Isn't this a clear case of Israel interfering in US foreign policy to the detriment of American interests as determined by the administration?
The article says "Mr. Netanyahu and his advisers had... coordinated talking points with Jewish-American groups against the deal; and asked undecided lawmakers what it would take to win their votes..." If ANY other country in the world except Israel had done this, the US government would be going ballistic. What a shameful surrender of American sovereignty.
Lobbying happens from all sorts of coordinated efforts from nation-states to large international corporations, to unions and voter groups. I'm not sure that it's really all that proper, but it does happen, and has always happened.
Which is actually pretty sad, all things considered.
>If ANY other country in the world except Israel had done this, the US government would be going ballistic
Not even close to true. I'm not sure what you think 'American sovereignty' means, but every single government does its best to influence other governments. It's called geopolitics.
As for direct lobbying, Washington is the world's capital of foreign lobbying. Off the top of my head come Morocco, Qatar, and the UAE, but every nation, from liberal democracies to ruthless dictators, they all try to lobby American lawmakers - the most important lawmakers in the world.
geopolitical.. As if this was OK.. It's a problem when a forgin government illegally contacts congress or the other way around and interfears with a commander and chief.. No no no we do that to 3rd world contrys cause we control them.. Are you saying this is OK to have a forgin government ask what can we give you to vote against the American people and for the Israelis wtf are you a dual citizen with a profit in this.. No its not good!
> A U.S. intelligence official familiar with the intercepts said Israel’s pitch to undecided lawmakers often included such questions as: “How can we get your vote? What’s it going to take?”
This kind of out-right bribery will be the cause of a political revolution in America within a decade.
Politicians, Police Chiefs, and Wall Street CEOs are all in for a rude awakening, thanks to the internet.
I think the bigger story here is that the NSA spied on, and tries to publicly shame, the lawmakers that are supposed to control it. For the NSA this should be totally and completely inexcusable. Democracy does not work if the branches of the government are allowed to pull this crap on eachother. NSA is part of the executive, and publicly shames members of congress with information they collected through covert means.
Sure Israel has interests, and tries to convince lawmakers. Great. So does every other country on this planet.
No state should talk to my congress! Nor my congress to another state.. Treason! I have a commander and chief that represents our interests. these ppl are excepting donations from other states and help maintains lobbys to undermined a commander and chief.. They were not aressted so the confidence is not lost in our government I'm sure.. But they need to be eliminated from position soon for short sighted government and endangering the people to support a foreign state with out getting permission of the united States.. We know the punishment if a soldier decided to do the same and I expect congress to be held to an even higher standard!
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[ 6.0 ms ] story [ 47.6 ms ] threadThe article says "Mr. Netanyahu and his advisers had... coordinated talking points with Jewish-American groups against the deal; and asked undecided lawmakers what it would take to win their votes..." If ANY other country in the world except Israel had done this, the US government would be going ballistic. What a shameful surrender of American sovereignty.
> Mr. Netanyahu and his advisers had leaked details of the U.S.-Iran negotiations—learned through Israeli spying operations—to undermine the talks
Politics are dirty, and people will do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals.
Dirty indeed.
Which is actually pretty sad, all things considered.
Boy, that's some effective "lobbying!"
Typical disgusting anti-Israel attitude.
Foreign governments lobby all the time - the TPP, for a recent example.
http://observer.com/2015/06/many-foreign-governments-pay-k-s...
Not even close to true. I'm not sure what you think 'American sovereignty' means, but every single government does its best to influence other governments. It's called geopolitics.
As for direct lobbying, Washington is the world's capital of foreign lobbying. Off the top of my head come Morocco, Qatar, and the UAE, but every nation, from liberal democracies to ruthless dictators, they all try to lobby American lawmakers - the most important lawmakers in the world.
This kind of out-right bribery will be the cause of a political revolution in America within a decade.
Politicians, Police Chiefs, and Wall Street CEOs are all in for a rude awakening, thanks to the internet.
Sure Israel has interests, and tries to convince lawmakers. Great. So does every other country on this planet.