California congresswoman Jane Harman was obviously picking her moment to take her stand this morning. At the end of a panel discussion about Middle East issues, she spoke of the recent reports that she was picked up in a gov't wiretap four years ago offering to do her part to kill an indictment of two Israel lobbyists in return for help from an unnamed "suspected Israeli agent" on the other end of the line in pushing her committee fortunes with Nancy Pelosi.
Harman's specific opening was a question about optimism re the Middle East, from Dan Senor, the longtime lobbyist and tv analyst.
"My optimism has been tested in recent weeks," Harman said, to cheers, then said she wanted to say a few words in "seriousness" and to "waddle into a little conversation for a minute about the present." Waddling in being her term of art in quotes offered from the wiretap. Her sense of humor is intact.
She then made four points. That the Wall Street Journal editorial page is on the side of the angels, something she wouldn't have said before. Yes, well the Jewish community is moving right with Israel.
Second, that she has written to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to release the wiretaps in full, "anything... bearing on my alleged situation. I want it all out there, I want it in public, I want everyone to understand, including me, what has happened."
Third, she has long worked on constitutional issues. "I know about the Constitution, I believe in the Constitution, I believe in the Fourth Amendment. I never ever supported warrantless wiretaps on Americans." She said that the case will have "a chilling effect on hardworking bipartisan members of Congress who care intensely about the US-Israel relationship." These folks have "every right to talk to advocacy groups and good friends about that relationship."
Finally she said that Sidney Harman was sitting in the audience, and "his wife is not a victim, but his wife is a warrior on our constitution and abuse of power. I will not quit on this till I am certain that this will not happen to anyone else."
Yes, let's get it out there. The reference to victim picked up a statement she made earlier in her speech, that her father escaped the Holocaust.
I hope this is made into a youtube for a district challenge….
Eric Holder — story of Mark Rich youtube.
Every European alive during WWII who was still living at the end of 1945 "escaped the Holocaust."
Durbin admitting fake intelligence vs. Harman Bush allegiance
Is Netanyahu going to show up? Peres tomorrow morning? Another ancient white guy from 1945? No wonder Israel is still living the dark ages..
Harman — surname is ironic
'[Harman] then made four points. That the Wall Street Journal editorial page is on the side of the angels …' Huh? What would one expect from Israel's leading business daily? How do you say 'angels' in Hebrew, Jane? 'I never ever supported warrantless wiretaps on Americans.' According to Justin Raimondo, that is exactly what Jane Harman did in voting for the FISA Amendments Act. Denying it is a Big Lie. Labeling herself and her family as putative victims is straight out of the Clinton playbook, not to mention the courtroom shtick of Mafia capos attending their arraignments grievously writhing in their unwonted wheelchairs. How dare you insult our intelligence, lying whore? Indict the oleaginous meretrix tomorrow morning.
so Harman is taking the same strategy that Rosen's lawyers took. Release all the classified intelligence. Amazing that arrogant after having been taped talking to an alleged Israeli agent and promising to "waddle in " and influence a Federal investigation of alleged spies. And then Jane "this conversation did not happen" expects that her fellow congress members will drop the ball and not investigate her activities. Talk about corrupt
What would it accomplish to prosecute her? That's going to change America's sickening, genocidal panorama? It's a side show. Another debilitating clown act so typical of this rat nest camouflaged as a country.
So, Phil and Adam begged for $8,000 for this? A few snide comments and blog entries? Mondoweiss should be renamed "Two Minutes Hate." That accurately reflects the nature of the blog at this point.
They did not beg. They asked for your donations. Begging is what AIPAC and all the rest of the big shot Jewish and Zionist groups do–by playing the victims and saying: "help, the anti-semites are here. Donate so that we can fight them off." that's begging. Phil just asked. That's it. By the way, Joshua, your lack of intelligence is apparent through your utterly stupid analysis of Phil's reporting.
Kenneth Pollack was US Go 1 in the Aipac trial that has been dismissed David Satterfield was USGO 2 http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/750/ken-pollacks-e...
