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Jeff Blankfort: The power of the Israeli Lobby in Washington, DC
...
I do not have at a hand a list of all the names of those in key positions in the Executive Branch, but even the Israeli paper, Ha'aretz was impressed by the preponderance of Jewish neo-cons, for whom aggressive Zionism was and remains a major influence, in and around the Bush administration, such as Wolfowitz, Perle, Abrams, Feith, Bolton, Wurmser, Grossman, Zakheim, Fleischer, Kristol, Kagan, Ledeen (those immediately come to mind). Through several think tanks in which they are interspersed they have written the script not only for the war in Iraq and the threats to Syria and Iran, but for making sure that Israel can do what it likes with the Palestinians, and now it seems anyone else, Americans and Europeans, who are in the occupied territories to prevent or document Israel's crimes. It is quite clear, as this latest episode with the British cameraman indicates, they have been given a license to kill.
Now, Dubya, is mightily afraid of Israel's domestic lobby who the American public may one day view as a bag of traitors, after his dad's experience with it in 1991. This is how I described it in an article. "The Israel Lobby and the Left: Uneasy Questions," that has just appeared in Left Curve (http://www.leftcurve.org), one of the few publications on the left that has the courage to publish articles on this situation. The segment I have extracted begins with the presidency of another US president who challenged the lobby and lost, Gerald Ford:
"Gerald Ford, angered that Israel had been reluctant to leave the Sinai following the 1973 war and backed by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, not only suspended aid for six months in 1975, but in March of that year made a speech calling for a "reassessment" of the US-Israel relationship. Within weeks, AIPAC (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee), Israel's Washington lobby, secured a letter signed by 76 senators "confirming their support for Israel, and suggesting that the White House see fit to do the same. The language was tough, the tone almost bullying. "Ford backed down.[12]
"We need to only look at the current Bush presidency to see that this phenomenon is still the rule. In 1991, the same year as Chomsky's talk, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir asked the first Bush administration for $10 billion in loan guarantees in order, he said, to provide for the resettlement of Russian Jews. Bush Sr. had earlier balked at a request from Congress to appropriate an additional $650 million dollars to compensate Israel for sitting out the Gulf War, but gave in when he realized that his veto would be overridden. But now he told Shamir that Israel could only have the guarantees if it freezes settlement building and promised that no Russian Jews would be resettled in the West Bank.
"An angry Shamir refused and called on AIPAC to mobilize Congress and the organized American Jewish community in support of the loans guarantees. A letter, drafted by AIPAC was signed by more than 240 members of the House demanding that Bush approve them, and 77 senators signed on to supporting legislation.
"On September 12, 1991, Jewish lobbyists descended on Washington in such numbers that Bush felt obliged to call a televised press conference in which he complained that "1000 Jewish lobbyists are on Capitol Hill against little old me. "It would prove to be his epitaph. Chomsky pointed to Bush's statement, at the time, as proof that the vaunted Israel lobby was nothing more than "a paper tiger. It took scarcely more than a raised eyebrow for the lobby to collapse, "he told readers of Z Magazine. He could not have been further from the truth.[13]
"The next day, Tom Dine, AIPAC's Executive Director, declared that "September 12, 1991 is a day that will live in infamy. "Similar comments were uttered by Jewish leaders, who accused Bush of provoking anti-Semitism. What was more important, his friends in the mainstream media, like William Safire, George Will, and Charles Krauthammer, not only criticized him; they began to find fault with the economy and how he was running the country. It was all downhill from there. Bush's Jewish vote, which has been estimated at 38% in 1988, dropped down to no more than 12%, with some estimates as low as 8%.[14]
"Bush's opposition to the loan guarantees was the last straw for the Israel lobby. When he made disparaging comments about Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem in March, 1990, AIPAC had begun the attack (briefly halted during the the Gulf War). Dine wrote a critical op-ed in the New York Times and followed that with a vigorous speech to the United Jewish Appeal's Young Leaders Conference. "Brothers and sisters, "he told them as they prepared to go out and lobby Congress on the issue, "remember that Israel's friends in this city reside on Capitol Hill."[15] Months later, the loan guarantees were approved, but by then Bush was dead meat.
