Whenever I would talk to my average American friends, which have the usual bird eye view of their government, they will categorically reject that Washington has any Israeli influence. Their defense of supporting nearly all policies from Israel? The typical response, “they are the only democracy in the region and thus our friends.”
This report from this past weekend is even more interesting. Because it mentions that George Bush Sr. and his perceived anti-Semitic comment that sunk a re-election bid for one of the Rep. senator who was winning by clear majority in VA. You will also recognize that in the report they quote both Senate Majority and Minority leaders the very next day the news broke that AIPAC members are being questioned, didn’t even flinch to show support for the lobby.
While I totally agree that their methods of intimidation & lobbying are well within the rules of American ‘democracy’ .. it really shows how far you can go with the right kind of $$$ & the commitment. The fear is that such one sided lobbying have made even the mention of ‘discussion’ over US-Israel relationship a label of Anti-Semitism & siding with the terrorist. It amazes me that while both parties are trying to show their strong side on ‘Homeland security’ none has the curage to tackle and put the core issue in public debate.
Ahmadji Bhaijan, it works both ways. If Israel has influence over US policies/politics, US also has influence over Israel’s. So, it’s all even steven. I don’t see any problem with that kind of arrangement? Do you?
And yeah, US is also the largest food donating nation in the world (donates about 50 times more than the next donater). Must be AIPAC's doing. This issue must be put to public debate. Why feed the hungry. Let them die.
That is nothing. Though extremely dated read the book - They Dare to Speak out by Senator Findely. Extremely interesting stuff. Sadly AIPAC has too much power now to let any more book slike that get published.
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*Originally posted by Madhanee: *
Ahmadji Bhaijan, it works both ways. If Israel has influence over US policies/politics, US also has influence over Israel’s. So, it’s all even steven. I don’t see any problem with that kind of arrangement? Do you?
And yeah, US is also the largest food donating nation in the world (donates about 50 times more than the next donater). Must be AIPAC's doing. This issue must be put to public debate. Why feed the hungry. Let them die.
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It dumps more food in the ocean than is eaten by people in africa. It gives subsidies to its inefficent farmers that rival third world GNPs. It provides so much to its failing cotton industry that it is solely responsible for the destruction of the Western African economy.
CM, it only dumps Georgia peaches, and not grain. That is done to keep the prices high for the small time farmers. It does not dump grain (it used to) but not anymore, and it sends all of its excess to Africa and other places. Actually the debate now is that this ‘aid’ actually acts as a deterrent for local farmers to produce. Tough call. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.
Madhanee Bhaijaan, US influence over Israel is as much as it's influence over Pakistan. Where the loyalties co-relate to the aid money coming in - there is no other ideological bond or a principle alliance. Israel democracy is as religiously inclined as Pakistan’s .. ok maybe they at least elect their representatives, even if all the top ones are former brutal army generals.
Bottom line is, Israel needs US, while it’s not true the other way around. Other than getting blame for all the atrocities committed by Israel, US don’t even get Jack out of the relationship. And this is a core policy review debate that should be brought up in a Presidential election as it directly ties into Homeland security issue.
Ahmadji Bhaijan, I disagree. US gets a lot back from Israel in return. We may not like what it gets back. But it does. US is not as dumb as people make it out to be. It wouldn’t be the only Superpower if it were. And Bhaijan, do you remember the case of Pollard? Here’s something that is pretty known in intelligence circles: CIA deliberately and by design leaks secrets to Israel (and whomever it wants to). Go figure.
Madhoo bhaijan, I am no expert on US-Israel relations, but willing to learn. So, why not we list down some of the benefits to US as a result of this close relationship and then we can go on to discuss if they warrant the bad publicity US endures.
For one thing Bhaijan, who do think kept an eye on the Mideast during the cold war years? Second thing Bhaijan, US can keep presence in Europe and in the Pacific without devoting too many resources to the Mideast. Bhaijan, it’s a relationship that benefits both parties. For one to EXIST and the other to retain the edge. I don't see anything wrong with that. Do you?
Ahh, so the radicals’ claims that Israel is nothing but an agitating force in the Middle East has some grounds.
US doesn’t need Israel to keep an eye on Middle East, there are enough number of Muslims (and governments) who can do the job 10 times better, along with the super technology. Outsourcing it to ISI will be far cheaper investment anyway. The false notion that somehow Middle East will lean towards the Communist Russia is far from truth. There is nothing more that the governments & Muslims in general of Middle East hate than the godless communists. (Not even the US) That is the reason US didn’t have to twist Saudi or Iranian arm to support the guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan throughout the 80s. GID (Saudi intelligence agency) outspent CIA in many ways through the newly found Petro-dollar supporting the so-called “Mujahideen”.