Setback for the so-called Pro-Israel Lobby

The Neoconservatives and the rest of the so-called Pro-Israel Lobby were dealt another setback in their Middle East ambitions by the fact that soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opted to appoint Rep. Silvestre Reyes to be chairman of the House intelligence committee rather than Rep. Jane Harman, the ranking member who was first in line to be chair. Harman was too much of a hawkish centrist to be supportable by the new House Democratic leadership. This is a further setback for the Neocons and the rest of the so-called Pro-Israel Lobby since Harman was one of their most ardent supporters, voting for the war with Iraq and being very receptive to the ambitions of AIPAC. Harman was also accused of trying to use AIPAC to lobby on behalf of her appointment, and of possibly influencing a Justice probe of AIPAC.

I wouldn't expect the Neoconservatives and the rest of the so-called Pro-Israel Lobby to simply roll over and play dead, but the pace of their agenda will definitely be slowed.

-- Jack Krupansky