"Now, jump ahead to last Spring, when Bush Jr. forthrightly demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdraw his marauding troops from Jenin, saying "Enough is enough! "It made headlines all over the world, as did his backing down when Sharon refused. What happened? Harsh criticism boomed from within his own party in Congress and from his daddy's old friends in the media. George Will associated Dubya with Yasser Arafat and accused Bush of having lost his "moral clarity."[16] The next day, Safire suggested that Bush was "being pushed into a minefield of mistakes"and that he had "become a wavering ally as Israel fights for suvival."[17] Junior got the message and, within a week, declared Sharon to be "a man of peace."[18] Since then, as journalist Robert Fisk and others have noted, Sharon seems to be writing Bush's speeches.
"There are some who believe that Bush Jr. and Presidents before him made statements critical of Israel for appearances only, to convince the world, and the Arab countries in particular, that the US can be an "honest broker"between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But it is difficult to make a case that any of them would put themselves in a position to be humiliated simply as a cover for US policy."
Now, Bush Jr. has received a letter signed by 87 of the 100 US senators and at least 297 members of the House telling Bush, in essence, to forget the "road map," as pathetic as that is, and stick to what he had said in a speech last July 24th. Both Sharon and Netanyahu have boasted that the Jewish lobby controls America. Regarding the Middle East, they have yet to be proved wrong.
Now, Dubya, is mightily afraid of Israel's domestic lobby who the American public may one day view as a bag of traitors, after his dad's experience with it in 1991. This is how I described it in an article. "The Israel Lobby and the Left: Uneasy Questions," that has just appeared in Left Curve (http://www.leftcurve.org), one of the few publications on the left that has the courage to publish articles on this situation. The segment I have extracted begins with the presidency of another US president who challenged the lobby and lost, Gerald Ford:
"Gerald Ford, angered that Israel had been reluctant to leave the Sinai following the 1973 war and backed by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, not only suspended aid for six months in 1975, but in March of that year made a speech calling for a "reassessment" of the US-Israel relationship. Within weeks, AIPAC (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee), Israel's Washington lobby, secured a letter signed by 76 senators "confirming their support for Israel, and suggesting that the White House see fit to do the same. The language was tough, the tone almost bullying. "Ford backed down.[12]
"We need to only look at the current Bush presidency to see that this phenomenon is still the rule. In 1991, the same year as Chomsky's talk, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir asked the first Bush administration for $10 billion in loan guarantees in order, he said, to provide for the resettlement of Russian Jews. Bush Sr. had earlier balked at a request from Congress to appropriate an additional $650 million dollars to compensate Israel for sitting out the Gulf War, but gave in when he realized that his veto would be overridden. But now he told Shamir that Israel could only have the guarantees if it freezes settlement building and promised that no Russian Jews would be resettled in the West Bank.
"An angry Shamir refused and called on AIPAC to mobilize Congress and the organized American Jewish community in support of the loans guarantees. A letter, drafted by AIPAC was signed by more than 240 members of the House demanding that Bush approve them, and 77 senators signed on to supporting legislation.
