He is known rightly as a trusted partner and an honest interlocutor, as they say in diplo-speak, and that’s why President Obama relied on him so heavily these past 2.5 years and why we are now sending Dan on this critical new mission... the United States has remained committed to Israel’s security and success. President Obama has upheld and strengthened that commitment.
...Dan Shapiro first visited Israel when he was four years old. He was there with his parents during the Yom Kippur War. He saw civilians hiding in bomb shelters and he watched brave young men and women going off to defend their country. Over the years, he returned time and time again. At Hebrew University during the first intifada, Dan and his classmates spent many hours discussing how Israelis and Palestinians could one day live in peace, side-by-side. Dan has seen firsthand that the status quo is unsustainable.
Back in Washington, Dan has become one of the most respected voices on Middle East affairs and a champion for the U.S.-Israel relationship. He spent years in the Senate, first with Senator Feinstein and then with Senator Bill Nelson...Dan emerged as a real leader and helped enact new sanctions on Syria and to designate Hezbollah’s satellite television operation as a foreign terrorist organization. Since 2009, Dan has counseled the President and worked closely with me
...we know that Dan has a big job ahead of him, but he is someone we have every confidence in. We are, frankly, sorry to lose him. We are not happy about sending him to Israel, although we’re thrilled for him and looking forward to visiting him and Julie. But it is with enormous confidence that we ask Dan to represent our country and the Obama Administration, and help us write a new chapter in the enduring partnership between United States and Israel. God bless you, Dan. (Applause.)
But as I noted previously, some of us have doubts.
^
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment