Max Blumenthal: Progressive Democratic hero Elizabeth Warren enlists to serve AIPAC’s pro-war agenda

Elections Porn / February 29, 2012

By Max Blumenthal

This article was first published in Al-Akhbar, and is cross-posted with permission of the author.

Few congressional candidates have excited the progressive base of the Democratic party as much as consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren has. With her tenacious advocacy for a consumer protection agency to fight unfair lending practices and her consistent framing of economic issues in terms of structural inequality has earned her enthusiastic promotion from major progressive figures from Markos Moulitsas to Rachel Maddow to Michael Moore.

Warren has focused her race against incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown almost entirely around issues of economic justice, placing her quixotic battle for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at the center of her campaign narrative. During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Warren boasted that she succeeded in creating the bureau despite opposition from “the toughest lobbying force ever assembled on the face of the earth.”

While progressives celebrate Warren for her fight against the big banks and the financial industry’s lobbying arm, they have kept silent over the fact that she has enlisted with another powerful lobby that is willing to sabotage America’s economic recovery in order to advance its narrow interests. It is AIPAC, the key arm of the Israel lobby; a group that is openly pushing for a US war on Iran that would likely trigger a global recession, as the renowned economist Nouriel Roubini recently warned. The national security/foreign policy position page on Warren’s campaign website reads as though it was cobbled together from AIPAC memos and the website of the Israeli Foreign Ministry by the Democratic Party hacks who are advising her. It is pure boilerplate that suggests she knows about as much about the Middle East as Herman “Uzbeki-beki-stan-stan” Cain, and that she doesn’t care.

Warren’s statement on Israel consumes far more space than any other foreign policy issue on the page (she makes no mention of China, Latin America, or Africa). To justify what she calls the “unbreakable bond” between the US and Israel, Warren repeats the thoughtless cant about “a natural partnership resting on our mutual commitment to democracy and freedom and on our shared values.” She then declares that the United States must reject any Palestinian plans to pursue statehood outside of negotiations with Israel. While the US can preach to the Palestinians about how and when to demand the end of their 45-year-long military occupation, Warren says the US “cannot dictate the terms” to Israel.

Warren goes on to describe Iran as “a significant threat to the United States,” echoing a key talking point of fear-mongering pro-war forces. She calls for “strong sanctions” and declares that the “United States must take the necessary steps to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon” — a veiled endorsement of a military strike if Iran crosses the constantly shifting American “red lines.” Perhaps the only option Warren does not endorse or implicitly support is diplomacy. Her foreign policy views are hardly distinguishable from those of her Republican rival, who also marches in lockstep with AIPAC.

The same progressives who refused to vet Barack Obama’s views on foreign policy when he ran for president in 2008, and who now feel betrayed that he is not the liberal savior they imagined him to be, are repeating their mistake with Warren. With AIPAC leading the push for war at the height of an election campaign, there is no better time to demand accountability from candidates like Warren. Who does she serve? The liberal grassroots forces that made her into a populist hero or the lobby seeking to drag the US into a dubious, potentially catastrophic war? It is far better for progressives to grill her on her foreign policy positions before the campaign is over than after the next war begins.

Would you like to know more? Read more Max Blumenthal articles including “Romney-geddon! Mitt’s Foreign Policy Team Run By Ultra-Neocon Loons & Failures” and “How Israeli Occupation Forces, Bahraini Monarchy Guards Trained U.S. Police for Coordinated Crackdown On Occupy Protests”.

