Comments on: ‘Huffington Post’ appears to have gone almost all the way over to the other side on Israel/Palestine

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:24:24 +0000

There are several comments preceding the above that I am unable for some reason to post. I will try adding them by email.

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:30:48 +0000

"Third, that there is some how a connection between these two." Oak Investment Partners is well-liked by the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Minnesota, as is the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Reseach and Development (BIRD) foundation. AIPAC describes BIRD thus: "The mission of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is to stimulate, promote and support industrial R&D of mutual benefit to the U.S. and Israel. The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between the private sectors of the U.S. and Israeli high tech industries, including start-ups and established organizations. BIRD provides both matchmaking services between U.S. and Israeli companies as well as funding covering up to 50 percent of project development and product commercialization costs. BIRD supports approximately 20 projects annually with a total investment of around $11 million per year. To date, BIRD has invested over $225 million in 730 projects, which have produced sales of over $8 billion. Any pair of companies, one Israeli and one U.S.-based, may apply jointly so long as they can demonstrate the combined capabilities and infrastructure to define, develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product based on industrial R&D. The companies may be simply cooperating on an ad hoc basis, linked through a corporate joint venture, or commonly owned (in whole or in part)."

By: JES49

JES49 — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:51:32 +0000

Right. So this explains why Oak Investment Partners with its investment in Huffington Post gives AIPAC influence over the positions of the latter in what way? QED? LOL! FYI, I am familiar with BIRD. I've worked for a number of companies that have had BIRD grants. I have even worked on several BIRD grant applications. There is nothing sinister about BIRD. BIRD is in no way connected to AIPAC. And this is not the kind of "fact" that I would expect to prove the nexus between Huffington and AIPAC. As for the Business Wire press release you cite, I really don't see the connection: either between Oak Investment Parters and Israel or between Oak Investment Partners and Huffington Post. Perhaps you could elucidate.

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:15:10 +0000

Third, that there is some how a connection between these two. Oak Investment Partners is well-liked by the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Minnesota, as is the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Reseach and Development (BIRD) foundation. AIPAC describes BIRD thus: "The mission of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is to stimulate, promote and support industrial R&D of mutual benefit to the U.S. and Israel. The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between the private sectors of the U.S. and Israeli high tech industries, including start-ups and established organizations. BIRD provides both matchmaking services between U.S. and Israeli companies as well as funding covering up to 50 percent of project development and product commercialization costs. BIRD supports approximately 20 projects annually with a total investment of around $11 million per year. To date, BIRD has invested over $225 million in 730 projects, which have produced sales of over $8 billion. Any pair of companies, one Israeli and one U.S.-based, may apply jointly so long as they can demonstrate the combined capabilities and infrastructure to define, develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product based on industrial R&D. The companies may be simply cooperating on an ad hoc basis, linked through a corporate joint venture, or commonly owned (in whole or in part)." The Israel Conference June 4, 2009 "LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The first full-day interactive forum to bring more than forty Israel-facing companies together to increase business and investment opportunities between Israel and California will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles." "Keynote speakers represent the spirit of inventiveness of the Israel market and include Yossi Vardi who is well known for Instant Messaging, Eric Benhamou of 3com and Palm, and Erel Margalit, founder of Jerusalem Venture Partners. Session topics will cover high tech, clean tech, medical devices, powerful consumer brands, and entertainment media technology." " target="_blank">http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s ite/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090422005532& newsLang=en (remove spaces) QED

By: JES49

JES49 — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:07:56 +0000

I challenge you to cite the facts that Raimondo has provided in his piece. I maintain that he did not provide a single fact in support of his assertions. That is all I said. That is, after all, what we have been discussing here, isn't it? If you can cite the support that Raimondo provides for his arguments, then I will admit that I was mistaken. Somehow, I don't think that you can. So, let me just remind you what Raimondo said that I had problems with: First, that Oak Investment Partners, for the sum of $25 million somehow "bought" Arianna Huffington, at least enough to influence the Huffington Post. Second, that Oak Investment Partners has "significant" investments in Israeli defense companies. Third, that there is some how a connection between these two. So, go ahead Margaret, knock yourself out. I think you'll be hard pressed to find any supporting evidence at all in Raimondo's article, and certainly not enough to make the statement: "Gotta love it when influence is that clear. "

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:24:37 +0000

Your response has made me consider further what was said. However, your assertions are of opinions. The information given on the list to which you referred is general and does not provide support for your opinions, nor do you provide other basis for believing that Raimondo is incorrect. I am concerned that US policy not be directed by groups and/or individuals in pursuit of power and profit without regard for the consequences of action taken. I am equally concerned that mob power not be directed against any group or individuals. To be able to determine who is responsible for what, facts are needed. You fail to provide them, and while you may share my concern regarding mob attention, imo you dilute the value of your objections by not supporting them.

By: JES49

JES49 — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:34:09 +0000

The significance of the companies to which I chose to make reference is that they are the ones that Oak Investment Partners has listed on their Web site. I think that it would be extremely hard to go back 30 years and somehow argue that the Israeli Government, "The Lobby" or the "Elders of the Protocols of Zion" still have an influence on Oak Investment Partners, which can then be used to influence Huffington Post!! As I pointed out in my original post, Raimondo is asking us to put two and two together and believe that it's five. Well, he's pissin' strawberries and whipped cream if he expects someone rational to buy that!

By: JES49

JES49 — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:29:29 +0000

I would have expected Jutin Raimondo to have done the elementary research! As it stands, he is the one who is making an assertion without proof, not I. As for your asseretion that the "categorization of investmetns is arbitrary", I beg to differ. Being familiar with a large number of comanies on the list of Oak Investment Partners portfolio, and having looked at the sites of others, I don't find any evidence at all that would support either that Oak Investment Partners had invested in a significant number of Israeli companies and even less evidence of investment in companies dealing with the military. And there is absolutely nothing here to suggest that a single investment – in ClickServices – would be enough for Oak Investments to influence Huffington Post! But, seeing as how you made the (unfounded) assertion that you "[g]otta love it when influence is that clear", well perhaps you could do some research and provide us with some proof?

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:59:13 +0000

"Since 1978, Oak has achieved a strong track record as a stage-independent investor funding more than 435 companies at key points in their lifecycle…" from oak investment site. Your statement: "Over the years, they've invested in over 200 companies." What was significant about the 200 companies to which you chose to make reference?

By: Margaret599

Margaret599 — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:45:55 +0000

JES49 - purusing the Investments list at " target="_blank">www.oakinv.com, one sees many types of activities which might include investment in Israeli companies. There is insufficient information given on the list to arrive at any conclusions regarding significant investments; the categorization of investments is arbitrary and could include a variety of activities hidden behind seemingly innocuous terms. You are making an assertion, support it with more specific facts or allow it to stand as without proof, merely an assertion.