(Normally I would save something like this for Friday's Round-Up, but this is just too galling to sit on for a whole week...)
In what is perhaps the most outrageous grandstanding on Israel witnessed to date in the 111th Congress, on Monday afternoon Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, circulated a Dear Colleague urging members to join her in sending a letter to President Obama defending Israel's aid program. The implication being, of course, that the Obama Administration is actually considering attacking this aid - an implication that is totally divorced from reality. And it also implies that House Republicans (abetted by a Democrat - Sherman (D-CA) - who one can only guess is feeling pretty silly right now about lending his name to this effort) are stepping up to defend aid because Democratic colleagues have failed to do so. Hilarious. Straw men arguments are certainly common in politics, but this seems to be taking it to an extreme.... (full dear colleague and letter to the President after the break...)
--------------------------------------------------------
From: e-Dear Colleague
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:06 PM
To: E-DEARCOLL_ISSUES_G-Z_0000@ls2.house.gov
Subject: Intelligence: Dear Colleague: Keep America Safe: Sign Letter to the President Supporting Continued Security Assistance to Israel
Keep America Safe: Sign Letter to the President Supporting Continued Security Assistance to Israel
From: The Committee on Foreign Affairs - Minority Staff
Sent By: Alan.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov
Date: 11/30/2009
Keep America Safe:
Support Continued Security Assistance to our Ally Israel
Dear Colleague:
As our nation faces increasing challenges to both our economy and our security, it is incumbent upon us to make difficult choices and establish priorities for limited taxpayer funds, such as continued robust security assistance to the State of Israel - funding that both advances our national security interests and is mutually-reinforcing. For this reason, we ask that you sign the attached letter to the President requesting that he fully implement our security assistance agreement with Israel and allocate the necessary resources to fulfill this commitment.
The U.S.-Israel alliance is particularly important because both nations are democracies facing the common security threat of rogue regimes that pursue deadly weapons, and that sponsor violent Islamist groups which target both Americans and Israelis.
The Iranian regime - which repeatedly calls for a world without the U.S. and Israel - continues to advance its uranium enrichment efforts and could have nuclear weapons capabilities as soon as next year. To deliver those weapons and make good on its threats, Iran possesses and is further developing an arsenal of missiles that can strike Israel, U.S. forces in the Middle East, and parts of Europe. Iran and its fellow dictatorship Syria also continue to sponsor Hezbollah and Hamas, which continue to threaten Israel from the north and south.
Israel is on the front lines of our struggle against these mounting threats, and that nation has proven itself to be an indispensable ally, sharing her extensive experience in battling militant extremists domestically, militarily, and diplomatically. Israel's qualitative military advantage has, and continues to act as a force-multiplier in the region, thereby playing a vital role in aiding U.S. forces in the Middle East, and beyond. That is why successive Administrations have supported a robust U.S.-Israel alliance.
But to address these growing threats, Israel must spend more proportionately on defense than any state in the Western world - paying for increasingly sophisticated, varied, and costly weapons systems needed to maintain its qualitative military edge. Therefore, in 2007 the U.S. and Israel concluded an agreement to increase U.S. security assistance to Israel over the next decade.
Because the international community has failed to apply strong sanctions to compel the Iranian regime to change course, the threat to our security - and Israel's very existence - has never been greater. Therefore, the attached letter asks the President to fully implement our security assistance pact with Israel, ensuring that both of our nations can protect ourselves and each other against this threat.
To co-sign the letter, please contact Alan Goldsmith or Matthew Zweig at X68467.
Sincerely,
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN
Ranking Member
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
BRAD SHERMAN
Chairman
House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
In what is perhaps the most outrageous grandstanding on Israel witnessed to date in the 111th Congress, on Monday afternoon Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, circulated a Dear Colleague urging members to join her in sending a letter to President Obama defending Israel's aid program. The implication being, of course, that the Obama Administration is actually considering attacking this aid - an implication that is totally divorced from reality. And it also implies that House Republicans (abetted by a Democrat - Sherman (D-CA) - who one can only guess is feeling pretty silly right now about lending his name to this effort) are stepping up to defend aid because Democratic colleagues have failed to do so. Hilarious. Straw men arguments are certainly common in politics, but this seems to be taking it to an extreme.... (full dear colleague and letter to the President after the break...)