I never ever supported warrantless wiretaps on Americans. LOL, I wonder if I could count the number of people in that room of 7,000 who didn't know she was lying on one hand or two? Also, it should be noted that there has never been the slightest bit of evidence that the tapped conversation between Rep. Harman and the Israeli agent was anything but strictly legal, duly authorized by a FISA court. Her choice of words is an attempt to make the hardworking civil servants who caught her committing treason into the bad guys. She said that the case will have "a chilling effect on hardworking bipartisan members of Congress who care intensely about the US-Israel relationship." Excellent. I hope this instills in them some small feeling of trepidation when they are in the act of betraying America. These folks have "every right to talk to advocacy groups and good friends about that relationship." An Israeli spy is an 'advocacy group' and a 'good friend'? Conspiring with foreign intelligence operatives to undermine the United States judicial system is 'advocacy'? I hope there is a warrantless wiretap on the top 10,000 members of AIPAC. The lawlessness of warrantless wiretapping is almost completely the doing of neoconservatives and fellow AIPAC travelers, it would be sublime poetic justice if it were to lay the groundwork for their undoing.
The hypothetical Pollack/reporter conversation was hilarious. Thanks!
So Finkelstein can whore out his parents (supposed Holocaust survivors) but Harman can't? You gotta be consistent Phil.
Is there a reason that anyone should have any faith in our system after this? How many ways can our rulers betray us? I can't even beat a traffic ticket, and these people skate on massive corruption of all sorts! It must be nice to be able to pick and choose which laws to obey without any fear of negative consequences.
That's why people got disgusted with our sick joke of a legal system and said "guess what? It's YOUR turn to suffer" and attacked the WTC. They had every right. I support them 100%
"I never ever supported warrantless wiretaps on Americans." I don't think it's up for debate that she vigilantly supported the warrantless wiretap program. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,... http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,...
Rykart, your frustration and anger are understandable, but you are letting them cloud reason and compassion. The victims of the WTC bombing have nothing to do with this. How many office workers and firefighters do you think get 'giving' directives from AIPAC? They had no right to kill innocents, and that is exactly what they did.
We dont know that, rykart. All the 9-11 Commission determined and was allowed to determine was how the buildings came down, not who did it. To date, there has been no formal investigation of 9-11. The determination that it was bin Laden was conjecture on TV by 11 AM that morning, and it solidified by the evening news. However. An FBI spokesman said through the Public Office in June 2006 that the reason why Osama Bin Laden is not on the Most Wanted List for 0-11 specifically is because the FBI has no proof.
Colin Murray: " An Israeli spy is an 'advocacy group' and a 'good friend'? Conspiring with foreign intelligence operatives to undermine the United States judicial system is 'advocacy'?" This FBI investigation into "Israeli spying " was going on for about a decade before Rosen and Weissman were arrested. They tapped phones. Had numerous agents following members of AIPAC. Even confiscated AIPAC's computers. The result: No Israeli spying. NO AIPAC spying. The incredibly stupid, weak case against Rosen and Weissman thrown out. Tens of millions of dollars wasted. All they got was poor Franklin. A guy who thought he was a patriot. Keep reading Phil and Justin Raimondo. Some day that might even get something right.
And the attack on the USS Liberty was a mere accident vetted fully in every way–the sailors on board who survived were just a bunch of muzzled liars.
Discussion of top agenda for AIPAC Conference now–all stops pulled on Iran to bring it to its knees through its reliance on imported refined oil: http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=191...
The Spies Who Got Away
"A crewman of the USS Liberty (US ship partially destroyed by Israel) was here and was humiliated by AIPAC and IDF representatives. " From another twitterer currently at the AIPAC convention–this happened yesterday. (David Gabriel)
The sins of the father should not be visited upon the son.. In which case, why can't I complain that a lot of my relatives died in WWII? Whether they were German or Jewish? The net effect on the deprived descendants is the same. SHE didn't suffer one whit especially from the period more than anyone else. But somehow traitors like Harman are allowed to use WWII like some get-out-of-jail-free card.
