At the American Conservative, Scott McConnell reports on Steve Walt’s talk to the Palestine Center. Iraq was a war dreamed up by the neocons, he writes, and–
Washington is setting up the same path all over again. As if nothing has been learned. The neocon propaganda organs are very much in place. The war talk is similar, especially the depiction of Iran’s leaders as irrational zealots, impervious to reason. Many of the key players are the same: Bill Kristol, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, “mainstream” Jeffrey Goldberg, Elliott Abrams. AIPAC drafting congressional resolutions designed to tie the administration’s hands, which Congress rubber stamps with all the careful debate one would expect from an assembly in Pyongyang. To an extent which seems even greater than 2002, the bulk of the Republican Party seems to have fallen in line.
Some important differences remain, however. The entire Israel lobby is not on board for an Iran war, and there are major national security figures in Israel itself saying it would be a bad error. The U.S. military seems more vocally opposed. The Obama administration, despite rhetorical hedging, seems to recognize that war is neither necessary nor wise.
Yes? Surprise? Neocons conning the USA once again? But, dears, that’s how the system works: and despite 2008, Chase has once again lost — at least — $2B on crazy investments in (normal term, now) “investment vehicles” that were as unreal as a certificate of sale for the Brooklyn Bridge. Insurance policies where there was no insurable interest issued by an insurer without funds to back up those policies. Collateralized swaps without collateral. Oh, life is so nice for bankers — until it isn’t.
If you want to know how the USA decides to do things, follow the money. If you want to have a seat at the table of USA “democracy”, pony up $1B or so and buy yourself a seat (sort of like buying a seat on the stock exchange used to work).
The BIGs buy politicians more or less as you or I buy postage stamps. As we read in “Nize Baby”, “Is dees a system?” to answer “Nize Baby”, yes, it is the American way and, for the BIGs, it is the “American dream”.
PNAC 1998 Letter to Clinton.
Nothing has changed and with the US withdrawing from both Iraq and Afghanistan one can only wonder if it is preparation for the next step. The Military–industrial complex is a hungry beast
“Washington is setting up the same path all over again.” And anyone paying attention to the MSM and congress would know that this go get Iran stage has been being set since soon after the invasion of Iraq. Kristol, Lieberman, Cheney, Bolton, Reul Marc Gerecht, Rice , Hillary Clinton etc were all over the place repeating the unsubstantiated claims about Iran.
Phil this morning the Mayor of Jerusalem was on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Mika and Joe were kissing his butt. No mention of the illegal housing being built in the Palestinians E Jerusalem. Not a whisper. But later on during the show they were all over the human rights issues in China. Huge and disastrous double standards prevail on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
“The Obama administration, despite rhetorical hedging, seems to recognize that war is neither necessary nor wise.”
I hope this holds.
When Walts say the ‘entire’ Israel lobby isn’t behind it I assume he is referring to that “loose collection of Pro Israel” not just AIPAC because AIPAC has been behind all the resolutions and bills congress has pushed on this. On the AIPAC site and in their alert mails they are always urging members to call their reps and tell them to vote for those bills and resolutions.
Let’s be clear about some of the “neocon propaganda organs” under discussion:
# Neocon propaganda organs
1. 700 Club
2. ACT! for America
3. AEI (American Enterprise Institute)
4. AFDI (American Freedom Defense Initiative)
5. AFSI (Americans for a Safe Israel)
6. AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee)
7. AJC (American Jewish Committee)
8. American Thinker
9. Atlas Shrugs
10. CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America)
11. CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network)
12. Chabad-Lubavitch
13. Christian Coalition
14. CNN
15. CNP (Council for National Policy)
16. Commentary
17. Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
18. CSP (Center for Security Policy)
19. CUFI (Christians United for Israel)
20. David Horowitz Freedom Center
21. David Project
22. ECI (Emergency Committee for Israel)
23. FDD (Foundation for the Defense of Democracies)
24. FIDF (Friends of the IDF)
25. Fox News
26. FPI (Foreign Policy Initiative)
27. Free Republic
28. Frontpage Magazine
29. Henry Jackson Society
30. Heritage Foundation
31. Hoover Institution
32. House Republican Israel Caucus
33. Hudson Institute
34. Israel Allies Caucus
35. Israel National News
36. Israel Project
37. ISW (Institute for the Study of War)
38. Jeffrey Goldberg
39. Jersusalem Post
40. Jewish Press
41. Jewish World Review
42. JIDF (Jewish Internet Defense Force)
43. Jihad Watch
44. JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs)
45. Keep America Safe
46. Manhattan Institute
47. MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute)
48. Middle East Forum
49. National Post
50. National Review
51. New Republic
52. New York Daily News
53. New York Post
54. New York Times
55. News Corp.
56. Newsmax
57. One Jerusalem
58. Pajamas Media
59. RJC (Republican Jewish Coalition)
60. Saban Center for Middle East Policy
61. SANE (Society of Americans for National Existence)
62. Shalem Center
63. SIOA (Stop Islamization of America)
64. SITE Intelligence Group
65. Stand With Us
66. Tablet Magazine
67. The Fellowship
68. Townhall.com
69. U.S. News & World Report
70. UANI (United Against Nuclear Iran)
71. Wall Street Journal
72. Washington Post
73. Washington Times
74. Weekly Standard
75. WINEP (Washington Institute for Near East Policy)
76. Worldnetdaily
77. ZOA (Zionist Organization of America)
In combination, they constitute a formidable pro-war propaganda organ on behalf of Likud Zionism indeed.
(Informed and thoughtful challenges to this list, including additions and deletions, are welcome.)