--------------------------------------------------------
From: e-Dear Colleague
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:06 PM
To: E-DEARCOLL_ISSUES_G-Z_0000@ls2.house.gov
Subject: Intelligence: Dear Colleague: Keep America Safe: Sign Letter to the President Supporting Continued Security Assistance to Israel
Keep America Safe: Sign Letter to the President Supporting Continued Security Assistance to Israel
From: The Committee on Foreign Affairs - Minority Staff
Sent By: Alan.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov
Date: 11/30/2009
Keep America Safe:
Support Continued Security Assistance to our Ally Israel
Dear Colleague:
As our nation faces increasing challenges to both our economy and our security, it is incumbent upon us to make difficult choices and establish priorities for limited taxpayer funds, such as continued robust security assistance to the State of Israel - funding that both advances our national security interests and is mutually-reinforcing. For this reason, we ask that you sign the attached letter to the President requesting that he fully implement our security assistance agreement with Israel and allocate the necessary resources to fulfill this commitment.
The U.S.-Israel alliance is particularly important because both nations are democracies facing the common security threat of rogue regimes that pursue deadly weapons, and that sponsor violent Islamist groups which target both Americans and Israelis.
The Iranian regime - which repeatedly calls for a world without the U.S. and Israel - continues to advance its uranium enrichment efforts and could have nuclear weapons capabilities as soon as next year. To deliver those weapons and make good on its threats, Iran possesses and is further developing an arsenal of missiles that can strike Israel, U.S. forces in the Middle East, and parts of Europe. Iran and its fellow dictatorship Syria also continue to sponsor Hezbollah and Hamas, which continue to threaten Israel from the north and south.
Israel is on the front lines of our struggle against these mounting threats, and that nation has proven itself to be an indispensable ally, sharing her extensive experience in battling militant extremists domestically, militarily, and diplomatically. Israel's qualitative military advantage has, and continues to act as a force-multiplier in the region, thereby playing a vital role in aiding U.S. forces in the Middle East, and beyond. That is why successive Administrations have supported a robust U.S.-Israel alliance.
But to address these growing threats, Israel must spend more proportionately on defense than any state in the Western world - paying for increasingly sophisticated, varied, and costly weapons systems needed to maintain its qualitative military edge. Therefore, in 2007 the U.S. and Israel concluded an agreement to increase U.S. security assistance to Israel over the next decade.
Because the international community has failed to apply strong sanctions to compel the Iranian regime to change course, the threat to our security - and Israel's very existence - has never been greater. Therefore, the attached letter asks the President to fully implement our security assistance pact with Israel, ensuring that both of our nations can protect ourselves and each other against this threat.
To co-sign the letter, please contact Alan Goldsmith or Matthew Zweig at X68467.
Sincerely,
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN
Ranking Member
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
BRAD SHERMAN
Chairman
House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express our strong support for continued robust financing for vital security assistance to Israel, ensuring our close ally has the resources to maintain its qualitative military edge and the ability to defend itself against the many threats to its very existence.
The U.S.-Israel alliance is of tremendous importance to both countries. Israel is a democracy in a region that is unstable and where rogue countries continue to be hostile to America. Israel is also the U.S.'s strongest ally in our war against violent Islamist extremists, and is in a unique position to facilitate that effort in the Middle East, as well as to share her extensive experience in battling such extremists domestically, militarily, and diplomatically. The United States and Israel are also confronted with mutual threats to our safety and security.
Iran - whose leadership calls for a world without the United States and Israel - continues to advance its uranium enrichment efforts and could have a nuclear weapons capability as early as next year. As a means of delivering a nuclear weapon, Iran currently possesses and is further developing an arsenal of sophisticated missiles that can hit Israel, U.S. forces in the region, and parts of Europe.
