It is customary for Congress to pass resolutions commending Israel on the anniversary of its founding in 1948. Once these resolutions were innocuous with references to “making the desert bloom” and “ingathering” Jewish refugees. Standard “pro-Israel” boilerplate. No more.
In recent years Congress, with the Israel lobby’s eager assistance, has coupled salutations and congratulations with increasingly strident language about terrorism, Palestinians, and now, Iran. (For an excellent analysis on how the concept of being “pro-Israel” has degenerated in recent years, see this smart piece by Michael Koplow, program director of the Israel Institute at Georgetown University.)
One such anniversary resolution now being considered in the Senate and, with 79 cosponsors, certain to pass is Senate Resolution 65, introduced by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), two lobby stalwarts. It cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today.
The resolution begins with five clauses of standard rhetoric, noting that “since its establishment nearly 65 years ago, the modern State of Israel has… forged a new and dynamic democratic society including “freedom of speech, association, and religion; a vigorously free press; free, fair, and open elections; the rule of law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic principles and practices….” The usual fare.
Then, with no transition, it segues into 14 clauses condemning Iran with citations of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ugly language about Israel, his repeated Holocaust denials, the Islamic Republic’s human rights violations and then the threat ostensibly posed by its nuclear program.
That is followed by 13 clauses citing President Obama’s repeated promises not to permit Iran to attain a nuclear weapon, along with Congress’ own, which are even more aggressive.
These 32 clauses are just the windup for the pitch which says that if Israel goes to war with Iran, the United States should join the fight. The resolution states:
that, if the Government of Israel is compelled to take military action in legitimate self defense against Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the United States Government should stand with Israel and provide, in accordance with United States law and the constitutional responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force, diplomatic, military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and existence.
On the surface, this doesn’t sound that terrible. After all, it specifically limits our commitment to a situation in which “Israel is compelled to take military action in self-defense….”
But the “self-defense” limitation is no limitation at all. The United States has deemed all major Israeli military actions as “self-defense” (most recently two Gaza wars) with the oft-repeated statement that the United States is “fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself.” Couple that with President Obama’s language ruling out containment of a nuclear Iran and it’s pretty clear that any attack by Israel on Iran will be deemed self-defense by the United States.
In short, the Graham-Menendez resolution is telling Israel that if it goes to war, we will have their back.
The problem here is not that Congress is saying that the United States would support Israel if there was any chance that it might be defeated in a war with Iran or anyone else. That is obvious and has been since 1973 when the United States military was placed on its highest alert following the joint Egyptian-Syrian attack on Israel.
No, the point of this resolution is to tell Israel that it can go to war with Iran, with the assurance that if it gets into trouble, the United States will step in and finish the job. Israeli hawks need that assurance because it is generally understood that Israel cannot take out Iran’s nuclear facilities alone. It can only try if it knows that the United States is right there just in case.
The intent of this resolution is to eliminate any Israeli hesitancy about getting into a war it cannot win. Israelis won’t do that. Menendez, Graham and company are telling them not to worry. Just do it, and we are in too.
Here is AIPAC press release patting itself on the back:
SENATE COMMITTEE ADOPTS STRONG, BI-PARTISAN RESOLUTION STANDING WITH ISRAEL AGAINST IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT
WASHINGTON – AIPAC praises the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for adopting today Senate Resolution 65 – a strong bi-partisan statement that the United States will stand by Israel if our ally feels compelled to take military action in its own legitimate defense against the threat from Iran. The resolution specifies that the United States should provide diplomatic, military, and economic support to Israel “in its defense of its territory, people, and existence.”
The resolution also reiterates that the policy of the United States is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability and to take such action as may be necessary to implement this policy. The resolution urges the President to strengthen enforcement of sanctions on Tehran.
Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) sponsored the resolution. Now ready for floor action, Graham-Menendez , has garnered broad bi-partisan support in the Senate with 79 co-sponsors. The Committee action comes at a critical moment when Iran has repeatedly rebuffed diplomatic efforts and has continued its march to attain nuclear weapons capability.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has sent a very clear and enormously important message of solidarity with Israel against the Iranian nuclear threat – which endangers American, Israeli, and international security. AIPAC urges the full Senate to act expeditiously to adopt the resolution.
