The AJC, founded in 1906 to combat pogroms against Russian Jews, has a long and honorable history of combatting anti-Semitism and discrimination in all its forms. On March 29, it will hold an event at the Ritz-Carlton to bestow a Human Relations Award on local creative genius Phil Romano. It sounds like a wonderful idea, until one considers how the AJC will use $3,000-$10,000 per table it will collect.
The modern AJC has turned itself into a propaganda arm of Israel’s Likud Party, trying to push America into yet another Mideast pre-emptive debacle, this time against Iran.
Meanwhile, I do have to compliment AJC for developing a nice fundraising ploy to supplement its Jewish support. It regularly holds these events honoring popular non-Jewish business leaders in cities around the country so that friends and admirers feel compelled to write large checks to attend. And with Phil Romano, they picked a good one.
Phil, you deserve the honor. But the AJC does not deserve anybody’s contribution, unless you want to help ignite a humanitarian and financial disaster that will make Iraq and Afghanistan look like walks in the park.
42 comments
WOW! Speaking truth to power much, Wick? You got guts!
Wick,
Iran will have a nuclear weapon completed within the next 18 months. That will be a much, much larger humanitarian and financial disaster. Your short sightedness is stunning. Typical, but stunning nonetheless.
Wick,
This is a misstep on your part. Not only is Israel in danger BUT the whole world is once Iran has nuclear weapons…….these people are nuts and want to destroy this country.
Jesus, stick to publishing, Wick. This reeks of anti-Semitism.
Some say that the likud party is responsible for the killing and maiming of more children than any other organization in the past 25 years.
Its hard to tell as they control the press and everything that comes out of the occupied territories, but there is no question that they have blood on their hands and are un-christian in the truest (and secular) sense of the word.
Phil Romano should decline this invitation, and focus on making carbonara sauce at the macaroni grill more edible.
Neville Chamberlain much?
Yeah DM, it looks like another weapons of mass destruction scenario all over again. Of course this time you’re right, not like before.
It always amazes me how some people don’t get it. Look at the nations who have the bomb, half of them are whackos, Israel included. But even the most whacko, Pakistan, Korea, sit on the bomb because they understand the potential. It’s almost like having the bomb civilizes the uncivilized.
Of course you have to keep in mind the same mindsets that have their skirts all in a knot over Iran were the ones that knew women shouldn’t be able to vote because they were too weak minded to be responsible, that 18 year olds were too immature to handle voting responsibilities, etc and son.
Hubris is equal parts vanity and ignorance. I believe your position defines hubris.
You know, we really don’t need to get into a war with those people. If Likud and the other Israeli crazies think they must, well that’s their business. We need to stay way out of it. We have our own problems, in case you haven’t noticed.
I just did an article on mine warfare for Defense Magazine. During my interviews with Navy guys, what I kept hearing from them, was how worried they have been for the last ten years that terrorists might mine American Waters, because if things start blowing up in American harbors, our economy will seriously crash. Now for reason that eludes all those Navy guys, the Islamic terrorists have not done this, even though it would be extremely easy to do so. Perhaps sea mines don’t give them the kinda woodies that flying an airliner into the WTC does, but the effects would probably be greater, even without the high number of casualties.
If we go up against Iran in an unnecessary war, they will not have the prejudice against sea mines that the Bin Laden crowd has. The Iranian military people we’d face are professionals, even if they have funny beards. They fully understand and appreciate the sick asymmetircal beauty of weapons like this. Because they’d already successfully used them against us. They’ll do it again, and we’ll really be in trouble. Of course, that might be what you want, because it would probably put a Republican in the White House.
So all of a sudden D-Mag is concerned about “following the money” going to supposedly extremist groups? I’ll be really interested to see your comments about Extremest Republican and Christian Dominionists groups using fundraisers in Dallas to do the same thing. Oh wait -it will never happen
@harvey lacey: spoken like someone who’s news is gathered via People Magazine, MSNBC, and the New York Times.
@Brendan McNally: Is Defense Magazine funded by Harry Belafonte?
Good one, Wick. The garrison state of Israel bristles with nuclear weaponry thanks to the American taxpayer. Let them take care of their own neighbors. We’ve done enough damage in the Middle East already.
Wick, Ahmadinejad does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. He’s said he wants it obliterated and has hosted a conference called a “World Without Zionism.” Tens of thousands of rockets have rained down on Israel over the last decade, many of them originating with Hamas. Iran funds Hamas. And from over here in the safety of Dallas, Texas, you’re questioning Israel’s right to defend itself?
Glad to see that someone from your own magazine realizes how incredibly ignorant your comment was this morning. Very disappointing. Should be interesting to see how the TV stations pick this up and run with it. Sorry Tim if this becomes the downfall of D Magazine.
18 months until a WEAPON? It’s amazing the information that some people have. You need to tell the world intelligence agencies your source, please.
And while you’re at it, please describe to us the tactical mission that will destroy this capability. Provide resources required and how long those resources will be needed in country. Take into account regional requirements as well. Oh, and budget it.