"On September 12, 1991, Jewish lobbyists descended on Washington in such numbers that Bush felt obliged to call a televised press conference in which he complained that "1000 Jewish lobbyists are on Capitol Hill against little old me. "It would prove to be his epitaph. Chomsky pointed to Bush's statement, at the time, as proof that the vaunted Israel lobby was nothing more than "a paper tiger. It took scarcely more than a raised eyebrow for the lobby to collapse, "he told readers of Z Magazine. He could not have been further from the truth.[13]
"The next day, Tom Dine, AIPAC's Executive Director, declared that "September 12, 1991 is a day that will live in infamy. "Similar comments were uttered by Jewish leaders, who accused Bush of provoking anti-Semitism. What was more important, his friends in the mainstream media, like William Safire, George Will, and Charles Krauthammer, not only criticized him; they began to find fault with the economy and how he was running the country. It was all downhill from there. Bush's Jewish vote, which has been estimated at 38% in 1988, dropped down to no more than 12%, with some estimates as low as 8%.[14]
"Bush's opposition to the loan guarantees was the last straw for the Israel lobby. When he made disparaging comments about Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem in March, 1990, AIPAC had begun the attack (briefly halted during the the Gulf War). Dine wrote a critical op-ed in the New York Times and followed that with a vigorous speech to the United Jewish Appeal's Young Leaders Conference. "Brothers and sisters, "he told them as they prepared to go out and lobby Congress on the issue, "remember that Israel's friends in this city reside on Capitol Hill."[15] Months later, the loan guarantees were approved, but by then Bush was dead meat.
"Now, jump ahead to last Spring, when Bush Jr. forthrightly demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdraw his marauding troops from Jenin, saying "Enough is enough! "It made headlines all over the world, as did his backing down when Sharon refused. What happened? Harsh criticism boomed from within his own party in Congress and from his daddy's old friends in the media. George Will associated Dubya with Yasser Arafat and accused Bush of having lost his "moral clarity."[16] The next day, Safire suggested that Bush was "being pushed into a minefield of mistakes"and that he had "become a wavering ally as Israel fights for suvival."[17] Junior got the message and, within a week, declared Sharon to be "a man of peace."[18] Since then, as journalist Robert Fisk and others have noted, Sharon seems to be writing Bush's speeches.
"There are some who believe that Bush Jr. and Presidents before him made statements critical of Israel for appearances only, to convince the world, and the Arab countries in particular, that the US can be an "honest broker"between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But it is difficult to make a case that any of them would put themselves in a position to be humiliated simply as a cover for US policy."
Now, Bush Jr. has received a letter signed by 87 of the 100 US senators and at least 297 members of the House telling Bush, in essence, to forget the "road map," as pathetic as that is, and stick to what he had said in a speech last July 24th. Both Sharon and Netanyahu have boasted that the Jewish lobby controls America. Regarding the Middle East, they have yet to be proved wrong.
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It is sad to see a wonderful person and outstanding writer like Jeff Blankfort get involved with the anit-Semitic Jewish control crowd. I suppose it is because we have no labor movement in this country. The fact remains, when labor withdraws its hand, nothing moves. It is labor that is decisive, not a group of capitalists who happen to be of Jewish descent and support Israel, the US military base in the Middle East to protect US oil profits. If any of these capitalist presidents really wanted to get rid of Israel, they could easily do so but supporting the demands of the workingclass for housing, medical care, jobs and all social services. That would put an end to the military budget which props up Israel.
The disputes between US presidents and their Israeli puppets are just a falling out among thieves. Their goal is the same as they represent the same capitalist class: Exploitation of the workingclass to maximize their profits.
In fact, it would not matter if the entire US government or the entire US capitalist class was Jewish, which it is not; it is overwhelmingly and proudly Christian. The fact remains, it is capitalist and that is the problem.
The Jewish control theme remains anti-Semitic. Nothing has changed.
It also does not matter if the US or Israeli flag is raised at the Civic Center; they are both capitalist flags, as are all national flags.
I urge everyone to stop following every nuance of the US-Israel capitalist politics and spend much more time organizing labor and teaching the workingclass not to fight the bosses' wars but instead to fight the bosses here at home and organize labor.
I also urge everyone to concentrate on the economic crisis in this country, as that is what people understand and that is the best basis on which to organize. We need jobs, housing, medical care, education, transportation and social services, not war. It is time to eliminate the military, prisons and the police and tranfer that money to all social service needs.
