Hoyer and Dems Set Stage for Iran Attack

But regular readers of this blog realize both parties are essentially controlled by AIPAC, a well documented fact, and AIPAC is a front for the racist Likud and Kadima parties in Israel.

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Y-a-w-w-w-n. 

ttp://www.antiwar.com/cole/?articleid=3467

AIPAC's Overt and Covert Ops

Now
the U.S.' occupation of Iraq is making it even more hated in the Muslim
world. It is a policy hatched in part by AIPAC, WINEP, and their
associated "thinkers." The cynical might suggest that they actively
want the U.S. involved in a violent struggle with Muslims, to make sure
that the U.S. remains anti-Palestinian and so will permit Israeli
expansion.

All this can happen because there is a vacuum in U.S.
political discourse. A handful of special interests in the United
States virtually dictate congressional policy on some issues. With
regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee and a few allies have succeeded in imposing complete
censorship on both houses of Congress. No senator or representative
dares make a speech on the floor of his or her institution critical of
Israeli policy, even though the Israeli government often violates
international law and UN Security Council resolutions (it would violate
more such resolutions, except that the resolutions never got passed
because only one NSC member, the U.S., routinely vetoes them on behalf
of Tel Aviv.) As the Labor Party in Israel has been eclipsed by the
Likud coalition, which includes many proto-fascist groups, this
subservience has yoked Washington to foreign politicians who privately
favor ethnic cleansing and/or aggressive warfare for the purpose of
annexing the territory of neighbors.

On the rare occasion when a
brave member of Congress dares stand up to this unrelenting AIPAC
tyranny, that person is targeted for unelection in the next
congressional campaign, with big money directed by AIPAC and/or its
analogues into the coffers of the senator's or congressman's opponent.
Over and over again, AIPAC has shaped the U.S. Congress in this way, so
successfully that no one even dares speak out any more.

AIPAC is
not all that rich or powerful, but politics in the U.S. is often evenly
divided between Democrats and Republicans. Because many races are very
close, any little extra support can help change the outcome. AIPAC can
provide that little bit. Moreover, most Americans couldn't care less
about the Middle East or its intractable problems, whereas the staffers
at AIPAC are fanatics. If some congressman from southern Indiana knows
he can pick up even a few thousand dollars and some good will from
AIPAC, he may as well, since his constituents don't care anyway. That
there is no countervailing force to AIPAC allows it to be effective.
(That is one reason that pro-Likud American activists often express
concern about the rise of the Muslim-American community and the
possibility that it may develop an effective lobby.) Moreover, AIPAC
leverages its power by an alliance with the Christian Right, which has
adopted a bizarre ideology of "Christian Zionism." It holds that the
sooner the Palestinians are ethnically cleansed, the sooner Christ will
come back. Without millions of these Christian Zionist allies, AIPAC
would be much less influential and effective.

The Founding
Fathers of the United States deeply feared that a foreign government
might gain this level of control over a branch of the United States
government, and their fears have been vindicated.

The situation
has reached comedic proportions. Congress is always drafting letters to
the president, based on AIPAC templates, demanding that lopsided U.S.
policy in favor of Israel be revised to be even more in favor of
Israel. U.S. policy recently changed to endorse the expansion of
Israeli colonies in Palestinian, West Bank territory.

Where
Israel is in the right, this situation obviously is innocuous. The
United States should protect Israel from aggressive attack, if
necessary. United Nations members are pledged to collective security,
i.e., to protecting any member nation from aggression at the hands of
another. But given that Israel is a nuclear power with a vast arsenal
of weapons of mass destruction; given that Egypt and Jordan have
long-lived peace treaties with Israel; and given that Syria and Lebanon
are small, weak powers, there is not in fact any serious military
threat to Israel in its immediate neighborhood. In contrast, Israel
launched wars against neighbors in 1956, 1967, and 1982 (all of which
it won so easily as to bring into question the necessity for the wars
in the first place if they were defensive), and has since 1967 been
assiduously colonizing Palestinian land that it militarily occupied –
all the while attempting to avoid becoming responsible for the
Palestinian populations on that land. This latter policy has poisoned
the entire world.