It’s so easy to beat the wardrums and wave the bloody shirt. Now tell us what you would actually do….other than beating your chest and yelling on the internet.
I believe you’re onto something, Wick, and judging by the comments there are folks who’d rather you not go there. How long has the tail (Israel) been wagging the dog of U.S. foreign policy? These are people who take advantage of our backing of Israel’s right to exist. They are our friends, allegedly, and yet they spy on us (Jonathan Pollard), and they are always trying to figure out a way to get us to let Pollard out of prison and into Israel. They know that they can’t use their nukes first, so they’re trying to goad us into some action that will allow them to destroy the people in the Middle East who don’t like them. But they worry me most these days because I really believe that if they thought it would turn the presidential election on the favor of people who want us to attack Iran, then they’d hit Iran just for the Hell of it. And it would be Hell.
Ballsy, Wick. I like it. And I look forward (not really) to readers parsing your straight forward, sensible comments, or gasping about “Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Let Iran nuke up, we’ll worry about it when the time comes.
Right now, we’re just upsetting them, and they might hurt us if we do that. Speedboats of Death and all that.
Go ahead and nuke whatever you want, but please Iran, don’t hurt us. We’re sorry!!
@Glenn: Israel can do whatever it wants. It neither needs my permission nor your endorsement. But the U.S.? No thanks.
Anti-Semitism” Of course, not;
Wise? Well, look at the debate above. A split decision.
Well-reasoned? Yes.
Complete? No.
Now that you’ve stepped in it, Wick, it is necessary for your to complete your trek through it.
Should we allow Iran to develop its own A-Bomb? Then what? Do you believe they will use it as the Soviet Union used it. As a threat, rather than as a weapon?
How about giving the Israelis a knowing wink and letting them do the dying?
What does the United States do?
It’s easy to oppose a plan or a position, Wick. It’s far more difficult to offer a substitute.
Offer up a substitute approach. You’re a smart-enough man to do it.
@Wick Allison
Damn. And people sometimes complain that I speak my mind.
Glenn,
If the Vatican were the recipient of Irans constant sabre rattling I think Wick would see your side a little more rationally.
@Mike Engleman
Since 1974, there has been a UN resolution on the table for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. It was put forth by the Egyptian-Iranian General Assembly, and it has passed every year since. However, it would entail Israel allowing inspections and forfeiting its nuclear arsenal. As a provision of the five-year review of the NPT, a conference is planned in Finland to work toward the establishment of a NWFZ in the Middle East.
The news rarely mentions this precedent or the planned conference. A NWFZ in the Middle East would put all countries under closer scrutiny and inspection for all weapons of mass destruction. We can pursue the options that can be negotiated internationally or follow the pretext that a pre-emptive strike on Iranian facilities–presumably requiring U.S.-supplied bunker busting bombs and the personnel and aircraft to drop them–is the only solution.
Laray,
inspection, Insmection! So what?
The UN Inspectors have been in and out (sometimes kicked out) of Iran for years and Iran continues to develop it’s bomb.
Wicks comments remind me of the America First crowd in 1938 – 1941 until reality hit home on December 7.
Iran is run by evil people. They have claimed repeatedly their goal is to kill the Jews. They also believe it is their country’s destiny to unite the Arab world. They are thumbing their nose at the West. Despite international outcry at their nuclear program, people like Wick think we should look the other way.
Now let me extend this exercise.
In the 1930s-early 1940s, Germany and Japan were run by evil people. Germany loudly claimed the Jews were responsible for all the world’s problems. Germany also believed it was their destiny to unite the German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc) while Japan thought it was their duty to control the Pacific rim countries. They thumbed their nose at the West. Despite international outcry at Germany’s rearmament program and Japan’s atrocities, too many people like Wick thought we should look the other way.
Are we really comparing Iran to Nazi Germany? You are then giving Iran regime way to much credit. The Iranian regime can barely keep Tehran together let alone actually carry a sophisticated offensive against a superior militarily matched army (Israel).
The Nazis were building boats, tanks, weapons, etc. The Iranian regime has to negotiate to get used parts for the Boeings Iran Air still uses.
Ahmadi is a politican trying to carve himself a spot within the regime. Is going to do everything to out the Islam the ayatollah so he makes the Ayatollah look weak. But even Ahamdi has had at times been more reasonable than the Ayatollah. The regime has too many moving parts and at time working get each other.
All an Israeli strike would do is actually unite the people with the regime.
If Iran’s goal is to kill Jews, why haven’t they killed their own yet? They have plenty still living there. They all seem to be doing fine.
Like everybody else, what they say and what they do are two different things.
The Iranian people do not hate us, they are trying to find ways of living lives free from the mullah’s religious and political oppression. Why do we need to nuke them, like Santorum and his Likud handlers want?
Would you expect anything less from an Obama endorser?
Perhaps, CSP, but you’re about what I’d expect from someone who’d want to bring down this country just to win an election for God’s Own Party…. Personally, I don’t think you’ll be able to lie or cheat or buy your way out of losing this one. But I guess you’ll try anyway.
