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AIPAC to lobby Congress for Syria strike
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 06.09.13, 21:16
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32 Talkbacks for this article
1. Is AIPAC as worthless as the pro-Obama A.D.L.?
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.06.13)
Is AIPAC as worthless as the liberal pro-Obama A.D.L.? AIPCA certainly isn't helping Israel by lobbying for an American strike on Israel. It would do infinitely more good by widely disseminating mountains of incontrovertible proof Israel owns Judea and Samaria and they are vital for Israel's survival.
2. This is none of AIPAC's business.
Jake   (09.06.13)
Not only the American people and much of Congress oppose a strike on Syria, Netanyahu himself has urged Israeli government officials not to voice any opinion, public or off-the-record, on the Syrian strike issue. He said this would only harm Israel as it would be interpreted as Israeli interference in sovereign American decisions. Can't AIPAC take the hint? AIPAC is merely fawning over Obama and is acting against American AND Israeli interests.
3. AIPAC lobbying
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (09.06.13)
AIPAC has skewed and distorted US foreign policy for far too long. It is high time, even way past time, that a legal method be found to close that subversive organization down and put its leaders on trial for sedition.
4. Fatal mistake. Bad move. Very bad.
Tom W ,   USA   (09.06.13)
Isn't enough for you that many Americans accuse Israel of having been the instigator for the Iraq war? Americans believe that "Israel wants U.S. G.I.'s die for Israel's wars"... a reoccurring, frequently flung allegation by both the left and right. And now this gratuitous move by AIPAC when the majority of people resolutely oppose such a war on Syria Again the "Obama loving Jews for war" - a label we don't want but we'll get .
5. Jake #2
Dror ,   Haifa, Israel   (09.06.13)
I could not have said it better myself. Right on the money. AIPAC needs to butt out of this. They are going to screw the pooch. American Jews will be accused of being warmongers supporting Al Qaeda "rebels" in Syria. They need to sit this one out for sure.
6. Big mistake
Zyx   (09.07.13)
This is none of AIPAC's business
7. #1 The ludicrous posts of Chaim
Michael ,   Haifa   (09.07.13)
Quoting Chaim: "AIPCA certainly isn't helping Israel by lobbying for an American strike on Israel."
8. Jews willing to fight to last American soldier, and dollar
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (09.07.13)
9. #7. I erred. Replace "Israel" with "Syria".
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.07.13)
#7. I erred. I wrote "...lobbying for an American strike on Israel". Clearly I should have written "...an American strike on Syria". However, the content is perfectly valid. On the other hand, Michael, your posts are senseless because of their content.
10. All too correct, #2.......bad weasel move this
Cameron ,   USA   (09.07.13)
11. #3,8....
mark ,   ca   (09.07.13)
...and morons like you both elected this clown...
12. AIPAC will produce anti semitism
naro ,   nyc   (09.07.13)
The attack on Syria based on fraudulent intelligence will be blamed on the Jews and Israel. AIPAC should not get involved in this fiasco.
13. Small Subset
Christy ,   Boston, US   (09.07.13)
A small subset of the left and right fringe seem to believe that the 'Evil Jooos Rule Everything' and US military action is dictated by a Jewish/Israeli Lobby. Of course, many of these same people also believe that WW2 and 9/11 were somehow caused by Jews. Vast numbers of normal Americans believe these ideas are crazy and the US acts because of US interests. I think military intervention in Syria, at this time, is bad for everyone. Can't see it helping the US or Israel.
14. Looks like we missed this opportunity...
Mark ,   Lodz, Poland   (09.07.13)
Next time act twice as quickly with double the strength. Ask questions later.
15. Just the usual Chaim moment, #7
Cameron ,   USA   (09.07.13)
Much emphatic emotionalism at the expense of pragmatism & logic. Hard-line Zionism at its shaky best.
16. I generally support Aipac
Ron ,   oc us   (09.07.13)
But not in this case. Neither The US or Israel can keep Arabs from killing themselves. And, all Aipac can do in the face of the American public desire to stay out of war is to alienate that same American public.
