Sunday, February 23, 2014

AIPAC's Tough Talk Is Not Fooling Anyone



AIPAC's Tough Talk Is Not Fooling Anyone

by Joel B. Pollak 23 Feb 2014, 5:34 AM PDT
The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) published an op-ed in the New York Times Saturday in which its leaders made a passionate and well-argued case for continued pressure on Iran, and also for the role of Congress in setting foreign policy. The organization, the op-ed made clear, supports the Kirk-Menendez bill, i.e. the "Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act," which would apply new sanctions "if, and only if, the talks fail."

The op-ed notes that Iranian leaders have proudly declared that they do not intend to dismantle their nuclear program, and even includes what might be considered a little dig at the administration and its hostile attitude towards Congress in general: "At this moment, we must not allow Iran to dictate the appropriate role of Congress.....America’s elected representatives are not the problem; the unelected theocrats of Iran are."

It is tough talk, and sets the agenda for AIPAC's annual Policy Conference next week, which will bring many thousands of pro-Israel volunteers to Capitol Hill to lobby their respective members of Congress. But no one takes AIPAC's tough talk seriously. That is because AIPAC sheepishly backed away from the Kirk-Menedez bill earlier this month, when it was clear that Democrats would not fight President Barack Obama's veto threat.

The authors of the op-ed attempt to deal with that problem--rather unconvincingly: "Earlier this month, we agreed with Mr. Menendez on delaying a vote in the Senate, but we remain committed to the bill’s passage." Delaying--until when? Committed--how? There are no good answers. The bill already has nearly sixty Senate co-sponsors, and could likely override a veto. The problem is Democrats lack the guts to take the first step.

And--crucially--AIPAC lacks the courage to put the Democrats on the spot. At its Policy Conference dinner, it will perform the absurd "roll call" ritual in which it introduces all the members of Congress present, as if to signal to the volunteers that these elected representatives really do care about Israel. Members of Congress have realized that they need only endure a big crowd and some overcooked chicken to check the "pro-Israel" box.

It is not just that AIPAC is afraid of losing it's "bipartisan" label. The problem is also that AIPAC's membership and donors are largely Democrat, reflecting the partisan leanings of the American Jewish community. It does not want to make its members face an uncomfortable political choice. So it will try to adopt a strong position, without taking any action necessary to shame Democrats into following through. Tough talk--but talk is cheap.

American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
Wendy Senor Singer is the head of Jerusalem office for the AIPAC, married to Saul Singer, and her brother is Daniel S. Senor.

Note: Saul Singer is married to Wendy Senor Singer, and the editorial page editor for the Jerusalem Post.
Wolf Blitzer was a correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and is an anchor at CNN.
Steven W. Korn was the vice chairman & COO for CNN, and the president & CEO for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Thomas A. Dine was the president for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and an executive director at the AIPAC.
Walter Isaacson was the chairman & CEO for CNN, and is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
David H. Koch is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), the chairman for the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, and was a donor for Americans for Prosperity.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation is an affiliated group for the Americans for Prosperity.
Sheldon G. Adelson pledged support in 2012 the Americans for Prosperity, and a contributor for AIPAC.
Madeleine K. Albright is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and is the chairman for the National Democratic Institute (think tank).
Kenneth D. Wollack is the president of the National Democratic Institute (think tank), and was the legislative director for the AIPAC.
Morris J. Amitay was an executive director for the AIPAC, and is a lobbyist for the General Dynamics Corporation.
William A. Osborn is a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
J. Christopher Reyes was a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
James S. Crown is a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Lester Crown was a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
J.B. Pritzker is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a friend of Lee Rosenberg, and his father was Donald Pritzker.
Lee Rosenberg is a friend of J.B. Pritzker, and the chairman for the AIPAC.
Penny S. Pritzker is Donald Pritzker’s daughter, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach to children's team.
Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach to children's team was Penny S. Pritzker, and is Michelle Obama’s brother.
Michelle Obama is Craig M. Robinson’s sister, was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and she babysat Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr. was babysat by Michelle Obama, and is married to Sandi Jackson.
Jesse Jackson Jr. sentenced to 30 mos. in prison; Sandi Jackson gets 1 year
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Sandi Jackson is married to Jesse L. Jackson Jr., and was the deputy director of training for the Democratic National Committee.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the chair for the Democratic National Committee.
Steven Grossman was the national chairman for the Democratic National Committee, and the national chairman for the AIPAC.
Dana J. Hyde was the legislative assistant for AIPAC, counsel for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and an attorney at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.
Lee H. Hamilton was the vice chair for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Cameron F. Kerry was an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, a director at the National Jewish Democratic Council, is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and John F. Kerry’s brother.
Sheldon G. Adelson sued the National Jewish Democratic Council for defamation, and a contributor for the AIPAC.
Ira N. Forman was an executive director for the National Jewish Democratic Council, and the legislative liaison & political director for the AIPAC.
John F. Kerry is Cameron F. Kerry’s brother, the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, and married to Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Teresa Heinz Kerry is married to John F. Kerry, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and is a board member for the International Crisis Group.
Thomas R. Pickering is a co-chair for the International Crisis Group, a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), was the chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013, and the U.S. ambassador for Israel.
Saban Center for Middle East Policy is a policy center at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Haim Saban is a benefactor for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a board member for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a friend of Shimon Peres, married to Cheryl Saban, and a the treasurer for the Saban Family Foundation.
Shimon Peres is a friend of Haim Saban, and the president of Israel.
Cheryl Saban is married to Haim Saban, the president of the Saban Family Foundation, and was a major contributor for the 2011 Rahm Emanuel mayoral campaign.
Rahm I. Emanuel was the candidate for the 2011 Rahm Emanuel mayoral campaign, the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration, a civilian volunteer for the , is the Chicago (IL) mayor, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and his father is Benjamin M. Emanuel.
Benjamin M. Emanuel is Rahm I. Emanuel’s father, and worked with Irgun.
Irgun
Saban Family Foundation was a funder for Brookings Institution (think tank), the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and the American Israel Education Foundation.
American Israel Education Foundation is a charitable arm for the AIPAC.
Wendy Senor Singer is the head of Jerusalem office for AIPAC, married to Saul Singer, and her brother is Daniel S. Senor.
Saul Singer is married to Wendy Senor Singer, and the editorial page editor for the Jerusalem Post.
Wolf Blitzer was a correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and is an anchor for CNN.
Daniel S. Senor is Wendy Senor Singer’s brother, married to Campbell Brown, the chief spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, and guest on Morning Joe.
Campbell Brown is married to Daniel S. Senor, was an anchor for CNN, and a guest on Morning Joe.
Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq was a transitional government after U.S. invasion for Iraq.
Iraq Study Group made policy recommendations on U.S. involvement in Iraq.
Lee H. Hamilton was the co-chair for the Iraq Study Group, the vice chair for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Dana J. Hyde was the legislative assistant for AIPAC, counsel for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and an attorney at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.
Cameron F. Kerry was an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, a director at the National Jewish Democratic Council, is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and John F. Kerry’s brother.
Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was a member of the Iraq Study Group, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a friend of Linda Johnson Rice.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Linda Johnson Rice is a friend of Valerie B. Jarrett, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a director at the United Negro College Fund.
David M. Sable is a director at the United Negro College Fund, and was a director at Israel21c.
Amy Friedkin is the president of Israel21c, and was the president for the AIPAC.








 


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