Iran war hawks going NUTS--AIPAC's #1 researcher attacks protestor at Cheney speech

[geek tragedy]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/did-a-top-iran-hawk-think-tanker-go-berserk-at-the-cheney-speech

But in the video there's a man who gets into a wild wrestling match with one of the protestors, flailing around his body, doing everything he can to tear her sign apart before finally sitting down.


According to numerous people who know this community well and know the players, the guy epically losing his shit is none other that Patrick Clawson, a top executive at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. While not formally affiliated with AIPAC, WINEP is widely and rightly seen as AIPAC's think tank. Founded in 1985, like AIPAC, it has trended in a more right-leaning direction in the last two decades. Clawson is the Director of Research at the Institute as well as heading up their "Iran Security Initiative". It is not too much to say that Clawson is an uber-Iran hawk and utter opponent of the current deal. He even got in trouble of few years back by appearing to suggest that Israel should create a "false flag" operation to provoke a war with Iran if we were having too hard a time getting one started ourselves.


...

Bear in mind this is a 64 year old man in a high-ranking position at one of the most prominent think tanks in Washington, DC and if this is him he's totally losing his shit in a way that simply cannot not be tied to anything but the bundled up frustration of seeing a war with Iran seemingly go down the drain. Also keep in mind, It's the Vice President. There's security there. No need for think tank denizens to body slam the protestors or flail around antically tearing up their signs. There are men in suits and ear pieces there for that.

So is it him? Good question!

Everyone who knows him and who has seen the video either thinks it's him or is certain it's him

Since they couldn't lie us into another war, the Neocons are now engaging in fisticuffs to release their angst. They are very, very upset.

[haikugal]

1. Good!!

[procon]

2. His wrestling spectacle was more memorable than whatever BS Cheney said.

That crazy old coot was apoplectic and he acted like a fool. I thought was going to have a stroke. I suspect he is either prone to these outburst rages because most adults don't go postal in public, in front of the press, cameras, and in view GOP big shots, or he was outaged that the protester was young, female and black.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Cons despise black females that's for sure. nt

[wheniwasincongress]

3. Video (starts halfway through)

While the guy has a serious fit (he looks like he's flying in the wind every which way), apparently using all his physical might to take away her banner, she meanwhile uses only one hand to hold onto her banner and calmly holds her ground

[moondust]

4. And loses the battle.

I was surprised to see the protestor hang on the way she did and finally prevail.

[leveymg]

6. When is it going to dawn on people: AIPAC/WINEP is a radical RW fringe group representing a

nuclear armed Mideastern theocracy. They are armed and dangerous, and should be approached with caution.

[geek tragedy]

8. approached with caution, with no sudden movements apparently nt

[starroute]

7. Clawson and WINEP never met a regime change scheme they didn't like

They were vociferous supporters of the Iraq War and then immediately turned their focus on Iran. Even before that, they'd done a great deal to sabotage any Israeli deal with the Palestinians. (See http://www.debriefing.org/0997.html)

If Clawson sees his life's work in ruins -- and it is -- it might explain his behavior.