17. It is Obama who asked AIPAC to help him
a mistake   (09.07.13)
Obama was asking AIPAC to help him with this vote. AIPAC should refuse. AIPAC should not become a political tool for the POTUS in inner-American politic issues. The Israeli interest is an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, and attack on Syria is much less important,
18. Misleading article. It's not AIPAC who pushes for an attack!
Tahl   (09.07.13)
As #17 pointed out, it is actually Obama who requested AIPAC to pressure the Congressmen into voting in favor of an attack in Syria. Against the president's word, AIPAC did not have much of a choice on the matter.
19. 17 is correct
CJK   (09.07.13)
it was obama who asked aipac to help him secure the votes in congress. it is without doubt that obama either bribed or threatened aipac. that is his usual modus operandi. aipac should stay out of this fiasco especially since obama cannot be trusted to keep his word.
20. I can't help but feeling-
Danny ,   USA   (09.07.13)
like a lot of Americans in that we're doing all of Israel's fighting. In regards to #13, who said there's a small subset of people who think the Jews cause every problem in the world. I wouldn't go that far, but......... One year ago I was a huge supporter of Israel and considered them our best friend outside of Canada. As things like this happen though, I'm starting to have doubts. I like most of the Jews I personally know. Maybe I'm one of those whack jobs, but I'm questioning Israel's relationship w/ the US. I've went from someone who used to really admire Israel to someone who is now leaning to thinking they're up to no good.
21. #15. To err is human. Try to debate logic!
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.07.13)
#15. Try debating logic and stop concentrating on a very small and obvious error!
22. Costly gamble
jdl   (09.07.13)
It is very odd to propose that a death toll of 100,000 by conventional weapons does not justify a military intervention, while claiming that a few hundred deaths by chemical weapons is the perfect reason to act. Moreover, Assad knows that the West is not happy with the Syrian opposition either, so any intervention will be limited, lest Assad’s enemies get a definite advantage by it. This places Assad in a comfortable position. He can play a cat and mouse game with the West. Any Western action will be no more than a costly move in a senseless but very perilous game.
23. Get Michel Oren outta there
Al   (09.07.13)
As I always suspected, he is as dumb as rocks. Stay out of Americas business. The Jews will be blamed and that means Israel. Israel must not be used as an excuse for this coming fiasco. The American people are not interested as to what is going on in Syria or anywhere for that matter. They couldn't care less. Thy themselves are hurting, with great underemployment and other economic ills. They don't want to get involved. Get Oren to shut up
24. It probably will not make a difference
spyguy ,   seattle   (09.07.13)
Right now, every congress critter is getting yelled at in their home districts about Syria - no one in America wants an attack and the current head counts of likely votes in the house has the NO vote significantly over the 218 needed to kill the attack. The senate is a little more even, but if BOTH houses don't say yes, then Obama does not have permission. And if Obama attacks without permission, it is likely that the 67 yes votes in Senate needed to remove him from office would be there. If that happened, Biden would stop the war within hours rather than risk his own impeachment.
25. Israel and Syria
M.Otero ,   Israel   (09.07.13)
I don't know anyone in Israel in favor of punishing Syria. It's NOT our business. Mr. Obama wants to enlist our support, but I don't think that our hearts are in it. Everyone including the Saudis want us all to keep our eyes on Iran.
26. Really doesn't take much ...
AD ,   Toronto, Canada   (09.07.13)
to get all the Jew-hating crowd out of their rat holes to spew their Jew-hating venom, does it?
27. I'm sure the White House pressured AIPAC
Peter ,   Israel   (09.07.13)
I remember during the Bush administration during my work as a Jewish Community "organizer" when a meeting in the White House was an excuse to pressure us to support the privatization of social security as "payback" for support of Israel. I'm sure the same is at play here, it is the way the game is played.
28. #11, Glad I voted for Obama twice, he asked American people
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (09.07.13)
...for permission to strike Syria, America says NO.
29. #27.AIPAC could have done the right thing and said "NO".
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.07.13)
There is no doubt Obama is pressuring AIPAC. But there are always choices.AIPAC could have chosen to do the right thing and said "NO" to Obama.
30. TO AIPAC : MIND YOUR OWN
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ,   SAFED OBVIOUS HOUSE   (09.07.13)
Aipac ,that self-appointed and self-important body of busybodies ,should atay put of this Syria affair . These well-off americans will be comfortable while israel;is will be sitting in shelters wearing gas masks if Syria is attacked. Aipac will cause a backlash against american jew who will be punished.
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