John Kerry fought in Vietnam, threw his medals away, served decades in the Senate, ran for president, did some windsurfing and then became secretary of state of the most powerful country on Earth.
He’s a big boy. But there are those who seem to feel otherwise, that Kerry is a fragile and tender reed in need of delicate care — people who work for and with him. Not to mention Kerry himself.
Over the course of the past year, on several occasions, Kerry and other staffers have taken to whining — not sure there’s a nicer word — over how unfairly he’s being written and talked about in Israel.
In January, after Israel’s defense minister was twice quoted speaking disparagingly about Kerry’s peace-process efforts and his nuclear diplomacy with Iran, Kerry actually called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to complain.
This was an odd thing, given the relative power of Kerry and the relatively minor position of Moshe Ya’alon. Kerry could have brushed Yaalon’s words off as a giant brushes off a fly.
But it was so hurtful to Kerry that he made sure the world knew about it. His spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said at a public briefing that Ya’alon’s “comments were not constructive.
“Secretary Kerry spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, and he protested to him his concerns about these comments.”
On Monday there came a tripartite barrage in Kerry’s defense — from Psaki, presidential assistant Tony Blinken and National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
At a White House briefing, Blinken was asked to report on “the US response to the criticism that Sen. Kerry has come under in Israel after his attempts to implement a ceasefire there.”
Blinken seized the opportunity so quickly, it seemed clear he had determined beforehand to say these words: “Let me say this about Secretary Kerry: Israel has no better friend, no stronger defender.
“No one has done more to help Israel achieve a secure and lasting peace. He has been tireless in his efforts.”
It would be one thing for Kerry to go out of his way to praise Blinken; it is quite another for a lower-level staffer to praise someone who outranks him.
One would expect the president, say, to make a show of support for Kerry from the White House briefing room, but not a presidential underling. This is a strange case of political/PR “gifting up.”
It’s also worth noting that what Blinken said was wildly defensive and unconvincing on its face. Ten days ago, Kerry was caught on a “hot mic” at the “Fox News Sunday” studio speaking with bitter, angry irony about how Israel had claimed to be engaging in “pinpoint” operations.
At the same time, he was overheard telling his deputy that “I hope they don’t think” the death of Israeli soldiers the night before was “an invitation to go do more. That better be the warning to them.”
Were you aware that best friends issue unpleasant-sounding “warnings” to each other? If not, consider yourself warned.
Only moments after Blinken spoke, Psaki was asked about hostile reports in the Israeli media about the ceasefire plan Kerry had been fronting — with input from Hamas’ patrons in Qatar and Turkey.
She complained about “anonymous sources” she claimed were issuing “misinformation” to Israeli journalists, and said this is “simply not the way that partners and allies treat each other.”
After all, “I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a stronger partner and ally with Israel than Secretary Kerry.”
Oh, you don’t have to press me hard, Ms. Psaki. Just a very little bit.
A few hours after that, Rice also chimed in about “the extraordinary efforts of Secretary Kerry. I must tell you: We’ve been dismayed by some press reports in Israel mischaracterizing his efforts last week to achieve a ceasefire.”
Perhaps those efforts were “mischaracterized,” perhaps not.
The administration’s self-defense hinges in large measure on whether Kerry had presented Israel with a ceasefire “proposal,” or merely a “plan,” a “discussion paper.” Whatever it was, the Israeli cabinet found it necessary to reject it unanimously.
With all this going on, Israel’s ambassador to the United States also found it necessary on Monday to make a public display of gratitude to Kerry — an emotion it’s somewhat doubtful anyone inside Israel genuinely feels these days.
“I speak directly for my prime minister here,” Ambassador Ron Dermer said. “The criticism of Secretary Kerry for his good-faith efforts to advance a sustainable ceasefire is unwarranted.”
Now that’s being diplomatic.
Maybe Kerry should take some lessons.