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33 Comments

Add your own

1. MIHCAEL MOYNIHAN, AUTHOR OF LORDS OF CGHAOS | February 29th, 2012 at 10:43 am
is it just me or yes it is just me
2. Eric | February 29th, 2012 at 10:55 am
It doesn’t really matter how much they grill her. What’s the alternative? The game is rigged.
‘
If AIPAC wants war between the U.S. and Iran, they’ll get it sooner or later, one way or the other.
At this point, the only thing that will stop the global gangsters from using the U.S. military to enforce their world hegemony is if the U.S. military gets the living shit kicked out of it by someone. Unfortunately,I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
3. Lavrentij "Anarchy99" Lemko, Gustavo Millebrand, and Edmund Dorkey | February 29th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Dear eXholes,
Limousine liberals don’t like Republican wars. As long as a war is started by a Democrat, it is ok.
Cheers,
Lavrentij “Anarchy99” Lemko, Gustavo Millebrand, and Edmund Dorkey
Turks & Caicos Islands
4. RanDomino | February 29th, 2012 at 11:36 am
Leave it to the Exile to do the impossible investigative reporting work of actually reading the person’s website.
5. MIHCAEL MOYNIHAN, AUTHOR OF LORDS OF CGHAOS | February 29th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
hang in there yasha man
6. matt | February 29th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
In the “what you should know” section, the two “Exiled Alert!” links go straight to this page rather than the intended page.
7. Strelnikov | February 29th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
It’s always the same thing: the politician is exceedingly wonderful on a few domestic issues, but when it comes to foreign policy they back the dictators or the loonies like all the shitty politicians. Chomsky noticed this, that Republicans and Democrats become one party on foreign issues.
As for Israel; it’s obvious that they want to implode, possibly because they know that Israeli Jews will be out-numbered by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians in the near future. The only problem is that they’re going to take down the world economy as they go…..so our best bet would be for the US and UN to invade Israel so it can’t attack Iran. I know it sounds crazy, but the case has been made for “preventive war”, so let’s use that well.
8. Furtiv Russellings | February 29th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
#2 commenter Eric’s argument/observation, [that the Nation-State is now nothing but a zombie whose lurching war-flailings are directed by border-free extranational intere$ts] is buttressed as follows:
http://bnarchives.yorku.ca/205/
nice graphs! read it like a cartoon that makes you laugh for crying!
9. babybanjo | February 29th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I HATE her earrings.
Foul.
Pearls don’t suit your pale skin honey. Keep smiling.
10. Zhu Bajie | February 29th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Does anyone who is not a idiot-savant ever run for office in the US?
11. calripson | February 29th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Let me tell you how this works kids….my former boss recently ponied up $50,000 to have a weekend soiree with influential democratic senators in western PA. For $50,000 and the promise of more, you get access. It’s all about the money, the influential, and the media. Elizabeth Warren is just cashing in. There is no quicker way to success and enrichment in U.S. politics than supporting Israel and no surer way to obscurity and defeat than opposing te Israel lobby.
12. Cum | February 29th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
In case the link I sent never makes it into the tips section, here’s Matt Taibbi explaining how the banks’ mortgage scam was like “selling oregano as weed.” Now that is an analogy that speaks to me 🙂
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20779387/highlight/245522
And I don’t give a fuck if the AEC thinks it’s a dumb-drug, at least it’s not that “filthy peasant drug” alcohol 🙂
13. Cum | February 29th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Taibbi actually has some more really good analogies. Live streams are the future of journalism.
I hope Yasha stays safe, I’m kinda worried that the next livestream I see will be a tweaked-out riot cop bashing his head in. Our generation needs you Yasha, wear a helmet!
14. adam | February 29th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
@12 Awesome link!
Taibbi clarifies his stand on Schneiderman:
“If no one goes to jail, he’s a phony and a fake!”
15. DaSmerd | February 29th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
https://twitter.com/#!/normative/status/175050211947847680
CATO INSTITUTE TECHNOLIBERTARD JULIAN SANCHEZ SUCKS KOCH
