Re: Round to AIPAC on Iran Provision - But the Fat Lady Is Just Warming Up

[Leigh Meyers <the.buffalo.in.the.midst@xxxxxxxxx>]

Quoting Robert Naiman:
> It's a simple proposition: under the Constitution, Congress has the
> sole and exclusive power to declare war. By passing this amendment,
> Congress would simply have re-asserted this authority with respect to
> the Administration's threats to attack Iran. Bush Administration
> officials have seemed to suggest that they believe they have the
> authority to attack Iran. It seems that some Members of Congress agree
> with the Administration. This, of course, illustrates the crux of the
> war powers problem - the President - any President - encroaches on the
> war powers of Congress - any Congress - because Congress allows the
> President to do so.
.

Juan Cole on that topic:
"...it has been so long since presidents have paid much attention to the
Constitution. The Imperial Presidency has overshadowed it, just as
Emperor Augustus overshadowed the Roman Republic.
.

> Some will say, what did you expect? The powerful Israel lobby wanted
> the provision removed, so it was gone. Congress is "Israeli-occupied
> territory."
>
> This overstates the power of the Lobby. I don't want to understate it
> either:
.

Juan Cole:
http://www.juancole.com/2007/03/democrats-blink-on-iran-restriction.html

"Oh, and of course Olmert offered the US $3 billion a year to help
defray the costs of the Iraq War, which he says is benefitting Israel.
After all, the Saudis gave the US billions for the Gulf War in 1990-1991."


Is $3 billion an understatement?

Admittedly this is a 'government to government' non-promise anyway, as
Israel would just be giving the US back it's own money so to speak...
but AIPAC *is* the in-place organization for back door dealings about
what any real funding would be used for...


Juan Cole, pragmatic fatalist:
" If we don't get out of there soon, it will bring a horrible
retribution on us."


My pragmatic fatalism re-visited:

"Iraq is not Vietnam... They will be trying to kill us even as we are
pulling out.

Helicopter transport won't be safe this time without massive air
support, forward observation and recon. It will be a war just trying to
extricate ourselves and our henchmen."


Leigh