"(AIPAC) is attempting to block a brief filed by Director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) Grant F. Smith"

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire -- The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is attempting to block a brief filed by Director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) Grant F. Smith in the DC Court of Appeals on February 3, 2012. The 78-page IRmep filing asserts "AIPAC has never abandoned its original role as an arm of the Israeli government in the United States." http://www.IRmep.org/ila/rosen 

Citing declassified criminal investigations, IRmep underscores the public's interest in the outcome of the case. "AIPAC's observable standard for employees is 'solicit, obtain and leverage classified information without being criminally indicted.' AIPAC is never held publicly accountable for these types of activities which harm governance and public perception of rule of law." 

Exhibits include State Department files declassified on January 20, 2012 revealing in detail how former AIPAC Director Morris Amitay endangered US national security when he obtained Department of Defense secrets in 1974. The IRmep brief also analyzes ongoing financial damages from a 1984-1987 incident. The FBI investigated how AIPAC acquired an International Trade Commission report full of still-classified confidential business information. 

AIPAC characterized the IRmep brief as "completely inaccurate portrayals of events that occurred decades ago" but seeks dismissal on procedural grounds. IRmep argues for its acceptance even though oral arguments begin February 14, because "AIPAC is an organization that has long 'had it both ways' in functioning as an agent of the Israeli government without registering, influencing funding flows to political candidates while claiming charitable tax-exempt status, and rewarding employees who obtained classified information--until they are criminally indicted." 

Former employee Steven J. Rosen sued AIPAC and its board of directors for defamation in 2009. AIPAC fired Rosen after FBI wiretaps alleged Rosen had received classified national defense information. Rosen was indicted for espionage in 2005 though charges were later dropped. AIPAC claimed Rosen's behavior "did not comport with standards that AIPAC expects of its employees." Rosen immediately appealed after the defamation suit was dismissed in 2011. 

IRmep has previously filed formal complaints seeking the revocation of AIPAC's tax exempt status and registration under the 1938 Foreign Agents Registration Act. In filing the appellate court brief, IRmep's director seeks to protect and advance growing popular demands that AIPAC be properly regulated. Major briefs filed in the Rosen v AIPAC et. al. court case may be viewed online at: http://www.IRmep.org/ila/rosen 

SOURCE Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy 

Full IRmep Filing:   http://irmep.org/ILA/rosen/02032012amicus.pdf

Full AIPAC Filing: http://irmep.org/ILA/rosen/02082012opposition.pdf

News Release: http://tinyurl.com/IRmep-brief Releted Court Filings: http://www.IRmep.org/ila/rosen/ 

 

Comments

[Paul Deavereaux]

AIPAC claimed Rosen's behavior "did not comport with standards that AIPAC expects of its employees."

Yes. He got caught.

[Anna-Marina]

Perfect explanation!

[walrus]

Halelujah!

[steve g]

BTW Sarah Palin was wearing a similiar
flag pin on a Sunday Fox News interview.
Maybe she should register as "an arm
of the Israli government."

[brenda]

I don't fully understand what is going on here, but it surely does sound like good news!

Colonel, is this a matter of thieves falling out? Rosen is now on the other side -- like MJ Rosenberg, a former AIPAC staffer who is one of AIPAC's finest critics?

[turcopolier]

brenda

Grant Smith has been waging a lonely fight. To paraphrase Phil Sheridan, "If you love yourcountry, come up to the front." pl

[tunde]

colonel, sst contibutors,
i fear this will be overtaken by recent events in Thailand, Georgia and India. The GoI will play up it's victimhood, especially to it's US audience.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/9082615/Israel-accuses-Iran-of-terrorism-after-Iranian-man-blows-his-own-legs-off-in-Bangkok-blast.html

[brenda]

oh dear, not the good news I thought it was, although I did discover the excellent Grant Smith brief. His history of AIPAC should be introduced into the water supply...

I thought it was something to do with Steve Rosen's court case and that Steve Rosen was introducing this brief as part of his case. Now that surely would have made the NYT? or maybe not. the Israel Lobby has quite a hammerlock on the US press...

http://original.antiwar.com/smith-grant/2011/08/09/does-aipac-have-only-two-major-donors/

but here's a link to a thoughtful Aipac financial analysis by Grant Smith. A little bit of hope there, the Steve Rosen $20 M settlement might have depressed the Aipac donor base :>)

thank you for the link to Grant Smith, Colonel. As you mentioned, a patriot.

[samuelburke]

This is one example of Israel being our ally and friend that ought to make every american proud.

The American Intelligence community must also be so very proud of their ability to contain these criminals lo all these years, great job boys at cia, fbi and any other agency humuliated by these Benedict Arnolds in your midst.

what a humiliating joke on u.s intel.

[Stanhenning]

The AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Council) is clearly the tool of a foreign government so register it as such and quit the ring-around-the-rosy aspect of allowing it excessive access to American policy level activities. Certainly, AIPAC can register its views, but they should be clearly identified as views of a foreign interest group and treated as such. Lets quit playing games - I'm an American citizen of German ancestry and we have many other citizens of other ancestries, but we are all Americans as are our Jewish citizens, but American Jewish citizens are not necessarily members AIPAC - it is a representative of foreign interests as far as I can see whether we like it or not and should be handled as such.