16. AT | February 29th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Oh yes the AIPAC boogie man. So convenient. If you haven’t figured it out Israel is the pitbull dog of the US not the other way around. Let’s scare Iran by saying we can’t restrain our mad dog. Anyway who believes Israel runs US foreign policy is an idiot. The one’s who will benefit from a war on Iran, likes the ones who benefited from our last 2 (3,4…) wars are not some foreign lobby but the elites right here in the good old USA.
read Smedly Butler – plus ca change. Stop fooling yourselves about “foreign influence” and look at reality. And if Warren’s stands bother you, start some hedge fund, become a billionaire and buy your own Senator. change ain’t gonna happen in this country any other way.
Boy, do I “get it” or what?!
17. Zog | March 1st, 2012 at 6:41 am
Andrew Breitbart has reportedly died of “natural causes” at the age of 43.
18. dogbane | March 1st, 2012 at 7:26 am
Off-Topic: Breitbart is dead. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news&id=8564797
19. iSockpuppet | March 1st, 2012 at 8:40 am
Anything Elizabeth Warren can eat a pig can eat better.
20. ElPrez | March 1st, 2012 at 8:56 am
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/01/10547876-american-gym-teacher-shot-dead-by-his-student-in-iraq
Is this that same school that Dolan? did an article on?
21. ANDREW BREITBART'S SIDEWALK | March 1st, 2012 at 10:20 am
AMES DOES THE OCCUPATION JIG
22. AMY ALKON | March 1st, 2012 at 10:30 am
HOW COULD IT HAVE HAPPENED HOW COULD IT BE POSSIBLE OHHHHHHHHHHH MY LABIA
23. Mr. Bad | March 1st, 2012 at 11:06 am
16. AT
Dumbest comment award goes to you today, but I bet you could top it if you try. Butler died before Israel’s founding so his insights on the Knesset and Israeli strategy may be a bit dated, or non existent. The postwar MAD world is a bit more complex.
24. ANDREW BREITBART'S ROLLERBLADES | March 1st, 2012 at 11:32 am
25. ANDREW BREITBART'S ROLLERBLADES | March 1st, 2012 at 1:09 pm
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL MY DADDY TOOK ME TO SEE BIG GOVERNMENT, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. THERE WERE CLOWNS AND LIBERTARDS AND FAILED HARVARD LAW GRADUATES AND SOME FAT, ODDLY EFFEMINATE GUY WHO WAS LYING WAY BELOW OUR HEADS BECAUSE HE TRIPPED ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT IN FUCKING WESTWOOD
And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don’t know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, “Is that all there is to a clown?”
Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
If that’s all there is, my friends, then let’s keep dancing.
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball.
If that’s all
there
is.
26. Mr. Bad | March 1st, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Where is the Breitbart hit piece, WTF, where did it go?!? I smell PUSSY ! I ask not where the media exposure website is, but how many c notes I need to contribute to it and where to send them?!? Everything else is FUCKIN’ LIES! Rub up your own shit sticks gentleman, these twits shat the queen !
27. Mr. Bad | March 1st, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Did anyone read my comment?
28. Dtd | March 1st, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@25 wins. My stomach hurts from laughing. Or booze. Can’t really tell.
Imagine a world where Joel B. Pollock is the head editor of all of Breitbart’s media outlets.
Just Imagine!
(cue stock flashback/fantasy chime sound)
. . .fade in slowly to Pollock moving a cum encrusted jizz sock off of the keyboard on his mother’s hopelessly outdated ‘computer desk’. The fake wood/plastic veneer is peeling. He notices it for the 1000th time. He weighs the options of replacing it or doing nothing. He does nothing.
I suspect that by now you realize that Joel may have a long suffering problem with inertia.
Joel rubs the dried tears out of his eyes from the previous evening and loads internet explorer 7. The home page is, of course, the Exiled. He has nurtured an increasingly unhealthy obsession with Mark Ames since The-Takedown-Which-Must-Never-be-Mentioned
. Pollock, a man usually immune to abuse and pain from his longtime connoisseurship of dominatrices and sub/pegging, finds out that his mentor, no, his father, no!, his GOD, has passed on.
Breitbart can no longer be there for him.
He starts sweating. He thinks back to the life lessons he learned from watching 8 Mile in high school. In the theater. . . with Maria. Crap, best not to think about that.
Maria had walked out of the theater after he tried to fondle her ankle. He still believes it was her fault for wearing Capri’s. How can a man control himself? Unfortunately, she had already told him he was like a little brother. Joel had made a fool of himself.
Forget Maria! Forget the theater! Joel only has two ideological influences: Ayn Rand and Eminem. Rand isn’t going to be of much use right now, though. Obamacare killed his lord, but Rand taught Joel that only failures die from inadequate health care. Joel knows that he must focus on Eminem’s message instead. Joel realizes that this is it.
