r/InternationalNews • u/richards1052 • Jun 26 '24
Opinion/Analysis AIPAC: Has the pro-Israel lobby bribed and bought US democracy?
https://www.newarab.com/opinion/aipac-has-pro-israel-lobby-bribed-and-bought-us-democracy208
u/maubyfizzz Jun 26 '24
Yes
112
u/ThePopesicle Jun 27 '24
AIPAC spent 14.5 mil against Jamaal Bowman for speaking out against Israel.
Yeah, this shit is broke.
50
u/maubyfizzz Jun 27 '24
I wonder how much they paid to smother the USS Liberty incident. America is under attack.
2
u/Appropriate-Draft-91 Jun 28 '24
That isn't the whole picture. If you look at his voting history, Bowman was Israel's lapdog. They spent 14.5 mil to make an example out of him because he made people believe he wasn't supporting Israel.
30
u/LeftySlides Jun 27 '24
Years ago. Only difference is they’ve lost the shade, stakes are higher and people are (hopefully) waking up.
6
u/buttersyndicate Jun 27 '24
That's an american exceptionalist assumption, "if only Israel didn't hijack our democracy buuuh", as if your external police ever was related to your democracy façade.
Maybe you should follow the track record of your perfectly dead Kissinger to assume the US doesn't need a lobby to involve themselves in genocides.
Indonesia had no lobby. Nicaragua had no lobby. Iraq had a million direct deaths and dozens of millions displaced. Libya was the most functional country in the Maghreb region and now it's a hellhole where literal slavery has reborn.
Don't rush so fast to exonerate US imperialism, it has a lot of (oil) reasons to keep the Middle East subservient, even if it takes destabilizing it from time to time against the wishes of an oil lobby that only knows short-term game, specially now that Russia and China are expanding their influence there.
Edit: typo
4
54
u/SolidFarmer99 Jun 26 '24
They did in the 1970s and continue to do so to this very day
14
u/mwa12345 Jun 27 '24
Well .our politicians stay bought.
Look at Biden. He has been bought since the 70s I guess
70
78
u/bomboclawt75 Jun 26 '24
I wonder Which Zionist will be president in 24/28/32/36/40/44/48/52/56/60/64?
When both parties are openly owned by a foreign state- democracy is dead as a door nail. It’s over.
15
u/Alexanderspants Jun 26 '24
No one is owned by a foreign state. Israel is an extension of the US "deep state". The unelected institutes that control the country's polices. AIPAC is an indirect way for them to control the democratic process so that no actual populist politicians can throw a spanner in the system
20
u/LeftySlides Jun 27 '24
A foreign state is leveraging the U.S. government to prioritize Israeli concerns ahead of American concerns. Everyone in Israel gets healthcare and social programs. Their problems are not the same as those of the average American. If you’re concerned about a “deep state” I’d suggest it didn’t start in the US but rather helped establish it. Brandeis was the first Zionist affiliate to gain political power within the US—via the blackmail of Woodrow Wilson—but there was a very organized group out of Europe who made that happen. To this powerful group the US is a new frontier, a powerhouse at their beck and call. Netanyahu’s been embarrassing the current US administration and they’re still covering for his war crimes week in and week out.
6
u/Alexanderspants Jun 27 '24
A foreign state is leveraging the U.S. government to prioritize Israeli concerns ahead of American concerns.
And for the US security state that wish to maintain a US hegemony in the Middle East with Israel as its military outpost, those interests aligning perfectly are a pure coincidence I'm sure
7
u/noisylettuce Jun 27 '24
Do you think without Israel the US would still be trying to eradicate any natives in the Middle east and goading Iran, Russia and the US to kill to each other in nuclear war?
7
u/LeftySlides Jun 27 '24
I am not suggesting that the US wouldn’t be pushing hegemony without AIPAC, or that Israel is its sole priority. But there are 800+ foreign military bases around the world and there’s not another country who flaunts its influence over America as does Israel. They’ll literally crush any American politician that gets in their way. You cannot BE a successful American politician without prioritizing Israel’s concerns ahead of everything. And while the money runs to the top, it’s not necessarily running to the top Americans.
14
u/Riaayo Jun 26 '24
Not a fan of the "deep state" term because of the whack right-wing conspiracies associated with it, but overall the point isn't wrong. Israel isn't wagging the dog here; it's doing exactly what US imperialism wants it to by proxy.
6
u/mwa12345 Jun 27 '24
Then why does AIPAC have to raise and spend so much money?
1
Jun 30 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/mwa12345 Jul 01 '24
So we should be OK if , say , a set of Russians do this and encourage US to start funding, say, 30% of Russia's defense budget? Or china's?
1
Jul 01 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/mwa12345 Jul 03 '24
So ...Russians are not as well versed in corrupting the US?
Or are US politicians so well bought out that they won't consider other options and there is too much infrastructure for one country that Russians will have difficulty?
