Reply #11: Yes, but why did the Dems go along with it? [View All]

[hans]

You are right, IMO, to include the factors you listed as some of the main reasons that Bush launched the war, but the follow-up questions is why did the leading lights of the Democratic Party, and expecially why did Hillary Clinton, agree to vote for the IWR. Surely there are two main reasons they went along:

1. They were afraid of being seen as weak on defense and terrorism and lacked the courage of their own convictions to openly confront Bush and vote against the IWR.

2. They were also afraid to stand up to AIPAC and many other influntial doners and party bigwigs who habitually support a hard line on Israeli / Palestian issues.

The great irony here, is that the war in Iraq has been a disaster for Israel, and the grand poobahs of AIPAC have been shown to be fools on parade. Fools who have learned nothing, and are now intent on war in Iran.

The most disappointing recent development in this long, desparately sad saga, is Hillary Clinton pandering to the Jewish lobby by declaring her support for exclusive Israeli control of Jerusalem, in contravention of the original U.N. mandate declaring it an open city, and in contravention of long standing U.S. foreign policy.

This kind of pandering will eventually get a million Americans killed for nothing. That's what I think. Hans