State Department Waging "Open War" On White House
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By Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute September 18, 2017
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The U.S. State Department has backed away from a demand that Israel
return $75 million in military aid which was allocated to it by the
U.S. Congress.
return $75 million in military aid which was allocated to it by the
U.S. Congress.
The repayment demand, championed
by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, was described as an
underhanded attempt by the State Department to derail a campaign pledge
by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to improve relations with the Jewish
state.
by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, was described as an
underhanded attempt by the State Department to derail a campaign pledge
by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to improve relations with the Jewish
state.
The dispute is the just the latest
example of what appears to be a growing power struggle between the State
Department and the White House over the future direction of American
foreign policy.
example of what appears to be a growing power struggle between the State
Department and the White House over the future direction of American
foreign policy.
The controversy goes back to
the Obama administration's September 2016 Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with Israel, which pledged $38 billion in military assistance to
Jerusalem over the next decade. The MOU expressly prohibits Israel from
requesting additional financial aid from Congress.
the Obama administration's September 2016 Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with Israel, which pledged $38 billion in military assistance to
Jerusalem over the next decade. The MOU expressly prohibits Israel from
requesting additional financial aid from Congress.
Congressional
leaders, who said the MOU violates the constitutional right of
lawmakers to allocate U.S. aid, awarded Israel an additional $75 million
in assistance in the final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017.
leaders, who said the MOU violates the constitutional right of
lawmakers to allocate U.S. aid, awarded Israel an additional $75 million
in assistance in the final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017.
Tillerson
had argued that Israel should return the $75 million in order to stay
within the limits established by the Obama administration. The effort
provoked a strong reaction from Congress, which apparently prompted
Tillerson to back down.
had argued that Israel should return the $75 million in order to stay
within the limits established by the Obama administration. The effort
provoked a strong reaction from Congress, which apparently prompted
Tillerson to back down.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) "strongly warned the State
Department that such action would be unwise and invite unwanted conflict
with Israel," according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Department that such action would be unwise and invite unwanted conflict
with Israel," according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Speaking to the Washington Examiner, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) added:
"As
Iran works to surround Israel on every border, and Hezbollah and Hamas
rearm, we must work to strengthen our alliance with Israel, not strain
it. Congress has the right to allocate money as it deems necessary, and
security assistance to Israel is a top priority. Congress is ready to
ensure Israel receives the assistance it needs to defend its citizens."
Iran works to surround Israel on every border, and Hezbollah and Hamas
rearm, we must work to strengthen our alliance with Israel, not strain
it. Congress has the right to allocate money as it deems necessary, and
security assistance to Israel is a top priority. Congress is ready to
ensure Israel receives the assistance it needs to defend its citizens."
A veteran congressional advisor told the Free Beacon:
"This
is a transparent attempt by career staffers in the State Department to
mess with the Israelis and derail the efforts of Congressional
Republicans and President Trump to rebuild the US-Israel relationship.
There's no reason to push for the Israelis to return the money, unless
you're trying to drive a wedge between Israel and Congress, which is
exactly what this is. It won't work."
is a transparent attempt by career staffers in the State Department to
mess with the Israelis and derail the efforts of Congressional
Republicans and President Trump to rebuild the US-Israel relationship.
There's no reason to push for the Israelis to return the money, unless
you're trying to drive a wedge between Israel and Congress, which is
exactly what this is. It won't work."
Another
foreign policy operative said: "It's not clear to me why the Secretary
of State wishes to at once usurp the powers of the Congress and then to
derail his boss's rapprochement with the Israeli government."
foreign policy operative said: "It's not clear to me why the Secretary
of State wishes to at once usurp the powers of the Congress and then to
derail his boss's rapprochement with the Israeli government."
Since
he was sworn in as Secretary of State on February 1, Tillerson and his
advisors at the State Department have made a number of statements and
policy decisions that contradict Trump's key campaign promises on
foreign policy, especially regarding Israel and Iran.
he was sworn in as Secretary of State on February 1, Tillerson and his
advisors at the State Department have made a number of statements and
policy decisions that contradict Trump's key campaign promises on
foreign policy, especially regarding Israel and Iran.
August
10. The State Department hosted representatives of the U.S. Council of
Muslim Organizations (USCMO), an umbrella group established by the
Muslim Brotherhood with the aim of mainstreaming political Islam in the
United States. Behind closed doors, they reportedly discussed what they
said was Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and the removal of all
Israeli control of the Temple Mount and holy areas of Jerusalem.