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/Pelos...eech23may05.htm

Nancy Pelosi Delivers Speech to
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

From Official Website of
Nancy Pelosi House Democratic Leader 23may2005

Washington,
D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi addressed the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee at their 2005 Policy Conference
tonight. Pelosi discussed the relationship between the United States
and Israel and the continued effort for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. Below are her remarks:

“Thank you, Amy Friedkin,
my dear friend for so many years. Californians, North and South, are
proud of your great leadership at AIPAC. And to Bernice Manocherian,
President of AIPAC, thank you. All who care about peace in the Middle
East are grateful for your strength and wisdom in guiding AIPAC. As a
native of Baltimore, I take special pride of your incoming President,
Howard Friedman, who will continue in the tradition of outstanding
leadership at AIPAC.

“I also want to acknowledge all of the
students who are here. It is great to see so many young people taking
such an interest in public affairs, especially on one of the critical
issues of our time: peace in the Middle East.

“This spring, I
was in Israel as part of a congressional trip that also took us to
Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. One of the most powerful experiences
was taking a helicopter toward Gaza, over the path of the security
fence. We set down in a field that belonged to a local kibbutz. It was
a cool but sunny day, and the field was starting to bloom with mustard.
Mustard is a crop that grows in California, and it felt at that moment
as if I were home.

“And then we were told that the reason we had
to land in that field, as opposed to our actual destination, was
because there had been an infiltration that morning, and they weren’t
sure how secure the area was. And that point alone brought us back to
the daily reality of Israel: even moments of peace and beauty are
haunted by the specter of violence.

“While in Israel, we met
with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Vice Premier Shimon Perez. From
them and from other leaders, we heard something I had not heard in a
long time: cautious optimism. This was an attitude quite different from
the one that confronted us when I spoke to AIPAC two years ago.

“One
thing, however is unchanged: America’s commitment to the safety and
security of the State of Israel is unwavering. America and Israel share
an unbreakable bond: in peace and war; and in prosperity and in
hardship.

“Prime Minister Sharon’s leadership of Israel at this
crucial time has been remarkable. He has brought Israel through an
extremely challenging period, and now he has made the difficult
decision that it is in Israel’s national security interest to disengage
from Gaza.

“In the next few months, Israeli settlers will be
evacuated entirely from Gaza and from four settlements in the northern
West Bank. This courageous decision is gut-wrenching for Israel.

“Israel’s
decision can be a decisive milestone on the road to peace. If the
Palestinians agree to coordinate with Israel on the evacuation,
establish the rule of law, and demonstrate a capacity to govern, the
world may be convinced that finally there is a real partner for peace.

“Any
progress on the Roadmap for Peace must be based on real change on the
ground, as evidenced by the establishment of an accountable, and
reconstituted Palestinian security force that prevents terrorism, not
promotes it.

“Fortunately, Palestinian Authority President Abbas
is no Yasir Arafat. He has condemned terrorism in Arabic, stating that
it prolongs the day that the Palestinian goal of statehood can be
achieved, and, at least as significant, stating that terrorism is
immoral. He has begun to restructure the security services. All that is
commendable.

“But he has not removed Arafat’s corrupt cronies
from positions of power, nor has he moved to dismantle the terrorist
infrastructure. That is, I am sorry to say, cause for concern.
President Abbas has said his goal is to establish the rule of law, but
he has done nowhere near enough to realize that vision, and now he is
confronted with a huge challenge: by the end of summer, Israel will be
out of Gaza.

“Can Gaza become a pilot case for self-government
for a Palestinian state? Or will it become a terrorist haven, a
launching pad for rockets into Israel?

“President Abbas must
act, for his own good, against those he must know are his enemies and
are the enemies of the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

“The
United States, just as Israel, wants to see him succeed. That is why I
was so pleased when President Bush dispatched Jim Wolfensohn to help
with the Gaza withdrawal. It is why I supported additional aid to the
Palestinians in the Emergency Supplemental bill that recently passed
Congress.

“There are those who contend that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is all about Israel’s occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza. This is absolute nonsense. In truth, the history of
the conflict is not over occupation, and never has been: it is over the
fundamental right of Israel to exist.

