Pro-Israel Lobby Weathers Espionage Allegations, Gains Support

[Freddie Stubbs]

May 23 (Bloomberg) -- The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel lobby, is weathering a storm caused by allegations of espionage with its political clout, fund-raising prowess and membership support as strong as ever.

The lobby is drawing an A-list of U.S. officials and lawmakers to its annual conference in Washington this week, even as the FBI is investigating whether two ex-lobbyists for AIPAC passed classified U.S. information to the Jewish state.

As testament to the group's stature, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, pinch-hitting for Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, spoke to thousands of Israel activists when AIPAC's conference opened last night. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is slated to address the group today and the U.S. House and Senate leadership are scheduled to speak tonight.

more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aqKsV0UlPXng&refer=us

[Wright Patman]

1. How many more wars and how much treasure?

Will Israel and its neocon phalanxes bankrupt and demoralize the "last remaining superpower?"

Where are the evangelical Christian volunteers for the crusade? Are they hiding somewhere in the choir lofts?

[Gyre]

2. Disgusting!

The "Israel first, America (far) second" group is way out in front; right here in Amerikkka. Not too surprising considering everything else happening. If it's shit, it seems to have legs in America these days. AIPAC's just making hay while the sun shines, like any efficient parasite. My problem is that Amerikkka is the host organism!

Gyre

[RaulGroom]

6. This characterization of the situation

Could hardly be farther from reality. Israel pursues militaristic policies that are clearly hurting Israel (which a majority of Israelis can see) because the U.S. pressures her to do so. Israel has no power outside of what is provided to her by the United States, and we exact a great price for our magnanimous support.

Israel is not the problem. Washington is the problem.

[drduffy]

10. Query to RaulGroom

Can you provide me with some documentation on this. I am not questioning it. Rather, I want to use it with my Jewish brother-in-law (whom I love dearly) who thinks I am attacking Israel or the Jews. But I am not. Even where I do criticize Israel...it is not the people but the Sharon govt -- because surely he doesn't need much prodding from the US to be a war monger. but any help along these lines is appreciated. rw

[RaulGroom]

34. You'll have to do some background reading

My post is an analytical assertion, so it's not something you can confirm just by looking at one piece of the documentary record. One place you might start is Foreign Policy in Focus, which is a great (leftist) foreign policy website.

Check out the work of Stephen Zunes, specifically, such as pieces like this one:

http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol7/v7n03israel.html

[drduffy]

56. thanks much and

during the interval before I get back to DU, I also found this site

http://www.roadtopeace.org/about/about_us.html

which a vast number of, considering the ones I have read so far, of very well writtena and erudite treatises.

Thanks for your recommendations. I will check them out too.

muchas gracias

[anitar1]

42. Isn't the yearly stipend 80 Billion.? Seems I read that

a couple of months ago. shocking. Probably have to twist arms to force them to take it.

[Frederik]

23. I don't think America needs to

pressure the Likudniks to pursue militaristic policies.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Hardrada]

17. I agree. I have been saying this for years but

can only make a little headway since people like my own sister are Lieberman Democrats! Brave little Israel..only Democracy in the area etc. etc. I can't convince her that Ariel Sharon is an unfortunate leader since I think part of the problem is an outdated mental concept of Israeli weakness.

[peacetalksforall]

28. Yes, I know that sticky situation. Israel and Cuba.

Poor Cuba - taken over by Communists...that went on for decades. It should have ended with the Berlin wall...however, when the State Dept wouldn't let people travel to Albania, they allowed travel to Cuba. Albania was considered the most die-hard hold out. But now after the fall of the Berlin wall...it is still poor Cuba.

We've had a longer history of defending Israel in words and thoughts because of their unfriendly neighbors who don't want them to exist on the that land. Now, Israel is building the walls. There have been many good leaders in Israel, but this one has an agenda and it isn't just status quo.

In both cases, we were to maintain dying devotion and loyalty to both countries. I don't think any two countries on this earth have been as privileged in relationships and exile benefits.

[Larkspur]

4. This issue is where I have problems with Dean and the Dems

I supported his "evenhanded" I-P policy that he mentioned during his primary campaign, but I don't support his support of AIPAC.

Of course as DNC Chair, he was representing the Dem Party as a whole and it would be unwise to intentionally tick off this powerful lobby on behalf of all Dems. If Dean didn't attend this conference, I'm sure Lieber-bush would whine loudly about it.

