Ernest Hollings, SC Democrat, says Israel behind US War Against Iraq

[Alerter_]

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_3.html

A U.S. senator's charge that Israel is behind the Bush administrations's decision to invade Iraq has rattled American Jewish leaders.

Sen. Ernest Hollings, a South Carolina Democrat, wrote a column that appeared in several newspapers. The column asserted that the U.S. war against Iraq represented a decision by President George Bush to protect Israel and ensure American Jewish support for his reelection.

The column reflects a growing sentiment in the corridors of power in Washington according to congressional sources.

The view attributes the U.S. war in Iraq to the so-called neo-conservatives in the administration, particularly Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle, Middle East Newsline reported. Both men are Jewish.

"There is a strong fear among American Jewish leadership that the whispering campaign that 'the Jews started it,' will become public," a senior congressional staffer said. "We could be seeing others get on Hollings' bandwagon."

"Bush felt tax cuts would hold his crowd together and spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats," Hollings said in a column first published on May 6 in the Charleston Post and Courier. "You don't come to town and announce your Israel policy is to invade Iraq."

Congressional sources said Hollings was expressing a view that has become increasingly prevalent in Congress and parts of the administration.

The column was reprinted on Hollings's website.

[Nlighten1]

1. And he is right!

But what we need to do is "Stay the course"! We see the path is Hell in a handbasket but who gives a shit...keep on keeping on.

[Alerter_]

5. What Hollings actually wrote in his article

From his Senate website:

http://hollings.senate.gov/~hollings/opinion/2004506A17.html

With 760 dead in Iraq and over 3,000 maimed for life, home folks continue to argue why we are in Iraq -- and how to get out.

...

Israel's survival depends on knowing. Israel long since would have taken us to the weapons of mass destruction if there were any or if they had been removed. With Iraq no threat, why invade a sovereign country? The answer: President Bush's policy to secure Israel.

Led by Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and Charles Krauthammer, for years there has been a domino school of thought that the way to guarantee Israel's security is to spread democracy in the area. Wolfowitz wrote: "The United States may not be able to lead countries through the door of democracy, but where that door is locked shut by a totalitarian deadbolt, American power may be the only way to open it up." And on another occasion: Iraq as "the first Arab democracy ... would cast a very large shadow, starting with Syria and Iran but across the whole Arab world." Three weeks before the invasion, President Bush stated: "A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example for freedom for other nations in the region."

Every president since 1947 has made a futile attempt to help Israel negotiate peace. But no leadership has surfaced amongst the Palestinians that can make a binding agreement. President Bush realized his chances at negotiation were no better. He came to office imbued with one thought -- re-election. Bush felt tax cuts would hold his crowd together and spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats. You don't come to town and announce your Israel policy is to invade Iraq. But George W. Bush, as stated by former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and others, started laying the groundwork to invade Iraq days after inauguration. And, without any Iraq connection to 9/11, within weeks he had the Pentagon outlining a plan to invade Iraq. He was determined.

President Bush thought taking Iraq would be easy. Wolfowitz said it would take only seven days. Vice President Cheney believed we would be greeted as liberators. But Cheney's man, Chalabi, made a mess of the de-Baathification of Iraq by dismissing Republican Guard leadership and Sunni leaders who soon joined with the insurgents. Worst of all, we tried to secure Iraq with too few troops.

[mountainvue]

9. He mentioned Krauthammer?

Can Kristol be far behind?

[Alerter_]

20. Wiesenthal Center center called Democrat Jim Moran "anti-semetic"

for answering a question from a Jewish audience member, "why aren't they more Jewish people here at the anti-war forum" with this statement:

"If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this...The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going, and I think they should."

http://reason.com/links/links032103.shtml

[sophie996]

22. b**h and israel

* has a lot in common with the Brits who helped establish israel. i wonder how many jews today realize it was a gang of old testament true believers who were trying to bring about prophecies?

http://www.mideastweb.org/britzion.htm

"On the one hand, Protestants in Britain and later those in the USA began to identify themselves as the inheritors of the Israelites or the lost ten tribes. On the other hand, support grew for restoration of the Jews as the rightful owners of "the Holy Land." This movement was nourished by many sources, not all favorable to the Jews. The theology of some branches of Protestantism posits that the second coming of Christ would only come only after the Jews were reestablished in their land. Antisemites believed that establishment of a Jewish homeland would be a convenient way to rid Europe of Jews. Imperialists hoped that a Jewish Palestine would be an excuse for a British protectorate there, and might serve as a solution for the "Eastern Question.""

[mike_c]

2. drip, drip, drip....

eom

[mmm]

3. The TRUTH!

ugly, is it not?