“The greatest threat to
Israel’s right to exist, with the prospect of devastating violence, now
comes from Iran. For too long, leaders of both political parties in the
United States have not done nearly enough to confront the Russians and
the Chinese, who have supplied Iran as it has plowed ahead with its
nuclear and missile technology.

“Proliferation represents a
clear threat to Israel and to America. It must be confronted by an
international coalition against proliferation, with a commitment and a
coalition every bit as strong as our commitment to the war against
terror.

“The people of Israel long for peace and are willing to
make the sacrifices to achieve it. We hope that peace and security come
soon – and that this moment of opportunity is not lost. As Israel
continues to take risks for peace, she will have no friend more
steadfast than the United States.

“In the words of Isaiah, we
will make ourselves to Israel ‘as hiding places from the winds and
shelters from the tempests; as rivers of water in dry places; as
shadows of a great rock in a weary land.’

“The United States will stand with Israel now and forever. Now and forever.”

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/steinerresigns.gif

HEAD OF AIPAC BOASTED ABOUT
HIS CONTROL OF POLITICIANS IN 1992 http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/AIPACClinton.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...20040518-1.html

President Speaks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee

May 18, 2004

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Finally, AIPAC elected a President I can kiss. (Laughter and applause.)

I'm
honored to be here at AIPAC, thank you for such a warm welcome. It's
good to be with so many friends -- friends of mine and friends of
Israel. (Applause.) For more than 50 years, the United States and
Israel have been steadfast allies. AIPAC is one of the reasons why.
(Applause.) You've worked tirelessly to strengthen the ties that bind
our nations -- our shared values, our strong commitment to freedom.
(Applause.)

By defending the freedom and prosperity and
security of Israel, you're also serving the cause of America.
(Applause.) Our nation is stronger and safer because we have a true and
dependable ally in Israel. (Applause.) I appreciate -- (applause) --
I'm just getting warmed up. (Laughter and applause.)

I want to
thank Amy for her leadership. (Applause.) I appreciate you taking time
to serve a cause that -- in which you believe deeply. I want to thank
Bernice for her willingness to serve, as well. (Applause.) I've known
Howard for a long time. He's effective. (Laughter and applause.) I want
to thank the AIPAC board -- AIPAC board members for their friendship
and leadership. I'm honored to be in the presence of my friend, the
Ambassador from Israel, Danny Ayalon. I appreciate you being here,
Danny. (Applause.)

Ehud Olmert is with us. Ehud, it's good to
see you again. Thank you, sir. (Applause.) I remember the first time we
visited in 1998. I had just been re-elected as the Governor of Texas. I
went to Israel, and Ehud welcomed me and three over governors to, I
guess, your office. You were the Mayor, if I'm not mistaken, at that
point in time. And you were focused on filling potholes and emptying
the garbage of the people -- (laughter.) But we struck up a good
relationship then, and it's great to see you again.

I appreciate
the other ministers who are here, some of whom I have met before, some
of whom I have had not the honor of meeting. I know I met Tommy before.
Appreciate you all being here. Welcome to America. Thank you, Tommy.
(Applause.)

I'd like to also recognize many people this morning
who are learning to participate in democracy. I'm told there are over
850 students here from 50 states. (Applause.) Make sure the Texas
students behave well. (Laughter.) Your mothers are watching.
(Laughter.) I know there are buses outside waiting to take you to
Capitol Hill. I'm told -- Howard told me there's over 500 meetings
scheduled with members of the Senate and the House. That is good news.
I'm sure you're going to pass this message on to them: A free,
prosperous and secure Israel is in this nation's national interest.
(Applause.)

AIPAC is doing important work. I hope you know that.
In Washington and beyond, AIPAC is calling attention to the great
security challenges of our time. You're educating Congress and the
American people on the growing dangers of proliferation. You've spoken
out on the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. You've
always understood and warned against the evil ambition of terrorism and
their networks. In a dangerous new century, your work is more vital
than ever. I thank you for doing your part in the cause of freedom.
(Applause.)

Our nation, and the nation of Israel, have much in
common. We're both relatively young nations, born of struggle and
sacrifice. We're both founded by immigrants escaping religious
persecution in other lands. We have both built vibrant democracies,
built on the rule of law and market economies. And we're both countries
founded on certain basic beliefs: that God watches over the affairs of
men, and values every life. (Applause.)

