during construction when uncovering and examining archeological artifacts. There will be additional costs for a US Marine presence for security. The government of Israel will incur additional security expenses. The effect on residents of Jerusalem trying to go about their daily business will get worse due to the inevitable security checkpoints that will spring up. Other than political benefits, which will be far more opinion than fact, what other benefits will there be? My imagination doesn’t stretch that far.
Damn…. almost like building a stadium for the San Diego Chargers.
Methinks thou dost protest too much. The benefit is entirely symbolic, and as symbolism it is enormous. If Israel is bothered by the idea, wouldn’t they complain? Stop thinking like a beta.
What a load of bovine fertilizer. The TA Embassy is in one of the highest land value areas of Tel Aviv and is worth a chunk of change.
Design and construction would be waaay less than anything spent on the US Embassy in Baghdad.
Marines are needed in any case.
Israel would be more than happy to fund the external security.
Finally, Jerusalem residents are accustomed to shutdowns due to visiting dignitaries. An embassy wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Basically a list of weak excuses strung together hoping some would stick.
Perhaps the benefit is that our friend, Israel, says it’s the capital.
Or that it will send a clear message to Palestinians that their schtick is tiresome and will no longer be tolerated, no matter their antics. That is something they may actually understand.
It’s not that “our friend Israel” says it’s the capital. It’s that it is the capital, by all possible definitions of that word. It’s where the Israeli government is. Any time our ambassador wants to visit a government office he has to drive there. Even at the height of the cold war we didn’t pretend that Moscow was not the USSR’s capital, when it clearly was.
Thumbs up, Milhouse!
The state declares it’s capital, and such declaration deserves recognition, especially when the state is an ally.
Oops, this was a reply to oldschooltwentysix, but somehow came out as an independent comment instead.
The Netherlands is our ally, and it says its capital is Amsterdam, but its actual capital, i.e. where its government is, is The Hague. Guess where our embassy is. Israel doesn’t just say Jerusalem is its capital, while conducting all government business in Tel Aviv. On the contrary, the only ministry based in Tel Aviv is Defense; the US Dept of Defense is not in the capital either, but nobody pretends that this means our real capital is Arlington, let alone puts their embassies there.
Not really the same. The Netherlands could really care. The issue was the cost versus the benefit of moving the Embassy, and friendship goes a long way.
The financial cost of establishing an embassy in Jerusalem is almost zero. Change the plaque on one of the three properties we already own there (two consulates, plus the old consulate near the Damascus Gate which is now called “America House” or some such thing), and designate it the embassy. Change the plaque on the embassy in Tel Aviv and designate it a consulate. Reprint a bunch of stationery. Done. The security and checkpoints are already there.
The main benefit is simply that of having the embassy in the capital, where the government is, instead of the better part of an hour away. I don’t understand how diplomats do their job in Tel Aviv. Imagine if foreign countries put their US embassies in Baltimore; how could they get anything done from there?
And would we even allow them to do that? I think if Israel were to tell us its embassy would now be in Baltimore because it no longer recognises Washington as ours, we’d take it as a slap in the face and tell them that they could either stay in Washington or not have one at all. If I were Israel’s PM I’d long ago have told that to all the embassies in Tel Aviv.
Very well written and informative post. Thanks.
So, the US should act out of fear of the Muslim world, submit. That is the message.
It’s worked that way for decades.
Time for change.
If “Muslim outrage” means the reactions of people who approve of Hamas’ written goal to commit genocide, I refuse to be concerned.
We should announce that we are moving that embassy to Jerusalem. If the Palis are willing to repudiate the Hamas Covenant, promptly and unequivocally, we might reconsider.
Anyone who thinks that failing to move that embassy will cause the Palis to change the stated goals of genocide and world conquest that they have embraced, is far too stupid to represent us.
Muslim outrage would be a big reason to build the embassy in Jerusalem. Bring it on MoFo!
In a shooting war, who would you rather be led by, Sarah Palin, Niki Haley, Barnicle, Chelsea Obama, Joe Scarborough or Henry Kissinger?