10. The State Department hosted representatives of the U.S. Council of
Muslim Organizations (USCMO), an umbrella group established by the
Muslim Brotherhood with the aim of mainstreaming political Islam in the
United States. Behind closed doors, they reportedly discussed what they
said was Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and the removal of all
Israeli control of the Temple Mount and holy areas of Jerusalem.
Observers
said the meeting was part of larger effort by anti-Israel organizations
to drive a wedge between the Trump administration and Israel. The USCMO
includes a number of organizations, including American Muslims for
Palestine (AMP), which promote "extreme anti-Israel views" and
"anti-Zionist" propaganda, and which support boycotts of the Jewish
state.
said the meeting was part of larger effort by anti-Israel organizations
to drive a wedge between the Trump administration and Israel. The USCMO
includes a number of organizations, including American Muslims for
Palestine (AMP), which promote "extreme anti-Israel views" and
"anti-Zionist" propaganda, and which support boycotts of the Jewish
state.
July 19. The State Department's new
"Country Reports on Terrorism 2016" blamed Israel for Palestinian Arab
terrorism against Jews. It attributed Palestinian violence to: "lack of
hope in achieving statehood;" "Israeli settlement construction in the
West Bank;" "settler violence;" and "the perception that the Israeli
government was changing the status quo on the Haram Al Sharif/Temple
Mount."
"Country Reports on Terrorism 2016" blamed Israel for Palestinian Arab
terrorism against Jews. It attributed Palestinian violence to: "lack of
hope in achieving statehood;" "Israeli settlement construction in the
West Bank;" "settler violence;" and "the perception that the Israeli
government was changing the status quo on the Haram Al Sharif/Temple
Mount."
The report also characterized
Palestinian Authority payments to the families of so-called martyrs as
"financial packages to Palestinian security prisoners...to reintegrate
them into society."
Palestinian Authority payments to the families of so-called martyrs as
"financial packages to Palestinian security prisoners...to reintegrate
them into society."
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
called on the State Department to hold the PA accountable in State
Department Country reports: "The State Department report includes
multiple findings that are both inaccurate and harmful to combating
Palestinian terrorism.... At the highest level, the Palestinian
Authority (PA) leadership incites, rewards, and, in some cases, carries
out terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis. In order to effectively
combat terrorism, it is imperative that the United States accurately
characterize its root cause -- PA leadership."
called on the State Department to hold the PA accountable in State
Department Country reports: "The State Department report includes
multiple findings that are both inaccurate and harmful to combating
Palestinian terrorism.... At the highest level, the Palestinian
Authority (PA) leadership incites, rewards, and, in some cases, carries
out terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis. In order to effectively
combat terrorism, it is imperative that the United States accurately
characterize its root cause -- PA leadership."
June
14. Tillerson voiced opposition to designating the Muslim Brotherhood
as a terrorist organization, saying that such a classification would
complicate Washington's relations in the Middle East. During his
confirmation hearings on January 11, by contrast, Tillerson lumped the
Brotherhood with al-Qaeda when talking about militant threats in the
region. He said:
14. Tillerson voiced opposition to designating the Muslim Brotherhood
as a terrorist organization, saying that such a classification would
complicate Washington's relations in the Middle East. During his
confirmation hearings on January 11, by contrast, Tillerson lumped the
Brotherhood with al-Qaeda when talking about militant threats in the
region. He said:
"Eliminating ISIS would be the
first step in disrupting the capabilities of other groups and
individuals committed to striking our homeland and our allies. The
demise of ISIS would also allow us to increase our attention on other
agents of radical Islam like al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
certain elements within Iran."
first step in disrupting the capabilities of other groups and
individuals committed to striking our homeland and our allies. The
demise of ISIS would also allow us to increase our attention on other
agents of radical Islam like al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
certain elements within Iran."
June 13. During testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, Tillerson said he had received reassurances from President
Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinian Authority would end the practice of
paying a monthly stipend to the families of suicide bombers and other
attackers, commonly referred to by Palestinians as martyrs. One day
later, Palestinian officials contradicted Tillerson, saying that there
are no plans to stop payments to families of Palestinians killed or
wounded carrying out attacks against Israelis.
Committee, Tillerson said he had received reassurances from President
Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinian Authority would end the practice of
paying a monthly stipend to the families of suicide bombers and other
attackers, commonly referred to by Palestinians as martyrs. One day
later, Palestinian officials contradicted Tillerson, saying that there
are no plans to stop payments to families of Palestinians killed or
wounded carrying out attacks against Israelis.