These ties have made us
natural allies, and these ties will never be broken. (Applause.) In the
past, however, there was one great difference in the experience of our
two nations: The United States, through most of our history, has been
protected by vast oceans to our east and west, and blessed with
friendly neighbors to our north and south. Israel has faced a different
situation as a small country in a tough neighborhood. The Israeli
people have always had enemies at their borders and terrorists close at
hand. Again and again, Israel has defended itself with skill and
heroism. And as a result of the courage of the Israeli people, Israel
has earned the respect of the American people. (Applause.)

On
September the 11th, 2001, Americans saw that we are no longer protected
by geography from the dangers of the world. We experienced the horror
of being attacked in our homeland, on our streets, and in places of
work. And from that experience came an even stronger determination, a
fierce determination to defeat terrorism and to eliminate the threat it
poses to free people everywhere. (Applause.)

Not all terrorist
networks answer to the same orders and same leaders, but all terrorists
burn with the same hatred. They hate all who reject their grim vision
of tyranny. They hate people who love freedom. They kill without mercy.
They kill without shame. And they count their victories in the death of
the innocent.

We saw the nature of this enemy again in recent
days when terrorists in Iraq beheaded an American citizen, Nicholas
Berg. The message that accompanied the videotape of this brutal slaying
promised more such atrocities. Here's what the killer said, "We will
send you coffin after coffin, box after box, slaughtered in this way."
The faces of the terrorists were cloaked, but we have seen their kind
before.

Followers of the terrorist ideology executed an elderly
man in a wheelchair, Leon Klinghoffer, and pushed his body off the side
of a ship into the sea. They kidnapped the journalist, Daniel Pearl,
and cut his throat, because he was a Jew. This enemy has left blood on
the streets of Jakarta and Jerusalem, Casablanca and Riyadh, Mombasa
and Istanbul, Bali, Baghdad and Madrid. They have declared war on the
civilized world -- and war is what they got. (Applause.)

Freedom-loving
people did not seek this conflict. It has come to us by the choices of
violent men, hateful men. See, we seek peace. We long for peace. Israel
longs for peace. America longs for peace. Yet, there can be no peace
without defending our security. (Applause.) There is only one path to
peace and safety. America will use every resource we have to fight and
defeat these enemies of freedom. (Applause.)

The lesson of
September the 11th is clear and must never be forgotten. Emerging
terrorist threats must be confronted before they can reach our country
and harm our people. Every terrorist is at war with civilization, and
every group or nation that aids them is equally responsible for the
murders that the terrorists commit. (Applause.)

So America has
led a relentless global campaign against terrorists and their
supporters. We're chasing them down one by one in caves, and in shadows
where they try to hide. (Applause.) We have uncovered -- we have
uncovered terrorist cells on several continents. We've prevented a
number of terrorist attacks. We've removed the Taliban regime, which
sheltered the plotters of September the 11th. (Applause.) We have
stopped shipments -- we have stopped shipments of chemical precursors
and nuclear-related -- weapons-related components bound for states that
sponsor terror. By speaking clearly, and by meaning what we say,
countries like Libya have gotten the message and have renounced their
weapons programs. (Applause.)

And for the sake of peace and
security, we ended the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Applause.) That
regime cast a shadow, a dark shadow of aggression over the Middle East
for decades. They invaded both Iran and Kuwait. The regime built and
used weapons of mass destruction against its neighbors, and its own
people. The regime sponsored terror; it paid rewards of up to $25,000
to the families of Palestinian homicide bombers. That regime filled
mass graves with innocent men, innocent women, and innocent children.
That regime defied the demands of the free world, and America, for more
than a decade. And America is more secure, and the world is better off,
because that regime is no more. (Applause.)

America is on the
offensive, and we will stay on the offensive until the terrorists are
stopped and our people are safe. (Applause.) I will use every asset at
our disposal to do our most important job, which is to protect the
American people. (Applause.) And that includes the United States
military. We have come to know the skill and the courage of the men and
women of the United States military. (Applause.) They have fulfilled
every mission their country has given to them. They and their families
have endured long deployments and uncertainty. Our men and women in
uniform have fought in mountain passes and desert sands in the remotest
part of the world. They've lost brave friends and comrades, who will
always be remembered and honored by a grateful nation. (Applause.)

