| Author | Message | | Alpha | | Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: CP: Christisons: The Democrats Don't Care; Screw the Palesti |
| Subject: [IntelligentMinds] CP: Christisons: The Democrats Don't Care; Screw the Palestinians, Full Steam Ahead
CounterPunch. org
November 13, 2006
The Democrats Don't Care
Screw the Palestinians, Full Steam Ahead
By KATHLEEN and BILL CHRISTISON
At a panel on the defense and foreign policy impact of the midterm election, sponsored two days after the election by Congressional Quarterly, Steven Simon, late of the Clinton administration and still a member of the Democratic, pro-Zionist mainstream at the Council on Foreign Relations, pronounced on prospects for Palestinian- Israeli peace and essentially declared it not worth anyone's effort. Using words, a tone, and a body language that clearly betrayed his own disinterest, he said that Hamas is "there" (exaggerated shrug), that the Israeli government is in turmoil after its Lebanon "contretemps" (dismissive wave of the hand), that both sides are incapable of significant movement, and that therefore there is no incentive for anyone, Democrat or Republican, to intervene (casual frown indicating an unfortunate reality about which serious people need not concern themselves). There is simply no prospect for more unilateral Israeli withdrawals and therefore for any progress toward peace, Simon said in conclusion -- signaling not only a total lack of concern but an utter ignorance of just what it is that might bring progress, as if Israeli unilateralism were truly the ticket to peace.
Thus spake the Democratic oracle. Not that anyone who knows the Palestinian- Israeli situation from other than the selective focus of the Zionist perspective had any expectations in the first place. No one ever thought the new Democratic Congress would hop to and put pressure on Israel to make peace. Just remember John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, to say nothing of Bill Clinton, when any question of the Democrats' stance arises. And don't forget Nancy Pelosi, who rushed to condemn Jimmy Carter for using the word "apartheid" in the title of his new book and for whom, according to a Jewish Telegraphic Agency profile, support for Israel is personal and "heartfelt." One Jewish activist and long-time friend described her as "incredibly loyal" (interesting term) and as feeling Jewish and Israeli issues "in her soul."
For more, click on:http://www.counterpunch.org/christison111320 06.html | |  | | Alpha | | Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:40 am Post subject: Israel's Netanyahu pushing for an attack on Iran |
| Israel's Netanyahu pushing for an attack on Iran
"Ahmadinejad Is Preparing Another Holocaust For Israel" -- Benjamin Netanyahu (13 comments )
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-fleetwood/ahmadinejad-is-preparing_b_34144.html
READ MORE: George W. Bush, Israel, Iraq
"Believe him and stop him," the Israeli opposition leader said of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "This is what we must do. Everything else pales before this."
In extraordinary interviews on Monday and Tuesday Likud leader, and former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu told a luncheon audience and a radio interviewer. "It's 1938 and Iran is Germany. And Iran is racing to arm itself with atomic bombs,"
Netanyahu repeatedly told delegates to the annual United Jewish Communities General Assembly in Los Angeles which attracts 5,000 participants, "It's 1938 all over again."
Natanyahu was responding to reports Monday that President Ahmadinejad declared that Israel was destined to "disappearance and destruction" and that Iran had full nuclear capability. "Time is running in our favor."
The General Assembly, an umbrella organization of American Jewish communal organizations is a traditional pilgrimage for Israeli politicians of all shades of opinion
According to an account by Peter Hirschberg, in Wednesday's Haaretz (An Israeli newspaper), Netanyahu amplified his remarks in an interview on Army Radio on Tuesday night.
Netanyahu insisted that Israel had the capability to wipe out Iran. "I don't want to analyze the capability required to eliminate [the Iranian nuclear] threat, but this capability exists..This capability is eroded over time, and if we wait years then obviously this capability would not exist anymore ... but right now I disagree with the claim that nothing can be done against Iran."
When asked by Israeli radio host Razi Barkai if Bush could afford embarking on another "military adventure" after Iraq, Netanyahu replied,
"... Israel would certainly be the first stop on Iran's tour of destruction, but at the planned production rate of 25 nuclear bombs a year ... [the arsenal] will be directed against 'the big Satan,' the U.S., and the 'moderate Satan,' Europe."
"Iran is developing ballistic missiles that would reach America, and now they prepare missiles with an adequate range to cover the whole of Europe," he added.
"No one cared then and no one seems to care now," he said, again drawing on the Nazi parallel - Netanyahu warned that Tehran's nuclear and missile program "goes way beyond the destruction of Israel - it is directed to achieve world-wide range. It's a global program in the service of a mad ideology."
