Um, so what else is new? Remember it was only until quite recently that the US paid for positive (fabricated) news articles to be published in Iraqi newspapers? The Govt. also did the same thing with our own local TV stations, by preparing set-pieces that "looked" like they were the product of local journalistic research.

In case you missed it, here is an article on neocondom:

Interesting, worth reading.

Paul Findley: High Cost of Subservience to Israel

All U.S. citizens must accept a measure of responsibility for Israel's grip on America. Those of us who knew what was happening did not protest with sufficient force and clarity.

By Paul Findley

U.S. Representative from Illinois 1961-83

Monday June 11, 2007

In the greatest service of his long public life, former President Jimmy Carter warns of the grave consequences of America's phenomenal subservience to Israel. In his latest book and recent lectures, he focuses on how Israel's cruel occupation, made possible by massive and unconditional U.S. support, has subjected the Palestinian people to terrible suffering for forty long years. Beyond that grave human tragedy, candid observers must cite U.S. complicity in Israeli lawlessness as the major factor that prompted the horror of 9/11 and lured America into launching three costly, wrong-headed, and failing wars, —Afghanistan, Iraq and the War on Terror. The linkage is easily identified.

America's support of Israel's brutality was the main motivation for 9/11. It was the ultimate expression of Arab fury over America's double standard that routinely ignores Israeli violations of Arab human rights. Nine-eleven would not have happened if any U.S. president in the last forty years had refused to finance Israel's humiliation and destruction of Palestine. Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst now a consultant to CBS News, recently told a congressional committee that "our unqualified support of Israel" was the main reason for 9/11. Marine General Anthony Zinni, President George W. Bush's first special envoy to the Middle East, has stated that the United States invaded Iraq for Israel and oil. Osama bin Laden repeatedly said it was payback for U.S. support of Israel's brutal treatment of Palestinians and other Arabs and for U.S. complicity in 1982 when Israeli forces used U.S.-donated munitions to massacre over 18,000 innocent Arabs in Lebanon.

The U.S. acts of war in Afghanistan and the War on Terror were President Bush's retaliation for 9/11. Israel—and only Israel—urged the United States to invade Iraq. Israel's lobby in Washington pushed hard and prevailed. To our foreign critics, these wars focus on killing people outraged by our pro-Israel bias. Our government has done nothing to redress the grievances of Israel's victims.

Despite this grim record, U.S. subservience to the wishes of Israel's leaders does not change. Unconditional aid to Israel keeps flowing, as does Israel's savage treatment of Palestinians and other Arabs. Moreover, the Bush administration is fully and openly pledged to do whatever is necessary–even acts of war–to halt Iran's nuclear program even if its projects are lawfully limited to peaceful purposes. Israel is the only nation urging the United States to attack Iran. The lobby is pushing hard again. If the U.S. assaults Iran it will be on Israel's behalf.

Congress, like the rest of America, is totally devoid of debate on the amazing role of this small nation in critical U.S. policy. Members are fulsome in public praise of the Jewish state, but no politician mentions the illegal behavior of Israel or the staggering burden it imposes on our country.

How did Israel gain this influence?

It all started 40 years ago. On June 8, 1967, the U.S. commander-in-chief, President Lyndon B. Johnson, turned his back on the crew of a U.S. navy ship, the USS Liberty, despite the fact that the ship was under deadly assault by Israel's air and sea forces. The Israelis were engaged in an ugly scheme to lure America into their war against Arab states. They tried to destroy the Liberty and its entire crew, then pin the blame on the Arabs. This, they reasoned, would outrage the American people and immediately lead the United States to join Israel's battle against Arabs.

The scheme almost worked. It failed because, despite the carefully-planned multi-pronged assault, the Liberty crew managed to broadcast an SOS over a makeshift antenna. When the appeal reached U.S. aircraft carriers nearby, the commanders immediately launched fighter planes to defend the ship. Informed of the launch, President Johnson ordered the rescue planes to turn back immediately.

For the first time in history, forces of the U.S. Navy were denied the right to defend a Navy ship under attack. Johnson said, "I don't care if the ship sinks, I am not going to embarrass an ally." Those were his exact words, heard by Navy personnel listening to radio relays. The ally Johnson refused to embarrass was Israel. To him, saving Israel from embarrassment was more important than saving the lives of the Liberty crew.

The day yielded infamy, —deceit, lies and cover-up at the highest level. When the SOS reached the top military commanders in Israel, they immediately canceled the assault, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity. At the White House, Johnson accepted Israel's claim, even though he knew it was a lie. Then Johnson magnified the day's infamy by ordering a cover-up of the truth. Liberty survivors were sworn to secrecy. Even those in hospital beds and badly wounded were threatened with court martial if they told anyone what actually happened. The cover-up has been continued by every administration since Johnson's.