[hector459]

5. This is why America has lost all its moral compass and makes everything

America does and says a bunch of hypocrisy. I'm sorry, but if AIPAC were not such a strong lobby, there might be peace in the ME right now. War IS a racket for Israel, just as it is for America. There is no PROFIT in peace and anyone who disputes this just has to study our history.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[Al-CIAda]

8. Spies are running rampant throughout both this organization and JINSA

All part of the Neocon cabal.

[bobthedrummer]

9. When George Galloway spoke about his expectations of any justice

from Norm Coleman's committee accusations he was highly specific about the committee being "influenced" by AIPAC cell members and John Bolton supporters.

The neo-conservatives and their supporters are traitors to our US Constitution, which is OUR rallying point since it is US.

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/051305Madsen/051305madsen.html

[Al-CIAda]

58. Madsen article blogged here

Current discussion of Galloway and Madsen article blogged here-

...Fawaz Zureikat, if you can believe it, is still involved with the United States in Iraq. A firm run by him has the exclusive rights to sell highly sensitive military encryption technologies made by a US firm, Middle East Advanced Semi-conductors, to the Iraqi military, police and government. This contract had to be authorized by the U. S. government under strict export control rules. If he is such a bad guy, how did he meet the extremely strict American security tests to be involved in sales of such secret encryption technology?

As we dig further into this scandal, it appears that the attack by Coleman was an ill-advised attempt to hide the real scandals - real scandals involving supporters of the Republican Party and even Dick Cheney and George Bush themselves - behind an attack on a British politician who Coleman thought couldn't, or wouldn't, defend himself. These scandals go back to illegal support for Saddam in the 1980's, and tie into the Republican nexus of corruption involving Iran-Contra, BNL, BCCI, and more recent scandals involving illegal support for Saddam in the 1990's.

Coleman's timing, right after the revelations in the Downing Street Memo that the attack was inevitable (as was the divvying up of the oil fields planned by Cheney and American oil interests), and right after the revelations that the main players in the oil-for-food scandal were none other than big American oil companies connected to the highest levels of the Republican Party, is so bad it's almost comic. When you add the involvement of Chalabi and MEMRI (an arm of the Likudniks in Israel) in the defaming of Galloway you have pretty much a summary of all the co-conspirators in the war crimes against the people of Iraq.

http://xymphora.blogspot.com/

[DoYouEverWonder]

60. Condi just gave a big speech yesterday

at their convention. Condi is consorting with known traitors and terrorists as far as I'm concerned.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Ravenseye]

27. Yeah but nobody likes Arabs

I mean...

You question one little thing about Israel and people blow a gasket about you being anti-semitic (even if you, yourself, are a semite) but an arab spying? People would call for his death and nobody would blink an eye.

Anti-Semitism is wrong, but so is treating Israel with kid gloves because you're afraid of being called anti-semitic.

Someone on this board says something derogatory to Arabs and most people, even here, don't react. You complain about the weather on your school trip to Israel and people jump down your throat.

And just in case anyone wants to jump down my throat I'm an arab. I'm semitic. My closest friends are jewish. And I've had people say in my presence that "All arabs are baby killers" and refer to arabs as "ragheads" or "horse theives" (my personal favorite) and worse and not think that it was wrong and have other people not blink an eye.

People (including themselves) need to look at Israel honestly (and Palestinans too) or the region will continue to be a problem. That's why Rabin was such a great man and why it was a tragedy that he was killed. He seemed to look at the situation honestly.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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[foo_bar]

40. interesting segueway from Israeli espionage to "jew"

There is a wee bit of difference. Blaming (lower-case, apostrophised) "jews" for oversensitivity doesn't enlighten a debate about Israeli influence. You may as well conflate "Republican" with "American"; the two are synonymous to anyone who hasn't met either.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[foo_bar]

46. the confusion is mutual

You suggested that a Google disclaimer on the expression "jew" is symptomatic of the government's preferential treatment of Israel. They aren't related, in my opinion: one reflects the sensitivity of being exterminated every other generation (that's "Jews"), where the latter is a geopolitical farce on behalf of the permanent military-corporate regime (that's "Israel").

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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[foo_bar]

52. it's a religion, not "one race of people"

we...have to tiptoe around one race of people far beyond any other race of people

There's Arab Jews, Ethiopian Jews, Jews with red hair and freckles, you name it. As to the indignity of empathizing with minorities to which you don't belong, that is kind of the essential definition of liberalism.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

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[anitar1]

43. Yes, the unspoken message seems to be,

Critize Israel and that automatically means you are antisemitic.This has been going on for many, many years. Very well organized.

[foo_bar]

32. like Ahmed Chalabi?

