[Peace-discuss] Juan Cole: Israel Lobby asks Congress to Approve Attack on Iran & to Exempt Israel from Sequester

[Robert Naiman]

http://www.juancole.com/2013/03/congress-approve-sequester.html

Israel Lobby asks Congress to Approve Attack on Iran & to Exempt Israel
from Sequester<http://www.juancole.com/2013/03/congress-approve-sequester.html>

Posted on 03/04/2013 by Juan

News from what Ross Perot used to call the guys in sharkskin suits and
alligator shoes– the lobbyists who routinely outvote you and me on Capitol
Hill:

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which ought to be a
registered foreign agent, opens its annual conference in Washington today.
Its three big goals right now are to make sure US government aid to Israel
is exempted from the across the board budget cuts of the sequester; to make
sure Israel can with impunity go on stealing Palestinian land in the West
Bank; and to get permission from Congress for the Israeli Air Force to bomb
Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment facilities.

Since Israel is a middle-income country with a nominal per capita income
higher than Spain or South Korea, it is mysterious why the US taxpayer
should outright give it so much money every year– more especially since the
Israelis are breaking international law with their aggressive colonization
of the West Bank, which causes no end of trouble for the United States in
the Muslim World. Why it should be exempted from the effects of the
sequester, when ordinary Americans will
not<http://rt.com/op-edge/aipac-israel-aid-us-761/>,
is further mysterious.

But the maneuvering around the sequester and aid is a minor issue compared
to the attempt to do an end run around President Obama and Secretary of
Defense Chuck Hagel by getting senators to sign a permission slip for
Israel<http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/sites/default/files/AIPAC_Back_Door_To_War.pdf>
to
attack Iran, saying that the senate:

“urges that, if the Government of Israel is 3 compelled to take military
action in self-defense, the 4 United States Government should stand with
Israel 5 and provide diplomatic, military, and economic support to the
Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and
existence.”

Although the resolution denies being an authorization for war, that is
clearly what it is. It was introduced by Lindsey Graham (of course) and
Robert Menendez.

The resolution also seeks to expand America’s unilateral war on the Iranian
economy<http://www.niacouncil.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9029&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1>,
which is arguably illegal in international law, by trying to punish
European companies, including pharmaceuticals, that sell to Iran. The US
financial blockade is already making some medicines hard to come by for
strapped Iranian families with ill children.

An Israeli attack on Iran would certainly draw in the United States.
Thousands of US personnel in Baghdad, Qatar and Bahrain would be vulnerable
to covert, proxy attacks in response. The Pentagon has repeatedly warned
the Israelis about doing anything that might force the US into hostilities,
and the brass won’t be happy about this irresponsible resolution.

Former National Security Council staffer and Columbia professor of
Political Science Gary Sick
notes<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/senators-press-to-green-light-israeli-attack-on-iran.html>,
“Initiating a war is the gravest step any nation can take. This legislation
would effectively entrust that decision to a regional state. Such a
decision is an American sovereign responsibility. It cannot be outsourced.”

Just Foreign Policy<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1439/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12660>
has
suggestions for how you can protest this irresponsible resolution to your
elected representatives.
-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
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