Tehran also further destabilizes the region through its continued support of terrorist groups that are threatening both Israelis and Americans, from Jerusalem to Beirut, Baghdad and Kabul. For example, the militant extremist organization Hezbollah - backed by Iran and Syria - has reportedly restored and enhanced its arsenal, amassing 40,000 rockets and missiles, nearly three times the amount it had prior to its war with Israel in 2006. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah recently announced that he could hit any and every place in Israel with long-range missiles. Hezbollah's Syrian patrons are also amassing an arsenal - alarming in both quality and quantity - of long-range missiles and short-range rockets.
As a means of confronting these shared threats, successive Administrations have institutionalized a robust U.S.-Israel strategic relationship. However, Israel continues to spend proportionately greater sums of money on defense than any country in the Western world. Israel has been required to allocate sustained increases in its own defense spending, as the weapons systems that Israel requires to maintain its qualitative military edge are more sophisticated, varied and costly than in previous years.
In response, in August 2007 the U.S. and Israel announced a 10-year agreement between our two nations whereby the U.S. would increase military assistance to Israel over the next decade. We strongly urge you to build on the record of prior Administrations by fully implementing this agreement and by continuing to provide robust security assistance to Israel so that nation can effectively maintain its qualitative military edge.
Mr. President, the United States and Israel have long benefited from joint efforts to confront mutual threats to regional security and stability. Continuing this robust relationship is only possible if the United States continues to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge over its potential adversaries. Thank you for your consideration of our request
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express our strong support for continued robust financing for vital security assistance to Israel, ensuring our close ally has the resources to maintain its qualitative military edge and the ability to defend itself against the many threats to its very existence.
The U.S.-Israel alliance is of tremendous importance to both countries. Israel is a democracy in a region that is unstable and where rogue countries continue to be hostile to America. Israel is also the U.S.'s strongest ally in our war against violent Islamist extremists, and is in a unique position to facilitate that effort in the Middle East, as well as to share her extensive experience in battling such extremists domestically, militarily, and diplomatically. The United States and Israel are also confronted with mutual threats to our safety and security.
Iran - whose leadership calls for a world without the United States and Israel - continues to advance its uranium enrichment efforts and could have a nuclear weapons capability as early as next year. As a means of delivering a nuclear weapon, Iran currently possesses and is further developing an arsenal of sophisticated missiles that can hit Israel, U.S. forces in the region, and parts of Europe.
Tehran also further destabilizes the region through its continued support of terrorist groups that are threatening both Israelis and Americans, from Jerusalem to Beirut, Baghdad and Kabul. For example, the militant extremist organization Hezbollah - backed by Iran and Syria - has reportedly restored and enhanced its arsenal, amassing 40,000 rockets and missiles, nearly three times the amount it had prior to its war with Israel in 2006. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah recently announced that he could hit any and every place in Israel with long-range missiles. Hezbollah's Syrian patrons are also amassing an arsenal - alarming in both quality and quantity - of long-range missiles and short-range rockets.
As a means of confronting these shared threats, successive Administrations have institutionalized a robust U.S.-Israel strategic relationship. However, Israel continues to spend proportionately greater sums of money on defense than any country in the Western world. Israel has been required to allocate sustained increases in its own defense spending, as the weapons systems that Israel requires to maintain its qualitative military edge are more sophisticated, varied and costly than in previous years.
In response, in August 2007 the U.S. and Israel announced a 10-year agreement between our two nations whereby the U.S. would increase military assistance to Israel over the next decade. We strongly urge you to build on the record of prior Administrations by fully implementing this agreement and by continuing to provide robust security assistance to Israel so that nation can effectively maintain its qualitative military edge.
Mr. President, the United States and Israel have long benefited from joint efforts to confront mutual threats to regional security and stability. Continuing this robust relationship is only possible if the United States continues to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge over its potential adversaries. Thank you for your consideration of our request
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