. I am inclined to think it is the latter
1
u/kylepo Jun 27 '24
Yeah, while I'm sure AIPAC does get some dark money from within Israel, the organization is mostly funded by the military-industrial complex. The country isn't "controlled by Israel" so much as it is "controlled by people who benefit financially from Israel's existence."
Most of AIPAC's donors aren't even Jewish; They're Evangelical Christians.
1
u/JadeBeach Jun 27 '24
You have a source for this? Bernie Marcus (Home Depot) is a top donor and he is Jewish, not evangelical Christian.
3
u/SpinningHead Jun 26 '24
Democracy is a constant fight against those that would undermine it. Its not simply inherited.
20
23
u/TheUnknownNut22 Jun 26 '24
Fuck Israel and fuck Israel lobby! But fuck the corrupt traitor politicians who take their money and do their dirty deeds!
2
u/half-puddles Jun 27 '24
While Biden MUST win, he is a Zionist too.
0
u/Appropriate-Draft-91 Jun 28 '24
Why must Biden win?
1
u/half-puddles Jun 28 '24
Is there anyone else who is not Trump?
1
u/Appropriate-Draft-91 Jun 28 '24
About 300 million people. And roughly half of them aren't endorsing genocide.
0
u/half-puddles Jun 29 '24
Oh you are talking school dropouts and Moscow fanatics with bleached hair and “I will have sex in public” kind of people who should run for office?
Great thinking there.
0
17
u/420PokerFace Jun 26 '24
Over $300 a vote in the Bowman race. Could’ve bought a lot of school lunches with that
1
u/half-puddles Jun 27 '24
Nah, this money buys more free weapons to flatten the next Middle Eastern country.
9
18
Jun 26 '24
Yes the US will become a hollow shell of its former self once these foreign lobbies are done with us. The American citizen will be left with the bill. Disgusting. I thought people had pride in this country. All I see is betrayal and an obsession with money. Terrible leaders since the day I was born (80’s). Shocking thing is this country has not been a democracy since when I was born. We were only told we were. Meanwhile the country had already been stolen from under our fore father’s noses before we even had a chance. America has a legacy of idiots. Sorry but it’s true.
15
u/Independentizo Jun 26 '24
Yes. 100% yes. Frighteningly so. Israel is NOT an ally to the US, it is a foreign agent. Until the US comes to terms with this you will never see a change because AIPAC as a major lobby will not give up its control without basically freezing assets, criminal charges and a MASSIVE undertaking to expel foreign influence.
In a way, this could actually be a positive of the US going down a more fascist route in that a “dictator” could actually galvanize the US system into action, provided they aren’t simply an Israeli puppet, which would be a real chance.
7
6
8
u/Riaayo Jun 26 '24
Billionaires and corporate interests have. AIPAC is just one of them, and feels particularly egregious since it represents first and foremost a foreign power rather than a domestic oligarch/company.
I'm not sure I'm willing yet to say that Israel is wagging the dog because I think Israel is engaging in behavior the US wants it to. We're not begrudgingly supporting them in a genocide. Biden (and far too many other politicians in DC) wants this.
Biden may be mildly annoyed with the optics, but he doesn't give a fuck about the Palestinian people's suffering.
3
u/speakhyroglyphically Jun 27 '24
Exactly, by the US behavior of supporting Israel at all costs for so many years it's hard to see how everything happening now is not the 'desired outcome'
5
7
6
5
4
6
9
5
Jun 26 '24
This started with citizens United
2
u/FSL6929 Jun 27 '24
Did it? Citizens United was in 2010.
What was different before?
1
Jun 27 '24
Supreme Court allowed business into the political arena . Money talks if it was just people , there wouldn't be lots of dark money. Apic wouldn't be able to spend all that money
1
u/FSL6929 Jun 27 '24
I'm old enough to remember that not much changed. Business has always been in the political arena. It has always been like this.
1
Jun 27 '24
So you think citizen united case has no effect
1
u/FSL6929 Jun 27 '24
No, didn't say that.
But you highlighted this specific case, stating that the Supreme Court allowed business into the political arena.
My point is that "big money" was in the political arena long before then.
It has always been a part of the Western democratic system.
5
u/Salty_Map_9085 Jun 26 '24
Kinda but not really, the interests of the Israel lobby align with the interests of a lot of other powerful lobbies that have worked together to buy US democracy.
4
5
7
Jun 26 '24
Is the space pope reptilian?
8
3
u/turtleduck Jun 26 '24
unfortunately, because of Citizen's United, it's legal. they took advantage of the changes to District 16 in NY which added a large number of older, Jewish constituents. Keep in mind we're less than 15 miles away from Columbia University. Jamaal Bowman was our representative for 4 years, anyone saying the fire alarm scandal swayed them is bullshitting. that happened before he was elected for his second term. His alleged "antisemitism" is taken out of context because he isn't a great speaker. I voted for him because even though he shoots himself in the foot all the time, his intentions are his and only his, and I do not reward fakery or corruption.
you want to know what the ballot was like? we had Bowman vs. Latimer, Cacace vs. Wagstaff (Cacace is a Republican running as a Democrat), and Shimsky vs some anti-vaxx dude. What the fuck is going on?