That's a story that should be followed up.
While we are waiting for twitter updates from Phil, given the difficulty these days of finding a good investment for your spare cash, here's a golden opportunity for anglo-saxon type American jews: http://bodyontheline.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/how...
Why not give reparations to German Americans considering, e.g., half of the 24 Union regiments at Gettysburg were composed of German Americans, and under the command of German Americans. The entire Potomac Army Corps was under command of Gen. Carl Schurz; Gen Steinwehr, a former Prussian Army officer, commanded the Second Division. Steinwehr's decision to take position on Cemetery Hill was the decisive factor in the Union victory. How about some compensation a la like we gave to Japanese Americans to the thousands of German Americans who were corralled at the start of our war against the Axis powers and remained so, often years after 1945? Not one was ever indicted for anything. No net effect on their families? No affirmative action relevant?
The importance of deep-sixing the AIPAC spy case; putting a clean table cloth over AIPAC's dirty conference table today: http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/05/03/the...
Using USA technology and funding Israel becomes the first nation in the world with a protective missile bubble: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=113247...
The AIPAC convention, where they put ziocaine in the punch.
I will not quit on this till I am certain that this will not happen to anyone else." — IF you quit, it might prevent it from happening to someone else as you were instrumental in bring ing it about. Show that there are consequences for championing illegal behavior on the part of government, Jane.
Agreed. The USS Liberty crew are a much maligned bunch. They deserve an honest accounting from Israel (and the US). They have war crime charges on file and the Sec of Defense is bound by law to investigate yet no action is being taken.
Hey, think progress: OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– Khalil Tafakji, an expert on Israeli settlements and the director of the maps center for Arab studies, said that Israel was strenuously working on creating greater Jerusalem that would eat up 10% of the entire West Bank area. Tafakji in a press statement on Wednesday said that Israel was trying to introduce a new demographic balance by which Israelis would constitute a big majority in Jerusalem. He added that Israel also plans to separate northern West Bank from its southern areas and works against the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The settlements' expert explained that the Kidar and Maaleh Adumim settlement bloc east and north of occupied Jerusalem over an area of 191 square kilometers would absolutely prevent establishment of a Palestinian state geographically connected with Jerusalem as its capital. Tafakji said that the Israeli settlement drive never stopped in any of the West Bank settlements, noting that Israel plans to construct 73,000 new housing units within five years to accommodate one million Jews in Jerusalem and West Bank.
You won't find these guys at the AIPAC conference: http://moderate.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/video-ph...
AIPAC loves you, their bible tells them so–along with Leo Strauss: http://intifada-palestine.com/2009/04/20/aipac-le...
Obama's first 3 months: http://socialistworker.org/2009/05/01/complicit-s...
The Israel Joe Blow supports: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1082174.html
I watched the AIPAC panel video and Woolsey said something interesting about Iran: their capability to produce a nuclear weapon, even if they don't actually make one, vastly increases their power in the area , and we can't let that happen… I think here he is being honest. it's quite plausible that the dominant strategy in Iran is just that: capability to create nuclear weapons but stop short of actually making them – unless weird things happen. But that would make Iran a player – and that can't be allowed to pass. Woolsey also managed to fire off comparisons to the Nazis for Hamas, for Hezbollah and for Iran. I missed Syria but maybe it's there. Harman talked about the possible strategy of divide the iranian populations – continuing with a non-sequitur that the population should be strengthened against their leaders. This is a recurring theme and it reminds me of the notorious Oded Yinon article from the eighties(http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles... which proposed to break up the countries in the middle east in components that are all less than a country, so that they're easy to manage. That more or less happened in Iraq(it had to be split in 3), and Marten Van Creveld has said recently that Iraq is no longer a problem since it's no longer a country.
There's no question divide and conquer has been forever on the US-Israeli menu. The only immune country in the middle east is Israel–thanks to USA whore congress and White House.