It proved to be a fateful turning point in Israel's power over U.S. foreign policy. The Liberty experience convinced Israeli officials that they could get by with literally anything–even the murder of U.S. sailors–in their manipulation of the U.S. government. Financial aid to Israel began to pour like a river, all of it with no strings attached. According to The Christian Science Monitor, this outpouring has now cost U.S. taxpayers over $1.4 trillion. Costs go far beyond money. Thousands of American families are blighted forever, with America's once high moral standing in shambles. Because of its unqualified support of Israel, Washington is hated worldwide as never before.

The principal source of Israel's influence is the fear it seems to instill in every sector of our society. The most effective instrument of intimidation employed by its lobby is the reckless accusation of anti-Semitism, often leveled at anyone criticizing any aspect of Israeli behavior. Several organizations, fundamentalist Christian as well as Jewish, lobby for Israel, but the principal one is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC]. I can personally certify that for many years it has cast a blanket of fear over Capitol Hill and blocked any semblance of unfettered discussion.

I unintentionally contributed to that fear in 1985 when my book, They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby, was published. It reports in detail the efficiency of Israel's U.S. lobby, its history and tactics. Most of the text arose from my personal experience as AIPAC's prime target during my last five years as a Member of Congress. It also details the lobby's important role in the defeat of Senators Charles Percy and Adlai Stevenson, and U.S. Rep. Paul "Pete" McCloskey. In a rare burst of public candor about its partisan activities, AIPAC claimed credit for defeating re-election bids by myself in 1982 and Senator Percy in 1984.

My book became a bestseller. I hoped it would inspire public officials and other citizens to revolt against the lobby's influence on U.S. policy, but several of my former colleagues told me it had the opposite effect. One said, "After what AIPAC did to you and Percy, I vote with the lobby every time."

Israel's grip on America seems impervious. Two distinguished political scientists, John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt of Harvard, strode resolutely into the Middle East minefield a year ago by co-authoring a paper on Israel's lobby. More recently, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, a book written by former President Carter, revered worldwide for his effective work on international conflict resolution, was published.

These brave statements should have produced a groundswell of public protest demanding America's liberation from Israel. Although the professors and Carter have pursued the lecture circuit, no tide of outrage has developed. With few exceptions, America's major editors, producers, commentators, academics and politicians have given these courageous initiatives the silent treatment. Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill simply said, "Carter doesn't not speak for the Democratic Party."

Nationwide, the lobby's influence is pervasive, sustained and deep, a phenomenon unprecedented in U.S. history. Because of that power, the "other" Israel is almost never discussed openly and candidly any place in America, even in private conversation. It is impossible to explain the silence except as a reflection of profound fear.

The situation is highly dangerous. America has already paid a towering price for our subservience to Israel, and great additional burdens seem inevitable. If the United States is involved in acts of war against Iran, anti-American protest will rise to new heights, especially throughout the Islamic world. It will inevitably deepen the widely-held belief among Muslims that America seeks to undermine Islam.

The outlook for reform is grim. Elected officials of both major political parties in Washington seem hopelessly captured by Israel's agents. So does every serious candidate for the presidency in 2008. A senior U.S. Senator told me recently that Israel cannot expect to experience true security until Palestinians are secure in an independent state of their own, but he spoke off the record and has not made that wise declaration in public.

All U.S. citizens must accept a measure of responsibility for Israel's grip on America. Those of us who knew what was happening did not protest with sufficient force and clarity. Those who did not know should have taken their responsibility as citizens more seriously. They should have informed themselves.

The scene is likely to improve only if U.S. elected officials are criticized so forthrightly from home that they fear a constituent revolt more than they fear Israel's lobby. This, of course, will not happen until the countryside benefits from a rigorous and edifying public debate about Israel's role in our national life.

-Paul Findley, a U.S. Representative from Illinois 1961-83, resides in Jacksonville, Illinois. He is the author of five books, including the Washington Post seven-week bestseller, They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby, originally published by Lawrence Hill.

Here is a good one:

http://www.topplebush.com/photos843.shtml

This is perfect...these people keep making asses of themselves, I hope the young are looking at this.

Surely no one will listen to anything the neocons have to say at this stage of the game. (By the way, I loved that "Neocondom" thing from someone above. The mental picture of "Shotgun Dick" as such, was worth a thousand words.) They have lied to America and the world so many times, hardly anyone takes them seriously anymore. (Except Albania, George must have felt soooo good.)

"Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced in February a major initiative to promote democracy in Iran, including 50 million dollars to increase Persian-language television broadcasts."

Some definitions are needed here:

Iranians are not Arabs. They're Persians, et al.

There is no Persian language. The language is called Farsi.

