P.J. Crowley, Have a nice weekend.

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
July 16, 2010

(Daily press briefings can sometimes be a source of great humor.)

.....
QUESTION: On Assistant Secretary Shapiro’s “The Obama Administration loves Israel; please vote Democratic in November” speech this morning –

MR. CROWLEY: Say what?

QUESTION: You heard me. He said that the Obama Administration has taken action to expand security cooperation and assistance with Israel to an unprecedented level. But I’m wondering, he also refers to the 2007 memorandum of understanding with the – between – it was signed by the Bush administration and Israel to increase – to provide 30 billion in assistance in Israel – security assistance over 10 years. I’m wondering if what this Administration has done is anything more than what would have been done anyway regardless of who had won the last election. In other words, if the unprecedented level to which he refers would have happened anyway based on the 2007 memorandum of understanding.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, let’s say, first of all, that there is broad continuity in U.S. foreign policy and across Democratic and Republican administrations. We all have recognized the value and importance of the U.S.-Israeli security relationship. As Andrew Shapiro said in his speech today, and I think he’s quoted this morning in the paper, we think it’s important and a secure Israel will be better positioned to make the difficult decisions that it faces on peace with its neighbors. So it is in our interest to work significantly with Israel to ensure not only its security, but also in the projects – the wide range of projects that we have with Israel. We share information, technology, and this, in turn, benefits the United States. So there was a lot – there’s been a lot going on on this front going back several administrations to Israel’s foundation. And security cooperation has intensified over the past 15 or 20 years.

I think all we’re saying is how we found it in 2009 – we have continued to aggressively work and nurture this relationship. A lot of these – there have been new program starts since 2009. There’s been a maturation of programs that were started not only by the Bush Administration, but by the Clinton Administration, and probably going back to the first Bush Administration. So this is an indication of the continuity, but I think in the story in today’s paper, we got high marks from one individual who doesn’t normally go out of his way to commend a Democratic administration for its handling of this particular dimension of our relationship. So this is something we put a lot of emphasis in – on over the past 18 months because security is a fundamental dimension of the – our efforts to achieve lasting security and peace in the region.

QUESTION: So you don’t believe it’s a bit disingenuous for the Administration --

MR. CROWLEY: No, not at all. Not at all.

QUESTION: -- to take credit for bringing this to an unprecedented level when it would have been brought to an unprecedented level anyway based on an agreement that was signed in – three years ago?

MR. CROWLEY: That’s – I don’t think that’s hyperbole at all.

QUESTION: But if you can’t --

MR. CROWLEY: We’ve placed great emphasis in this. We can – we have tangible accomplishments that Andrew pointed to in his speech. And what’s crucial is that this cooperation is mutually beneficial and it reinforces what we’re doing with George Mitchell in the region as we speak.

QUESTION: Fair enough, but can you point to anything specifically that wouldn’t – that this Administration has done that wouldn’t have been done anyway?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, tell you what. Let me go back and review his speech and see if there’s anything I want to flag for you.

Have a nice weekend.

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