Iran’s Secret Weapon
I find it ironic that it was the central government’s “expert” Dr Anthony Fauci who, capitulated to the demands of “President Cheney.” And disallowed patients and their personal physicians from being able to voluntarily immunize against smallpox. During the run up to Cheney’s phony war against Iraq. Cheney didn’t want (the extremely low incidence of) smallpox adverse reactions to spoil his little gift to the military industrial complex.
Listen! Except for the military, there’s been no smallpox immunization program in the United States since 1972. For you see, it is the loss of the herd immunity to smallpox that has left us highly vulnerable to smallpox biological warfare.
Attention! There is a distinct possibility that the Russians have sold weaponized smallpox to the Iranians. And in the event of an Iranian smallpox attack on our people, no Fauci crash smallpox immunization is going to save us. Why, Fauci and the government were unable to supply the vaccine, in a timely manner, in the relatively innocuous Swine Flu “epidemic” several years ago.
If you want to do something for the this country, Dr. Fauci, pull your head out of the sand, and go back and undo the smallpox trap that you and the CDC’s Dr. Julie Gerberding, on the orders of President Cheney, unwittingly, set for the American people. It’s for patients and their own physicians to decide re: smallpox vaccinations, carried out in a timely and orderly fashion.
Listen! A biologic warfare smallpox attack on the American people, by the Iranians in retaliation for the planned US/Israel attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Fact of matter, it is the action of Bush, Cheney, Fauci, Gerberding and other Bush/Clinton puppets that has left us vulnerable to the Iranian biologic weapon systems. After all, how complicated would it be to put 50 blonde haired, blue eyed, fair skinned agents on a series of international flights destined for the USA. By the time America realized what was about to transpire, why, it would be too late!
Listen! Americans are rapidly losing their herd immunity to smallpox. Forget about Israel’s nuclear paranoia. Leave Iran alone! We are highly vulnerable to an Iranian small pox attack. If you don’t believe me just ask the American Indian who, unlike the Europeans, had no herd immunity to smallpox!
Frank Benjamin
Philadelphia
Once again, America’s Glut of War Mongering “Israel-Firsters” are frantic to soak MORE distant, Muslim soil with Loyal American Blood for their relentless, “Greater Israel” Regional Hegemony.
This manipulation of a Professionally deceived American Public is being done, as usual, “…by Way of Deception.
The Truth concerning this hysterical Iranian non-Threat is non existent among those who hate a Nation about which they know nothing.
The ravings of Tel Aviv’s War Mongering, Ethnic Cleansers far exceed deliberately distorted “Wiped off the Map” mistranslations.
In Bloody Betrayals, Israel is a Proven Threat while war with Iran is just another, Zionist contrived, waste of American Blood for insatiable, Zionist, Regional Domination.
Um, Anyone…?
Iran has a very young population that appears to be itching to have their own country opened up to the larger international community. The mullahs in Iran want/need Israel and the US boogeymen to maintain their control like many other governments (*cough*our own *cough*). How about we not give the mullahs that kind of ammo for a change, and then, maybe, we’ll see some real change occur within Iran. Which is as it should be: from within.
I agree with DM wholeheartedly and could not say this any better:
Wick,
Iran will have a nuclear weapon completed within the next 18 months. That will be a much, much larger humanitarian and financial disaster. Your short sightedness is stunning. Typical, but stunning nonetheless.
DM
The goal of Iran’s mullahs and its politicians is to bring an inferno to the Middle East, for only such a calamity will bring about the return of their “messiah.” This is a goal that they sincerely and doggedly cling to and which they mean to implement by any means and at any cost. They care more about this scenario coming to fruition than their lives and the lives of their children. You cannot begin to understand the Iranian leadership until you understand what their bottom-line motivation for pursuing nuclear weapons really is all about. Once they get them in sufficient numbers to light up the entire Middle East, they will use them with no provocation or warning.
@ Daniel:
But, but, but … if we just hope for peace everything will be OK.
Slopes be slippery up in here.
Iran is a pretty rational country, even the bad leaders, The nuke program started with the Shah, and I’ve never met an Iranian of any stripe who doesn’t think Iran has as much right to develop the program as anyone. Perhaps if Israel hadn’t brought nuclear weapons into the Middle East, the problem wouldn’t be as acute.
One marker of Iranian craziness/lack of it: after their revolution, when they got rid of an American installed dictator who had killed and tortured tens of thousands, they seized the closest people they could find responsible (the US embassy staff) and KEPT THEM UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR A YEAR! Oh the horror.
Like I said, a thuggish regime, but prudent and rational.
@nglaer
That wasn’t Iran’s government which seized the US Embassy, although they approved of it after the fact. Also, the Soviet Embassy was to be the original target of the students.
@nglaer
“Iran is a pretty rational country, even the bad leaders”. Once your wrote that, all credibility was lost.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/22/iran-court-convicts-christian-pastor-convert-to-death/
Yep, pretty rational people, the Iranians.