AIPAC wins again as Dems cave on Iran

With friends like these, do we need enemies?

WASHINGTON - Top House Democrats retreated Monday from an attempt to limit President Bush's authority for taking military action against Iran as the leadership concentrated on a looming confrontation with the White House over the Iraq war.

Officials said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) and other members of the leadership had decided to strip from a major military spending bill a requirement for Bush to gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

Conservative Democrats as well as lawmakers concerned about the possible impact on Israel had argued for the change in strategy.

Will they never learn? This is as bad as voting for the AUMF. Bush will point to it as endorsement of his powers to attack Iran at will.

Wimps, all of them. Maybe Ralph Nader is right.

Update:

Here's part of Juan Cole's reaction:

Olmert--that great military genius--isn't someone Americans should be listening to on the subject of war. And, he should be careful in seeming to try to influence the US government to stay in Iraq, since such a stance is extremely unpopular and getting moreso over here. Sooner or later the American public is going to rebel against the hold that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has over the US Congress, especially if they think it is getting their children blown up halfway around the world.

You might want to click through to the link in Professor Cole's comment. For those who think I exaggerate the power of the Israeli lobby, it may be an eye-opener.