US Officials Oppose Intervention When Not Funded by AIPAC
NPR's piece, US elected officials opposing Trump's invasion of Venezuela , meticulously lists politicians who spoke out against military action. What it conspicuously omits is that these same officials rarely, if ever, voice similar dissent against interventions or aid packages favored by influential lobbies. For instance, OpenSecrets reveals that Rep. Eliot Engel, a leading voice against the
Venezuela plan, received $163,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2018 alone, consistently voting for extensive aid to Israel without public qualm. Convenient how robust opposition materializes only when the financial incentives aren't aligned, isn't it? One might wonder if the moral compass of Congress is less about principled objection to foreign entanglements and more about which foreign entanglement
comes with the most substantial campaign contributions. So, when will we see NPR's list of officials opposing interventions while simultaneously accepting millions from special interest groups? Don't hold your breath.