Thread by @tparsi

Belatedly, Tom Friedman has recognized the strategic insanity of Israel pushing Trump to quit the #IranDeal. Better late than never!

Yet, his piece is very important as it highlights two issues that the US media largely has neglected. >>

nytimes.com/2021/11/30/opi…

2. First, Friedman points out that Biden made a huge mistake not simply returning to the JCPOA back in January, instead of negotiating its return (which so far has been a fruitless process). >>

3. Secondly, very little coverage has been given in US media that a large number of Israeli officials have now publicly admitted that pressing the US to exit the JCPOA was a mistake. What Israel did profoundly damaged American AND Israeli security. >>

4. The real question though - which Friedman dodges - is: Will there be implications for this Israeli admission? Will media continue to quote Israeli officials as if they’re saving the world from annihilation? Or will they call out Israel’s responsibility for the current mess?>>

5. Will US media continue to quote Israel’s allies in Washington, such as FDD, without calling out their role and responsibility for the current mess, mindful of their role in designing Trump’s Iran policy? Doesn’t the readers deserve to know? Shouldn’t track records matter? >>

6. There’s never been much accountability for hawkish voices in DC. Being wrong on Iraq is bizarrely still considered a merit in Washington. No one has paid a price for their role in fomenting the Iraq and Libya wars or for keeping the Afghanistan war going for 20 years.>>

7. But here you have officials ADMITTING publicly their guilt and responsibility. Covering it is useless if it doesn’t impact the way this issue is covered - and the way these voices are quoted and described in the media going forward.//