All the gobbledygook cited by Jeff is just that. Keep away from the Israel garbage and talk economy and the local issues like the anti-homeless Prop N. All politics are local and it is always the economy that is decisive.
Instead of running off to foreign countries to witness the effects of US imperialism which are well-known to the people who live there and to anyone who wants to know, I urge everyone to organize right here at home in the belly of the beast, where it is needed most, and where it will do the most good. Be an eyewitness to the police brutality in the workingclass communities and file lawsuits and have sit-ins about that. I guarantee you that will have a profound effect on American imperialism. Fight for affordable housing for all, free education and medical care for all, and all other needs of the workingclass right here at home.
The disputes between US presidents and their Israeli puppets are just a falling out among thieves. Their goal is the same as they represent the same capitalist class: Exploitation of the workingclass to maximize their profits.
In fact, it would not matter if the entire US government or the entire US capitalist class was Jewish, which it is not; it is overwhelmingly and proudly Christian. The fact remains, it is capitalist and that is the problem.
The Jewish control theme remains anti-Semitic. Nothing has changed.
It also does not matter if the US or Israeli flag is raised at the Civic Center; they are both capitalist flags, as are all national flags.
I urge everyone to stop following every nuance of the US-Israel capitalist politics and spend much more time organizing labor and teaching the workingclass not to fight the bosses' wars but instead to fight the bosses here at home and organize labor.
I also urge everyone to concentrate on the economic crisis in this country, as that is what people understand and that is the best basis on which to organize. We need jobs, housing, medical care, education, transportation and social services, not war. It is time to eliminate the military, prisons and the police and tranfer that money to all social service needs.
All the gobbledygook cited by Jeff is just that. Keep away from the Israel garbage and talk economy and the local issues like the anti-homeless Prop N. All politics are local and it is always the economy that is decisive.
Instead of running off to foreign countries to witness the effects of US imperialism which are well-known to the people who live there and to anyone who wants to know, I urge everyone to organize right here at home in the belly of the beast, where it is needed most, and where it will do the most good. Be an eyewitness to the police brutality in the workingclass communities and file lawsuits and have sit-ins about that. I guarantee you that will have a profound effect on American imperialism. Fight for affordable housing for all, free education and medical care for all, and all other needs of the workingclass right here at home.
I agree with much of what you said, but from what I can gather, Blankfort is talking about pro-Israeli influence on US Middle East policy as it relates to Israel rather than some overwhelming Jewish control of the government.
Also, I think efforts can be multifaceted. You can oppose capitalism as well as US Middle East foreign policy instead of just focusing on one or the other. For example, by ending all aid to Israel ($14 Billion this year -- $4 billion + $10 billion in loan guarantees which are always forgiven), that money could be used instead for the poor in this country.
Of course, we shouldn't stop there, we should also oppose much of the military budget, but ending our support of ethnic cleansing being done by Israel would seem to be a non-controversial and, in fact, moral place to start.
Also, I think efforts can be multifaceted. You can oppose capitalism as well as US Middle East foreign policy instead of just focusing on one or the other. For example, by ending all aid to Israel ($14 Billion this year -- $4 billion + $10 billion in loan guarantees which are always forgiven), that money could be used instead for the poor in this country.
Of course, we shouldn't stop there, we should also oppose much of the military budget, but ending our support of ethnic cleansing being done by Israel would seem to be a non-controversial and, in fact, moral place to start.
> The fact remains, when labor withdraws its hand,
> nothing moves. It is labor that is decisive, not a
> group of capitalists
Labor shares this power with capitalists. Look at the current sad state of employment in the SF bay area - plenty of unemployed looking for work, but the jobs aren't there.
The jobs aren't there because the companies aren't there - because the capital isn't there.
Capital and labor require one another. Without either, production stops.
Class war is about as arbitrary and stupid as race war.
-Van
> nothing moves. It is labor that is decisive, not a
> group of capitalists
Labor shares this power with capitalists. Look at the current sad state of employment in the SF bay area - plenty of unemployed looking for work, but the jobs aren't there.
