IN NAME ONLY
The best lobbying job in America must be that of a lobbyist for AIPAC, the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee.
Generally recognized as the most powerful lobby in America, AIPAC's website proclaims its mission to be: For more than half a century, American Israeli Public Affairs Committee has worked to make Israel more secure by ensuring that American support remains strong.
That is a laudable mission for any organization lobbying on behalf of a foreign country, but what is so neat about being a lobbyist for AIPAC are privileges no other lobbyist can even fathom, much less enjoy.
For example lobbyists for AIPAC can spy on America with impunity as prosecution is off the table. Just ask Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, AIPAC employees who had been charged with committing espionage on behalf of Israel. Their trial was delayed for five years and quietly dropped last week by the Justice Department, even though Larry Franklin, the Pentagon analyst accused of passing government secrets to Rosen and Weissman, plead guilty to espionage and received a twelve year sentence in 2005. Apparently, it's OK to solicit and receive US secrets on behalf of AIPAC, but it's hard time for the non-AIPAC government official who hands over those secrets.
Another great benefit of lobbying for AIPAC is that you can sabotage the appointment of an outstanding appointee to a key intelligence position simply because AIPAC believes that the appointee will not tilt toward Israel in assessing intelligence. How can this happen? Just ask Charles Freeman whose appointment to head the National Intelligence Council was derailed last March after intensive lobbying efforts orchestrated by AIPAC. Freeman was a good choice for this position precisely because his refusal to religiously follow an Israeli slanted intelligence view would prevent the phony intelligence estimates that allowed America to blunder into the Iraq war.
Much as I would love the perks that go with it, only one thing would keep me from accepting a lobbying position with AIPAC. Call me old fashioned, but I believe America must come first in more than name only.
Generally recognized as the most powerful lobby in America, AIPAC's website proclaims its mission to be: For more than half a century, American Israeli Public Affairs Committee has worked to make Israel more secure by ensuring that American support remains strong.
That is a laudable mission for any organization lobbying on behalf of a foreign country, but what is so neat about being a lobbyist for AIPAC are privileges no other lobbyist can even fathom, much less enjoy.
For example lobbyists for AIPAC can spy on America with impunity as prosecution is off the table. Just ask Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, AIPAC employees who had been charged with committing espionage on behalf of Israel. Their trial was delayed for five years and quietly dropped last week by the Justice Department, even though Larry Franklin, the Pentagon analyst accused of passing government secrets to Rosen and Weissman, plead guilty to espionage and received a twelve year sentence in 2005. Apparently, it's OK to solicit and receive US secrets on behalf of AIPAC, but it's hard time for the non-AIPAC government official who hands over those secrets.
Another great benefit of lobbying for AIPAC is that you can sabotage the appointment of an outstanding appointee to a key intelligence position simply because AIPAC believes that the appointee will not tilt toward Israel in assessing intelligence. How can this happen? Just ask Charles Freeman whose appointment to head the National Intelligence Council was derailed last March after intensive lobbying efforts orchestrated by AIPAC. Freeman was a good choice for this position precisely because his refusal to religiously follow an Israeli slanted intelligence view would prevent the phony intelligence estimates that allowed America to blunder into the Iraq war.
Much as I would love the perks that go with it, only one thing would keep me from accepting a lobbying position with AIPAC. Call me old fashioned, but I believe America must come first in more than name only.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 5:18 PM
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