[newyorican]

4. Prepare for excessive...

chest beating and hair-pulling with the obligatory cries of anti-semitism, as well as the usual threats to leave the democratic party to join dubya in his rapture...

[mountainvue]

6. Holy sh8t!

Let me pick my jaw up off the floor.

[TruthIsAll]

7. Bushit! It's the fundies and the oil and the crony $ he's after.

Jews make up less than 3% of the population (6 million). They are not a numeric factor, and a 10-15% pickup in votes (from 30%-40%) is immaterial. The Dems will carry all the states in which they are a factor (CA,NY,IL,PA). Bush will steal FL again.

On the other hand there are 50,000,000 fundies which are the core of the Bush vote.

[DaveSZ]

10. I belive Nick Berg's father is Jewish right?

He's certainly a Bush fan.

:eyes:

[Alerter_]

11. Bush and Cheney have been fundraising from AIPAC just last week

Bush and Cheney have been giving speeches to AIPAC and following the advice of Pro-Israeli hawks since his campaign. Surely you're not going to pretend that Jewish fundies aren't a big part of this Neo-Con alliance? Is this a conspiracy to blame the Jews?

[meti57b]

13. Hey, don't underestimate us, the International Jewish Conspiracy rules ...

the world!!!

[amandabeech]

14. You are right about the fundies, of which I suspect Bush is one.

However, I have been told, but do not have a cite, that Jewish-Americans have been extremely generous contributors to the Democratic Party coffers--amounts disproportionate to their numbers. It's good strategy to drain away as many of your opponent's major contributors as possible.

And if W can convince Jewish-American voters in Florida to switch parties, it makes Jeb's job that much easier. That state may be very close and both sides will be planning for a fight early. Plans are being laid now on both sides.

[killbotfactory]

8. Iran also was behind it, apparently...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1643886

BushCo and Chalabi, sittin' in a tree...

[DaveSZ]

12. LOL

Ok well, let's just say it was a joint effort between the Likudniks, Fundies, Chalabis, and Halliburtons.

[Alerter_]

24. each faction is now fighting over the oil

this fight is turning out uglier that the invasion.

[w4rma]

15. It's fundies from BOTH Christian and Jewish religions, imho.

And they are ganging up on the fundies in the Islamic religion.

And the rest of us normal Christians, Jews, Muslims and everyone else are being dragged along for the ride.

[bloom]

21. I agree...n/t

[bobthedrummer]

23. I concur, plus there is the secret society factor to add to this madness.

Some of these folks have names being attached to the facts now.
:grr:

[Kelvin Mace]

16. Except that now it appears

that Chalabi was an IRANIAN intelligence operation all along.

[Alerter_]

17. Was Chalabi clever enough to play all sides?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1643886#1644017
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1643886

Since he looks like a prison of Bush now, I guess he wasn't so clever after all?

[diamond14]

18. PHOTOS: bush* speaks at major pro-Israel lobbying group event....

President Bush (news - web sites) waves to the audience after speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group, in Washington Tuesday, May 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)



President Bush (news - web sites) makes speaks Tuesday, May 18, 2004, to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)



President Bush (news - web sites) receives a standing ovation prior to speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group, in Washington Tuesday, May 18, 2004. At right is AIPAC president Howard Kohr and left is committee member Robert Asher. Bush said that Israel 'has every right to defend itself from terror' and that Palestinians must renounce terror and reject failed leaders. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)



President Bush (news - web sites) waves as he arrives onstage to speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group, in Washington Tuesday, May 18, 2004.Bush said that Israel 'has every right to defend itself from terror' and that Palestinians must renounce terror and reject failed leaders. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)



U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) smiles as he receives applause from members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in Washington May 18, 2004. Bush today pushed his Mideast peace effort as his administration tries sway Jewish voters who could prove crucial in a tight election. At left is AIPAC's executive director Howard Kohr and at right is AIPAC president Bernice Monacherian. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

[harshthemellow]

19. That should bring along some more Jewish voters

Hollings sure knows how to gain fence sitting Jewish votes.

[Trajan]

26. When you are RIGHT ....

Fence sitters are irrelevent ....

[bullimiami]

25. Jusl like the US

There are the madmen like Sharon and Likud and then there are the sane people.
I dont believe that a majority of American Jews support the right wing agenda in either country.
I am appalled at Sharon and Likud just as I am appalled at Bushco.
Bush wont get a lot of Jewish votes by dancing into hell with Sharon at his side.

It is insanity.

[Alerter_]

27. 150,000 anti-war protestors in Tel Aviv last week

I doubt Likud will survive their next election.