Mounting Scandal at Aipac Prompts Talk of Lobbying Powerhouse's Demise

This is a very interesting article about AIPAC. You may need to register your email at the Forward website to read this article in full. But in case that you can't here are some excerpts from it.

Communal insiders warn that an indictment of an Aipac official or a trial that casts the association in a negative light could severely weaken the lobbying prowess of all Jewish organizations at a time when Israel and Jewish agencies are facing rising hostility in many corners, and depending increasingly on support from Washington lawmakers.

"If this goes to court, and I am not even talking about a guilty verdict, it will be very damaging to the community," said an official at one national Jewish organization. "If this goes to court, Aipac as Aipac will be on trial, and if Aipac goes down, it's a disaster for the whole community."

Also this

"It's okay to say once that the FBI is ticked at Aipac, but a grand jury with subpoenas — that's not someone running a grudge campaign," said an official with a major Jewish organization. "Clearly, somebody has thought this through. And they are looking for something."

Steve Pomerantz, a former FBI investigator who consults for Jewish organizations sounded a similar note. He said the nature of the subpoenas suggests that FBI investigators know what they're looking for.

"This is not a fishing expedition," he said. "It's clear to me they have some specific information which is leading them in a specific direction."

And finally this

"People, even in Washington, don't know the difference between some Jewish group and Aipac," said an official with a major Jewish organization. "For them, any Jew lobbying on the Hill is Aipac."

This perception of a stronger connection to Aipac often has been an asset for other Jewish organizations when attempting to advance issues unrelated to Israel, the official said. But with the current legal developments, some Jewish activists say they are beginning to feel uncomfortable with the link. "There are some who are beginning to think in terms of self preservation," the official said.

There are many more details in this. If you would like to see the rest of the article and don't want to register your email address, leave me a comment here and I will email you the full article.

U.S. Students Fare Badly in International Survey of Math Skills

No comments...speaks for itself

The Natalists -- The New Red-Diaper Babies

Guess what? This is an interesting coorelation. The states with the people who are more family oriented and are having more babies voted republican. Those that have a low birth rate (the coasts) are the ones that voted democrat. Interesting, isn't it?

However, where does that stand with the Muslim population of the US? Obviously, we have the family values down pat and the number of children. Yet this election was overwhelmingly democratic for Muslims. Seems that my previous post (yesterdays) about the view of Muslims towards the US policies is the key here.

US Has Zero Credibility Among Muslims – Pentagon Panel

Can you believe it? Even a penatgon panel says that the policies of the US in the Middle East need revamping. When will this administration get it? What is disturbing, though, is the report was finished in September, but somehow held until now to be revealed. Someone was eager to have someone lose.

Here is a quote

The document also called on U.S. policymakers to spend more time "listening" to their intended audience and use messages that "should seek to reduce, not increase, perceptions of arrogance, opportunism, and double standards."

And another

The DSB report also stresses that U.S. policies in the Mideast – notably Washington's support for Israel, the Iraq invasion, and its backing of autocratic leaders in the region – make it very difficult for Washington to persuade Muslims of its good intentions. The report, however, does not advise changing policies, which would be beyond its mandate.

A third

Thus, contrary to the mantra of the administration and its neoconservative advisers, asserts the report, "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather, they hate our policies. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favor of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the long-standing even increasing support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, and the Gulf states."

It is amazing that this report finally makes it under a hawkish Bush presidency. Even though this report is not entirely representative of the views in the Muslim world, it is much closer to the real situation than the silly comments that the Muslim world hates the freedom of the west.