Consistently ranked as the most influential foreign policy lobbying organization on Capitol Hill, AIPAC is a bipartisan American membership organization that seeks to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Israel. For more than 50 years, AIPAC has been working with Congress to build a strong, vibrant relationship between the U.S. and Israel. With more than 100,000 members across the United States, AIPAC works throughout the country to improve and strengthen that relationship by supporting U.S.-Israel military, economic, scientific and cultural cooperation.
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Rosenberg is a disgruntled ex employee of AIPAC.
Does this resolution of perpetual war relate to the recent bombings in Boston?
“Shock Doctrine? Blow Back? What our Government sows, it reaps?”
Ouch! Here is a person who endorses an attack specifically targeting innocents. Seed is, who do yu say, a piece of scum.
All I’m requesting is a through and proper investigation on the causes of such terrorist attacks.
We must not forget that our government never provided complete information on the Warren Commission Report regarding the JFK assassination and the 911 Commission Report that led to wars that killed and injured millions of people and set up our military/industrial government for the past 5 decades. Such wars demonstrate terrorism on a very large everlasting scale.
There must be a more enlightened and caring way to stop such perpetual acts of terrorism. Our world government certainly has a responsibility to protect and nurture human life on this planet without killing it.
Ok come on now. There is no hidden Oliver Stone manufactured conspiracy. It was clear who was behind 911. OBL even acknowledged. it. There were no C 4 explosives stuck in the walls of the WTC. there were no Mossad agents posing a Israeli artists. Those who look for dark conspiracies are trying to unleash a wave of hatred towards you know who. Knock off the BS. Otherwise I can direct you to a place where yo will find comfort.
All that needs to be said, is that any state that relies on its navy to police the seas, would have to be suicidal to a degree not even matched by the Japanese at the end of the Second World War, to get itself caught in hostilities in the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is like the Salamis, a shooting-gallery for whoever controls it. It’d be the Marianas Turkey Shoot all over again.
Thanks to this resolution, we now know that the United States is that suicidally self-absorbed state, willing to trash itself for no return. I call on all members of the US Armed Forces to remember that civil disobedience is, post-World War Two, the unquestionable right of every soldier, sailor, marine, pilot, who suspects he is being given illiegal orders. And trashing your defense for questionable reasons is definitely illegal.
Wesely. I’m afraid that iran would not abel to hold these straits closed for more than a few hours. Air Force, cruise missiles, navy, you name it would take care of business. Since these straits are important to multiple countries, the US would have plenty of company. no, I am not talking invasion, juts a neutralizing and hard hit. You ar writing in WW 1 terms. This is 2013 and iran’s military is no better than 1979
Let me be clear here, I am totally against violence. If we want justice in this world, we have to apply the same rule. just like we do not want Iran to have NW, Israel should not have that either. Who terrorize women and children in Gaza, who detained Palestinian demonstrators for years just because they are asking for their right? Democratic Israel? Who are we fooling? It is only a matter of time before the good population of the free world know the facts on the ground and not what the pro-Israel media beam
Abdullah, I suggest you turn your anger on Hamas, who are holding Gazans hostage. It is a microcosm of the Arab world that os sorely in need ot embark on te path of self reflection. Thus far 90,000 dad Syria with tens of thousands of mutilated children.
Jerry, I wish you were a real and ligitimate person to respond to. After reading many of your posts and replies to me and others, I advise all on this site to refrain from answering or addressing you, as you are nothing but a waste of time. Go find something else to do and leave those people whom are searching for a decent humans to exchange ideas and opinions with. Your dishonesty and hate, is way too telling for you to be able to hide behind it.
Monir, I suggest the same for you. You are so full of falsehoods of I’d coming out of your …. 90000 dead in Syria and you dismiss it as business as usual between Arabs. What ever Israel has done in its 65 years pales in comparison to what Arabs have to each other. I do suggest you look in the mirror.