HCR 362 - international effort to impose stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains,entering or departing Iran

Last Saturday Saturday, July 05, 2008 Saturday, July 05, 2008AIPAC want the US to bomb Iran .... call your Congressman, 220 signed up already about the the House Continuing Resolution 362. introduced by Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY] and Mike Pence (R-IN) on May 22nd (also see Sen. Res. 580 Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and John Thune (R-SD)) . This is AIPAC sponsored legislation to sideline any UN resolution and ...

..."(4) urges the President to lead a sustained, serious, and forceful effort at regional diplomacy to support the legitimate governments in the region against Iranian efforts to destabilize them, to reassure our friends and allies that the United States supports them in their resistance to Iranian efforts at hegemony, and to make clear to the Government of Iran that the United States will protect America's vital national security interests in the Middle East. (i.e bomb the shit out of them)"

There were then 220 co-signees and now there are (238) 237 - more details @ Stop Aipac but U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, who originally supported the resolution, now says "I'm all for stricter sanctions against Iran, but the blockade part goes too far," and is going to tell the sponsors he has withdrawn his support.

Rep. Robert Wexler has written in Huffington Post that he wants to present an amendment to prevent the language on Resolved Clause 3 ...that an "international effort to impose stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran." could be misread misused to , in his words "be interpreted by President Bush as "a green light" to use force against Iran."

Rep Dennis J. Kucinich from Ohio who usually has two opinions on anything has circulated a letter expressing his opposition to the Bill and especially the clause about a blockade. In memorable terms he says that ..."The Bill leaves the door open for war but is silent on ways to avoid it. Dennis also voted against the The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, another AIPAC sponsored measure that carried 404-6.

Stop Aipac points out that AIPAC supporters fear that conviction of spies and AIPAC employees Keith Weissman and Steve Rosen (trial delayed yet again) would result in AIPAC requiring to register as agents of a foreign power. AIPAC closely coordinates policy with the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC and the Israeli government, making it an agent of a foreign government. AIPAC should therefore not be allowed to keep its 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable status. This might cripple its role in US politics - it might also increase their afforts.

Factoid. Rep Steny Hoyer , 69 (D-MD -the highest-ranking Member of Congress from Maryland in history) is the Democrat Whip (voted House Majority Leader by a stonking 149-86) - his sister is Bernice Manocherian - she was chairman of AIPAC in 2005 when both Nancy Pelosi and Condileeza Rice addressed the Annual AIPAC Policy Conference on May 24th 2005. This is what Nancy said on that happy occasion ..

"The people of Israel long for peace and are willing to make the sacrifices to achieve it. We hope that peace and security come soon - and that this moment of opportunity is not lost. As Israel continues to take risks for peace, she will have no friend more steadfast that the United States.

"In the words of Isaiah, we will make ourselves to Israel 'as hiding places from the winds and shelters from the tempests; as rivers of water in dry places; as shadows of a great rock in a weary land.'

"The United States will stand with Israel now and forever. Now and forever."

You can read Steny Hoyer's biog on his Congress website in both English and Spanish ... nowhere does it mention Israel. You might also want to read how he wriggled to let through an amnesty for telcos on warrentless wiretapping - two faced , double dealing shit..