Surprise: A resolution for a blockade against Iran, pushed by AIPAC, has been shelved by the House leadership as being too belligerent. Many are calling it a defeat for the Israel lobby; Jim Lobe cites "an unexpectedly strong lobbying effort by a number
of grassroots Iranian-American, Jewish-American, peace, and church
groups effectively derailed the initiative…"
Interesting that strong Israel supporters Barney Frank and Robert Wexler defected on the resolution, and Chairman Howard Berman tabled it (gosh there sure are a lot of Jews in power spots; I guess we're not outsiders any more). Also that the National Iranian American Council led the anti-AIPAC lobbying effort, saying the bill was a war resolution that would cause gas prices to soar. Just what Walt and Mearsheimer said: that other lobbies can take on the Israel lobby. Says my source in the Iranian-American lobby, "what made the defeat of [House] 362 unique and newsworthy is… the ability of grassroots group to “beat back
Goliath”.
Goliath”.
Jim Lobe says Americans for Peace Now played an important role. I have to think that J Street and all the quiet publicity around the Israel lobby played a part. Jews are embarrassed by the revelations of power and self-dealing among the neocons.