The exception that proves the rule, I suppose.

[NuttyFluffers]

57. heh, only the neo-cons 'believed' in him.

no one else, in several administrations and departments, was so stupid or willing. he fooled no one except those who wanted to use him for their preconceived agenda. he's no exception at all.

[CWebster]

12. Looks like they got 'em all wrapped around their finger.

So, we all know where their bread is buttered.

Notice how the Dems play jump and fetch it to this reactionary but supremely powerful lobbying group? They might as well be advocating for the Neo-cons, yet I heard Paul Begala dismissing NARAL as a "special interest group" the Dems didn't need. Betcha he would never say it about AIPAC--no matter how many times they had been tried for espionage.

[Al-CIAda]

13. AIPAC/PNAC-

Zogby Poll: Should AIPAC be asked to register as an agent of a foreign government and lose its tax-exempt status?
Press Release, Zogby International, 25 September 2004
By a five-to-one margin, people are much more likely to agree than disagree that AIPAC should be asked to register as an agent of a foreign government and lose its tax-exempt status. Three in five (61%) agree, including 44% who strongly agree. One in eight (12%) disagrees, and more than one in four (27%) are not sure.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=36319

---------

Americans Think AIPAC Should Register as a Foreign Agent, Says Council for the National Interest
A new Council for the National Interest/Zogby poll commissioned after the publication of reports that AIPAC was being investigated for espionage shows that Americans of all backgrounds and ages strongly believe it acts as a foreign agent for the Israeli government and should be registered as a foreign agent and lose its tax exempt status.


http://www.zogby.com/search/ReadClips.dbm?ID=9412

-------------

Now here's a really interesting player-


PNAC Neocon Rabbi Dov Zakheim and the
9/11 Conspiracy

In a document called "Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century" published by The American Enterprise's "Project for a New American Century"(1), System Planning Corporation (SPC) International executive, Dov Zakheim, called for "some catastrophic and catalyzing event - like a new Pearl Harbor" being necessary to foster the frame of mind needed for the American public to support a war in the Middle East that would politically and culturally reshape the region. A respected and established voice in the intelligence community, his views were eagerly accepted, and Dov went from his position at Systems Planning Corporation to become the Comptroller of the Pentagon in May 2001. (2) Perhaps not so coincidentally, it was an SPC subsidiary, TRIDATA CORPORATION, that oversaw the investigation after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.

SPC, according to their official website, specializes in many areas of defense technology production and manufacture, including a system developed by their Radar Physics Group called the Flight Termination System, or FTS.(3) This is a system used to destroy target drones (craft that would be fired on by test aircraft or weaponry) in the event of malfunction or "misses". This highly sophisticated war-game technology allows the control of several 'drones' from a remote location, on varying frequencies, and has a range of several hundred  miles. This technology can be used on many different types of aircraft, including large passenger jets.



President Bush Announces Seven Positions within His Administration
Dr. Dov Zakheim has been nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Defense and Comptroller.  He is presently the CEO of SPC International, and in the past he has served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Planning and Resources as well as in a variety of Defense Department positions under former President Reagan.  He was a member of the Task Force on Defense Reform under then-Secretary of Defense William Cohen and in February of 2000 he was appointed to the Defense Science Board Task Force on the Impact of DoD Acquisition Policies on the Health of the Defense Industry.  He has received the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal; the Bronze Palm to the DoD Distinguished Public Service Medal and the CBO Director's Award for Outstanding Service.  A New York native, Dr. Zakheim is a graduate of Columbia University and has also studied at the London School of Economics.  He received his doctorate degree from St. Anthony's College at Oxford University.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20010212-2.html


What did the Rabbi do?

Radar Physics Group
SPC has over 25 years of experience in the design, development, and use of radar systems. The company has provided and supported five generations of state-of-the-art instrumentation radars for the RCS community since becoming involved in the stealth program in the early 1970s. Building on years of intimate knowledge of radar applications and system design, SPC has the ability to build custom radars or use existing assets for almost any measurement campaign.
http://www.sysplan.com/Radar


--------

Background info-
PNAC primer pdf file-
http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
Roger Barnett
U.S. Naval War College

Alvin Bernstein
National Defense University

Stephen Cambone
National Defense University

Eliot Cohen
Nitze School of Advanced International
Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Devon Gaffney Cross
Donors' Forum for International Affairs

Thomas Donnelly
Project for the New American Century

David Epstein
Office of Secretary of Defense,
Net Assessment

David Fautua
Lt. Col., U.S. Army

Dan Goure
Center for Strategic and International Studies

Donald Kagan
Yale University

Fred Kagan
U. S. Military Academy at West Point

Robert Kagan
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Robert Killebrew
Col., USA (Ret.)

