By Daniel F. Stevens Santa Monica
(This letter was originally addressed to Cliff Nichols, author of the ‘Witness Stand,’ in reference to his Feb. 8 column.) I have read many of your columns that I agree with, but this time... you sound like the Judith Miller of the new Go Get Iran Movement. You should consider a spokesperson position with AIPAC. AIPAC been lobbying everyone in Washington against Iran long before Iran’s president suggested Israel be wiped off the map. Since Israel illegally occupies Palestine in the minds of many and not just Palestinians, and since Israel illegally accumulated its own nuclear weapons with our tax dollars, is it not OK for Iran’s president to retaliate, if just rhetorically? Israel’s leaders have tried to wipe Palestinians off the map, not just rhetorically but factually and actually. Whilst Iran’s president does so publicly, AIPAC does it secretly from within the U.S. State Department, and by spreading around contributions and taking secret meetings with our politicians.
AIPAC’s agenda should be more loathed than Iran’s president, but it won’t be because our politicians in Washington have no spine and they love campaign contributions. I don’t think the U.S. should be so quick to act on AIPAC’s wishes. This whole anti-Iran movement has been started by AIPAC behind the scenes for years. Just because Israel terrorizes anyone who opposes them with U.S. support and weapons, etc., does not make it right.
Especially as a Jew, I have angered many with my view. However, I would gladly vote to have my tax dollars spent to move all of my Jewish brothers and sisters to California, so we can stop supporting the illegal occupation of Palestine and perhaps we can start to live in peace, although I am certain we will still need to sustain a few bitch slaps for all the wrong the U.S. has done on behalf of groups who follow AIPAC’s wishes. As all politicians know, if you don’t go along with AIPAC, kiss your ass good-bye in Washington. When that ends, perhaps the U.S. won’t be such a target by those presently opposing us in the Middle East.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 22, 2006. Read the original PDF.