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Page added on January 14, 2015
How Middle Eastern Governments Are Buying Off the U.S. Political Process
The quaint notion that the U.S. political system remotely resembles either a Republic or a Democracy should have been abandoned long ago.
Any lingering illusions were surely extinguished last year, when an academic study empirically proved that the USA is nothing more than a corrupt oligarchy. I highlighted this groundbreaking piece of research in the post: New Report from Princeton and Northwestern Proves It: The U.S. is an Oligarchy. Here’s an excerpt from the study itself:
Despite the seemingly strong empirical support in previous studies for theories of majoritarian democracy, our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts. Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.
While having super rich and powerful American oligarchs running the show is one thing, the reality of the situation is actually far worse. Thanks to a recent article in Vice, we now know that foreign governments are aggressively employing their extraordinary wealth to advance their interests here on American soil. In many cases, these are autocratic regimes, which not only do not care about the best interests of the nation, they are often caught actively funding ISIS and even perpetuating 9/11 itself. Here are some excerpts from the piece:
For ex-congressman and GOP strategist Vin Weber, Christmas came a few days early and from an unlikely source: the Qatari government. In December, three days before the holiday, the former Minnesota lawmaker and his lobbying firm, Mercury LLC, signed a lucrative lobbying contract with theGulf State,receiving a $465,000 advance for the first few months of work.
Weber isn’t alone. Over the past year and a half, regimes throughout the Middle East, from Turkey to the United Arab Emirates, have gone on what appears to be a shopping spree for former members of Congress. Compared to the rest of the world, Middle East governments have accounted for more than fifty percent of the latest revolving door hires for former lawmakers during this time period, according to a review of disclosures by VICE.
What’s also striking about the latest surge in foreign lobbying is that many of these former lawmakers maintain influence that extends well beyond the halls of Congress. Former Michigan Representative Pete Hoekstra, who used to chair the House Intelligence Committee, appears regularly in the media to demand that the US increase its arms assistance to the Kurds in northern Iraq. Writing for the conservative news outlet National Review, Hoekstra argued that, “the United States needs to immediately provide [the Peshmerga] with more than light arms and artillery to tip the scales in their favor and overcome the firepower of the Islamists.” In that instance and in others, Hoekstra has often not disclosed that since August 12th, he has worked as a paid representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, which relies on the beleaguered Peshmerga militia for safety against ISIS.
The same goes for former US Senator Norm Coleman, a lobbyist who serves on the board of the influential Republican Jewish Coalition, and whose Super PAC, American Action Network, spent over $12.3 million to help elect Republicans last year. Since July, Coleman has been a registered lobbyist for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hired in part to work on sanctions against Iran, a key priority of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family. Shortly after signing up as a lobbyist for the Saudis, Coleman, introduced only as a former Senator, gave a speech on Capitol Hill imploring his congressional allies to realize that Israel and Saudi Arabia have many shared policy priorities, and that the United States “should be hand in glove with our allies in the region.” And in a Twitter message greeting the new Congress last week, Coleman wrote that a “nuclear Iran” is the biggest threat and linked to an article calling for Congress to prioritize a new round of Iran sanctions.
It’s not always clear what these lawmaker-lobbyists say or do on behalf of their foreign supervisors, but what is clear is that many of these politicians are willing to renege on their past commitments to human rights. Delahunt, for example, led inquiries in Congress to cast a light into the brutal abuses of Azerbaijan. If anything, Azerbaijan has gotten worse, according to international observers, who note that since last year, the country has gone on an unprecedented crackdown of activists, journalists, and other perceived opponents of the regime. But instead of pushing back against such crimes, Delahunt now works to put a positive spin on the developments.
The influx of foreign influence into Washington is a growing phenomenon. As the New York Times reported late last year, major think tanks, including the Brookings Institute and the Atlantic Council, have allowed foreign donors to call the shots on their policy prescriptions. Major trade groups that can now play an unlimited role in influencing elections, thanks to the Citizens United ruling, receive direct funds from corporations headquartered in foreign lands. The American Petroleum Institute, for instance, is run by a board of directors that includes an executive from ARAMCO, the Saudi state-owned oil company that takes its orders from the Saudi ruling family.
Remember that next time you read a report from a “think tank,” or hear one of their “expert” analysts on some mainstream media propaganda show. You’ll probably hear as much truth from them as you received from Fox News’ recently shamed “terrorism expert,” Steve Emerson.