2
2
2
u/SkotchKrispie Jun 27 '24
Fuck Israel. Israel led directly to the oil crisis of the 70’a that cost us trillions in the middle of the Cold War. The shithole led directly tot he election of Reagan who gutted democracy and steamrolled economic growth more than anyone ever has.
2
2
2
2
u/Careful_Jackfruit144 Jun 27 '24
The U.S. is a crazy place, gets all worked up about Russian interference but will embrace israeli interference. Russia is less of a threat to supposed “American democracy” than israel
2
Jun 27 '24
Yes. Frankly it’s time to block all foreign lobbyist groups.
Either they’re 100% U.S. based or they get the boot.
2
1
u/Monsur_Ausuhnom Jun 26 '24
Depends on which lobbying group has the most money. The biggest bribe will win. Bribery is legal for democracy in America and its better to be owned by someone else.
1
1
1
u/Viciouscauliflower21 Jun 27 '24
They're one (very big) name on a long list
1
u/JadeBeach Jun 27 '24
AIPAC exists to lobby for Israel, a foreign state. Can you name another foreign state that directly tries to influence the outcome of US elections?
1
u/mwa12345 Jun 27 '24
US is an oligarchy. You won't see a lot of studies on this
But here is a link to a study.
1
u/Wakks Jun 27 '24
Bit of a lurker, first time posting here. While I like Bowman, even with his baggage, there's a bit more to this primary than AIPAC. The attack ads were definitely numerous, and voters looked away from Latimer's gaffes during the time leading up to this. But polling showed Bowman losing from jump by about the same margin he lost from yesterday. To go along with this, his district got redrawn during his time in office. From an NBC4 article I saw in a different thread, the black/white population percentage swung 16%, 8% out for black ppl, 8% in for white ppl. That's about the same margin he lost by. Add to that suburban white ppl in general are far from staunch pro-palestinians, pro working class, etc. And the fact that he won by a much slimmer margin than he lost by, it was going to be uphill regardless. AIPAC definitely flexed their wallet muscles, but it wasn't a hard one to win imo.
1
u/JadeBeach Jun 27 '24
Agree that Bowman was not an ideal candidate and was behind from the beginning. So why did AIPAC spend $15 million to defeat him? They aren't fools.
2
u/Wakks Jun 28 '24
I feel like there is something to be said about the spectacle of it. Like, how important was Bowman's particular seat, really? I don't know. At the end of the day, that seat is very likely going democrat no matter who wins that primary. It's how we got fucking Eric Adams as mayor in the city. AOC won her district primary handily even after the redistricting. AIPAC put money up against lots of folks, but they went all in on Bowman, who seemed to already be on the thinnest ice. I really think it was mainly a flex and a flex to get their opponents riled up and anxious. This isn't an excuse to not worry about AIPAC, but to remember to come correct and get an accurate gauge of their effect.
1
1
1
u/popularpragmatism Jun 27 '24
Of course, you will often see comments about AIPAC only being a tier 2 financial contributor. It doesn't, of course, reflect all the lobbying costs, other NGO funds, it directs & individual donations.
Of the $3 billion a year, US taxpayers give Israel....who knows why....a big chunk just ends up back to fund the lobbyists.
If they can't bribe them, they will primary them or blackmail them.
$14 mil to unseat Jamal Bowman in a minor NY seat ? The guy is an idiot but it's up to his district, not foreign government cash, to decide
1
1
u/17samia2233 Jun 27 '24
I don’t understand what Israel gives back to America for all this support. Americans tax dollars have kept the country propped up for the last almost 8 decades. They have free education, free healthcare, land that costs peanuts, and the only jobs they have is to go and kill Palestinians and burn their houses down and settle there. They literally get paid for that. While Americans are suffering at a different level. Healthcare crisis, education crisis, cost of living, inflation, poor mortgage market, unprecedented levels of crime, while rich are getting richer, poor are being lynched in this wealth crisis. So all this support being rallied for Israel is for what purpose ? They don’t even have anymore power left in the Middle East, they are completely isolated and shunned. It just baffles me.
1
u/Chronotaru Jun 27 '24
It's not like they're the only ones, you've got the fossil fuel companies, the drug companies, the private health insurance companies, and that's only the obvious ones, there is a list longer than you are...
1
1
1
u/Adventurous_Aerie_79 Jun 27 '24
Well they utterly bought almost every member of congress and the president, hollywood, and most of the media. So they've been very thorogh
1
1
u/mrkl3en Jun 28 '24
Yes, they interfere with us domestic politics for the benefit of a foreign country. So treason and espionage, especially considering we went to war for 20 years based on the false intel bib fed us. Us lives were lost and no one has been held accountable
•
u/AutoModerator Jun 26 '24
Remember the human & be courteous to others.
Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas. Criticizing arguments is fine, name-calling (including shill/bot accusations) others is not.
If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
Please checkout our other subreddit /r/MultimediaNews, for maps, infographics, v.reddit, & YouTube videos from news organizations.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.