Groups to Bush: Drop Iran-Israel Linkage

[Behind the Aegis]

WASHINGTON — Jewish community leaders have urged the White House to refrain from publicly pledging to defend Israel against possible Iranian hostilities, senior Jewish activists told the Forward.

Messages were passed to the White House through several channels, Jewish activists said. And it seems to have worked: Speaking before the annual conference of the American Jewish Committee in Washington last week — his most recent address before a Jewish audience — President Bush talked about America's commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and about his administration's commitment to Israeli security, but he did not link the two, as he has several times in recent months.

"We are basically telling the president: We appreciate it, we welcome it. But, hey, because there is this debate on Iraq, where people are trying to put the blame on us, maybe you shouldn't say it that often or that loud," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "Within the Jewish community there is a real sense of 'thank you but no thank you.'"

Communal leaders say that although they deeply appreciate the president's repeated promises to come to Israel's defense, public declarations to that effect do more harm than good. Such statements, they say, create an impression that the United States is considering a military option against Iran for the sake of Israel — and could lead to American Jews being blamed for any negative consequences of an American strike against Iran.

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[Julius Civitatus]

1. Bravo!

People should stand up every time Bush tries to use them as a excuse for his latest plan.

[TexasLawyer]

2. but will Bush unlink them?

I don't think so. He is itching for this war with Iran.

But his biggest argument has been that pre-emptive war is necessary in order to keep our good buddy Israel from being "wiped off the map" or whatever colorful language is being used by Ahmadinejad that day.

[MikeNearMcChord]

3. Sadly, I think it is a day late and a dollar short

Many people out there think that this war is about Oil and Israel, never mind that there are anti-war activists who are Jewish and that some Jews have voiced concerns about this in the beginning. Let's face when you have the likes of Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Max Boot, Jonah Goldberg and others being the public face, red meat for the Aryan Nation sickos.

[AlienGirl]

4. And that's exactly why the Repubs have linked the issues

If the war goes badly--and it has been, and looks like it will continue to do so--the Republican rapture-ready right-wingers will say they were tricked into war by the Jews for the benefit of Israel. Watch and see as it unfolds...

Tucker

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[President Kerry]

7. actually i believe Jews as a whole

(orthodox or not) went for Kerry by about 75-25 margin. But I know what you mean.

[Coastie for Truth]

8. Really

The ACLU's SCOTUS litigation "go to guy" on 42 USC 1983 is a Yarmuke'ed Orthodox Jew fro Skokie.

What seems to be missing/lost/ignored in the AIPAC threads is that the bulk of the "Jewish Lobbies" - Hadassah, ORT, National Council of Jewish Women, Bnai Brith, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, United Synagogue, etc. - have been a solid bloc with the Christian LEFT and the NAACP and the Urban League and the UU Community.

What also seems to be missing/lost/ignored in the AIPAC threads is that went for Kerry and that this campaign against AIPAC - and "Jewish lobbies" generally is detracting from our campaigns for "Clean Money/Clean Elections" and "Single Payer Universal Health Care" and the Environment and Global Warming and a Fair Peace in the ME. These tangents about "Jewish Lobbies" are counter-productive. See my thoughts on this diversion of Democratic Effort

I regard this incessant rain of "Jewish Lobby" threads as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from "Single Payer Universal Health Care" and "Clean Money/Clean Elections" and Domestic Spying and Preserving Medicare and Social Security, and electing a Democratic House and Senate --- Note - I did not accuse the practitioners of it of being trolls or shills.

[One Honest Guy]

10. Hey, I didn't start the thread.

I just told of my personal experiences with the local Jewish Orthodox community (here at north side of Chicago)and impressions I received. If they happen to have some seriously extreme and rigid right-wing positions, that is not my problem.

on edit: I didn't mention any lobbies. What are you ranting about?

[Coastie for Truth]

9. And a convenient cover/scape goat

for the oil company CEO's -- the ones who retire with $400 MILLION bonuses.

[applegrove]

5. Cool. Last people in the Waryld who would let themselves be diminished

by myth-makers.