-Caveat Lector-
Sen. Lieberman's Zionist Connections -
A Conflict Of Interest? By
William Hughes 9-27-2
- "No special foreign-based interest, like Zionism,
should ever be placed above the interest of our Republic. Lieberman must
be forced to come clean with the Senate about all his Zionist
connections. Senate Rule 37 requires it and so does the future security
of our nation."
-
-
- On May 2, 2002, the Senate of the U.S. passed a
notorious pro-Israel Resolution (S. Res. 247), with respect to the
Mid-East controversy. Its co author was Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT).
In pushing the measure, he barked, "You are either with us or the
terrorists" (Washington Times, May 3, 2002). Who is this "us" he is
talking about?
-
- The measure falsely equated the U.S.'s post-9/11 fight
against terrorism with Israel's brutal occupation of the Palestinian
people in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. It also condoned Israel's
vicious military attacks on Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem.
-
- Black's Law Dictionary (5th Ed.) defines a conflict of
interest as a "Term used in connection with public officials and their
relationship to matters of private interest or gain to them."
-
- The Senate Code of Official Conduct, "Conflict of
Interest," Rule 37, Par. 2, states:
-
- "No Member...shall engage in any outside
business...which is inconsistent or in conflict with the conscientious
performance of official duties."
-
- The legislative history of this provision says, "It
should be read to prohibit any outside activities which could represent
a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest (See,
Senate Ethics Manual, Select Committee on Ethics, United States Senate,
p. 66).
-
- The Congressional Directory, (107th Congress,
2001-2002), list the official biography for Lieberman. It is silent
about his membership or association with any Zionist organizations or
his adherence to a Zionist political ideology.
-
- Lawmaking is built on trust. Lieberman has an
obligation to his fellow senators to disclose fully his agenda to the
members of the Senate. Almost all elected political entities abide by
these ethical rules, which are centered on revealing any conflict of
interest, appearance of a conflict of interest, prejudice, or
bias.
-
- Like all members of the Senate, Lieberman is required
to file an annual "Financial Disclosure Statement" with the Secretary of
the Senate. In his May 15, 2001 submittal, he again failed to mention
any official membership in any Zionist organizations. Although, he does
disclose his significant connection, as an advisory board member, to
three Israeli-based non-profit organizations: "The Peres Center for
Peace" at Tel Aviv; "Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies" at
Bar-Ilan University, and the "Natural History Museum," located in
Jerusalem.
-
- Lieberman's membership in these Zionist affiliated
groups does raise, on its face, an appearance of a conflict of interest
on his part with respect to an issue, like S. Res. 247, since it
advances the cause of Zionism and/or Zionist Israel. If he is in fact a
Zionist, then the conflict between his public duties and his private
interests becomes even more pronounced.
-
- The Anti-Defamation League, a hot air organ for
Israel, defines Zionism as, "The guiding nationalist movement of the
majority of Jews around the world, who believe in, support and identify
with the State of Israel." Does Lieberman subscribe, as a matter of
personal political philosophy, to the ADL's definition of Zionism? If
so, shouldn't he put that fact on the public record, whether he is a
card carrying Zionist or not?
-
- Actually, Zionism is an alien based political
movement, global in scope, racially restrictive, with its spiritual
headquarters in Tel Aviv, and not Washington, D.C. It aspires to a land
grabbing "Greater Israel."
-
- On another disturbing front, Israel Radio (Kol
Yisrael), reported on Oct. 3, 2001, that Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel
Sharon, had boasted at a Cabinet meeting, "I want to tell you something
very clear, don't worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the
Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it."
-
- In light of the above, I feel the Senate had a right
to know any relevant information about Lieberman's Zionist political
ideology, memberships, and associations in order to weigh the value of
endorsing or opposing his pro Israel resolution. He should have, at a
minimum, disclosed to the Senate any and all of his Zionist connections,
and then, if appropriate, recused himself on the matter of S. Res.
247.
-
- Our country is at high risk for terrorist attacks,
partly, because of its flawed policy of giving unconditional support to
a hawkish Israel, presently led by a man universally-loathed for his
brutality. This policy, unfortunately, also includes unfairly demonizing
and punishing Muslims and Arabs leaders in general; for example, the
economic sanctions against Iraq, which have caused the death of hundreds
of thousands of innocent Iraqi children, fall into the latter category
(CASI, 01/02).
-
- During the 2000 election, Lieberman received $86,000
from Pro-Israel PAC contributors towards his Senate re-election
campaign, (See, Janet McMahon, WRMEA, Oct/Nov. 2000 issue). What effect
did that financial contribution, and others like it, have on his voting
record and on his hidden political agenda?
-
- Let me make this clear: Lieberman's religion is no
one's business but his own. His politics, however, and any foreign links
to it, are the public's business. I am pro-America. I am also an
anti-Zionist and against Sharon's colonial policies.
-
- S. Res. 247, which passed the Senate by a 94-2 vote,
will only increase the hostility towards America in the Arab and Muslim
world. It also, more importantly, will send a green light to the blood
stained Sharonists to continue their killing spree against innocent
Palestinians. Thankfully, Senators Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and Ernest F.
Hollings (D S.C.) had the courage to oppose the Resolution.
-
- No special foreign-based interest, like Zionism,
should ever be placed above the interest of our Republic. Lieberman must
be forced to come clean with the Senate about all his Zionist
connections. Senate Rule 37 requires it and so does the future security
of our nation.
-
- William Hughes is a Baltimore attorney and the author
of "Andrew Jackson vs. New World Order" (Authors Choice Press), which is
available online.
-
-
- http://www.mediamonitors.net/williamhughes1.html
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