posted on August 24, 2003 01:37:40 PM new
Dean Not Progressive on Mideast
By Ahmed Nassef, AlterNet
June 30, 2003
Although often portrayed as progressive, former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean falls short on several issues important to progressives, with the Middle East being one of the more glaring.
True, Dean is one of the Democratic presidential hopefuls who opposed the invasion of Iraq (along with Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, conservative Sen. Bob Graham, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, and Rev. Al Sharpton), but he is closer to a hawk when it comes to Israel/Palestine and U.S. policy toward Iran.
In a major foreign policy speech earlier this year, Dean, while calling for an end to Palestinian violence, did not call for an end to Israeli violence, let alone an end to the illegal Israeli occupation.
And when asked whether his views are closer to the dovish Americans for Peace Now (APN) or the right-wing, Sharon-supporting American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), he stated unequivocally in an interview with the Jewish weekly The Forward, "My view is closer to AIPAC's view."
"At one time the Peace Now view was important, but now Israel is under enormous pressure. We have to stop terrorism before peace negotiations," he said.
Similarly, Dean's official campaign position on solving the Palestinian-Israeli problem is that "terrorism against Israel must end," but there is no mention of the Israeli violence that has resulted in over 2,391 deaths since September 2000.
Last December, Dean told the Jerusalem Post that he unequivocally supported $8 billion in U.S. loan guarantees for Israel. "I believe that by providing Israel with the loan guarantees ... the US will be advancing its own interest," he said. His unconditional support for the loan package, in addition to $4 billion in outright grants, went further than even some of the most pro-Israel elements in the Bush administration, like Paul Wolfowitz, who wanted to at least include some vague restrictions like pushing Israel to curtail new settlements and accept a timetable to establish a Palestinian state.
On the illegal Israeli settlements, Dean seems to be waffling of late. A pro-Dean blog quotes his campaign as calling for the ultimate removal of only "a number of existing settlements." (The link back to the official site was no longer operational as of this writing.) However, in what may signal a softening of his position to woo progressive voters in the just passed MoveOn.org PAC Democratic "primary" vote, Dean called last month for "ultimately dismantling the settlements." So which one is it?
(Dean won the MoveOn vote, but did not secure the 50 percent majority needed to gain the PAC’s support. More rounds of voting will take place.)
In fact, Dean's alignment with AIPAC and their right-wing politics goes much deeper than aligning with the group’s platform. Last year, he named Steven Grossman, a former AIPAC head, as his campaign's chief fundraiser. Soon after, he flew to Israel on an AIPAC-sponsored junket.
And in a telling statement about whether a President Dean would act any differently toward Iran than the Bush neocons, Dean also told The Forward, "The United States has to ... take a much harder line on Iran and Saudi Arabia because they're funding terrorism."
In fact, Dean thinks President Bush is way too soft on Iran. In a March appearance on CBS' “Face the Nation,” Dean explained that "[President Bush] is beholden to the Saudis and the Iranians," something that would certainly come as a surprise to the current regime leaders in Iran who've been labeled as part of an alleged "Axis of Evil" by the current U.S. president. Dean even left open the possibility of preemptive strikes against that country in that interview, adding that "we have to be very, very careful of Iran."
Once again, sounding very much like President Bush, Dean charged during a New Hampshire campaign stop this month that Iran (along with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Libya) was "funding Palestinian terrorists and fueling terrorism throughout the world."
Apparently, there is another side to this "anti-war" candidate. When combined with his dubious record as governor on issues like welfare "reform" and gun control, it may be prudent for progressives to think twice before casting their vote for Howard Dean.
Ahmed Nassef is editor-in-chief of Muslim WakeUp!, a progressive Muslim online magazine.
posted on August 24, 2003 02:06:38 PM new
I wish I could meet you in real life just so I could fuc# you up. Ignorance is my number 1 pet pieve. Id probobly half to cripple you the first day you opened your mouth.
posted on August 24, 2003 02:30:34 PM new
There is an email address attached to my profile, anytime you want to meet, I will be happy to send you an address.
Of course we both know this will never happen...
Because then you would no longer to be able to hide from behind your computer...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
[ edited by Twelvepole on Aug 24, 2003 02:31 PM ]
posted on August 24, 2003 03:06:52 PM new
Howard Dean is a double talker and a liar. He lied to the AFL/CIO and got called on it. He tried to lie on Meet the Press and got called on it. I'm a democrat and wouldn't waste my time and energy voting for the man.
Oh, ya, my money is on bigcitycollectibles.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
posted on August 24, 2003 03:10:10 PM newIgnorance is my number 1 pet pieve. Id probobly half to cripple you the first day you opened your mouth.
Do you mean pet peeve? Well if it is, I think your sentence should have started....
I'd probably have to....
I understand where you're coming from - ignorance is my pet peeve too
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
posted on August 24, 2003 03:10:49 PM new
oops - my money's on twelve
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
posted on August 24, 2003 03:33:05 PM new
I too am in favor of the US support of Israel although I was against the Iraq war as unnecessary and saw it as a failure in US policy and diplomacy. The feelings of Ahmed Nassef toward Dean and $1.25 will get you on the bus. They won't sway my vote in the general election one way or another.
posted on August 24, 2003 05:09:09 PM new
I am against AIPAC becouse its purpose is to support the extremist israeli government in expandin its land and power throughout the mid east.