Condoleeza Rice is pooping off millions of dollars of our money to talk about NASCAR and Paris Hilton? That's what my newspaper talks about.

The Bushies can appoint whomever they want to these propaganda outfits but it will be all in vain. The American brand has collapsed in the world. The Dubya administration is the Enron of American history. Sorry.

The Bush administration has been largely staffed by American Enterprise Institute/PNAC people who have succeeded in bringing the pResident's approval rating down to 26%.

With such success on the domestic front under their belts, they now seek to match that achievement in the foreign policy arena.

Jon Stewart is going to have a field day.

Isn't about time that someone organize a bus tour to all those facilities where our **Golden Prisoners** are spending their few days for all the mess they created in this Country.
Let's remember that highly privatized prisons have some *way out* although records might say something different...Freedom is participation, after all...

In case you haven't noticed, they're working on NPR, too.

Dkm:
"Given how the neocons have been counterproductive in everything they do, is it not likely that this effort, too, will get stood on its head by their ham-handed efforts?"
~ Yup, -agree!

As to 'Radio Martini' -wasn't that BuSh's favorite? :-)

shakker:
"Before all you get sore stomachs laughing, who has slithered off with all the tax money?"
--they can't take it with 'em where *they* are headed pal!

DCB: Nicely expressed!

And regarding the ever more bizarre actions of the 'neocondoms' (!) (-thanx for that one Poet!) the picture which formed in my head as I read of their latest EXPLOITs above, was that of this crazed group of (now very scared) maniacs digging ever more frenziedly...

...digging deeper and deeper... Furiously *digging their own graves*.

...and at this rate, they are sure to reach Hell even faster than before!

:)
____________

[Ps: laughter is *scientifically* proven to be good for us.
Physiologically, it releases endorphins etc, and is also a useful tool in ensuring radical, progressive change is carried forwards with a lighter touch, = a good thing, IMHO !]

Try: http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19960701-000032.html

RestoreDemocracy: "Rush Haw-Haw and his kinky pimps at McDonald's are Lovin' It. Have another FDA-deregulated BSE-burger and Victory Fries, Wimpy, and watch the Terrorist Show, before ticket prices skyrocket."

LOL!

I beg to differ with Golddogs. Hyperbole and emotion-laden language often reflect the sentiments of passionate people with deep and humanely considered opinions. There is so much apathy right now. Materialism, escapism, voyeurism, technophilism, etc. Potent language breaks through that. That's why I come to this site. To hear impassioned progressives sound off with their disgust, dismay, and withering sarcasm directed toward elites.

It's a much needed balance to the rightwing hatefilled bipolar shockjockeying that dominates the airwaves now.

If I want "balanced," "centrist" POVs that avoid extreme positions I can turn to the NY Times or Foreign Affairs Quarterly. Of course, it is that sedating language that fails to evoke any feeling that enables the neocons to do their thing beneath the radar, ever pulling the entirety of our discussions rightward.

What did Chomsky's equanimity do for him? The NY Times Review of books scupulously avoided reviewing him for some 20 years. But with a little help Hugo Chavez the NY Times can't ignore Chomsky anymore. But it continues to be his dispassionate delivery of revolutionary analyses that win him worldwide acclaim and respect.

I consider this site a place to hang out with likeminded friends. A different mode of discourse is required for communicating to paper editors and elected officials. No bowties here, please.

Yes, drex is right, short sweet to the point...unlike much above I didn't bother reading.

Maybe a few should throw in "Fascist" with the meaning quoted from an accepted dictionary.

Ladies and Gentlemen, when you write these long winded letters and emails to your Senators and Congressmen, especially with words like "fascist", "Nazi" etc. you are wasting your breath. Long letters are disregarded because they do not get to the point quickly and only one point per correspondence. The fascist and Nazi words get you on the wackos pile. Short, sweet and concise, all hyperbole is seldom read.

The only value of any broadcasting operation is the audience it can hold. Both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan had regularly scheduled broadcasts in English directed not only at Allied forces, but also the civillian population at home. They were uniformly unsuccessful for two reasons:

First because the civilian populations (especially in Europe) had a thorough and intimate understanding of what was going on.

Second because their point of view was so predictably ideological that it rendered their point of view predictably unbelievable.

The voices of neocondom (there is a pun there if you are paying attention!)will have the same fate.

Before all you get sore stomachs laughing, who has slithered off with all the tax money? What the neocons have accomplished is enormous. Reactionary jackasses that shouldn't have been elected dog catcher have dominated the political scene implementing programs directly opposite of the peoples' interest.

The vast majority of the thieves and fascists will cruise away with the cash and their reputation intact enough to allow them to spend it buying future politicians.

