AIPAC vs ALIES

By Ben Heine, NWC NEWS - July 21, 2007

US Representatives, Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Lantos (D-CA), and Republicans Mike Pence, Darrell Issa and Charles Boustany met in a secret session last night upon receiving word that ALIES (American-Lebanon Institute for Enlightened Studies) had appended an amendment to their resolution affirming the continued US readiness to provide material and economic assistance to help protect Lebanese sovereignty and independence. The counter-resolution, provided by the registered foreign lobby of the Lebanese government, attacks the AIPAC (American-Israel Paranoia Association of Con-artists) drafted resolution introduced by Ackerman and co-"authored" by Lantos, the principal voice of AIPAC in the House, as one more example of AIPAC control of the US Congress which successfully writes on average of 100 resolutions and pieces of legislation per year for our illiterate representatives to sign, all favorably disposed to Israel. The caustic language of the resolution slams the hypocrisy of the Ackerman and Lantos resolution that indicts Syria and Hezbollah as enemies of Lebanon and not the state of Israel that, only one year ago, razed Lebanon to the ground in its most recent effort to demonstrate its friendship with the Lebanese people.

While it’s not possible in this brief report to cover all the language of the AIPAC resolution and the curt alternative offered by ALIES, I’ll attempt to parallel the most egregious "whereasses" and the corresponding "therefores." It’s imperative that this be done since the sponsors hope for a quick vote before the August recess. No doubt the assistance they seek from the US might be more swiftly deployed to make harmless the thousands of cluster bombs left by Israel in southern Lebanon after their retreat last year. Hundreds of lives could be saved with swift action.

The opening paragraph of the Ackerman/Lantos/AIPAC drafted resolution is worded thus:

"Expressing the ongoing concern of the House of Representatives for Lebanon's democratic institutions and unwavering support for the administration of justice upon those responsible for the assassination of Lebanese public figures opposing Syrian control of Lebanon. (Incomplete sentence).

1/Whereas on February 14, 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, along with 22 other people, was assassinated by a massive bomb;

2/Whereas Lebanon's Cedar Revolution led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April 2005, following 30 years of Syrian military occupation;"

(followed by another 14 "whereasses," most redundant and equally illiterate).

By contrast, the ALIES resolution presents the case explicitly:

"The US House of Representatives expresses its sincere concern for the Lebanese people as they attempt to reconstruct their lives after the harrowing destruction of their people, including the sick and infirm, the old, women and children, their cities, farms, ports, villages, and water, roadway and electrical infrastructures caused by Israel as it attempted to destroy its nemesis, Hezbollah, that operates in Lebanon as an accepted political and humanitarian entity regardless of the US State Department’s categorization of it as a terrorist organization. Therefore, in keeping with this sentiment we propose the following: …"

There are no "whereasses" in the ALIES resolution. Presented here are a few of the contrasting concerns expressed in the respective documents. Let’s begin with:

"Whereass" 4."Whereas Lebanese independence and sovereignty are still threatened by an ongoing campaign of assassinations and attempted assassinations of Lebanese political and public figures opposed to Syrian interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, and terrorist bombings intended to incite ethnic and religious hatred, the continuing presence of state-sponsored militias and foreign terrorist groups, and the ongoing and illegal trans-shipment of weapons and munitions from Iran and Syria into Lebanon;"

That mouthful contrasts with this statement by the writers of ALIES. Note that the following proposal does not omit the illegal interference in Lebanese affairs by the state of Israel.

"Therefore, we propose that the Lebanese people and their democratically elected representatives determine their own course without the interference of self-appointed "deciders" created by AIPAC so that neither Syria or Israel or the US House of Representatives attempt to determine for them their future. This proposal anticipates that Lebanon will seek the removal of all non-Lebanese from internal interference in state affairs including the illegal transshipment of weapons and munitions from Iran, Syria and Israel a state that continues to defy the UN and International law by unilateral invasion of Lebanese air space."

But there’s more. Consider these "Whereasses."