May
22. Tillerson sidestepped questions on whether the Western Wall is part
of Israel, while telling reporters aboard Air Force One they were
heading to "Tel Aviv, home of Judaism." Asked directly whether he
considers the Western Wall under Israeli sovereignty, Tillerson replied:
"The wall is part of Jerusalem."
22. Tillerson sidestepped questions on whether the Western Wall is part
of Israel, while telling reporters aboard Air Force One they were
heading to "Tel Aviv, home of Judaism." Asked directly whether he
considers the Western Wall under Israeli sovereignty, Tillerson replied:
"The wall is part of Jerusalem."
May 15. In an
interview with Meet the Press, Tillerson appeared publicly to renege on
Trump's campaign promise to move the American embassy in Israel from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem:
interview with Meet the Press, Tillerson appeared publicly to renege on
Trump's campaign promise to move the American embassy in Israel from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem:
"The president, I think
rightly, has taken a very deliberative approach to understanding the
issue itself, listening to input from all interested parties in the
region, and understanding what such a move, in the context of a peace
initiative, what impact would such a move have."
rightly, has taken a very deliberative approach to understanding the
issue itself, listening to input from all interested parties in the
region, and understanding what such a move, in the context of a peace
initiative, what impact would such a move have."
Tillerson also appeared to equate the State of Israel and the Palestinians:
"As
you know, the president has recently expressed his view that he wants
to put a lot of effort into seeing if we cannot advance a peace
initiative between Israel and Palestine. And so I think in large measure
the president is being very careful to understand how such a decision
would impact a peace process."
you know, the president has recently expressed his view that he wants
to put a lot of effort into seeing if we cannot advance a peace
initiative between Israel and Palestine. And so I think in large measure
the president is being very careful to understand how such a decision
would impact a peace process."
Critics of this
stance have argued that moving the embassy to Jerusalem would, instead,
advance the peace process by "shattering the Palestinian fantasy that
Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel."
stance have argued that moving the embassy to Jerusalem would, instead,
advance the peace process by "shattering the Palestinian fantasy that
Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel."
March
8. The State Department confirmed that the Obama administration's $221
million payment to the Palestinian Authority, approved just hours before
Trump's inauguration, had reached its destination. The Trump
administration initially had vowed to freeze the payment.
8. The State Department confirmed that the Obama administration's $221
million payment to the Palestinian Authority, approved just hours before
Trump's inauguration, had reached its destination. The Trump
administration initially had vowed to freeze the payment.
In
July 2017, the Free Beacon reported that Tillerson's State Department
was waging an "open political war" with the White House on a range of
key issues, including the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Iran portfolio,
and other matters:
July 2017, the Free Beacon reported that Tillerson's State Department
was waging an "open political war" with the White House on a range of
key issues, including the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Iran portfolio,
and other matters:
"The tensions have fueled an
outstanding power battle between the West Wing and State Department
that has handicapped the administration and resulted in scores of open
positions failing to be filled with Trump confidantes. This has allowed
former Obama administration appointees still at the State Department to
continue running the show and formulating policy, where they have
increasingly clashed with the White House's own agenda."
outstanding power battle between the West Wing and State Department
that has handicapped the administration and resulted in scores of open
positions failing to be filled with Trump confidantes. This has allowed
former Obama administration appointees still at the State Department to
continue running the show and formulating policy, where they have
increasingly clashed with the White House's own agenda."
A veteran foreign policy analyst interviewed by the Free Beacon laid the blame squarely on Tillerson:
"Foggy
Bottom [a metonym for the State Department] is still run by the same
people who designed and implemented Obama's Middle East agenda.
Tillerson was supposed to clean house, but he left half of them in place
and he hid the other half in powerful positions all over the building.
These are career staffers committed to preventing Trump from reversing
what they created."
Bottom [a metonym for the State Department] is still run by the same
people who designed and implemented Obama's Middle East agenda.
Tillerson was supposed to clean house, but he left half of them in place
and he hid the other half in powerful positions all over the building.
These are career staffers committed to preventing Trump from reversing
what they created."
Notable holdovers from the Obama administration are now driving the State Department's Iran policy:
Michael
Ratney, a top advisor to former Secretary of State John Kerry on Syria
policy. Under the Trump administration, Ratney's role at the State
Department has been expanded to include Israel and Palestine issues.
Ratney, a top advisor to former Secretary of State John Kerry on Syria
policy. Under the Trump administration, Ratney's role at the State
Department has been expanded to include Israel and Palestine issues.