They
have done all this to defend our country and to advance the cause of
freedom and peace. And their loved ones, and those who wear our
uniform, must know that America is very grateful to their service.
(Applause.)

The peace we seek depends on defeating the violent.
Yet, we also have a larger mission in the world. In the long-term, we
must end terrorist violence at its source by undermining the terrorist
ideology of hatred and fear. Terrorists find influence and recruits in
societies where bitterness and resentment are common, and hope and
opportunity are rare. The world's best hope for lasting security and
stability across the Middle East is the establishment of just and free
societies.

And so across that vital region, America is standing
for the expansion of human liberty. This historic task is not easy in a
part of the world that has known so much oppression and stagnation and
violence. It's hard work. Yet, we must be strong in our firm belief
that every human heart desires to be free. We must be strong in our
belief that free societies are hopeful societies and peaceful
societies. (Applause.)

We have made progress that few would have
predicted or expected just three years ago. In Afghanistan, our
coalition is working with President Karzai to help the people of
Afghanistan build a modern, peaceful and democratic government. In
January, Afghans approved a new constitution that protects the rights
of all Afghan citizens, including women. (Applause.) Through weeks of
negotiation and compromise, they agreed upon a fundamental law that
respects tradition and establishes a foundation of modern political
rights, including free speech, due process, and a vote for every
citizen. We're making progress.

In Iraq, Saddam's brutal
dictatorship is gone, and in its place an Iraqi democracy is emerging.
Iraqi leaders have signed a transitional administrative law that will
guarantee basic freedoms. Iraq now has an independent judiciary, a free
market, a new currency, more than 200 newspapers in circulation, and
schools free of hateful propaganda. (Applause.)

It's hard work
in Iraq. Our efforts are approaching a crucial moment. On June 30th,
our coalition will transfer its authority to a sovereign Iraqi
government. With the assistance of the United Nations and our
coalition, Iraqi citizens are currently making important decisions
about the nature and scope of the interim government. In time, Iraq
will be a free and democratic nation, at the heart of the Middle East.
This will send a message, a powerful message, from Damascus to Tehran,
that democracy can bring hope to lives in every culture. (Applause.)
And this advance of freedom will bring greater security to America and
to the world. These are historic times, it's an historic opportunity.
(Applause.)

Yet, as June 30th approaches, the enemies of freedom
grow even more desperate to prevent a rise of democracy in Iraq. That's
what you're seeing on your TV screens: desperation by a hateful few,
people who cannot stand the thought of free societies in their midst.
They're targeting brave Iraqis who are leaning toward democracy, such
as Izzedine Salim, who was assassinated in Baghdad yesterday. They're
murdering Iraqi policemen who stand as symbols of order. They're
killing foreign aid workers who are helping to rebuild Iraq. They're
attacking our military. Their goal is to undermine the will of our
coalition and the will of America, and to drive us out before our
mission is complete. They're not going to succeed. They will not shake
the will of America. (Applause.)

My resolve is firm. (Applause.)
The resolve of the American people is solid. Our military is skilled,
spirits are high. They are determined to succeed. We understand the
stakes are high for America and for the world. We will not be
intimidated by thugs and assassins. We will win this essential
important victory in the war on terror. (Applause.)

This is an
historic moment. The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They
will see no weakness. We will answer every challenge. U.S. Army
soldiers and Iraqi security forces are systematically destroying the
illegal militia in the south of Iraq. (Applause.) Coalition forces are
working with Iraqis in Fallujah to end control by Saddam loyalists and
foreign fighters. (Applause.) We're building up Iraqi security forces
so they can safeguard their own country. We're flexible in our methods,
but our goal is unchanging: Iraq will be free, and Iraq will be a
democratic nation. (Applause.)

Freedom is also at the heart of
our approach to bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinian
people. The United States is strongly committed, and I am strongly
committed, to the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state.
(Applause.) Israel is a democracy and a friend, and has every right to
defend itself from terror. (Applause.)

