U.S. government too cozy with Israel

The American Legion held a national convention in Reno in August. President Trump flew into town to address the group of patriotic American veterans. Nothing unusual there.

But then something very unusual happened. The Legion passed Resolution 40, which read:

“RESOLVED, By the American Legion in National Convention assembled in Reno, Nevada, August 22, 23, 24, 2017, that the American Legion calls upon the 115th United States Congress to publicly, impartially, and thoroughly investigate the attack on the USS Liberty and its aftermath and to commence its investigation before the end of 2017, the 50th anniversary year of the attack.”

On June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty, an American intelligence ship, was attacked in international waters by Israel. Thirty four U.S. Marines and sailors were killed, 171 wounded. It is the worst attack on a U.S. Navy vessel in peacetime.

Most Americans are unaware that our supposed best ally attacked us, or of the political coverup that followed. The American Legion acted heroically to right a very serious wrong.

Admiral John McCain, Jr., and then his son, Sen. John McCain, played major roles in squashing the official naval inquiry and later the Senate investigation. The 50-year coverup that followed reveals the extent of Israel’s political influence. Former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan has long called the U.S. Congress “Israeli occupied territory” because both political parties have failed to hold Israel accountable for its numerous questionable actions. The attack on the USS Liberty was described by witnesses and impartial jurists as deliberate, vicious and unprovoked. Their testimony was suppressed.

Israel wanted to sink the ship and kill all the crew. It is a miracle they failed.

Bush 41 and his realist secretary of state James Baker were the last Republicans in the White House to criticize Israel. President Obama fashioned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran over Israel’s strident objections. But even these presidents did not sanction Israel or decrease the military aid we send to Tel Aviv.

U.S. politicians love to say there should be “no daylight” between the U.S. and Israel. But Israel often widens the daylight by its actions against our interests. The State of Israel was created through terrorism and ethnic cleansing. Israeli spies stole the nuclear weapons secrets from U.S., making Israel the only nuclear power in the Middle East. Israel disregarded U.S. and U.N. mandates against building settlements on the West Bank and the occupation of the Golan Heights. Israel provided medical aid to Islamic State soldiers. The defense minister publicly declared Israel would rather see the black flag of Islamic State fly over Damascus than Syria to win the war. Any criticism of Israeli policies brings accusations of anti-Semitism. Israel has numerous non government agencies promoting its views. The corporate media rarely presents articulate critics of Israel.

Other countries of the world have acted to keep Israel’s ravenous appetite for territory under control. Russia, Iran, Syria and Lebanon have all clipped Israel’s wings recently. The Palestinian resistance of Hamas and Fatah is working toward a unified front. Our European allies are skeptical of Israeli policy. Students and activists call for economic boycotts of Israel

No one, including Iran, threatens Israel’s hard won power to exist. Not only is Israel the only nuclear power in the region, but it has the best defensive armed forces. Israel is threatened only by its internal policies toward the Palestinians. The United States’ one-sided special relationship with Israel and outsized hatred of Iran could lead to another Middle East war. President Trump so far puts Israel first while telling his base he is for America First.