Ratney,
who was the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem between 2012 and 2015, oversaw
$465,000 in U.S. grants to wage a smear to oust Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu from office in 2015 parliamentary elections,
according to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Ratney
admitted to Senate investigators that he deleted emails containing
information about the Obama administration's relationship with the
group.
who was the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem between 2012 and 2015, oversaw
$465,000 in U.S. grants to wage a smear to oust Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu from office in 2015 parliamentary elections,
according to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Ratney
admitted to Senate investigators that he deleted emails containing
information about the Obama administration's relationship with the
group.
Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., a career foreign
service officer who serves as Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs. Shannon, the State Department's fourth-ranking official, has
warned that scrapping the Iran deal would lead to a nuclear arms race in
the Middle East.
service officer who serves as Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs. Shannon, the State Department's fourth-ranking official, has
warned that scrapping the Iran deal would lead to a nuclear arms race in
the Middle East.
"Any effort to step away
from the deal would reopen a Pandora's box in that region that would be
hard to close again," he said. His statement indicates that Shannon
could be expected to lead efforts to resist any attempts to renege or
renegotiate the deal; critics of the deal say that Iran's continued
missile testing has given Trump one more reason to tear up his
predecessor's deal with the Islamist regime.
from the deal would reopen a Pandora's box in that region that would be
hard to close again," he said. His statement indicates that Shannon
could be expected to lead efforts to resist any attempts to renege or
renegotiate the deal; critics of the deal say that Iran's continued
missile testing has given Trump one more reason to tear up his
predecessor's deal with the Islamist regime.
Chris
Backemeyer is now the highest-ranking official at the State Department
for Iran policy. During the Obama administration, Backemeyer made his
career by selling the Iran deal by persuading multinational corporations
to do business with Iran as part of an effort to conclude the Iran
nuclear deal.
Backemeyer is now the highest-ranking official at the State Department
for Iran policy. During the Obama administration, Backemeyer made his
career by selling the Iran deal by persuading multinational corporations
to do business with Iran as part of an effort to conclude the Iran
nuclear deal.
Ratney, Shannon and Backemeyer,
along with Tillerson, reportedly prevailed upon Trump twice to recertify
the Iran nuclear deal. The Jerusalem Post explained:
along with Tillerson, reportedly prevailed upon Trump twice to recertify
the Iran nuclear deal. The Jerusalem Post explained:
Washington
was briefly abuzz on the afternoon of July 17 when rumors began to
circulate that President Trump was eager to declare that Iran was in
breach of the conditions laid out in the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement
Review Act (INARA).
was briefly abuzz on the afternoon of July 17 when rumors began to
circulate that President Trump was eager to declare that Iran was in
breach of the conditions laid out in the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement
Review Act (INARA).
Those receptive antennas
were further heightened given the previous signals sent. After all, the
State Department already released talking points to reporters on the
decision to recertify Iran. The Treasury Department also had a package
of fresh sanctions on over a dozen Iranian individuals and entities
ready to announce to appease the hawks who were eager to cut loose from
the deal.
were further heightened given the previous signals sent. After all, the
State Department already released talking points to reporters on the
decision to recertify Iran. The Treasury Department also had a package
of fresh sanctions on over a dozen Iranian individuals and entities
ready to announce to appease the hawks who were eager to cut loose from
the deal.
But Trump didn't want to recertify
Iran, nor did he want to the last time around in April. That evening, a
longtime Middle East analyst close to senior White House officials
involved in the discussions described the scene to me: "Tillerson
essentially told the president, 'we just aren't ready with our allies to
decertify.'
Iran, nor did he want to the last time around in April. That evening, a
longtime Middle East analyst close to senior White House officials
involved in the discussions described the scene to me: "Tillerson
essentially told the president, 'we just aren't ready with our allies to
decertify.'
The president retorted, 'Isn't it
your job to get our allies ready?' to which Tillerson said, 'Sorry sir,
we're just not ready.'" According to this source, Secretary Tillerson
pulled the same maneuver when it came to recertification in April by
waiting until the last minute before finally admitting the State
Department wasn't ready. On both occasions he simply offered something
to the effect of, "We'll get 'em next time."
your job to get our allies ready?' to which Tillerson said, 'Sorry sir,
we're just not ready.'" According to this source, Secretary Tillerson
pulled the same maneuver when it came to recertification in April by
waiting until the last minute before finally admitting the State
Department wasn't ready. On both occasions he simply offered something
to the effect of, "We'll get 'em next time."
Originally published by the Gatestone Institue - reposted with permission.
Read more at http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=1598#i31EMO8cCxzkD0m5.99
State Department Waging “Open War” On White House – Re-Shared and administered by Aaron Halim
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