AIPAC Policy Conference 2008

Extremists opposing any compromise with Palestinians are honored before huge crowd.  Major Presidential Candidates praise AIPAC and Israeli policies, while opposing any changes necessary for peace.

As is now customary, a leader from the extremist cult "Christians United for Israel (CUFI)" spoke at the gathering. This comes after the 2007 keynote speech by John Hagee, the religionist whose endorsement was recently rejected by John McCain because of Hagee's very strange, and actually, clearly psychotic, world view. Recently, many of CUFI's events have at least one leader from AIPAC in attendance, and many aipac events have one or more CUFI leaders participating. This year is no different. Jewish Voice for Peace and Just Foreign Policy are circulating a petition to put an end to this relationship. For the sake of further shedding light on the extremism of both CUFI and AIPAC, we urge you to sign it. Go here.....

We have set up a special page to discuss AIPAC's push for the next war with Iran. Ready for a US naval blockade of Iran? Read about the Iran War Resolution, now before Congress.

Below are links (to the aipac website itself) that give transcripts of the speeches of the major political players that spoke at this years conference.  Then some commentary on some of the speeches from various media. Even satire from Jon Stewart of the Daily Show (check it out below!).  Also, be sure to sign the petition from Jewish Voice for Peace calling on candidates to moderate their stances in the interest of peace.

Remember, while aipac had 7,000 people in attendance, millions of Americans are demanding an end to an unjust war in Iraq, saying NO to war with Iran (and supporting direct talks with Iran) and supporting justice and peace in the Middle East. People-power can overcome the fear and hate generated at this conference. Keep the struggle alive.

Speech by Barack Obama.
Speech by Hillary Clinton
Speech by Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Speech by Secretary of State Rice
Speech by John McCain.

News Stories and Commentary:
Palestinians slam Obama on Jerusalem remark
It's a Mitzvah! From Washington Post
...A mere 12 hours after claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama appeared before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday -- and changed himself into an Israel hard-liner."
No I Can't - Uri Avnery's view of Barack Obama's "scandalous" remarks on Jerusalem.  Very bad for the prospect of peace.
Robert Fisk: The West's weapon of self-delusion
AIPAC conference 'no arena for debate' on Israel - link to video below
AIPAC's tightly controlled script makes it more like a Press Release than a conference where a variety of opinions are discussed.
Where's healthy debate on U.S. policy toward Israel?
George Bisharat asks why candidates only mouth the most hawkish positions in regards to Israel. Perhaps, he says, politicians erroneously believe that the Jewish Community leaders, and their militaristic agenda, accurately reflect that of the Jewish community.
Obama's Missteps
George Bisharat writes of Obama's AIPAC speech in the San Francisco Chronicle.
 

The Daily Show rips the AIPAC-pander brigade.