This is his moment. His one shot. . .
Meanwhile, much to the entertainment of us eXholes:
. . . . .from the desk of Mark Ames at Exiledonline HQ:
“Exiledonline is currently testing out the performance of CA legal copper rounds when fired into submerged ballistic gel and sashimi grade ahi tuna. And goldfish.
In the interest of meticulousness, we are using every caliber of bullet between .50 and .22 in order to generate a comprehensive set of results for the impending data tables. My interns are recommending that we go with a 32 gallon barrel of dechlorinated water, as opposed to the industry standard 36 gallon barrel. Their concern is that the added volume of water will make the rounds fragment too early (while still traveling at killspeed), and then this “burst” pattern may make the koi and goldfish become apathetic about being targeted. This could skew the results. Naturally, several control groups will be arranged.
Though we have no problems with shooting fish in a barrel, it would be nice if they moved around a little bit.”
**End Scene
Just imagine.
Alright. . . Clearly I ain’t sober. DrunktankDan out.
(please don’t edit this AEC!. . .I really wanna see what retarded shit I wrote come tomorrow’s hangover)
29. Dtd | March 2nd, 2012 at 9:19 am
holy shit. . .i need to stop drinking. when the fuck did i write that?
30. mattcarmody | March 2nd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Malitsos, Maddow, and Moore are all three of them sellouts who never criticize Israeli war crimes, let alone those of this country. Why would Warren be any different?
31. Mr. Bad | March 3rd, 2012 at 10:53 am
@ 27. Mr. Bad
You’re not me. What’s the point of posting under my handle if you can’t even think of something stupid for “me” to say? You fucking dunce.
32. dominic | March 3rd, 2012 at 10:35 pm
first of all, Michael Moore is on Democracy Now! talking about Isreal war crimes, from last month or so.
Second of all, although i sympathize with this article to an extent, i do not sympathize with most of these comments. America has had ample opportunity to prove itself, militarily. We go after goat herders and rice farmers in rags, not sophisticated, wealthy, highly organized and well connected nation-states. As was proved with Iraq and Lybia, we really are only in it for the oil, and oil that is easy for the taking. We are your classic bullies. Its really, really, really easy to figure out how we roll… when the FUCK have we ever taken on a REAL enemy? And if you say “the Nazis,” you obviously arent a regular here at the eXiled. We will not attack Iran for so many reasons its not even worth debating.
Furthermore, Isreal is in fact our pit bull, however a well trained attack dog is still a killer at its base, they are known to attack against their masters will.
33. Dimitri Ratz | March 3rd, 2012 at 11:38 pm
The nations of the world are enslaved. Servitude is done for immediate substance by virtually everyone. Artificial barriers are in place to keep the servitude from breaching into freedom and independence.
Despite reckless management and losses at the top they continue to get lower rates on financing. Risk management would suggest that those with a vested interest where one’s life depends on it are more inclined to honor their obligations as the incentives are greater, but lending policies are the exact apposite. Case in point is having $15,000 in an investment account and having higher margin rate than someone with 400,000 in account when the primary purpose is the same and deals with the same class of assets (same shares, same companies).
Also laws are in place to prevent the slaves from using the information they might run into legitimately while performing their duties. Like if they use that information as bases to invest in that company before that information is reported to all the slave masters in the quoterly and or annual report.
Constant stream of propaganda on benefits of dependent working class and free handout programmes to the junkies and mentally disabled with strict cutoffs for those starting to actually work ingraines disgust for independence of the working class, as well as demonizing other methods toward that goal for example shaking up.
Artificial rent prices as governments even on county level calculate business taxes on rents businesses “could be” collecting and thereby in effect raising them and eroding most of the incomes of the slaves along with tens of other taxes that are levied on goods and services.
People have a better chance albeit still small of reaching their serf dream of a house and a horse when they’re aware of what’s stacked against them although that’s clearly not the case in African Union or Arab League. Pashla Clintoniha na Alawitsky hui.