Even since Steven Walt and John Mearsheimer’s controversial “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy” paper accusing a bloc of pro-Israel organizations of having disproportionate influence on U.S. Middle-Eastern policy, the question of the Israel lobby - predominately the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) - and a seemingly looming military confrontation with Iran has been one of great debate in many circles. The U.S. Congress has been absent from this debate, however.

When Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attempted to pass a resolution demanding the Bush administration seeking Congressional approval before any military attacks against Iran, the left-wing Speaker withdrew the resolution after lobbying by AIPAC which consoled that the resolution undermined Israeli security.

Congress is incredibly docile to the Israel lobby to the point of nearly shutting down all debate on U.S.-Israeli relations. But this fact is rarely mentioned in official news reports and certainly not by Congresspersons and their staffs. This is not to exaggerate the influence and clout of the Israel lobby - as Walt and Mearsheimer, I believe, do - but it is also not to neglect the fact that akin to many lobbies this one is very people (Congressional staffs ranked it either as second to or tied for first against the 36-million member AARP (an elderly citizens lobby) in influence) and although it can not single-handily push the United States to war with Iran since lobbying clout is diminished in the executive branch, AIPAC still has the ability to energize Congress and create a public atmosphere that will pressure Obama for a military confrontation against Iran’s uranium-enrichment sites (the West accuses Iran of a harboring armament intentions, while Iran claims its acts are peaceful).

And AIPAC is doing just that. The lobby has not endorsed Obama’s diplomatic outreach to Iran and has, in fact, been lobbying for Congressional action that is certain to undermine Obama’s hand as he is aiming for a breakthrough by alienating Iran. AIPAC has pushed for increased sanctions against Iran and divestment from the nation.

No doubt there are several, if not most, members of Congress who support AIPAC and Israel’s goals and thus lobbying here is not an issue. But several Congresspersons oppose AIPAC’s enthusiasm that the United States fight Israel’s war with Iran, and even more so given U.S. commitments in Afghanistan, lacking public opinion in the Muslim world, and U.S. debt.

AIPAC is indifferent to such concerns as an Israel-first-and-always organization, and it notoriously ruthless in its pursuit of its agenda often defeating opposing politicians in the next election. That is why even those politicians who harbor caution if not resentment of AIPAC’s agenda stay silent and at best vote “present” instead of registering “No.”

That is why the words of California Democratic Congressman Bob Filner (who is Jewish) at the J Street conference (a dovish, self-described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby posing as the left-wing alternative to the infinitely-hawkish AIPAC) are so remarkable in the courage. Filner stated that AIPAC is pushing members of Congress to vote for a war with Iran (not an actual war vote, but for all intents and purposes by virtue of signing onto hawkish legislation and talking-points). And that this is a war about an issue - Iranian uranium enrichment - that most people in a Congressional district could care less about. But AIPAC has been successful in beating the drums for war (sorry for the cliche) even though most people are opposed, Filner went on, based on one factor: Money. Pro-Israel PACs (Political Action Committee) donate a lot of money to candidates or their opponents and no one wants to cross the pro-Israel money. According to the National Journal, pro-Israel groups donated over $50 million to candidates in the 1990s to the roughly $800,000 donated by pro-Arab PACs. Filner added that most Congresspersons fear the fate of Earl Hilliard and Cynthia McKinney (two Congresspersons defeated by AIPAC for their pro-Palestinians stands), and do not want to oppose AIPAC’s agenda.

Bob Filner [also] told the story of voting against a 1994 resolution condemning the hateful and anti-Semitic speech of Khalid Abdul Muhammad, at the time a top lieutenant of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Filner said he couldn’t condemn the speech because of the First Amendment—“How can Jews survive without the First Amendment?” he asked—and was the only Jewish member of Congress to vote against it.
Filner said the vote hurt him among Jewish supporters, costing him $250,000 in contributions per election cycle. “That kind of money is an intimidating factor. I raised a lot less money in succeeding years, but my conscience was cleared,” he said to huge applause.

Filner spoke truth to power today, and his honesty and strength was refreshing. But I now worry about his fate. 2010 will be a hard reelection for him. Good Luck!!!