Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A Neocon Admits the Plan to Bomb Iran [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)7. Marching to AIPAC's Tune
The Real Story Behind the Republicans Iran Letter
by GARETH PORTER
CounterPunch, Weekend March 13-15, 2015
The open letter from Senator Tom Cotton and 46 other Republican Senators to the leadership of Iran, which even Republicans themselves admit was aimed at encouraging Iranian opponents of the nuclear negotiations to argue that the United States cannot be counted on to keep the bargain, has created a new political firestorm. It has been harshly denounced by Democratic loyalists as stunning and appalling, and critics have accused the signers of the letter of being treasonous for allegedly violating a law forbidding citizens from negotiating with a foreign power.
SNIP...
AIPAC marching orders
The more serious problem with focusing on the Logan Act, however, is that what Cotton and his Republican colleagues were doing was not negotiating with a foreign government but trying to influence the outcome of negotiations in the interest of a foreign government. The premise of the Senate Republican reflected in the letter that Iran must not be allowed to have any enrichment capacity whatever did not appear spontaneously. The views that Cotton and the other Republicans have espoused on Iran were the product of assiduous lobbying by Israeli agents of influence using the inducement of promises of election funding and the threat of support for the members opponents in future elections.
Those members of Congress dont arrive at their positions on issues related to Iran through discussion and debate among themselves. They are given their marching orders by AIPAC lobbyists, and time after time, they sign the letters and vote for legislation or resolution that they are given, as former AIPAC lobbyist MJ Rosenberg has recalled. This Israeli exercise of control over Congress on Iran and issues of concern to Israel resembles the Soviet direction of its satellite regimes and loyal Communist parties more than any democratic process, but with campaign contributions replacing the inducements that kept its bloc allies in line.
SNIP...
So the real story behind the letter from Cotton and his Republican colleagues is how the enforcers of Likudist policy on Iran used an ambitious young Republican politician to try to provoke a breakdown in the Iran nuclear negotiations. The issue it raises is a far more serious issue than the Logan Act, but thus far major news organisations have steered clear of that story.
SOURCE:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/13/the-real-story-behind-the-republicans-iran-letter/
War on Iran seems to be a popular refrain in Washington, in the papers, and on the tee vee. Personally, I hate that noise.
by GARETH PORTER
CounterPunch, Weekend March 13-15, 2015
The open letter from Senator Tom Cotton and 46 other Republican Senators to the leadership of Iran, which even Republicans themselves admit was aimed at encouraging Iranian opponents of the nuclear negotiations to argue that the United States cannot be counted on to keep the bargain, has created a new political firestorm. It has been harshly denounced by Democratic loyalists as stunning and appalling, and critics have accused the signers of the letter of being treasonous for allegedly violating a law forbidding citizens from negotiating with a foreign power.
SNIP...
AIPAC marching orders
The more serious problem with focusing on the Logan Act, however, is that what Cotton and his Republican colleagues were doing was not negotiating with a foreign government but trying to influence the outcome of negotiations in the interest of a foreign government. The premise of the Senate Republican reflected in the letter that Iran must not be allowed to have any enrichment capacity whatever did not appear spontaneously. The views that Cotton and the other Republicans have espoused on Iran were the product of assiduous lobbying by Israeli agents of influence using the inducement of promises of election funding and the threat of support for the members opponents in future elections.
Those members of Congress dont arrive at their positions on issues related to Iran through discussion and debate among themselves. They are given their marching orders by AIPAC lobbyists, and time after time, they sign the letters and vote for legislation or resolution that they are given, as former AIPAC lobbyist MJ Rosenberg has recalled. This Israeli exercise of control over Congress on Iran and issues of concern to Israel resembles the Soviet direction of its satellite regimes and loyal Communist parties more than any democratic process, but with campaign contributions replacing the inducements that kept its bloc allies in line.
SNIP...
So the real story behind the letter from Cotton and his Republican colleagues is how the enforcers of Likudist policy on Iran used an ambitious young Republican politician to try to provoke a breakdown in the Iran nuclear negotiations. The issue it raises is a far more serious issue than the Logan Act, but thus far major news organisations have steered clear of that story.
SOURCE:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/13/the-real-story-behind-the-republicans-iran-letter/
War on Iran seems to be a popular refrain in Washington, in the papers, and on the tee vee. Personally, I hate that noise.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
48 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations

So Bezo sets up a "right to happiness" strawman and knocks it down to justify his love of money?
Fred Sanders
Mar 2015
#6
He's a Libertarian. Socially liberal, but Right on issues like war and economics.
sabrina 1
Mar 2015
#9
I'd say, there's no real line between D and R on foreign policy, now, but where is Bezos on this?
leveymg
Mar 2015
#10
We should ask Colon Powell if he has any evidence that Iran has pipes that look like irregation
rhett o rick
Mar 2015
#12
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that these neocons have had Iran as their
sabrina 1
Mar 2015
#5
People like Leo Strauss and Paul Wolfowitz, who believe they are so clever and intelligent, are
Dont call me Shirley
Mar 2015
#43
Because it't the only Islamic country in the ME not under the boot of the US military n/t
eridani
Mar 2015
#19
I am sick of this war nonsense. I am sick of these war makers. Their minds are poisoned with
Dont call me Shirley
Mar 2015
#21
Essential knowledge: look up "Project for a New American Century" aka PNAC
Man from Pickens
Mar 2015
#30
And when the last drug cocktails for lethal injections are dispensed, these are the same fucks that
lonestarnot
Mar 2015
#35
''War with Iran is probably our best option'' is what the Washington Post said.
Octafish
Mar 2015
#46