The word on the House of Representatives is clear: President Obama doesn’t have the votes to push through a resolution endorsing his planned attack on Syria, and he may in fact lose big.
It’s going to take a lot of backroom deals and lobbying to convince Representatives to go against the will of the American public, overwhelmingly opposed to the war, just a year ahead of the elections, but that lobbying may be coming.
AIPAC and its usual auxiliaries in the Israel Lobby are looking to turn the tide toward war, promising to “go all-out” next week in lobbying Congress to support the war, along with a “major mobilization” of US Jewish leaders.
The Israel Lobby’s uncanny knack for getting its way in the US Congress is almost legendary, and if there’s one group that rivals them in influence, it’s defense industry PACs. They haven’t been publicly pro-war, but their beneficiaries have been, and with military contractors seeing their stock prices surge on talk of war, it’s not hard to imagine why.
Conspicuously not on board for the war, however, are the American voting public, whose opinion is at the fore with elections coming next year, along with US military leadership, which has made its displeasure surprisingly public in the lead-up to war.
Israeli analysts are already expressing concern that an inability to sell the war could dramatically undermine AIPAC’s influence and reputation, but the American voter and the Pentagon are not insignificant foes on this matter, and this may be a case of the Lobby biting off more than it can chew.
War pimps
I see in the future Israeli settlements from the Golan to Damascus.
I see right now Israeli settlements from Boston to D.C. — and elsewhere.
Nah, the way those arrogant bastards operate you will see no Israel settlements even in Palestine.
Exactly….they're finished..
The "Lobby" may be about to discover that the worse traps you fall into in life are those you create for yourself.
Consider congress gave 29 standing ovations for Netanyahu, with each member of congress afraid to be seen being the last one to stand up, I'll bet on the lobby. The US congress when bought, stays bought.
Like you, I believe that the Lobby will prevail. I disagree with your last sentence though. Have you ever had any luck getting a "freebe" from a whore based upon previous purchases of services? The US Congress will go along only with new promises of funds from Adelson, AIPAC, etc. I always criticize Israel for not at least compensating the Palestinians from whose land they steal, but I guess that, in their own way, they do pay – not to the victim, but to the cop who looks the other way.
Not sure to whom you're referring as "the cop." If it is the US, I couldn't disagree more. It is the US who is underwriting the Zionist project to the tune of $3B/year. So the cop is paying the perpetrator for committing his crimes!
The U.S is a Zionist project!
What a great opportunity to see who really runs America.
The American people don't want this war, but the Zionists, Whabbis and war profiteers do.
If the American people lose this battle, they no longer have a say in their own nation. Simple as that.
This is a battle between what is known within the Beltway as "the American people" – i.e. multinational corporations, special interests, foreign governments and their lackeys (them)- and the the natural persons who live here and are American citizens (us).
We know that people in Congress and the Administration, elected or appointed, and large numbers of the security and police are not on our side. We need to stick together and let our voices be heard in unison and, more important, we need to make sure that our so-called representatives are in no doubt that our votes will reflect our views in the next few elections.
We can win this one if we make the effort and it will be a turning point in how this country is governed.
Yes we can!
The Lobby biting off more than it can chew? I hope they choke on it.
Mr. Ditz references an excellent opinion piece in the Washington Post by retired army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales when he write "US military leadership, which has made its displeasure surprisingly public." Its great to hear retired military brass speaking out, but how much real clout do they have once out of uniform? Scales references Gen. Dempsey as an exceedingly reluctant warrior who does not want this war. But why must our military leadership always salute and say 'yes, sir' when they know the mission may lead to disaster? If Dempsey has the courage of his conviction, why not resign and go public, which may cause other top officers to do the same? He would immediately become a hero to the US people, and would that not have to affect the vote of the congress? (not to mention cement his place in history). Actually, a military coup would be preferable to allowing an arrogant amateurish potus to start another unwarranted aggression by the Empire which may lead to Armageddon.
The Zionists are smart folks – but they always overreach. This lobbying blitz is a big mistake.
Any U.S. casualties will be blamed on them.
Your comment reveals a great deal of gutlessness.
This is the end game test folks…do the Israelis run the US or do American citizens?
Stop helping to enable the behavior by referring to it as “lobbying”. Call it not by the government approved euphemism but by the actual word, “bribery”.