The jobs aren't there because the companies aren't there - because the capital isn't there.
Capital and labor require one another. Without either, production stops.
Class war is about as arbitrary and stupid as race war.
-Van
Why? I'm sorry to say, but urging people to defect from a cause which they are disturbed by, won't work. People focus on what is important to them as individuals, and you can hope that people will think the way you want, and even urge them to, but they will do as they please.
Trying to say that criticizing the Jewish people in the Bush Cabal for pushing a bloody pro-war Israeli agenda is anti-semitic, is bs. If every one of those people surrounding Bush were Arab - and pushing a bloody pro-Saudi agenda - or Black - and pushing a bloody pro-African agenda - everyone would be screaming their heads off about it. But because no one is allowed to criticize Israel without being labelled, we aren't to dare do it.
"even the Israeli paper, Ha'aretz was impressed by the preponderance of Jewish neo-cons"
So is Ha'aretz anti-semitic?
"they have been given a license to kill"
This is the country that gets huge aid from our taxes - is it now anti-semitic to criticize the giving away of our tax money to murdering journalists?
"It is sad to see a wonderful person and outstanding writer like Jeff Blankfort get involved with the anit-Semitic Jewish control crowd. I suppose it is because we have no labor movement in this country"
This relationship makes no sense. You can make hypotheses about what you think would happen if we had a labor movement, but why that might affect Blankfort's views is rediculous. That makes about as much sense as my saying that if Nader had been president, Blankfort wouldn't have a reason to think he needed to be anti-semitic.
Blankfort is talking about he current reality, not some parallel universe.
"If any of these capitalist presidents really wanted to get rid of Israel, they could easily do so"
What? What are you talking about? Israel is extremely important to the US strategically, among tons of other reasons.
"Their goal is the same as they represent the same capitalist class"
That doesn't mean they don't also each have their own agendas. To assume that they have the exact same agendas is absurd.
"it would not matter if the entire US government or the entire US capitalist class was Jewish"
In fact, it would. The same as if it would matter if it were all African American or all Arab.
"which it is not;"
No it isn't. Some of the *most* influential members are, however, Jewish, and pushing a pro-Israel agenda.
"The fact remains, it is capitalist and that is the problem"
Funny how all those capitalists in charge right now have the same interest in destroying the Arab countries and doing regime changes there. But somehow, the problem has nothing to do with any ethnic or religious agenda, only with completely non-specific capitalism. Funny how that works. Guess it's just coincidence.
"The Jewish control theme remains anti-Semitic"
Yes, any suggestion that there is an ethnic agenda is illegal to consider, since once, a Holocaust happened. But of course, the genocide of people's all over the world has no such term to protect them from any criticism. Maybe that's the real problem.
"It also does not matter if the US or Israeli flag is raised at the Civic Center; they are both capitalist flags, as are all national flags"
Trying to obscure the influence of Isreal on US policy right now under the broad guise of capitalism just doesn't cut it. Raising any flag anywhere is fucked, but that isn't what Blankfort is talking about. Redirecting the whole thing into capitalism is only a way to try to avoid the actual situation and all of it's ugly complexities. Raising the Israeli flag was wrong - Israel kills unarmed internationals in broad daylight and we pay for the bullets. The citizens of SF should not have to witness the praising of Israel while such atrocities are being committed. Similarly, US citizens should not have to look at US flags, or any flags, but that's a whole other discussion that we aren't talking about here.
"All the gobbledygook cited by Jeff is just that."
He's done good work accumulating this info and using it in the courts. It's important to be aware of.
"Keep away from the Israel garbage and talk economy and the local issues like the anti-homeless Prop N"
Again, trying to steer people away from Israel. Sorry, but many of us are deeply concerned and will continue to be, regardless of your efforts.
"Instead of running off to foreign countries to witness the effects of US imperialism"
You mean, like, don't try to visit Palestine?
