The Issue: Whether Ed Koch should back Obama or Israel’s request for red lines on Iran’s nuclear program.
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It appears that former Mayor Ed Koch’s brain is addled by President Obama’s Kool-Aid (“Koch My Drift, Bam?” Michael Goodwin, Sept. 23).
Koch thinks that the red lines Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu asked Obama to impose on Iran’s development of nuclear weapons “aren’t necessary” if Obama tells Iran that any attack on Israel would be seen as an attack on the United States.
Koch is asking Israel to wait for US action until Iran attacks Israel. Iran has seen over the past 3 1/2 years that Obama’s threats have nothing behind them. Iran is not deterred by what he says.
It is sad that Koch is more concerned with proving that he is a loyal Democrat than he is with the security of the United States and Israel.
If Koch wants to be counted as a friend of Israel, he must behave like Israel’s friend.
Jack Weinberg
Manhattan
I don’t understand how a person of the Jewish religion could vote for Obama.
I am not religious, but I stand for Israel. Iran doesn’t just want to kill Jews, it wants to come for Americans, too.
Any American Jew who votes for Obama has lost touch by sacrificing the memory of those who died before them for American creature comforts.
Koch is late to the table.Susan Gonzalez
Basking Ridge
Goodwin hit the nail on the head: Koch is a fool in supporting Obama.
Obama fooled Koch once, and he forgave the president. Now, Obama has no time for the prime minister of Israel when they both will be at the United Nations.
The Middle East is burning, Iran is getting closer to having a nuclear weapon, the American flag is being burned and the al Qaeda flag is flying over our embassies.
So, Koch, keep supporting the best friend Israel ever had: Obama.
Owen Kelly
Long Island City
The former mayor has issues with the Obama administration’s handling of the Israel crisis and the disrespect Obama has shown toward Netanyahu.
But he’s not upset enough to not support Obama and will even vote for him.
It’s the Jewish voting pattern. Years ago, someone had asked Koch why it was that Jews overwhelmingly voted Democrat, even while being disenchanted with the party. He said he didn’t know.
Someone should again ask Koch, who has differences with the Democratic Party, why he still supports Obama’s re- election. Jeffrey Rickey
Manalapan, NJ