The Obama Administration is in the midst of an open fight with the powerful pro-Israel lobby in Congress. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced negotiations viewed as historic between the United States and its allies with Iran over its nuclear program. The negotiations have attracted international support and are viewed as a rare opportunity after the change in leadership in Tehran. Netanyahu however has called upon the pro-Israel lobby to scuttle the diplomatic efforts by imposing new sanctions against Iran. Despite that fact that new sanctions would eliminate allies and be widely viewed as evidence of bad faith by the United States, AIPAC and AJC easily pushed through the sanctions in the House and they are viewed as making strides in the Senate despite the opposition of the White House.
The ease of passing these sanctions shows the impressive strength of the groups in Congress. Administration officials have denounced the sanctions as a thinly disguised “march to war.” Indeed, as they have previously discussed, various members of Congress have been hankering for a new war against Iran with the support of well-known hawks.
I have little faith or trust in Iran which continues to be an oppressive regime that supports extremism and terrorism throughout the world while denying basic human rights to its people at home. However, it is relatively rare in our system to see a direct effort to block a diplomatic mission, particularly at the encouragement of a foreign leader. Congress does have a role in foreign relations and is within its rights to seek legislation of this kind. While some advocates of expansive executive power have suggested that such legislation can violate Article II in the interference of a president’s inherent authority over foreign relations, the framers clearly wanted such powers to be shared as evidenced in the Senate’s sole authority to approve treaties as well as the confirmation of nominees for foreign postings.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the intent behind the sanction is obvious: to leave no alternative to war: “It is important to understand that if pursuing a resolution diplomatically is disallowed or ruled out, what options, then, do we and our allies have to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon? . . . The American people do not want a march to war.”
We very well could be seeing the successful scuttling of the last and most promising effort toward peace. It is also an impressive win for Benjamin Netanyahu who seems to have greater pull in Congress than Obama.
Source: Foreign Policy
Ah, for the good old days of the G. H . W. Bush Administration, where Secretary of State James Baker III had this to say of AIPAC and the Apartheid Zionist lobby: “F*** ’em. They didn’t vote for us.”
Hopefully, President Obama has begun to share these long overdue sentiments and will actually consummate a diplomatic resolution of differences with Iran, for the good of both nations. Let the insufferably obtuse apartheid zionists go pound sand if they don’t like it — in Saudi Arabia, preferably. They don’t pay our taxes. They don’t serve and die in our military forces. And they can damn well pay for their own ceaseless aggression against their neighbors instead of demanding that the U.S. taxpayer foot the bill in dollars and spilt blood.
Thanks AY. I will have to get the Dulles book.
What does AIPAC stand for?
I am SO tired of the go-no-where Israeli/Palestine “negotiations”!
Let us move to dealing with an anti-war status with Iran, and get back-to Mr Netanyahu later.
That our own politicians would interfere is some how un-American. — Or, at least, NOT their business.
I guess we are officially past the point where the existence of the “Zionist Lobby” can be questioned.
AY,
I’m a bit buried at the moment, but I’ll add that to my “To Read” list. Thanks.
Mike A.,
Apparently…. We had a hand in the toppling of the Iranian government as well as numerous South American countries….. We are no stranger to force….
Raff, Gene….
I’m going to get the book…. But here is an excellent interview on NPR….. On the brothers: Dulles
http://www.npr.org/2013/10/16/234752747/meet-the-brothers-who-shaped-u-s-policy-inside-and-out
As long as Mr. Netanyahu remains in office, absolutely no progress will be made on a peace agreement with the Palestinians. And as long as AIPAC controls Congress, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people will not receive a fair hearing in this country.
kumayaullu,
Democracy isn’t stupid. The graft disguised as “lobbying” practice is stupid. And corrupting. And the toy of warmongers, fascists/corporatists and would be economic oppressors.
However, you’ll get no argument that American exceptionalism isn’t stupid.
AY,
“Apparently….. We messed up Iran before….”
Ya reckon? 😉
It’s time to realize that more narrowly than “government reform” in general, we need Congressional rules, lobbying and electoral reforms that limit the influence of money on the system. A good place to start? Would be overturning Buckley v. Valeo. Money is not the equivalent of free speech. Money is the lifeblood of corruption and the killer of good ideas if a bad idea is profitable to minority interest. War is a tool of last resort. It shouldn’t be a tool of first choice simply because Raytheon, GE and AIPAC want war. If Israel – specifically the Likud – wants a war with Iran? They need to stop hiding behind mommy’s skirt and own their own aggression. Israel isn’t a state. They should have no say over our foreign policy.
Shows how stupid the so-called American exceptionalism and democracy.
Raff,
Iran is an enemy of Israel…..don’t agree to hold. Your breath…. Hey btw have you read the Brothers Dulles book yet?
It’s just amazing to what length we have gone….. Apparently….. We messed up Iran before….
Pretty good one, Dredd!
Let’s hope Pres. Obama stays true to his attempt to avoid war.
Time for a veto if the Senate follows the boot tracks of the House of the Macabre.
Time to lose Netanyahu and replace him with Netangoogle.
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
Reblogged this on Mikepouraryan’s Weblog and commented:
A well reasoned thoughtful realistic assessment of the truth in Washington today–and a shameful day for Congress.
Thank you Professor Turley for yet again being a voice for reason and tolerance.
Until the U.S. is willing to open their hearts and doors to the Palestinians, this issue will never be resolved.
But we’ve already made our choice.