I wonder what else is my taxdollars buying these days...
FORWARD - The simmering debate over the role of Jewish neoconservatives
in drawing America into war in Iraq erupted with new fury this week. One
of America's most respected ex-generals took to the airwaves to charge
on CBS News' "60 Minutes" that the war had been fought for Israel's
benefit, just days after a similar charge was leveled on the floor of
the U.S. Senate. The retired general, Anthony Zinni, a past chief of the
U.S. Central Command and President Bush's former Middle East special
envoy, told "60 Minutes" on Sunday that the neoconservatives' role in
pushing the war for Israel's benefit was "the worst-kept secret in
Washington." Three days earlier, Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, a
South Carolina Democrat, rose on the Senate floor to defend a newspaper
essay he had written earlier in the month making the same charge. Both
men complained that they had been unfairly labeled anti-semitic for
speaking out.
Their comments come just weeks after the United Nations' special envoy
to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, called Israel a "poison in the region" and
said that American support for Israeli policies was making his job more
difficult.
In the face of these mounting criticisms, a leading Jewish Democrat on
Capitol Hill, Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, told the Forward that the
president's policies were increasing the danger to Jews across the
world. "We are very worried about the rise of anti-semitism
internationally," said Lowey in an interview Monday with the Forward.
She argued that disdain for the president and his policies has "stirred
up" anti-semitic feelings worldwide. "It's a real concern for me as a
Jewish member of Congress."
Lowey's comments drew sharp criticisms from officials at the
Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress. "That's
absurd," said the ADL's national director, Abraham Foxman, when informed
of Lowey's comments. "It's worse than blaming the victim. It's blaming
someone who stands up for the victim." David Twersky, the director of
international programs at the American Jewish Congress, also objected,
telling the Forward: "Without being partisan about it, I am appalled
that anyone should attribute the rise of anti-semitism in the Islamic
world, and separately in Western Europe, to George Bush's policies in
the Middle East."
One Democratic activist, who asked not to be identified, defended
Lowey's comments: "There is certainly a strong stream within the party,
and particularly among progressives -- and many Jews are progressives --
that George Bush's inability to play well with others and his inability
to think diplomatically and multinationally ... has increased world
hatred of the United States. There are many in the Arab world who
believe that America is run by and owned by Jews. So it is not that hard
to get from A to B. I tend to think that any independent analyst would
tend to say the same thing. So why try to give [Bush] the benefit of the
doubt? If he could connect these dots it would modify his behavior and
make him think more diplomatically."
http://www.forward.com/main/log-in.php
FORWARD - The simmering debate over the role of Jewish neoconservatives
in drawing America into war in Iraq erupted with new fury this week. One
of America's most respected ex-generals took to the airwaves to charge
on CBS News' "60 Minutes" that the war had been fought for Israel's
benefit, just days after a similar charge was leveled on the floor of
the U.S. Senate. The retired general, Anthony Zinni, a past chief of the
U.S. Central Command and President Bush's former Middle East special
envoy, told "60 Minutes" on Sunday that the neoconservatives' role in
pushing the war for Israel's benefit was "the worst-kept secret in
Washington." Three days earlier, Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, a
South Carolina Democrat, rose on the Senate floor to defend a newspaper
essay he had written earlier in the month making the same charge. Both
men complained that they had been unfairly labeled anti-semitic for
speaking out.
Their comments come just weeks after the United Nations' special envoy
to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, called Israel a "poison in the region" and
said that American support for Israeli policies was making his job more
difficult.
In the face of these mounting criticisms, a leading Jewish Democrat on
Capitol Hill, Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, told the Forward that the
president's policies were increasing the danger to Jews across the
world. "We are very worried about the rise of anti-semitism
internationally," said Lowey in an interview Monday with the Forward.
She argued that disdain for the president and his policies has "stirred
up" anti-semitic feelings worldwide. "It's a real concern for me as a
Jewish member of Congress."
Lowey's comments drew sharp criticisms from officials at the
Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress. "That's
absurd," said the ADL's national director, Abraham Foxman, when informed
of Lowey's comments. "It's worse than blaming the victim. It's blaming
someone who stands up for the victim." David Twersky, the director of
international programs at the American Jewish Congress, also objected,
telling the Forward: "Without being partisan about it, I am appalled
that anyone should attribute the rise of anti-semitism in the Islamic
world, and separately in Western Europe, to George Bush's policies in
the Middle East."
One Democratic activist, who asked not to be identified, defended
Lowey's comments: "There is certainly a strong stream within the party,
and particularly among progressives -- and many Jews are progressives --
that George Bush's inability to play well with others and his inability
to think diplomatically and multinationally ... has increased world
hatred of the United States. There are many in the Arab world who
believe that America is run by and owned by Jews. So it is not that hard
to get from A to B. I tend to think that any independent analyst would
tend to say the same thing. So why try to give [Bush] the benefit of the
doubt? If he could connect these dots it would modify his behavior and
make him think more diplomatically."
http://www.forward.com/main/log-in.php
....but I'm glad you jumped the gun with your inferences. It pretty much explains your thinking....