"I urge everyone to organize right here at home in the belly of the beast, where it is needed most"
I agree with that. Oakland is in seriously bad shape. But telling people they can't then also consider ramifications abroad isn't our place. People will look to where they look for their own reasons.
" and file lawsuits and have sit-ins about that"
Go file your own lawsuits, don't tell others what to do.
"I guarantee you that will have a profound effect on American imperialism"
You can guarantee nothing, so stop acting like you can. Making promises and guarantees to activists as though they are children isn't very appealing.
"and all other needs of the workingclass"
I just have to wonder if you have any clue at all, or if you're just trying to dis Blankfort. Personally, I think he does great work and I commend his efforts - no one else will dare.
Trying to say that criticizing the Jewish people in the Bush Cabal for pushing a bloody pro-war Israeli agenda is anti-semitic, is bs. If every one of those people surrounding Bush were Arab - and pushing a bloody pro-Saudi agenda - or Black - and pushing a bloody pro-African agenda - everyone would be screaming their heads off about it. But because no one is allowed to criticize Israel without being labelled, we aren't to dare do it.
"even the Israeli paper, Ha'aretz was impressed by the preponderance of Jewish neo-cons"
So is Ha'aretz anti-semitic?
"they have been given a license to kill"
This is the country that gets huge aid from our taxes - is it now anti-semitic to criticize the giving away of our tax money to murdering journalists?
"It is sad to see a wonderful person and outstanding writer like Jeff Blankfort get involved with the anit-Semitic Jewish control crowd. I suppose it is because we have no labor movement in this country"
This relationship makes no sense. You can make hypotheses about what you think would happen if we had a labor movement, but why that might affect Blankfort's views is rediculous. That makes about as much sense as my saying that if Nader had been president, Blankfort wouldn't have a reason to think he needed to be anti-semitic.
Blankfort is talking about he current reality, not some parallel universe.
"If any of these capitalist presidents really wanted to get rid of Israel, they could easily do so"
What? What are you talking about? Israel is extremely important to the US strategically, among tons of other reasons.
"Their goal is the same as they represent the same capitalist class"
That doesn't mean they don't also each have their own agendas. To assume that they have the exact same agendas is absurd.
"it would not matter if the entire US government or the entire US capitalist class was Jewish"
In fact, it would. The same as if it would matter if it were all African American or all Arab.
"which it is not;"
No it isn't. Some of the *most* influential members are, however, Jewish, and pushing a pro-Israel agenda.
"The fact remains, it is capitalist and that is the problem"
Funny how all those capitalists in charge right now have the same interest in destroying the Arab countries and doing regime changes there. But somehow, the problem has nothing to do with any ethnic or religious agenda, only with completely non-specific capitalism. Funny how that works. Guess it's just coincidence.
"The Jewish control theme remains anti-Semitic"
Yes, any suggestion that there is an ethnic agenda is illegal to consider, since once, a Holocaust happened. But of course, the genocide of people's all over the world has no such term to protect them from any criticism. Maybe that's the real problem.
"It also does not matter if the US or Israeli flag is raised at the Civic Center; they are both capitalist flags, as are all national flags"
Trying to obscure the influence of Isreal on US policy right now under the broad guise of capitalism just doesn't cut it. Raising any flag anywhere is fucked, but that isn't what Blankfort is talking about. Redirecting the whole thing into capitalism is only a way to try to avoid the actual situation and all of it's ugly complexities. Raising the Israeli flag was wrong - Israel kills unarmed internationals in broad daylight and we pay for the bullets. The citizens of SF should not have to witness the praising of Israel while such atrocities are being committed. Similarly, US citizens should not have to look at US flags, or any flags, but that's a whole other discussion that we aren't talking about here.
"All the gobbledygook cited by Jeff is just that."
He's done good work accumulating this info and using it in the courts. It's important to be aware of.