Sarah Palin. But send expendables Barnicle, Chelsea Obama and Scarborough in the first wave of combat.
Shooting war? Mad Dog Mattis! But Sarah Palin with that accent would be hot.
Haley is no Kerry or Clinton. She is good to go.
I would not believe Barnicle without 3 verification sources.
True dat. But even if someone DID say that to him that doesn’t mean there’s any truth to it, just like most of the snark about Palin.
Jews, get outraged. Americans, too. Germans, Ukranians, Russians, … Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Outrage.
I have followed Haley for a couple of years politically and she isn’t a bright bulb. The good news is that she will be working with the UN which is full of dim bulbs so she should fit right in. She has already started contradicting Trump’s views and it will only get worse. If she had a lot of foreign policy experience it would be understandable but she doesn’t. I foresee her being replaced within a couple of years or resigning.
Still think Huckabee would have been the best choice.
No one knows how Haley will do, however, despite all the experts, elsewhere and here, no matter the subject.
Isn’t Haley a Sikh? In my limited experience, Sikhs are very good people, but they tend to pacifism. Might that be a detriment in this particular job?
An important post in the Trump administration filled by a woman? An important post filled by a non-white? If she is otherwise qualified, these are two more benefits.
“Sikhs are very good people, but they tend to pacifism.”
Not so much. They are very non-aggressive, but will kill you grave-yard dead in a good cause. They’ve been highly regarded as warriors for centuries.
Pacifism?! Sikhs?! Are you ****ing kidding? Sikhs are a warrior people. They were founded fighting the Moslems. Every Sikh carries a symbolic knife at all times, because they must be armed and ready to fight if needed.
In any case, she grew up Sikh but is now a Christian. Now there’s a pacifist religion, if you want to read it that way, and so many do.
“…is now a Christian. Now there’s a pacifist religion, if you want to read it that way, and so many do.”
How do you read it, Milhouse?
Not being a Christian myself, I leave it to the Christians to figure out whether it mandates pacifism or not. But I know enough about it to understand both readings, and to know that each has a substantial following and serious historical roots.
Damn Milhouse, you sure weaseled out of that one.
I think Milhouse is just being kind here.
In WW2, Christians bombed European cities to rubble and dropped nuclear weapons on Japan. Pacifist?
And the Sikhs are warriors. I have quite a few Sikh friends in India.
Not being kind, just honest. I’m not a Christian, but I think I know more about Christianity than most Christians do, and I know that it can and has been read to support both extreme pacifism and extreme militarism, as well as the whole range in between. Both Mennonites who allowed themselves to be slaughtered rather than raise a hand against a fellow human found plenty of support within Christian tradition, and so did the Knights Templar and the Crusaders.
Thanks for responding, Milhosue.
You are honest, forthright, and knowledgeable on many subjects. Not to mention you’re a bulldog. That’s why I love your posts. Two thumbs up!
Putting Haley in a position where she is directed to carry out Trump’s policy with little independence and where if she screws up or outlives her demographic usefulness, she can be terminated, embarrassed, damaged and a lesser opponent than she was during the primaries. I see a plan.
Ask Bibi want he wants, then do it.
I am not Jewish but I can’t wait till Trump moves the embassy.
The foolish idea that the Muslim world will do more than they are assumes they are not doing as much terrorism as they can now.
The Netherlands is our ally, and it says its capital is Amsterdam, but its actual capital, i.e. where its government is, is The Hague. Guess where our embassy is. Israel doesn’t just say Jerusalem is its capital, while conducting all government business in Tel Aviv. On the contrary, the only ministry based in Tel Aviv is Defense; the US Dept of Defense is not in the capital either, but nobody pretends that this means our real capital is Arlington, let alone puts their embassies there.
Mike Barnicle made George Carlin look good as a comedian when the Boston Globe writer tried to be funny using Carlin’s stuff. Perhaps Barnicle could compare notes with “Plugs” Biden and Melania.
Unless someone makes an outrageous YouTube video, why would anyone attack an US embassy?