William Kristol
The Weekly Standard

Mark Lagon
Senate Foreign Relations Committee

James Lasswell
GAMA Corporation

I. Lewis Libby
Dechert Price & Rhoads

Robert Martinage
Center for Strategic and Budgetary
Assessment

Phil Meilinger
U.S. Naval War College

Mackubin Owens
U.S. Naval War College

Steve Rosen
Harvard University

Gary Schmitt
Project for the New American Century

Abram Shulsky
The RAND Corporation

Michael Vickers
Center for Strategic and Budgetary
Assessment

Barry Watts
Northrop Grumman Corporation

Paul Wolfowitz
Nitze School of Advanced International
Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Dov Zakheim
System Planning Corporation

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[makhno]

16. Welcome to DU

I think you'll find this is a place where a variety of opinions exist and result in lively debate, including on some very contentious issues - Israel-Palestine, religion, gender relations or gun control.

The left is bigger than the Democratic party.

[tobeornottobe]

20. Maybe so, but,

when it gets so big that it is acceptable to excuse why Aryan Nation gets upset that "jews" are running the government, has it gotten a little too big?

[CWebster]

21. Criticism of Israeli policies OR the American Neo-cons

who advocate for Likud is not anti-semitic.


The charge is used to shut down legitimate debate because the truth is so shameful.

[JMK]

22. "Anti-Zionism" vs. Anti-Semitism

Natan Sharansky has suggested that anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism can be distinguished from legitimate criticism of Israel if it fails the "3D" test, as follows:

* The first D is the test of demonization... Jews were demonized for centuries as the embodiment of evil. Therefore, today we must be wary of whether the Jewish state is being demonized by having its actions blown out of all sensible proportion. For example, the comparisons of Israelis to Nazis and of the Palestinian refugee camps to Auschwitz... can only be considered anti-Semitic.

* The second D is the test of double standards. For thousands of years a clear sign of anti-Semitism was treating Jews differently than other peoples, from the discriminatory laws many nations enacted against them to the tendency to judge their behavior by a different yardstick. Similarly, today we must ask whether criticism of Israel is being applied selectively... It is anti-Semitism, for instance, when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while tried and true abusers like China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria are ignored. Likewise, it is anti-Semitism when Israel's Magen David Adom, alone among the world's ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross.

* The third D is the test of delegitimation. In the past, anti-Semites tried to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish religion, the Jewish people, or both. Today, they are trying to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish state, presenting it, among other things, as the last vestige of colonialism. While criticism of an Israeli policy may not be anti-Semitic, the denial of Israel's right to exist is always anti-Semitic. If other peoples have a right to live securely in their homelands, then the Jewish people have a right to live securely in their homeland.

[CWebster]

24. "Natan Sharansky: Minister of Ignorance

Bush's Guru"

http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery03102005.html

[Roland99]

26. Well, criticizing the AIPAC fails none of those.

This is criticizing the intrusion of Israeli interests into U.S. government policy. This has nothing to do with the Jewish people nor their right to claim a country of their own.

They just need to stay the fuck out of influencing our foreign policy and helping to falsely justify invading other countries that are deemed a threat to themselves for false reasons.

[lyonn]

37. Well said Roland - n/t

[funnymanpants]

31. Nonsense

>>It is anti-Semitism, for instance, when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while tried and true abusers like China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria are ignored.

So if Israel deliberately kills innocent Palestinians, and the UN human rights commission points that out, that is anti-semitimism, even if Jews themselves express the same criticism? The complaint that other nations also violate human rights abuses is an excuse and is a tired diversionary tactic used by apologists for Israel's expansionists policies. Israel has a horrendous human rights record, and I am proud of the UN for criticizing it.

If you are worried about the so-called double standard, then tell the UN to criticize China and Iran as well. (As far as I remember, they do criticize both nations.) Don't tell it to start ignoring human rights abuses.

>>it is anti-Semitism when Israel's Magen David Adom, alone among the world's ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross.

Israel won't put red crosses on their ambulances, so they cannot be a member. The Red Cross is hoping to establish a new emblem besides the cross to settle this matter.