It appears that this trend of former powerful politicians getting revolving door payouts via shady, human rights abusing regimes represents the wave of the future. After all, why attract all that publicity by joining JP Morgan, when you can just as easily start your own consulting or lobbying firm and earn millions from the likes of say, Kazakhstan. This is precisely what former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has done. Recall: Letter Reveals Tony Blair Advised Kazakhstan’s President on How to Spin Massacre of Innocent, Unarmed Protesters.
Even more troubling, is the fact that several of the governments mentioned in the Vice piece, specifically Qatar and Saudi Arabia, were instrumental in funding the emergence of ISIS, the latest existential terrorist threat du jour. Remember the post, America’s Disastrous Foreign Policy – My Thoughts on Iraq, in which it was noted that:
But in the years they were getting started, a key component of ISIS’s support came from wealthy individuals in the Arab Gulf States of Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Sometimes the support came with the tacit nod of approval from those regimes; often, it took advantage of poor money laundering protections in those states, according to officials, experts, and leaders of the Syrian opposition, which is fighting ISIS as well as the regime.
So these individuals are funding ISIS with one hand, and feeding former U.S. politicians with the other. It’s basically oligarchy on steroids. And it’s not just ISIS either. Bear in mind the increasingly clear connection between Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks highlighted in the piece: Two Congressmen Push for Release of 28-Page Document Showing Saudi Involvement in 9/11.
Are we simply being played as fools by a bunch of authoritarian desert monarchs? Certainly appears that way.
26 Comments on "How Middle Eastern Governments Are Buying Off the U.S. Political Process"
Makati1 on Wed, 14th Jan 2015 11:31 pm
The USSA has the best leadership money can buy. Makes the open dictatorships look lame. And the blame is right here in the USSA , not in the ME.
The sheeple have gotten too lazy to be democratic. Socialism is the new life style of choice. Me and mine and F.U!. With over half of the population receiving government checks in one form or another and the rest subsidized to the gills to make impossible economics possible (or at least seem possible), what can you expect? Slugs and leeches have inherited the “Land of the Free”.
FriedrichKling on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 5:43 am
Makati1:
I’ll bet you have no qualms cashing your social security checks.
Davy on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 6:38 am
What is new in a bought off world? Very few countries have a political system that is not about money and power. Most of the countries that matter today in a BAU reality matter because they play the BAU game. If you are going to play BAU you have to play by the rules. The global reality is corruption, manipulation, and disregard for fundamentals of democracy and markets. We are in an insane world. If at an individual to a national level you try to be sane then you will not succeed in the insane of BAU. I will also mention the hypocrisy of an above comment of those who claim pride in BAU results then criticize others for BAU results per that individuals agenda. IOW it is OK if we practice BAU but your practicing BAU is bad.
Dredd on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 7:52 am
“While having super rich and powerful American oligarchs …”
A common mistake.
The proper word is not oligarch, rather, it is plutocrat (“Aristotle pioneered the use of the term [oligarchy] as a synonym for rule by the rich, for which the exact term is plutocracy.” – Wikipedia, Oligarchy).
Dredd on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 7:59 am
This post by Liberty Blitzkrieg blog is spot on in terms of the dynamics described.
Dynamics that by now have been institutionalized (The Chamber of Corruption – 3).
Dredd on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 8:15 am
Makati1 on Wed, 14th Jan 2015 11:31 pm wrote: “Socialism is the new life style of choice. Me and mine and F.U!.”
That isn’t socialism, that is crony capitalism.
The actual U.S.A. dynamic involve socialism for large corporations, especially Oil-Qaeda, with citizens “democratically” picking up their tab.
That is, losses are socialized while profits are privatized.
Thus, MOMCOM is the number one mean welfare queen (MOMCOM – A Mean Welfare Queen, 2).
ghung on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 8:17 am
Jeb Bush has formed his new ‘superpac’. Thanks to the Citizen’s United fail, these superpacs can receive unlimited contributions from anywhere. Considering the Bush family ties to KSA, the House of Saud could conceivably buy the next prez.
bobinget on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 8:34 am
ghung, “the House of Saud could conceivably buy the next prez.”
Republicans need to put forward someone.
Comedy writers will welcome ‘Jeb” but he has no other ‘base’.
Not extremist right.
Not religious right.
Not labor.
Not Hispanics (except elderly Miami Cubans)
Not Women.
Not Environmentalists
Not Climate change concerned.
Not Dare I say, Black People, progressives, pissed off at Obama for not growing bigger balls.
ghung on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 8:45 am
Not Hispanics? His wife is Mexican and he speaks fluent spanish. Word is, hispanics love Jeb. As for the rest, it depends on who else is in the race. I’m sure plenty of republicans will see him as a party unifier since he hasn’t taken sides in the party like so many others…. and he’s a Bush, a former ‘successful’Governor of a pretty red state, and not much sticks to Jeb.
