montelatici,
et al,
A basic premise behind the strategy of terrorism is that its purpose is to:
- seriously intimidating a population (in this discussion - the US), or
- unduly compelling a Government (in this discussion - the US) or international organization to perform or abstain from performing any act (in this discussion - to compel the US from supporting or protecting the sovereignty of Israel and preserving the Jewish culture and National Home), or
- seriously destabilizing or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organization (in this discussion - an ally of the US and destabilizing the regional peace and security of multiple allies --- including Israel).
Go read the legislative agenda at AIPAC.org and tell me WHAT initiatives you disagree with.. Americans ONLY please.
It has been many hours now with no response from Montelatici, Penelope, Pbel, Beelzebub, Gwendolyn or anyone else claiming AIPAC has done something wrong. If AIPAC has done what you claim they have done why can't any of you be specific and identify what it is?
Why have none of you answered this request to identify what you disagree with? Is it because you actually do not have a case at all against AIPAC? Yes. I think that is exactly what it is. Many thanks to someone here asking the right question. The silence is truly deafening!
"The academic paper, whose authors are well-known scholars in the fields of political science and government, sets out to dispute almost every argument of the pro-Israel activists in the US. It argues that
supporting Israel is not in America's best interest and furthermore, that it complicates the US's international stand and its ability to fight terror.
"Israel is in fact a liability in the war on terror and the broader effort to deal with rogue states," the authors write, claiming that "The United States has a terrorism problem in good part because it is so closely allied with Israel, not the other way around." The paper also argues that the US would not be worried about Iran, Iraq and Syria, if not for its close ties with Israel. The Harvard paper also argues that Israel is not a worthy ally for the US, that it is not a true democracy and that it uses torture methods that are against American values. "
Study AIPAC works against US interests
(COMMENT)
The global point of your exercise, and that of the Harvard Paper, is two fold.
- The first is to drive a wedge between the US and Israel by intimidating the public, such that it would be scared away from the supportive role it plays in the protection, preservation and safety of the Jewish State of Israel. The supposition is that the US and the American People would not be the target of Islamic Terrorism if it simply turned its back on Israel and allowed the Jihadist, Fedayeen and other associated terrorist and insurgent group the ability to unrelenting assault Israel and its people until they collapse.
- The second theory is that American Values whose voluntary actions reflect the moral or ethical standards --- characteristics --- of the American culture that exemplifies the selfless contributions not only for the common good, but to express the action and deed the courage to stand-up for those in need. To back away from the threat of violence by those that would be intimidated, and to abandon an ally in the desperate struggle against the Jihadist, Fedayeen and other associated terrorist, is advocating the easy way out --- and cowardice. Americans love the hero and detest the coward. To suggest that "the US would not be worried about Iran, Iraq and Syria, if not for its close ties with Israel" is just that --- backing away in the shadow of cowardice; in fear that we to (Americans) might be subject to the wrath of the Jihadist, Fedayeen and other associated terrorist. That, in an by itself, is a positive reason to support the Jewish State.
Finally, the issue of being "worthy" and the association of "democracy" are totally irrelevant to the American values as courage, perseverance, compassion, honesty, tolerance. America is not a "democracy" either; it is a "republic." Not every nation has to mirror the way in which America functionally operates. America is NOT here or there to impose its brand of government upon another. But it is worth knowing that Israel has much more in common concerning the functionality of its government than any other country in the immediate region. As for being worthy, comparatively speaking, the Arab-Palestinians have demonstration that their policies and principles are such that they bring discredit upon themselves through their past practices of criminal behaviors and the established pattern of Jihadist, Fedayeen, other associated terrorist operations and insurgent group activity which is totally inconsistent with American values.
This is not to say that there should not be a debate, but the elements of terrorist intimidation and the fear that if we support Israel, we might be subject to an attack from the Jihadist, Fedayeen and other associated terrorist and insurgent groups, should not be a deciding factor. In fact, in dealing with the Jihadist, Fedayeen and other associated terrorist and insurgent groups, America needs to have the debate as to whether it should apply the same measures of justice and integrity that has become the standard practice in the Islamic world
(as opposed to any Customary IHL).
Most Respectfully,
R