It is likely that Bu$h the inferior and Shotgun Dick will leave office under their own terms. All of the Republicans and possibly the Democrats who might be the next President will condone and may even expand on the unconstitutional powers ceded to the unitary executive.

The economy is much worse off than the propaganda numbers put out by the beneficiaries of all the graft and no bid contracts.

The military has been very damaged and we now are dependent on mercenaries.

Still Paris Hilton and American Idol are often the top news stories and lead the water cooler discussions.

I look stupid crying; so maybe I'll join you in (HYSTERICAL) laughter. Good luck - we are really going to need it.

The more lies they tell, the less people will trust them. Their new con job won't do well.

Given how the neocons have been counterproductive in everything they do, is it not likely that this effort, too, will get stood on its head by their ham-handed efforts? Here is a scenario that may occur. They put on shows based on techniques that the poll takers in the US say are effective in manipulating people or merely blast out their reactionary propaganda. Given that the rest of the world has already gone through a period of propaganda and has been inoculated as well as having been raised in very different cultures, the expected results do not occur. As a matter of fact, either their listening public drops to practically zero, or people are amused by what is regarded as rank stupidity, or people get enraged.

Look at Radio Marti now. For all intents and purposes it has become a well filled teat for the Miami Batistas to nurse at and none of the funds (funds, that's a euphemism for tax payer dollars) are being used to propagandize Cuba. What will you bet, given all the rest that the Bushies have done (Katrina, Iraq, GWOT, NCLB, etc.), that this initiative also turns into merely another way for the pigs to slop at the public trough?

Typical. The group most responsible for raising anti-Americanism to record heights throughout the world has, as its raison d'etre, "combatting anti-ameridacism". The truth is always the total opposite of what these people say it is.

Try this on for size: Who you gonna believe, US sponsored MEDIA or the bombs going off next door with 2 million refugees at your door?
Canuck Chuck: This time I hand you the laugh out loud prize. Gotta love THAT one!

In 1927 who said,"we have the best country money can buy"? saw it for what it is.The point is if I have a million dollars I can buy more democracy than you can.

So, what is new??? They have been doing this all along!

This might be the right place to put this link to the Real News network, an independently funded joint US-Canada venture. It's not quite up and running yet, but there are lots of great interviews to watch there -- interviews of journalists we've been reading on CommonDreams for years. Have a look:

http://www.therealnews.com/web/index.php

I bet their Evangelical Christian, Muslim Conversion Programming will go over big in Iran...

war criminals-they all belong in the hague as the blood keeps flowing...

Al Hurra is the butt of many a joke in thr Arab world especially when everyone is watching Al Jazeera. My husband and I get Al Jazeera English by satellite TV recently. Its very good and I highly recommend it. I know some of the folks who work at the station here in DC. Unfortunatly most cable companies and satellite companies in America won't carry it or the Arabic version as the administration demonized the channel (and bombed it back in Afghanustan and Iraq). Lets hope the administration doesn't go after the internet. The internet is the last bastion of freedom in this so called "free world".

Rush Haw-Haw and his kinky pimps at McDonald's are Lovin' It. Have another FDA-deregulated BSE-burger and Victory Fries, Wimpy, and watch the Terrorist Show, before ticket prices skyrocket.

They think that the Arabs are as dumb as Americans. Hah, are they wrong. Arabs inform themselves of the truth, while Americans watch American Idol and could care less about the truth. Americans are easy to dumb down. Arabs are not. Amazing how the US keeps imposing its bogus values on the rest of the world, thinking everyone thinks like an American. Americans don't think. Arabs do.

The Neocons aren't pushing for more control over the airwaves in the ME to win hearts and minds, they're doing it to start more wars, turn as many arabs and Muslims against their own leaders as possible, get as many as them killed as possible in endless wars, and steal as much of the land and resources as they can in the process.

This is obvious with its militant propaganda and exaggerated fear-mongering with Iran.

This isn't a push for democracy, it's a push for a monster-corporate empire, and the tyrants are the neocons and their political puppets.

Like anybody's going to just swallow their propaganda, offered in the name of We the People!

Give up, delusionists!

These guys want the Arab world to think American rule is a good thing. How dumb do they think Arabs are?

Remember when a car company went into spanish speaking countries to sell the Nova (no go)? That is what our public diplomacy has been like.

SIEG HEIL!!!

Reagan started "Radio Marti" and "TV Marti" to reach Cuba from the U.S..

We need Media Reform in this country because this is how the neo-con "money party" influences people. They OWN the media and we pay for it.

hell........they've managed to create an alternate reality here through the "fox"ification and "limbaugh"zation of the "news".......why not elsewhere

their fantasy knows no limits and their financiers have unlimited budgets for "think tank propoganda" to be spread at taxpayer expense......

please bring back the "fairness doctrine" so we can have an intelligent discussion on issues again.....