[WCUSP] WiB Flyer

[yvonne simmons]

> Women in Black flyer for May 11th 2007
>  
> AIPAC  Influence on Legislators… and the question 
> of Justice and Fairness 
> The  American Israel Public Affairs Committee
> (AIPAC) is an American _special 
> interest  group_
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_interest_group)
>  that 
> lobbies the _United States  Congress_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress)
>  and _excecutive  branch_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_(government))
>  in favor of maintaining a close _US-Israel 
> relationship_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel-United_States_relations)
> . Describing itself 
> as "America's Pro-_Israel_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel)  _Lobby_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying) ," it is a
> mass-membership  organization 
> including both _Jews_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews)  and _non-Jews_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiles) , both
> _Democrats_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
>   and _Republicans_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States))
>   as well as _independents_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_(politician))
> .  AIPAC was formed 
> during the _Eisenhower_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhower) 
> administration,  
> and since then has helped secure American aid and
> support to Israel. In 1997, 
> _Fortune magazine_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_(magazine))  
> asked 
> Congressmen to rank the "25 most powerful" lobbying
> organizations in DC.  In 
> 2005, the _National Journal_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Journal)  
> did  the same. Both times, AIPAC came in 2nd - ahead
> of, for instance, the 
> _AFL-CIO_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL-CIO) 
> and the _NRA_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association)
> , but  behind the _AARP_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP) . In  2001, it
> came in 4th on the Fortune list.  From  
> Wikipedia
> AIPAC's  stated purpose is to lobby the _Congress of
>  the United States_ 
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_the_United_States)
>  on issues and 
> legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel 
> relationship is strong so that both 
> countries can work together" to meet the  challenges
> of "stopping Iran from 
> acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism  and
> achieving peace"..It regularly 
> meets with members of Congress and holds  events
> where it can share its views. 
> It also provides analysis of the voting  records of
> _U.S.  federal 
> representatives_
>
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States)
>  
> and _senators_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate) 
> with  
> regard to how they voted on legislation related to
> Israel. AIPAC has been  
> effective in gaining support for Israel among
> members of Congress and _White  House_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House) 
> administrations. 
> _The New York Times_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times)   
> described AIPAC on _July 6_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_6) , _1987_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987)  as "a major
> force in shaping  United States 
> policy in the _Middle East_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East) ." The 
> article  also stated that: "The organization has
> gained power to influence a 
> presidential  candidate's choice of staff, to block
> practically any arms sale to an 
> _Arab_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab)  country,
> and to  serve as a 
> catalyst for intimate military relations between
> _The  Pentagon_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon)  and the
> _Israeli army_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Force)
> . Its  leading officials are consulted by _State 
> Department_
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department)  and
>  White House 
> policy makers, by senators and generals."_[2]_ 
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/#_note-1) 
> _www.counterpunch.org_
> (http://www.counterpunch.org/)  
> 
> Women Challenge US Policy:  Build Peace on Justice
> in the Middle East
> Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
>  Portland Branch 503 
> 224-5190                          5-12-07
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ************************************** See what's
> free at http://www.aol.com.
> 



 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. 
Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html