"What happens in Iran affects what happens in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not the other way round," he said.
"There is still time. All ways (to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons) must be considered. We can't let this thing happen."
Current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert drew fire from Democrats Monday by publicly praising the war in Iraq. Clearly many Israeli leaders are panicked that the political fallout from the anti-war tsunami will weaken U.S. resolve. And an emboldened Amadinejad is giving them good reason. Expect a major PR effort to lobby for action against Iran.
It's a scary tinderbox.
Comments:
Jewish JINSA/PNAC Neocons want Iran to be bombed next for Israel:
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2006/11/13/jewish-jinsa-pnac-neocons-want-iran-to-be-bombed-next.php | | | | Alpha | | Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
| Jewish 'American' AIPAC diplomat handling Iraq after Iran and Syria for Israel
This Jewish 'American' diplomat (David Satterrfield) with the US State Department is currently sitting with General John Abizaid in a Senate hearing on Iraq (Satterfield is a rabid Israel firster and is even associated with the ongoing AIPAC spying for Israel espionage case, and the US pro-Israel biased US press/media isn't even covering such either):
Prominent Mideast analyst associated with AIPAC espionage:
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2005/08/31/prominent-mideast-analyst-associated-with-aipac-espionage.php
How can one say that the Iraq war wasn't/isn't for Israel when you have this Satterfield handling the diplomatic situation in Iraq. In addition, he has helped to cover up Israel's treacherous attack on the USS Liberty as well (can see him open the State Department panel on the USS Liberty panel via the 'Six Day War'/USS Liberty' link near the bottom of http://www.irmep.org and can read more about the USS Liberty attack via http://www.ussliberty.org as John 'Israel first' McCain has helped to perpetuate the USS Liberty cover-up for many years as well):
http://nomorewarforisrael.blogspot.com
By: ISRAELFIRSTERTRAITORS on November 15, 2006 at 12:40pm
Satterfield was just warhawking against Syria and Iran (in accordance with the 'A Clean Break/war for Israel agenda that Bamford discribes via the following URL):
'A Clean Break'/war for Israel agenda from James Bamford's 'A Pretext for War' book:
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2005/02/11/a-clean-break-from-james-bamford-s-a-pretext-for-war.php
Israel's influence of US policy & the Israeli lobby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O125hGt9qt4&NR
AIPAC and the Neocon (War for Israel) agenda:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rf16XjbOUs
Bush doesn't fear attack on Iran: Israeli envoy
Wed Nov 15, 3:44 AM ET
President Bush will not hesitate to use military force against Iran if other options fail, Israel's outgoing ambassador to the United States said in an interview published on Wednesday.
"I know President Bush well ... From his standpoint, a nuclear Iran, ayatollahs with a bomb, is unacceptable," Danny Ayalon told Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper.
"I have been privileged to know him well, he will not hesitate to go all the way if there is no choice."
Concern over Iran's atomic ambitions figured prominently in talks in Washington this week between Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The U.S. and allies including Israel have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian energy program. Iran denies the accusation.
Ayalon, who has spent the past 4-1/2 years in Washington, said Bush would continue to pursue diplomatic efforts for now, and failing that would chose to try to isolate Iran via sanctions.
But if that tactic also failed to stem Iran's nuclear plans, Ayalon said Bush would likely use air power combined with limited ground forces to attack Iran.
"Anyone who knows President Bush knows that he is very determined. He is convinced of the moral supremacy of democracies over dictatorships ... If the sanctions succeed, all the better. Otherwise, he will act by all means possible, including military action," he said.
In public, Bush has said he backs a diplomatic solution with Iran but has refused to rule out a military strike.
The Islamic republic has said it is willing to talk to the U.S., but that Washington must first "change its attitude."
Asked if the United States would be capable of taking military action against Iran, given that it is already engaged in a debilitating conflict in Iraq, Ayalon said:
"This is not an operation on the same scale. There is no intention of employing large ground forces. That is not the model. This is more a case of employing air power combined with limited ground forces."
