AIPAC opposes Rand Paul's bill to cut aid to Palestinians

[tsai3904]

The nation’s leading pro-Israel lobbying group will not support new legislation that would cut off U.S. aid to the Palestinians, according to multiple sources tracking the debate.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the country’s top pro-Israel outfit, is not supporting new legislation by Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) that would cut off aid to the Palestinian government following its decision to form a unity government with the terror group Hamas.

...

“We are not supporting the Paul bill,” said one AIPAC insider. “We believe the law currently on the books is strong and ensures that aid is contingent on key conditions that help maintain America’s influence, keep Israel secure, and advance the peace process.”

...

More:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/aipac-oppose-bill-to-cut-u-s-aid-to-palestinians/

 

[carlton]

More:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/aipac-oppose-bill-to-cut-u-s-aid-to-palestinians/

What a joke...

 

[AlexAmore]

I've followed Rand's legislation from the beginning. He throws carefully crafted legislation out there to put neocons and alike on the record for unpopular and contradictory positions to expose them for what they truly are. He's a brilliant mofo.

 

[twomp]

In the other thread, some members of this forum called this right away. Kudos guys!

 

[TaftFan]

I mentioned something would happen along these lines in another thread. They don't want Rand to get elected.

 

[jkr]

clownz
gonna
clown

 

[eduardo89]

They hate Rand more than they love Israel.

 

[FriedChicken]

They hate Rand more than they love Israel.

Me thinks they love money and sweet backroom deals more than they love Israel as well.
Rand's bill was in Israel's best interest. In this instance AIPAC is the one siding against Israel.

 

[KingNothing]

I've followed Rand's legislation from the beginning. He throws carefully crafted legislation out there to put neocons and alike on the record for unpopular and contradictory positions to expose them for what they truly are. He's a brilliant mofo.

His ability to do this is stunning. I've never seen anything like it before.

 

[specsaregood]

I've followed Rand's legislation from the beginning. He throws carefully crafted legislation out there to put neocons and alike on the record for unpopular and contradictory positions to expose them for what they truly are. He's a brilliant mofo.

That's exactly it. But anybody can propose legislation; his brilliance comes in the many ways he has gotten them to force a vote on his legislation rather than allow them to ignore it.

 

[TaftFan]

ZOA supports his bill: http://zoa.org/2014/04/10241510-zoa...p-a-unless-it-accepts-israel-as-jewish-state/

 

[francisco]

That's exactly it. But anybody can propose legislation; his brilliance comes in the many ways he has gotten them to force a vote on his legislation rather than allow them to ignore it.

You're absolutely correct. But it goes beyond mere clever gamesmanship. Rand is making very public stands, all reasonable and consistent with his underlying philosophy, on a broad range of issues.

I'm honestly beginning to think that the two wonderful, eye-opening campaigns of Rand's Dad Ron were only setting the stage for something even bigger yet to come.

 

[helmuth_hubener]

You're absolutely correct. But it goes beyond mere clever gamesmanship. Rand is making very public stands, all reasonable and consistent with his underlying philosophy, on a broad range of issues.

I'm honestly beginning to think that the two wonderful, eye-opening campaigns of Rand's Dad Ron were only setting the stage for something even bigger yet to come.

Here's hoping!

 

[69360]

Of course AIPAC opposes it. They are in bed with the MIC and WANT perpetual war.

 

[Matt Collins]

In the other thread, some members of this forum called this right away. Kudos guys!

Yeah it's great when members of the forum "get it" and really understand what is going on, reading between the lines, and grasping the political dynamics. It inspires my confidence in the liberty movement again instead of having a bunch of defeatists running around building bunkers.


(nothing wrong with building a bunker, but it's not time to live in one yet)

 

[Brian4Liberty]

More:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/aipac-oppose-bill-to-cut-u-s-aid-to-palestinians/

First off, Free Beacon is a neoconservative media outlet, so this may also represent the neoconservative view.

Regardless of who has what opinion, let's do the actual calculations:

- Having the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) publicly recognize Israel as a Jewish state would seem to be a step forward, and towards future peace. On the other hand, when the P.A. or anyone remotely associated with Palestinians says that Israel should not be recognized, it is used as a propaganda tool to demonize them all. Some would calculate that a public recognition of Israel by the P.A. would take away a valuable propaganda tool for those who would rather demonize those with whom they disagree.

- Cutting off aid to the P.A. is certainly attractive to fiscal conservatives in the U.S., but is it attractive to all? Just as the US Chamber of Commerce often supports government handouts and initiatives such as Obamacare, they do so because it is perceived to be to their advantage. When any government helps support the lowest paid laborers and unemployed, it allows the purchasers of that labor to reduce what they pay. This dynamic is also at play in the Levant.

- Lastly, cutting off aid to the P.A. is seen as a precedent for cutting other foreign aid. AIPAC and neoconservatives alike do not want to see the flow of US taxpayer money limited in any way, especially to Israel. It will stop flowing soon enough, when the US monetary system collapses from debt and monetary inflation. Print the money now, and party like it's 1999.

 

[jtstellar]

neither will some rpf members support this bill, so i guess aipac is on our side for once? hmm so confusing /s

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Here's the take from CFR neoconservative pundit Elliot Abrahms:

(Short version: US taxpayers should pay for anything he wants.)

Aid to the Palestinians: Why Rand Paul is Wrong

Senator Rand Paul has tried to attain some pro-Israel credentials by introducing S. 2265, the “Stand With Israel Act of 2014.” The bill would cut off every cent of aid to the Palestinian Authority unless various conditions were met.
...
Why is this not smart legislation? Among other things, it is not smart because it would force a cut-off of any U.S. assistance to the Palestinian security forces.
...
If the Palestinian forces that we have trained stop cooperating with Israel, or start winking at Hamas terrorism, we should cut them off. Until that happens, a cut-off is foolish and possibly dangerous. Whatever the intent of Sen. Paul’s legislation, it is certainly no help to Israel.
...
http://blogs.cfr.org/abrams/2014/05/01/aid-to-the-palestinians-why-rand-paul-is-wrong/

No help at all? So he doesn't want the P.A. to officially recognize Israel? Imagine that.

 

[anaconda]

Me thinks they love money and sweet backroom deals more than they love Israel as well.
Rand's bill was in Israel's best interest. In this instance AIPAC is the one siding against Israel.

It is my meager understanding that AIPAC is concerned because the aid to the Palestinian Authority covers funding of "security forces" that cooperate with Israel. And that they feel that the law currently in place provides for sufficient conditions placed upon the P.A.

 

[anaconda]

Here's the take from CFR neoconservative pundit Elliot Abrahms:

(Short version: US taxpayers should pay for anything he wants.)

Is this the same Elliott Abrams who lied a bunch to Congress but plead down to guilty of misdemeanors?