AIPAC is strong but it does not explain the pro-Zionist tilt in U.S. policy. If money were the only consideration, nothing would prevent Arab governments from exerting the same influence, unless you think they are in league with Israel.
There are bigger forces that support Israel, and there is more public opinion and voting strength on Israel's side.
mbs
>
> Support to Israel has not been driven by the geopolitical interests of the
> US. It is driven by the strength of AIPAC. In order to break the power of
> AIPAC over US policy to the ME, you need public financing of elections in
> the US.
>
> When it comes to US policy to the ME, Isreal is in the driver's seat.
> pro-Israel politcians dominate the foreign relations committee in
> the house
> and the Senate. Israel gets more than 50% of US forieng aid because of the
> strength of AIPAC in Congress.
>
> To defeat AIPAC, you must have public financing of campaigns. IMO there is
> no other way to break the hold that Israel has on US Foreign policy in the
> ME.
>
> Naji
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Yoshie Furuhashi" <furuhashi.1 at osu.edu>
> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 2:47 AM
> Subject: Re: placing the palestinian struggle
>
>
> > > || -----Original Message-----
> > > || From: Max B. Sawicky
> > >
> > > || I tend to agree, but not exactly for the same reason.
> > > || There are other liberation struggles too. In and of itself
> > > || it is not obvious why this one has unique merit, aside from
> > > || the current offensive by Israel.
> > >
> > >It has the same merit as Hezbollah's victory over Tsahal: It shows that
> even
> > >the most powerful armies are unable to defeat a resolute people. The
> > >escalation of the conflict has simply brought the inevitable outcome
> nearer,
> > >viz. Palestinian statehood or total war in the ME and probably
> beyond. If
> > >the PLO wins, empire loses big. The PLO also has merit beyond that of
> > >Hezbollah bec it's still by and large secular.
> > >
> > >Hakki
> >
> > At this point in history, Palestinian statehood would most likely be
> > better for the Empire than continuing Israeli occupation. The US
> > support of Israel made geopolitical sense during the Cold War when
> > secular Arab nationalists, leaning toward populism or socialism, were
> > strong, but it doesn't any longer.
> > --
> > Yoshie
> >
> > * Calendar of Events in Columbus:
> > <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html>
> > * Anti-War Activist Resources:
> <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html>
> > * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/>
> > * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>
>
>