For the sake of peace,
this country is committed to helping the Palestinian people establish a
democratic and viable state of their own. (Applause.) Israel needs a
truly responsible partner in achieving peace. (Applause.) The
Palestinian people deserve democratic institutions and responsible
leaders. (Applause.) Progress towards this vision creates
responsibilities for Israel, the Palestinian people, and Arab nations.
Before these two states -- before there can be two states, all parties
must renounce violence and fight terror. (Applause.)

Security is
the foundation for peace. (Applause.) All parties must embrace
democracy and reform and take the necessary steps for peace. The
unfolding violence in the Gaza Strip is troubling and underscores the
need for all parties to seize every opportunity for peace. I supported
the plan announced by Prime Minister Sharon to withdraw military
installations and settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
(Applause.) As I said in my statement on April 14, 2004, the Prime
Minister's plan is a bold, courageous step, that can bring us closer to
the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in
peace and security. (Applause.)

The Prime Minister's decision
has given the Palestinian people and the free world a chance to take
bold steps of their own toward peace. First, the Palestinian people
must reject corrupt and failed leaders, and insist on a leadership
committed to reform and progress and peace. (Applause.) Second, they
must renounce terror and violence that frustrate their aspirations and
take so many innocent lives. (Applause.) And, finally, by taking these
steps, they will have an opportunity, a fantastic opportunity to build
a modern economy and create the institutions and habits of liberty. The
Palestinian people deserve a better future. (Applause.) And that future
-- and that future can be achieved through democracy. (Applause.)

Many
in this room have worked and waited a lifetime for peace in the Holy
Land. I hear that deep concern for peace. Our vision is a Middle East
where young Israelis and Palestinians can play and learn and grow
without living in the shadow of death. (Applause.) Our vision is a
Middle East where borders are crossed for purposes of trade and
commerce, not crossed for the purposes of murder and war. (Applause.)
This vision is within our grasp if we have the faith and the courage
and the resolve to achieve it. (Applause.)

Perhaps the deepest
obstacle to peace is found in the hearts of men and women. The Jewish
people have seen, over the years and over the centuries, that hate
prepares the way for violence. The refusal to expose and confront
intolerance can lead to crimes beyond imagining. So we have a duty to
expose and confront anti-Semitism, wherever it is found. (Applause.)

Some
of you attended a very important event in Berlin last month, the
International Conference on Anti-Semitism. You understand that
anti-Semitism is not a problem of the past; the hatred of Jews did not
die in a Berlin bunker. In its cruder forms, it can be found in some
Arab media, and this government will continue to call upon Arab
governments to end libels and incitements. (Applause.) Such hatred can
also take subtler forms. The demonization of Israel, the most extreme
anti-Zionist rhetoric can be a flimsy cover for anti-Semitism, and
contribute to an atmosphere of fear in which synagogues are desecrated,
people are slandered, folks are threatened. I will continue to call
upon our friends in Europe to renounce and fight any sign of
anti-Semitism in their midst. (Applause.)

We are living through
historic times. We are called to do important work in the world. We
will stand together against bigotry in every land and every language.
We will answer violent men with patient, determined justice. We will
expand human freedom and the peace that freedom brings. And by our
resolve, and by our courage, we will prevail. (Applause.)

I want
to thank you -- I want to thank you for your dedication to the security
of America and to the safety of Israel. I want to thank you for your
warm hospitality today. May God bless America. May God bless Israel.
Thank you for coming. Thank you all for your time. Thank you all.
(Applause.)

Excerpts from Howard Dean's speech to them in November 22, 2005:

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/chairman_deans_1.php

“When it comes to Israel— we are all staunch allies and friends. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel…

“We
all long for the day when Israelis will no longer fear terrorism and
send their kids off to war. The Democratic Party has a proud history of
support for Israel— a long-standing friend and ally whose security the
United States has always worked to bolster and protect.

“Literally
from Israel’s birth, as that great Democrat Harry Truman took the
courageous step to immediately extend America’s hand to recognize the
State of Israel, Democrats have done all we can to foster the special,
enduring relationship between the two countries. Maintaining Israel's
security is a key U.S. national security interest…

“Democrats
are proud to have received more than three-quarters of the Jewish vote
in the last presidential election. We are strong on defense, we are
staunch allies of Israel and we will work to ensure that American Jews
are comfortable being American Jews.”

http://www.populistamerica.com/aipac_spurr...ll_against_iran

AIPAC spurring Congress to pass sanctions bill against Iran

May 14, 2005

In
the run-up to its annual meeting in Washington later this month, the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee is urging Congress to pass
legislation authorizing new sanctions against Iran.