"Keep away from the Israel garbage and talk economy and the local issues like the anti-homeless Prop N"
Again, trying to steer people away from Israel. Sorry, but many of us are deeply concerned and will continue to be, regardless of your efforts.
"Instead of running off to foreign countries to witness the effects of US imperialism"
You mean, like, don't try to visit Palestine?
"I urge everyone to organize right here at home in the belly of the beast, where it is needed most"
I agree with that. Oakland is in seriously bad shape. But telling people they can't then also consider ramifications abroad isn't our place. People will look to where they look for their own reasons.
" and file lawsuits and have sit-ins about that"
Go file your own lawsuits, don't tell others what to do.
"I guarantee you that will have a profound effect on American imperialism"
You can guarantee nothing, so stop acting like you can. Making promises and guarantees to activists as though they are children isn't very appealing.
"and all other needs of the workingclass"
I just have to wonder if you have any clue at all, or if you're just trying to dis Blankfort. Personally, I think he does great work and I commend his efforts - no one else will dare.
The assertion that it is anti-Semitic to say that the invasion of Iraq serves Israeli interests is especially problematic. That this war would serve Israeli interests has been widely discussed in the Israeli press and by innumerable others elsewhere, including the Lord Mayor of London at the Feb 15 rally before two million cheering protestors. Are all these voices anti-Semitic? Is Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, who has said that “postponement of the Iraqi war goes against Israeli interests”? Indeed, the US intelligentsia seem to be the only people on earth unable to comprehend that America’s invasion and obliteration of Iraq will eliminate such deterrence as Saddam Hussein may offer to the real bearer of “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in the region. It will also bring the troops of Israel’s imperial benefactor that much closer to the scene of struggle, while aiding Israeli acquisition of oil and water rights. And to the extent that the internal logic of Zionism points toward the expulsion, i.e., “ethnic cleansing,” of the Palestinian people, so, too, is the war welcomed, as it facilitates this dreadful outcome—to which we return below.
On the American side the trail of collaboration is posted with key functionaries in Bush’s foreign policy team who are ardent right-wing Zionists as well as architects of war with Iraq—men such as Paul Wolfowitz (Deputy Defense Secretary), Douglas Feith (Under Secretary for Policy in the Dept. of Defense), Lewis Libby (Chief of Staff for Vice President Cheney), Eric Edelman (Libby's top assistant), Richard Perle (Chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board), and Elliot Abrams (who runs Mideast policy for the National Security Council). Abrams, known for his supervision of counterrevolution in Central America under Reagan, and also for his perjury conviction by Congress (overturned by Bush pere) during the Iran-Contra scandals, brings to his new post the qualification of having written a book advising that intermarriage means the death of the Jewish people. He has also championed Ariel Sharon’s righteousness while strenuously opposing the peace process in Palestine.
Perle and Feith were advisers to the Netanyahu government, for whom they were among the principle authors of a report, “A New Strategy for Securing the Realm.” Among its recommendations are the following: that Israel needs a “clean break from the slogan, ‘comprehensive peace’ [i.e., the hopes of the Oslo accords] to a traditional concept of strategy based on balance of power.” To this end, Israel must “[c]hange the nature of its relations with the Palestinians, including upholding the right of hot pursuit for self defense into all Palestinian areas and nurturing alternatives to Arafat’s exclusive grip on Palestinian society.” Observe that these gentlemen, now among the chief architects of Bush’s Iraq policy, are here laying out Sharon’s policy for systematically destroying Palestinian society, the chief means for ethnic cleansing.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/05/1609808.php
On the American side the trail of collaboration is posted with key functionaries in Bush’s foreign policy team who are ardent right-wing Zionists as well as architects of war with Iraq—men such as Paul Wolfowitz (Deputy Defense Secretary), Douglas Feith (Under Secretary for Policy in the Dept. of Defense), Lewis Libby (Chief of Staff for Vice President Cheney), Eric Edelman (Libby's top assistant), Richard Perle (Chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board), and Elliot Abrams (who runs Mideast policy for the National Security Council). Abrams, known for his supervision of counterrevolution in Central America under Reagan, and also for his perjury conviction by Congress (overturned by Bush pere) during the Iran-Contra scandals, brings to his new post the qualification of having written a book advising that intermarriage means the death of the Jewish people. He has also championed Ariel Sharon’s righteousness while strenuously opposing the peace process in Palestine.