[K-W]

48. That is a touch of bullshit.

Demonization, yes certainly a sign anti semitism. But comparing Isreal to Nazi Germany is only anti-semtic when the comparison isnt legitimate and informative. By claiming that all comparisons between the two are by definition anti-semitism, Natan Shaansky is being blatently dishonest. I am not arguing that anyone should be making such comparisons per se, simply that such comparisons must be judged on thier own merits, not some blanket statement of Jewish immunity from comparison. Especially when most of our international law relates in some way to the actions of the Nazi's. I am immediately suspicious of anyone who tries to make themselves immune to comparisons to the Nazi's for this very reason, and I aim that more at Republicans than at Jews who generally appreciate the need to compare the present to the past.

Double standards, yes, also truely a sign of anti-semitism, but Isreal benefits from a double standard more than it suffers from one. Isreal exists because the west backs it militarily and has allowed it to build up a massive military and a nuclear arsenal, when any of its neighbors who attempt to do so are attacked. This doesnt excuse what double standards do exist against Isreal in the international community, but it puts things in perspective. I doubt Isreal would choose to give up double standards if they were given the option.

Questioning anything about Isreal is possible without anti-semitism, but I can see how supporters of Isreal would love people to assume that it isnt.

I would also like to point out that plenty of zionists disaprove of Isreal although pro-Isreal people have pretty much coopted the term.

[foo_bar]

30. is this policy criticism, or a "boys will be boys" defense of neo-nazis?

wonder why the Aryan Nations get
upset with the "jews" running the government ,here is a good example. we have given billions upon billions ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1493349#1493523

[Frederik]

25. I agree with you there

We shouldn't excuse groups like Aryan Nation here on this board. They "object" to Israeli influence because they hate Jews. Period.

Criticising Isreal's influence in Washington is timely and legitimate, but the Israeli influence is not the main cause of America's troubles. Neither is America's support the main cause of Israel's troubles.

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[makhno]

33. No such thing as too big

Controversial views are often a useful means to provoke debate on important issues. The community is self-regulating in that reactionary opinion is always effectively countered by facts.

[tobeornottobe]

39. While you designate

the views of Aryan Nation as "controversial" and "a useful means to provoke debate", would you also say that the views of the neocons are "controversial" and therefore "a useful means to provole debate" or are they, unlike Aryan Nation, just evil incarnate with no redeeming value whatsoever?

[makhno]

47. Please calm down

I haven't expressed my opinion of the views of Aryan Nation. If I had, however, I'd have categorized them as having no redeeming value whatsoever. Same for neocon views, although obviously for different reasons.

[tobeornottobe]

50. Actually, you did

express a view of Aryan Nation by jumping in to respond that certain views are controversial and useful to provoke debate.

I am as calm as you are.

[makhno]

54. Sorry if I came across as patronizing

This is your post I was responding to:

when it gets so big that it is acceptable to excuse why Aryan Nation gets upset that "jews" are running the government, has it gotten a little too big?

I was commenting on the fact that it is well within civil debate to discuss view points shared by organizations with an agenda that is clearly anathema to any progressive, if for no other reason than to deconstruct the arguments promoted by such organizations. I plainly did not express any view on the validity of the Aryan Nation's stance.

I'm not going to comment on your agenda for ascribing some kind of affinity with a racist organization to me personally. Let me simply say that I find it rather transparent and disingenuous.

[Roland99]

19. Any message board will have extremes

What's your take on the topic, though?

[Roland99]

18. So...the U.S. government is by the people for the people, eh?

Just who are these "people"?

[Charles19]

35. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (n/t)

[tobeornottobe]

41. What about the men

wearing the curtains, the Saudi Royal Family?

AIPAC is the antidote to the Saudi Royals steam rolling their xenophobic treachery over Israel via their bought and paid for water boys in the State Department and in the Euro power centers.

The Saudis have a hell of a lot more influence by virtue of their control over the vast amount of oil spigots and their 'plundered from the Saudi people' wealth.

Has any American President strolled hand in hand with anyone from AIPAC?

[Charles19]

53. AIPAC should have to register as agents of a foreign power,

then I would have no problem with them.

The Saudi Royals are obviously a foreign power and don't pretend not to be.

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

[Al-CIAda]

62. Yes they should. n/t

[dameocrat]

36. The end of cheap oil will be the end of Bush Cheney Aipac

and the other neocons.

[anitar1]

45. From what I have read, if true,

Israel has plenty of nuclear weapons now and will surely "help" the US in case of another invasion in the ME.

[dameocrat]

49. There is no money for another invasion

We are trillions in debt. We haven't retrieved one drop of oil from Iraq and won't in the near term. Invading Iran or Saudi Arabia won't be any different.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Al-CIAda]

61. .