GregT on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 8:47 am
“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. … What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”
Thomas Jefferson
Davy on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 10:30 am
I see the US military being priced out for hire as the global world deteriorates and the US finds the costs of her military prohibitive. Plenty of need out there.
Davy on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 10:31 am
Jeb is a logical choice for the Republicans. The rest are extremist, fanatics, and or non-unifiers. Bush, has been around for a while so is a known quantity. He has avoided taking sides and stayed low profile. I feel sorry for the next president. The next president may be the president to be replaced by a general probably in his second term.
J-Gav on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 10:36 am
Good quote, GregT. Here’s one from Thomas Paine: “He who takes nature as his guide is not easily beaten out of his argument.”
GregT on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 11:26 am
Davy,
The US military has already been hiring mercenaries.
Perk Earl on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 11:59 am
Should Jeb get elected, with an R House & Senate already in place, that’s guaranteed to be the greatest socioeconomic divide accelerator of all time.
Speculawyer on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 12:25 pm
I don’t think it will matter who the GOP nominates, they won’t win. The demographic shifts are just not in their favor.
They’ll especially lose if they nominate a wingnut like Cruz, Santorum, or Huckabee. That would be foolish but fresh off their 2010 and 2014 successes, they may nominate someone like that. But those successes were largely based on low turn-out during mid-term elections. Presidential years are much different.
Plantagenet on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 12:32 pm
Speculawyer is right.
The Ds have a demographic lock on the White House. That means Hillary is in in 2016.
Hillary—its her turn.
Plantagenet on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 1:55 pm
H
I
double L
A
R
Y
spells HILLARY!
Mark my word—
Its going to be Hillary in 2016—because its her turn!
Davy on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 2:22 pm
Maybe not Planter because people have this mistaken idea the other party can change the lousy situation. We at PO realize with so many predicaments neither side has a chance except to F_ck it up more. If I were either party I would allow the other party the political suicide mission. Upon winning I would ceremoniously present Sake to the other side for their “Seppuku”.
Plantagenet on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 4:13 pm
Daver—Hillary is going to run and Hillary is going to win in 2016.
Politiicians see “the lousy situation” as a good thingi—-they see an opportunity to enact their programs. Remember Bill Clinton moaned endlessly that he would never be seen as a great president because there were no major crises during his term, whereas Obama took advantage of the 2008-9 economic crisis to pass Obamacare and ensure his legacy forever.
Politicians like Hillary LOVE crises—-one of their pet phrases is “never let a crisis go to waste.”
Apneaman on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 4:52 pm
ensure his legacy forever? He still has two years left. Anything could happen at this point. He may well wish he never won before that two years up.
PrestonSturges on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 5:59 pm
The Saudis own a big chunk of Fox news, and Fox has an Arabic news network in the ME.
But China could buy the election also via Sheldon Adleston and his Asian casinos, except he’s an ultra-Zionist, right?
I never really understood why Russia hasn’t tried to buy the US presidential election.
Plantagenet on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 6:00 pm
Don’t be silly. Obama has had the time of his life being president and he’ll go down in history as an important figure for being the first black president of the USA and the creator of Obamacare.
Makati1 on Thu, 15th Jan 2015 7:36 pm
I still stick to my socialist US comment as the welfare/unemployment/food stamp checks are still flowing like the Mississippi, along with subsidized home and car purchases for the ‘poor’.
And, yes, Freddy, I do cash my SS checks and turn them into Pesos every month. At my last calculation, my ~46 years of contributing at the average 3% interest rate means they still owe me a few more years of payments before we break even. My only hope is that the US economy lasts that long. How about you?
BTW: The 2015 SS COLA was 1.7% although the real inflation was over 5%. But, the increase pays my internet fees so I can be here to entertain all of you.
GregT on Fri, 16th Jan 2015 10:23 am
“Don’t be silly.”
The pot is calling the kettle black?
PrestonSturges on Sat, 17th Jan 2015 12:49 am
“……God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty….. ”
The great thing about that quote is that the Gadsen flag crowd loves it so much but they are totally oblivious to what Jefferson said – that stupid people rebel for stupid reasons, and some of them may need to be shot, but eggs/omlettes etc etc.
Also remember that the 2nd Amendment is for the militia, which in Article 8 said Congress may summon the militia to suppress insurrections. Jefferson and the Constitution are very clear – we have guns specifically to put down rebellions by stupid yahoos.