"8/Whereas the Speaker of the Lebanese parliament subverted the clear will of the Lebanese people, and a majority of Lebanese parliamentarians, by refusing to convene the parliament since November 2006 in order to prevent ratification of the statute approved by the Council of Ministers to create a Special Tribunal to bring to justice all those responsible for the terrorist bombing of February 14, 2005;"

"9/Whereas Hizbullah, a United States Department of State designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and their pro-Syrian allies have declared the democratically-elected and legitimate government of Lebanon 'unconstitutional', and are seeking to topple the government through extra-legal means, including, rioting, continuous street demonstrations outside of the Council of Ministers, and obstructing traffic in Beirut;"

Both of these "whereasses" address parliamentary procedures and policies. What’s of interest is the complete obfuscation of how the Republican Congress for six years used exactly these ruses to prevent open discussion with all the people’s representatives. It’s still happening, as we witness the futile efforts of the Democrats to carry out the will of the people regarding removing our troops from Iraq. Parliamentary manipulation used to stifle debate and action. Here is the response by ALIES.

"Therefore we propose that the Lebanese democratically elected parliament determine its own policies and procedures to carry out the will of the Lebanese people. As in any democracy, if one party obstructs that will, the people can vote them out. They express that will when necessary by taking to the streets with demonstrations outside federal buildings, outside the homes of elected officials and by obstructing traffic. It’s the democratic way."

Let’s consider just two more of the battling resolutions. The first, resolution 10 by the AIPAC designed draft, states the following:

"10. Whereas the transfer of weapons, ammunition, and fighters into Lebanon in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), has twice prompted the Security Council to issue statements, on April 17, 2007, (S/PRST/2007/12) and on June 11, 2007, (S/PRST/2007/17) wherein it expressed deep and serious concern at mounting information by Israel and other states of illegal movements of arms into Lebanon, and in particular across the Lebanese-Syrian border in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701;"

ALIES notes in its draft of their resolution responding to this "whereass," that it’s Israel that has determined for Lebanon that illegal arms have been brought into their country and that Israel cites UN resolutions, 1701 in this instance and multiple others in resolutions 11 and 12, condemning Lebanon for not responding to the UN resolutions. No where does Israel state that it has defied the UNGA 160 times and the UNSC 40. Without the US veto, the number of resolutions defied by Israel would be even higher. Indeed, the US alone vetoed the resolution condemning Israel for invading Lebanon a year ago. The ALIES resolution is quite curt in response to number 10.

"Therefore, we propose that Israel stay out of Lebanon’s internal affairs and if the UN should at some time determine that it wants to bring all nations that defy its resolutions to task, it should begin with Israel."

Finally, ALIES takes "whereas" 13 to task.

"13. Whereas the United Nations Security Council, with the full support of the United States, has sought to assist the Government of Lebanon in extending its authority over all Lebanese territory, including its sea, land, and air borders, through the presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon and through technical and personnel assistance;"

Unexpectedly, ALIES agrees with this resolution but words it differently lest any omission in the original be overlooked.

"Therefore, we propose that the United Nations Security Council seek to assist the government of Lebanon in extending its authority over all Lebanese territory including its sea, land, and air borders through the presence of the United Nations Interim Force, but not solely in southern Lebanon, but throughout the country, so that invaders of Lebanon that destroy its airfields, ports, and internal infrastructure, as Israel did one year ago, would be stopped and prosecuted to the full extent of international law."

Needless to say, ALIES does not attach the series of condemnations to its proposals, as crafted by AIPAC, since they are self contained in their set of concerns. They do note that AIPAC cites only Syria and Hizbullah (sic) as the perpetrators of evil against Lebanon. No mention of Israel’s devastation of that state or its people just a year ago. No contrition expressed by Israel for its unilateral and preemptive invasion of a sovereign state or expression by our Congress for supporting that invasion, no request of Lebanon that it forgive those grievous acts, no offer of restitution for the billions of dollars of damage inflicted, only a demand that others take the blame for the chaotic state of affairs now present in Lebanon.

It would appear that Ackerman and Lantos have a significant parliamentary problem on their hands. No doubt they will resort to burying the ALIES resolution lest it be brought before the peoples’ representatives for consideration and not forced on the representatives by AIPAC without deliberation and vote. Perhaps Lebanon’s Parliament will draft a resolution offering advice and aid to the US Congress so that it can avoid blame for introducing nonsense into the democratic discourse.