opinion

York AIPAC leader off base on Iran

According to Allison Siegelman, AIPAC is still pretty upset about the Iran nuclear deal.

Why? Well first of all, “political rhetoric in Iran continues to be hostile, rather than diplomatic, toward the United States.” Even worse, the current Ayatollah “is strongly warning his people to be wary of America's influence in the region.”

But shucks, wasn't it these United States that overthrew the elected popular government of Iran, back in the '50s? So maybe it's possible this Ayatollah, however extreme and even un-Islamic some of his views may be, is actually looking out for his own people - like for example the U.S. government should be looking out for its own people?

“Death to America” or “Death to Israel” is extreme, but when people and whole nations feel threatened, they say extreme things. In any case, it is not too surprising that Iran is not enthusiastically “willing to make diplomatic deals with the United States or the United Nations on other issues.” In fact, all of us should be a lot more wary of the deals the U.N. is currently cutting with national governments in their current power grab (Agenda 2030), if truth be told.

Another hostile tactic recently employed by Iran is “retaining a number of journalists and businessmen who the regime deems are American spies.” But seriously, does anyone doubt there are American spies in Iran? Or that spies really do pose as journalists and businessmen? Doubtless there are American spies in Iran, and Iranian spies in America, and even, for example, Israeli spies in America: it is the way of the world.

Siegelman briefly mentions that Iran is dismantling equipment “to comply with the agreement,” but is worried that some Iranian leaders are complaining about the swiftness of the compliance. But rhetoric aside, Iran is not an aggressor nation, and has not been so for some time. We are told that Iran is committing aggressive actions aiming to bolster Assad's control in Syria.

But shucks, isn't it Assad who was recently re-elected by his beleaguered people, in elections that were internationally certified? So who exactly is the aggressor here, trying to overthrow this legitimately elected government? And why are those nations, notably Iran and Russia, who are supporting that government - why are those nations somehow the rogues?

If there is to be any healing of the ongoing hatred of the Israeli state by its neighbors, certain facts need to be publicly acknowledged. First, the Israeli state was created by Western imperial powers (France and Britain) and imposed upon the Palestinian Arab population. Second, the Israeli state is the most powerfully armed nation in the region, and the only one possessing nuclear weapons. Third, this state has shown persistent expansionist tendencies in the region (the phrase “Greater Israel” comes to mind) - tendencies recently rebuked by a major conference of reform Jews. Fourth, U.S. financial support of the Israeli state stands at just over $3 billion yearly, and the word is that the current prime minister is demanding an increase to $4 billion. Fifth, there are credible reports that every sitting member of the U.S. Congress except one (not local) has signed an “Israel First” pledge, to support the claims and demands of the Israeli state. In fact, when someone in an American city recently hired a billboard to read “America First, Not Israel,” they were quickly accused of anti-Semitism.

In short, the latest bill of complaints from AIPAC is completely lacking in essential perspectives, and pales in significance compared to the alarming subordination of the U.S. government to the Israeli state - in which AIPAC itself is instrumental.

Larry Rinehart lives in Dover Township.