AIPAC is an unregistered
foreign agent. It calls itself "America's Pro-Israeli Lobby." It's represented
Israeli interests since 1953.
Virtually no one in Congress confronts it. Doing so is a career-ender.
It has enormous influence over US Middle East policies affecting Israel,
including war and peace.
It disseminates disinformation, lies and hate. It viciously attacks
opponents. It calls Iran "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism
and is racing toward a nuclear weapons capability."
It manufactures threats to promote fear. It wants the Islamic Republic
destroyed. It targets other regional states. It wants unchallenged Israeli
regional dominance.
James Petras says its sole purpose "is to ensure Israel’s unchallenged
military and political power over a huge region from North Africa to
the Persian Gulf."
Its annual meeting "is the most outrageous public display of Zionist-Jewish
power as it shapes US foreign policy."
It threatens "to drag the US into another major war in the Middle East
- this time against Iran." Doing so is lawless, madness, and self-destructive.
Its web site says "While the World Talks, Iran Enriches; More Pressure
Needed." A litany of disinformation and lies followed.
Negotiations failed. Iran got more time "to advance its nuclear program
and cleanse a suspected nuclear site."
The international community "must dramatically" increase pressure.
Iran "is believed to have carried out experiments on nuclear explosives."
"Satellite images indicate Iran has been working to cleanse (a suspect)
site by removing buildings and soil."
Iran's nuclear capabilities have advanced. It fuel stockpile approaches
nuclear weapons production capability.
"America must make clear that it will act to prevent Iran from achieving
the capability to build a nuclear weapon at a time of its choosing."
Contain(ing) a nuclear Iran" is inadequate. US policy must reject any
possibility of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. All options must be
considered, including "military action."
Economic sanctions must be "accelerated" and "crippling." Washington
should do whatever it takes to prevent a nuclear Iran.
AIPAC is a destructive, malevolent, evil force. It's heading Washington
for war. Waging one on Iran assures losers, not winners. Israel may
self-destruct in the process. Catastrophe will affect the region. America
won't escape harm.
War on Iran may go nuclear. Weapons of mass destruction may be used
against a nonbelligerent state. The potential economic and human consequences
are staggering. At issue is either stopping this madness or be consumed
by it.
Nuclear war leaves no middle ground. General Omar Bradley said the only
"way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts." It may
be closer than most imagine.
Congressional and administration sentiment reject containment. Preventing
an Iranian nuclear capability is prioritized. Doing so heads America
closer to war. Timing alone is unknown.
In mid-August, Foreign Policy featured a debate of sorts. David Rothkopf
headlined "The Drums of August." He's Foreign Policy's CEO and Editor-at
Large. Earlier he served as Kissinger Associates managing director and
US Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Policy.
"Israel is not bluffing," he said. The punch line about a boy crying
wolf is that "the wolf shows up." Reasons for attacking Iran are "clearly
growing more compelling for Israeli leaders."
A litany of canards followed, including:
Diplomacy isn't working. Sanctions alone aren't enough. Iran's nuclear
program is accelerating. It's advancing closer to weapons capability.
Tehran threatens to destroy Israel. It "murder(ed) five Israeli tourists
in Bulgaria. (It's) hard for Americans to grasp (its) existential threat."
Failure to confront Iran is "imprudent." He implies might equals right
as the bottom red line.
Stephen Walt's view differs. He headlined "Another reason the US shouldn't
go to war with Iran," saying:
Washington should avoid war. It's not in America's interest. Diplomacy
should be prioritized, not conflict. Policy makers mustn't "get buffaloed
into a war by Israel." He urges reengaging Iran directly.
It "makes so much sense," he stresses, even though AIPAC and other hardliners
reject it. Together with Netanyahu, they're heading America for war.
They're "paint(ing) the United States into a corner."
Why is "simple." Israel can't go it alone. It lacks enough power. It
can't sufficiently damage Iran's nuclear facilities without US help.
Israel understands. It's pushing Washington into a war it shouldn't
wage.
Notions about "closing windows," "red lines," "zones of immunity," and
other rhetoric are political ploys to "stifle diplomacy, strengthen
sanctions," and pressure Washington to use force. Israel needs America
for its "heavy lifting."
Netanyahu/Barak war talk is "bluff, but one can scarcely blame Israel
for employing a tactic that keeps working so well. It's our fault we
keep falling for it."
Walt's argument falls short. Vital issues too important to ignore weren't
discussed. No evidence suggests an Iranian nuclear program. Nations
with them don't lob them at each other or non-nuclear states. Aggressive
war is lawless.
Iran threatens no one. It urges peace, not war. It wants a nuclear free
Middle East. Claiming an alleged nuclear threat is red herring cover
for regime change.
Attacking Iran may go nuclear. Doing so assures mass casualties. Israel
will be affected like Iran. So will America, other regional nations,
and Western ones.
Anytime war is waged, it's hell. Potential nuclear war is madness and
self-destructive. Netanyahu and Barak allegedly set a September 25 deadline.
Obama's got until then to commit to military action or Israel will go
it alone.
Israel's US ambassador Michael Oren said Israel will attack even if
destroying Iran's nuclear facilities entirely isn't possible. "Diplomacy
hasn't succeeded," he said.
"We've come to a very critical juncture where important decisions do
have to be made." He added it won't be "in the too far distant future."
Oren also raised the bogus issue of an alleged Syrian chemical weapons
threat. He suggested dealing with it might have to be prioritized. Earlier,
Israel threatened to attack Syrian facilities where chemical weapons
are stored. Doing so increases the likelihood of full-scale war.
Israel is spoiling for a fight. Ideally it wants Washington to do its
heavy lifting. Either way, it wants regional rivals removed. War is
its final solution.
A Final Comment
Last March, Occupy AIPAC said "AIPAC wants war with Iran. We don't!"
Its open letter to Congress said "AIPAC is on the warpath - this time
with Iran. They say the US should be willing to attack Iran or support
an Israeli attack."
"AIPAC pushed our government into the catastrophic war in Iraq by exaggerating
Saddam Hussein’s threat and lying about weapons of mass destruction.
Now they are repeating history, with AIPAC lobbyists vastly exaggerating
Iran’s nuclear threat and eschewing negotiations."
"AIPAC continues to lobby for policies that prohibit a just peace for
Israelis and Palestinians and support violations of international law.
AIPAC’s views do not represent the values and interests of the majority
of the American people who voted for you, who pay the taxes that fund
our government, and whose family members serve in the U.S. military."
"The majority of Americans do not want another war in the Middle East
and the US can’t afford a war during the worst economic downturn since
the Great Depression."
"The Iraq war left thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands
of Iraqis dead. We implore you not to repeat this tragic mistake. Say
no to AIPAC, no to war with Iran and yes to diplomacy."
Wars don't solve problems. They create them. War with Syria and/or Iran
may cross a line too potentially catastrophic to risk. Priority one
is stopping leaders willing to chance it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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