In fact, the most exciting part of the Lieberman appointment is not that he is breaking new barriers. Instead, it's his attractive personal attributes, including his strong faith, which have won him praise among Republicans and Democrats alike. According to this view, this absence of those knowledgeable about Israeli needs and interests prevented the choice of policy options that would have been more beneficial to American interests. The good news is that American Jews have long since shattered that foreign policy barrier, with many today in leading Middle East policy positions. But this same picture accentuates the feelings among Arab and Muslim Americans that their exclusion from the process makes it less likely that American officials have a full appreciation of Arab and Muslim sensitivities on important policy question such as Jerusalem, thus weakening the effectiveness of American foreign policy.
Inclusion is the best remedy.
The triumph of the Lieberman selection is in the end also a personal triumph of an extraordinary man whose own strengths and accomplishments were so large that he prevailed despite the barriers he faced. This triumph of a devout American Jew should be employed to open the gates for other excluded minorities, including Muslim and Arab Americans.