As Iran
appears to move closer to resuming nuclear activities, support has been
quietly building in Congress for new U.S. sanctions, including
penalties that could affect multinational companies and recipients of
U.S. foreign aid.

The legislation would put the United States on
a more confrontational course than the one pursued by President George
W. Bush's administration. Bush has supported European efforts to offer
Iran incentives in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program.

More
than 200 members of the House of Representatives - almost half the body
- are co-sponsoring a bill that would tighten and codify existing
sanctions, bar subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing business in
Iran and cut foreign aid to countries that have businesses investing in
Iran.

Additional lawmakers - Republicans and Democrats - are adding their names to the bill every week.

The
bill faces big hurdles before becoming law. Support may not be as
strong in the Senate, which is considering a more limited version of
the bill. Key lawmakers in both chambers could block the legislation.
The White House has not taken a position, but generally opposes
congressional efforts to steer foreign policy.

"We will have the
perennial and traditional battle with the executive branch as to who
can have a say on foreign policy initiatives," said Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, the House bill's main sponsor and a member of Bush's
Republican Party.

But momentum would likely build if Iran
carries out its threat to resume some nuclear activities and its talks
break down with Britain, France and Germany, which are negotiating on
behalf of the European Union.

The triumverate has warned Iran
they will break off talks and join Washington in seeking UN Security
Council action if Tehran makes good on its threats to resume atomic
work, European Union officials said on Thursday.

The legislation
is expected to get a boost when one of the most influential lobbying
groups, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, holds its annual
meeting in Washington this month.AIPAC has made the bill a high
priority.

"It will certainly, along with other things, be part
of the agenda when thousands of members of AIPAC go to Capitol Hill" to
lobby Congress, said Josh Block, a spokesman for the group.

A
pro-business group, the National Foreign Trade Council, is lobbying
against the bill, but its president, Bill Reinsch, said "the deck is
kind of stacked against us."

"People don't like to have it look
like they're voting against something that will stick it to an
unpopular country," he said. "So, yeah, we're worried about it."

Much being said about the Lobby and its many tendrils these days...

The Israel Lobby
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpap...f/rwp/RWP06-011
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/mearwalt.php?articleid=9573

QUOTEU.S.
foreign policy shapes events in every corner of the globe. Nowhere is
this truer than in the Middle East, a region of recurring instability
and enormous strategic importance. Most recently, the Bush
Administration’s attempt to transform the region into a community of
democracies has helped produce a resilient insurgency in Iraq, a sharp
rise in world oil prices, and terrorist bombings in Madrid, London, and
Amman. With so much at stake for so many, all countries need to
understand the forces that drive U.S. Middle East policy.

The
U.S. national interest should be the primary object of American foreign
policy. For the past several decades, however, and especially since the
Six Day War in 1967, the centerpiece of U.S. Middle East policy has
been its relationship with Israel. The combination of unwavering U.S.
support for Israel and the related effort to spread democracy
throughout the region has inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and
jeopardized U.S. security.

This situation has no equal in
American political history. Why has the United States been willing to
set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another
state? One might assume that the bond between the two countries is
based on shared strategic interests or compelling moral imperatives. As
we show below, however, neither of those explanations can account for
the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United
States provides to Israel.

Instead, the overall thrust of U.S.
policy in the region is due almost entirely to U.S. domestic politics,
and especially to the activities of the "Israel Lobby." Other special
interest groups have managed to skew U.S. foreign policy in directions
they favored, but no lobby has managed to divert U.S. foreign policy as
far from what the American national interest would otherwise suggest,
while simultaneously convincing Americans that U.S. and Israeli
interests are essentially identical.1

The Israel lobby debate

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html

Note that Mearsheimer and Walt are working on a book length version of this paper due out in the fall.

Jimmy Carter's new book and his speaking engagements have provided much needed exposure to the Lobby as well.