slow-dog.entry11.04.2002: "US Congress in the pocket of Israeli interests?"

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Ken Layne points to an article on an Israeli-biased Congress:

As President Bush comes under growing international pressure to rein in Israel's military offensive against Palestinians, he faces countervailing pressure from an overwhelmingly pro-Israeli Congress where some members are pushing for new statements of support for the country.

The powerful Israeli lobby gives millions of dollars to lawmakers, lining their pockets and poisoning their minds against rational thought and rendering them incapable of seeing the other side of the story (recent C-Span viewing shows congressman of all political stripes eager to give their speeches on the necessity of supporting Israel in their precarious position). But why is the Arab lobby so inept? They've got scads of cash. Saudi Arabia takes out full page ads in the New York Times reminding us what great friends they are. Certainly, the lobbying firms are willing to take the money. The article doesn't explain this mystery. It does note:

And Jews are well represented in Congress. There are 10 Jewish members of the Senate, for instance, and no Arab Americans.

It also fails to point out that the Arab American Institute lists 6 Arab-American representatives, 1.3% of all reps. AAI also estimates 3 million Arab Americans, which is 1.1% of the 2000 census estimate of 281.4 million Americans. So, Arab Americans are at least proportionally represented in the lower house. Perhaps, then, the reason for the lack of "reasoned discourse" is really a recognition that positions staked out by groups like the AAI are beyond the pale to reasonable Americans, Arab or otherwise. Or it's a Zionist conspiracy--you decide.

01:32 AM PST