One year ago today, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was given a chance to address Congress. How did he use this opportunity? He lied. He claimed Iran was "on the verge" of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Why would Olmert lie about the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program?
To me I heard a foreign politician try to replay the same fear-mongering scam that led to the United States invading Iraq.
It seems the most reasonable inference is that Israel either wants to use the United States to attack Iran's nuclear weapons program or Israel at least wants Iran to be concerned that the United States might bomb Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Today Congress will vote on whether to continue the occupation of Iraq.
There are many interest groups that would like to continue the occupation. Halliburton is making tons of money. Other military contractors are making money. Oil companies are making money. Instability seems to be intrinsically profitable.
But most of these interest groups are more aligned with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party.
However, the Israel lobby has influence over Democrats. (There is school of thinking that holds the Israel lobby isn't really all that powerful and U.S. politicians happen to do things that Israel likes because helping Israel is simply the right thing to do.)
So, what's do you think the Israel lobby is telling Democrats behind closed doors?
- "We don't care. This is an American issue for Americans to decide."
- "The occupation is an unpleasant necessity; it protects against regional instability."
- "The occupation is the source of regional instability and should be ended as soon as possible."