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Jewish JINSA/PNAC Neocons want Iran to be bombed next for Israel:
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2006/11/13/jewish-jinsa-pnac-neocons-want-iran-to-be-bombed-next.php | | | | Alpha | | | | Alpha | | | | Alpha | | Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:52 pm Post subject: |
| Looks like AIPAC won again with Hoyer (over Murtha):
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:34:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: [IntelligentMinds] Hoyer: America Must Support Israel's Right of Self-Defense
No surprise there.. He will have the Dems fall over themselves to support Israel when Israel attacks Iran sooner rather than later or goes after Iran and Syria via Lebanon again in accordance with the rest of the 'A Clean Break' agenda:
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2006/11/13/why-israel-will-go-to-war-again-soon.php
Check out pages 9 and 10 of the following comments for more about Hoyer:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/16/official-speakerelect-p_n_34254.html?p=9#comments
Jeffrey Blankfort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2006
Hoyer: America Must Support Israel's Right of Self-Defense
Whip Says Disarming Hezbollah is Essential to Middle East Peace
by Rep. Steny Hoyer
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) made the following remarks yesterday on the House floor in favor of the bipartisan House resolution condemning the recent terrorist attacks against Israel and supporting Israel's right of self-defense. The measure will be voted on today in the House.
"Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bipartisan resolution condemning the recent terrorist attacks against our nation's staunch democratic ally in the Middle East - Israel - and supporting Israel's inherent right of self-defense. And, I urge members on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution, as well.
"Israel is absolutely justified in undertaking the defense of its territory and its people. As the Israeli columnist Ari Shavit recently wrote, Israel's actions are 'not a war of occupation, but rather a war of defense. Not a settlements war, but rather a Green Line war. A war over the validity of an international border that was drawn, defined and recognized by the United Nations.'
"No one should be mistaken: The actions taken by Israel over the last eight days have been a direct response to the premeditated, unprovoked attacks of Hamas and Hezbollah - terrorist organizations which are underwritten and encouraged by the Syrian and Iranian governments.
"Palestinian militants, including members of Hamas, dug a tunnel 300 yards inside Israeli territory. And when, on June 25, militants emerged from that tunnel, they killed two Israeli soldiers, wounded three and kidnapped one. Then, last Wednesday (July 12), Hezbollah terrorists crossed Israel's internationally recognized northern border, and in a brazen daylight attack killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two. Another five Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah terrorists when they tried to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades.
"Mr. Speaker, these premeditated, unprovoked terrorist attacks on Israel are absolutely indefensible. One can only imagine the American response if a terrorist group attacked and killed American citizens from just across our border.
"It also must be noted that Israel has exercised great restraint over the last year, during which Palestinian militants have launched more than 1,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel and Hezbollah has launched four separate attacks into Israel. While I am convinced that Israel is using every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties, it is clear that the terrorists in Hamas and Hezbollah purposely stage their actions from within civilian communities, thereby putting civilians at grave risk.Furthermore, while Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties, it is clear that the terrorists of Hamas and Hezbollah deliberately attempt to maximize such casualties by indiscriminately firing rockets upon Israeli population centers.
"Mr. Speaker, as a first step toward restoring calm, it is absolutely imperative that Israel's soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon be returned unconditionally and unharmed, and that indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and Hezbollah cease immediately.
"It also is long past time for the international community to facilitate the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted in September 2004, which calls for the Lebanese army to control southern Lebanon's border and for all militias - including Hezbollah - to be disarmed. So long as the international community fails to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, I believe Israel - as a sovereign nation with an inherent right of self-defense - has every right to strike armed terrorists which seek her destruction. Disarming and disbanding terrorist organizations is essential to Middle East peace." | | | | Alpha | | Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: |
| http://www.jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5634&ref=daily_briefing
Breaking News
Hoyer wins leadership
U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), one of the pro-Israel community’s closest friends in the U.S. House of Representatives, was elected majority leader.
The secret vote Thursday was one of only two contested votes for the new leadership of the Democratic Party after it wrested control of the House from the Republicans in last week’s elections.
Hoyer was challenged by Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.), a former U.S. Marine who had emerged as one of the toughest critics of the Iraq war.
In an unusual move, party leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), slated to become speaker, endorsed Murtha.
Hoyer has made a point of promoting bipartisan support of Israel, has urged freshmen lawmakers to join the numerous congressional delegations to Israel he has led, and has isolated Democrats who have been strongly critical of the Jewish state.
According to Roll Call, the tally was 149 votes for Hoyer and 86 for Murtha. | | | | Alpha | | Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:07 am Post subject: |
| Hoyer strives to keep Jewish vote for Dems:
http://www.thehill.com/news/121003/vote.aspx
Hoyer strives to keep Jewish vote for Dems
By Hans Nichols
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) speech Monday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) will cap a yearlong strategy aimed at preventing an exodus of Jewish voters from Democratic ranks.
