I hear that the war-with-Iran crowd is determined that Israel attack Iran this fall and that the United States give its blessing. Check out this column from Friday by American emigre and rightist Caroline Glick who writes for the Jerusalem Post.
In the column called "Time's Up on Iran," the Netanyahu confidante writes, "The question then is whether Israel has the ability to effectively attack Iran even if the US opposes such a strike. Based on open source material, the answer to this central question is yes, Israel can launch an effective strike against Iran....With each passing day, Iran moves closer to the bomb and closer to initiating war on its terms. The international community will do nothing to preempt this danger. Israel must act. Fighting a war on our terms is eminently preferable to fighting one on Iran's."
But the lobby is determined that America support an Israeli strike if Israel decides to "go." Israel needs US permission to fly over Iraqi airspace which George W. Bush refused to give (Cheney was furious). The lobby (and its media acolytes) hopes Obama will yield on that point, pushed as he will be by key Congressional Democrats (themselves galvanized into action by the lobby). Check out the schedule on AIPAC's upcoming "Summit" (will Reagan and Gorby be there) to see where its head is at.
In fact, plans are underway for a major effort led by groups such as The Israel Project and AIPAC to get liberals to back an attack should sanctions or negotiations fail. The campaign will stress the recent post-election horrors, the abuse of gays, and other actions by the Iranians that appall liberals. It's a gimmick, of course. These people don't care about human rights in Iran. I mean, the organization is called the "Israel Project" not the "Iran Project."
Check out the kind of stuff the Israel Project is already putting out.
Then there is a new Israel project poll on Iran which shows (that Americans view Iran as a serious threat to the United States. This poll was published along side another Israel Project poll that shows that Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to ignore President Obama and build more settlements has produced a jump in support for Israel here. Who woulda thunk it?
Anyway, this fall will be critical. While we're sweating the health care issue, the usual suspects will be ignoring all that and trying hard to set us up for a third war in the Muslim world. And, I hear, that it will be a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans who will join in opposition to President Obama to sneak this one by us.
Why not? Both parties want to please the pro-war crowd in advance of the 2010 elections. Watch your favorite liberal. I expect that if you pay attention, you will hear things that you haven't heard come out of a Democrat's mouth since the run-up to Iraq.
As George W. Bush almost said, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you. Or is it me? Fool you three times and its the shame of the Democrats."
I'm not letting Republicans off the hook. They are no less (although not much more) hawkish on Iran. But it was Democratic support for the Iraq war that made it possible under a Republican President. That will be much more the case with a Democratic President and Congress.
If we go to war or give Israel a permission slip, it will be the Democrats who bear prime responsibility. Pay attention.
Speaking of The Israel Project, the New York Times reported yesterday that it is now extending its reach to build "Israel's image in the Arab world." I guess that means it supports freezing settlements, ending the siege of Gaza, getting the violent settlers out of Hebron and other extremist enclaves and supporting a Palestinian state in West Bank/Gaza and East Jerusalem. No, it doesn't. Not even close. Lotsa luck with that, Israel Project.
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and head of The Israel Project, has responded to this piece which she considers totally unfair. So, in the interest of fairness, here is a statement she asked me to publish.
"We are working for peaceful solutions to the Iranian nuclear crisis. We believe that strong diplomacy and sanctions can help advert the need for pre-emptive military actions. This will only work if those who care work together on sanctions now so that the Iranian regime will end its nuclear program and support of terror. I hope this will happen soon so that there will be no war. I want peace and security - but this will only happen if we work together -- from left to right and in a completely non-partisan way -- on meaningful sanctions now.
"I am saddened by your dismissive approach to our Arabic program for people to people peace. We are doing meaningful work that can help pave the way to a 2 state solution."