CAIR has collected $$millions from foreign donors thanks to non-profit shell game<http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/> --- Foreign Aid as Shell Game
**There was, if you listened carefully, an undertone of anxiety beneath the hoopla last month,when Israel laid out plans to wean itself off U.S. economic aid.While politicians and pundits celebrated Israel's generous offer to give up its $3 billion-a-year entitlement, some Jewish activists were quietly wondering what it would do to Jewish political clout. "If you're going to be one of the most powerful lobbying forces in Washington, it's a good idea to have something to lobby for," says one veteran Washington insider,speaking on condition of anonymity. "Right now, it feels like AIPACis the March of Dimes, and they're about to cure polio." For some reason, folks at AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, don't seem worried. Neither do leaders of other Jewish organizations, nor Israel's congressional supporters. They're acting as though nothing much is happening. "Thisis a success story of an aid program that worked," says AIPAC spokeswoman Toby Dershowitz. "We think this is good news." At first glance, the facts seem to warrant a tad more anxiety. More than any other institution, AIPAC embodies American Jewish clout through its legendary ability to ensure U.S.support for Israel. Nothing symbolizes that U.S. support, and theJewish clout that maintains it, better than that $3 billion. As muchas Jewish power secures aid, aid builds Jewish power. Consider the numbers. When the Nixon administration first announced in October 1973 that it was sending Israel a staggering $2.2 billion, AIPAC was a shoestring agency witha half dozen staffers and a $400,000 budget. In the years since, U.S.aid has crept up to $3 billion, while AIPAC has ballooned into a colossus with a 150-member staff, a $15 million budget and a superpower aura. AIPAC's aura spreads far, lending stature to other Jewish lobbying efforts. When the Anti-Defamation League lobbies against hate crimes, or when the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society seeks visas for Russian refugees, or when Hadassah demands funding forbreast cancer research, they benefit from the perception that theyspeak for a $3 billion Jewish juggernaut. "Pro-Israel activity on Capitol Hill creates an effective Jewish presence in Washington that makes our work on other issues more effective," says Rabbi David Saperstein, head of the Washington Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. A Washington political consultant is more blunt:"There is a benefit to looking like Godzilla when you walk into aroom." So why isn't anybody frightened about the aidgoing away? Because the aid isn't really going away. It's being, asJewish lobbyists politely phrase it, "reconfigured." Briefly put, Israel is suggesting a slow phase-outof its "economic," or nonmilitary, assistance. That's only $1.2billion, less than half the $3 billion yearly total. The other $1.8billion is military aid. Israel wants to increase that part. The economic aid is easy to cut. It doesn't do Israel much good anyway. When it started, Israel had a Gross Domestic Product below $20 billion a year. U.S. aid meant something. Today,Israel's GDP is well over $80 billion. Economic aid accounts forbarely 2 percent of it. Most of the aid doesn't even enter Israel's economy. It used to build bridges and schools. Now it repays Israel's debt to the United States, which piled up before the aid wasconverted from loans to grants in the mid-1980s. Within 10 years, the debt will be paid up, according to the plan proposed to Congress last month by Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman (yes, that Neeman). That'swhen Israel wants to end the aid. Israel could end economic aid right now if Washington forgave the debt. Congress and the administration would probably agree, sources say. But Jerusalem fears lowering its credit rating. As for military aid, nobody wants to end it.Congress loves military aid. Nearly all of it comes as credits to buy U.S. arms, creating jobs and tax revenues in America. Besides,Washington recognizes that Israel faces a spiraling arms race that it can't afford to lose. Israel actually wants to boost military aid byone-third, to $2.4 billion. If the plan is accepted, U.S. aid to Israel will drop, slowly, from $3 billion to $2.4 billion. Israel will still bethe biggest U.S. aid recipient. Bold offer? It's more like a shellgame. And, yet, Congress is eating it up. "The finance minister came here of his own accord and said Israel is moving toward economic independence, and everyone is pretty happy," says Mark Corallo, an aide to House Appropriations chairman Bob Livingston,R-La. "We stand firm on our commitment to their defense needs because it's in our vital national interest. I don't know of anyone aroundhere who is bothered by that. Everyone realizes Israel is our strongest ally." With so much benefit and so little cost, the wonder is that Israel didn't suggest it years ago. But Jerusalem hasbeen reluctant to part with its greatest symbol of U.S. support. Even after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to cut aid in a 1996 speech to Congress, just after taking office, nothing happened.Annoyance has been building in Washington ever since, putting intense pressure on Jerusalem to get the ball rolling. Much of the pressurec ame from AIPAC. Since taking the plunge, Israelis are suddenly basking in unaccustomed acclaim. House Republicans see a chance to cut the budget. The Congressional Black Caucus hopes to claim someextra aid for Africa. The only loser is Egypt, which has received$2.1 billion yearly since making peace with Israel, and fearsCongress is just waiting for an excuse to slash. Everyone else is happy with Israel for a change.That makes Jewish lobbyists very happy. "I don't think people will see this as a sign of a community that's losing clout, but of a country that's doing better,"says Jess Hordes, head of the ADL's Washington office. "That's goodfor all of us." Maybe the anxiety we heard was Egypt's. *J.J. Goldberg is the author of "Jewish Power:Inside the Amercan Jewish Establishment." * On Monday, September 23, 2013 12:12:54 PM UTC-5, Travis wrote: > > > > > > ** > BareNakedIslam posted: "Muslim Brotherhood front group CAIR had its > tax-exempt status revoked in 2011 because of it's proven ties to terrorist > groups. Obama had their tax-exempt status restored* about one year later, > something that usually takes a minimum of 10 years after it is" > New post on *BARE NAKED ISLAM* > <http://www.barenakedislam.com/?author=1> Terror-linked CAIR has > collected $$millions from foreign donors thanks to non-profit shell > game<http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/> > by > BareNakedIslam <http://www.barenakedislam.com/?author=1> > > Muslim Brotherhood front group CAIR had its tax-exempt status revoked in > 2011 because of it's proven ties to terrorist groups. Obama had their > tax-exempt status restored* about one year later, something that usually > takes a minimum of 10 years after it is revoked. *IRS Plays Favorites With > Terror-Tied, Obama Regime-backed CAIR DAILY CALLER (h/t Annie) […] > > Read more of this > post<http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/> > *BareNakedIslam <http://www.barenakedislam.com/?author=1>* | September > 23, 2013 at 1:20 am | URL: http://wp.me/p276zM-Y5f > > > Comment<http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/#respond> > > See all > comments<http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/#comments> > > > Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage > Subscriptions<https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=80d8873ee52adffe4e178d01c25562cf&email=goosepickles%40gmail.com>. > > > > *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: > > http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/09/23/terror-linked-cair-has-collected-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/ > > > > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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