In response to renewed Republican efforts to capture Jewish voters and donors from the Democrats’ traditional base, Hoyer has implemented a multiprong plan to make support for Israel a touchstone of Democratic policy, say lawmakers, aides and party operatives.
In addition to leading a 29-member congressional delegation to Israel last August, Hoyer has urged non-Jewish Democrats to voice support for Israel. At the same time, he has sought to dissuade lawmakers — mostly members of the Congressional Black Caucus — from casting “protest votes” on nonbinding, but nevertheless highly symbolic votes critical of Israel.
file photo
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hoyer, along with many Democrats, privately worried that last December’s House vote on solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism — along with President Bush’s vocal support for Israel — might trigger a realignment of Jewish voting loyalties.
In that roll call, 17 Democrats voted no and 26 abstained, while only four Republican lawmakers voted no and only two abstained.
Democratic strategists cite a nearly identical vote this year on condemning terrorism against Israel as proof that Hoyer’s strategy is working. This July, the number of Democrats voting no or abstaining on the symbolic vote dropped to 11. Hoyer’s efforts are made easier by the defeat last year of two members, Reps. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.) and Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), who had been highly critical of Israel.
“There’s no official whipping on these bills, but Hoyer has been known to inform members that these votes are closely watched, and that it’s important for the Democratic Party to show solidarity with Israel,” said a Democratic leadership aide.
But Republicans say that Hoyer’s efforts have had little effect on slowing what they believe is a natural realignment of Jewish voters. They cite exit polling from the California recall election showing that 40 percent of Jews voted for a Republican — double the traditional 20 percent baseline of Jewish support for Republican candidates.
Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), the only House GOP member who is Jewish, disputed the possible effect that Hoyer’s efforts might have on the voting habits of Jewish voters.
“Hoyer may claim that he’s doing something, but frankly all I’ve seen is a silencing of the loudest critics of Israel in the Democratic Party,” said Cantor.
“If you compare that to the proactive support for Israel by George W. Bush, it doesn’t really amount to much. It won’t make a difference,” he said. “We’re playing offense, and they’re playing defense.”
Democrats counter that Hoyer’s plan includes much more than tamping down on discordant voices in the Democratic Party. They point to his August trip, in addition to dozens of letters and op-eds he has written.
Those efforts seem to be registering among Jewish leaders, Howard Kohr, AIPAC’s executive director, said, “We’ve been very appreciative of the trip Hoyer made.”
“His willingness to put together a working group, both Jewish and non-Jewish, into speaking out on Israel has been incredibly helpful,” he said, adding, however, “The leadership of both parties has been very helpful.”
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) argued that when both parties are equally strong supporters of Israel, Jewish voters will side with Democrats on the remaining issues.
Ackerman cited the 1998 defeat of Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.) by then-Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) as proof that Jews vote Democratic on issues when the Israel question is neutralized.
“No one was stronger on support for Israel than D’Amato, but he lost because the other candidate was equally strong on Israel,” said Ackerman. “You have to be as strong as them on Israel, and then you win. The tie goes to the Democrat.”
Other Democrats, however, worry that domestic pressure to support Israel can lead to a blind endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s hard-line government. They argue that in the long run, supporting Sharon will diminish the viability of the Israeli state and the prospects for peace in the region.
For example, when Hoyer, in conjunction with House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), drafted a letter to Bush on the “roadmap” toward peace last May, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) circulated a rival letter, one that included stronger language against Israel.
Republicans say that their party does not have to contend with such divisions and is united behind Bush’s pro-Israel policy.
Matthew Brooks, chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, argued that the coming presidential campaign would drown out Hoyer’s efforts.
“In an election year, it’s the candidate at the top of the ticket that matters, and Democrats could have a real problem with that,” said Brooks, referring to Democratic front-runner Howard Dean’s controversial statements about the Middle East situation.
In light of Bush’s strong position on Israel, Democratic operatives are watching Republican overtures to Jewish voters closely.
Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said, “It’s never a good idea [to] underestimate [Bush adviser] Karl Rove and [House Majority Leader] Tom DeLay [R-Texas], but I do think they have a tin ear for issues that matter to the Jewish community.”
Republicans bristled at suggestions that their support for Israel was motivated by politics.
“Tom DeLay believes that Israel represents a clear-cut case of good versus evil, of democracy and standing up against oppressive regimes, and let the political chips fall where they may,” said DeLay spokesman Stuart Roy. | | | | Alpha | | | | Alpha | | | | | ©2002-2009 WarWithoutEnd.co.uk |