Perle and Feith were advisers to the Netanyahu government, for whom they were among the principle authors of a report, “A New Strategy for Securing the Realm.” Among its recommendations are the following: that Israel needs a “clean break from the slogan, ‘comprehensive peace’ [i.e., the hopes of the Oslo accords] to a traditional concept of strategy based on balance of power.” To this end, Israel must “[c]hange the nature of its relations with the Palestinians, including upholding the right of hot pursuit for self defense into all Palestinian areas and nurturing alternatives to Arafat’s exclusive grip on Palestinian society.” Observe that these gentlemen, now among the chief architects of Bush’s Iraq policy, are here laying out Sharon’s policy for systematically destroying Palestinian society, the chief means for ethnic cleansing.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/05/1609808.php
Here’s my advice to you. Change your tactics. Instead of hoping the Arabs destroy Israel. Give the Palestinians the courage to stand up to their own leadership. Persuade them to oust Arafat and to retrieve the millions of dollars in aid that he pocketed while his people languished. Tell them to deny the terrorists access to their homes and villages. Help them take back mosques and schools from preachers of hatred and incitement. Find a Sadat
Himmy, thanks for the good anwers to the anti-semitic smear artist. It's nice to see an intelligent response to all smear artists who want to silence criticism of the inhumane policies of the Sharon government by the use of smears, lies and propaganda.
Free speech in America is too valuable to be silenced by sleazzy name calling.
Peace.
Free speech in America is too valuable to be silenced by sleazzy name calling.
Peace.
Do not call Gary Seven antisemitic - He is anti-zionist !
There is a big difference. Antisemites are against Jews.
Anti-zionists are against the Jewish homeland. BIG difference.
There is a big difference. Antisemites are against Jews.
Anti-zionists are against the Jewish homeland. BIG difference.
Your list of Jews in Congress effectively disproves the lie that Jews have any influence on the Bush administration. Jewish elected officials are almost all Democrats - 95% of Jews vote for Democratic candidates and Jewish donors give little to Republicans. Bush owes nothing to Jewish voter or donors and Jews have little or no influence in his party. In fact, the two Jews on the Supreme Court voted against his coup. While there are indeed a few Jewish Republican, they are outnumbered by Black Republicans, Asian Republicans and Hispanic Republicans.
"effectively disproves the lie that Jews have any influence on the Bush administration"
Yes, I suppose it's just Sharon himself, and not the "Jews" in the Bush Cabal that are influencing Bush.
Remember, describing them as "Jews" who have influence is anti-semitic. These are Zionists pushing a religious supremicist idea, supported by a rogue superpower and altering perceptions of the meaning of laws all over the world - now nukes are fine and even necessary to avoid all out invasion, the shooting of unarmed people by armies at checkpoints is fine, the shooting of infants is fine, rocketing missles into apartment buidlings by a government assassinations - yawn . . . . You get the picture.
And the above list is interesting, but more context would be good, or else competent refutations to criticisms.
Yes, I suppose it's just Sharon himself, and not the "Jews" in the Bush Cabal that are influencing Bush.
Remember, describing them as "Jews" who have influence is anti-semitic. These are Zionists pushing a religious supremicist idea, supported by a rogue superpower and altering perceptions of the meaning of laws all over the world - now nukes are fine and even necessary to avoid all out invasion, the shooting of unarmed people by armies at checkpoints is fine, the shooting of infants is fine, rocketing missles into apartment buidlings by a government assassinations - yawn . . . . You get the picture.
And the above list is interesting, but more context would be good, or else competent refutations to criticisms.
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