The Washington Post's Dana Milbank leaves out some important details in his column entitled, "AIPAC Beats the Drums of War." (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/aipac-beats-the-drums-of-war/2012/03/05/gIQASVMZtR_story.html)
He cites the fact that AIPAC delegates like me "admired an armored personnel carrier, a surface-to-air missile and a model of an Israeli drone." These items showcased in the AIPAC Village - a central meeting area at the Policy Conference - all reflected the warlike atmosphere Milbank claims AIPAC was seeking to create. According to him, these props were all understandable within the context of the speeches delivered by Senators Joe Lieberman, Mitch MCconnel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Here's what Milbank doesn't tell his readers. The very measured speech delivered immediately after Mitch McConnel and before Prime Minister Netanyahu by Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also brought led all of to leap to our feet. Here's what Milbank conviently ommits from his column: that the armoured personnel carrier we all "admired" (http://www.military-today.com/apc/maxxpro_mrap.htm) was developed by the U.S. Manufacturer, Navistar International, and an Israeli company called Plasan. It's purpose is to protect troops, like the U. S. troops currently serving our country in Afganistan from being killed and maimed by IEDs. That model drone we oood and ahhd is just like the hundreds of drones that President Obama has ordered be used against terrorists operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. For some reason, Milbank forgets to mention the new bandage technology that was on display highlighting the kind of cutting edge Israeli technology that saves lives. That same technology was what saved former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords when she was shot in Arizona. Had that bandage technology not been available she would have bled out and died on the spot.
Milbank's broadside against AIPAC and pro-Israel advocates (Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Jews and non-Jews) like me who believe in a strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel and in protecting the security of both nations reminds me of the wise adage: "There are always two sides to a story." In the interest of fairness, I thought I'd give you the other side of a very one sided account.
I'm not reassured. In my own following of the speeches and conversations with various people during and after the conference I am hearing *nothing* but war against Iran and anyone who believes otherwise--Obama included--is either naive or an appeaser, Neville Chamberlain, an enemy of the Jews, Purim 2.0 rah rah rah. AIPAC is bound to be supportive of the Israeli gov't and its policies so I do not really blame AIPAC. Bibi Netanyahu is extremely dangerous. Our enemies are also extremely dangerous but we cannot control or be responsible for their choices. Only our own.
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