Karl Rove's receiving a substantial six-figure consulting fee from them as we read this. Ari Fleischer works for them, directly, controlling their communications operations. And, U.S. casino raconteur Sheldon Adelson is the lead bankroller of this group--and he also happens to publish the Israeli daily, Yisrael Hayom, which was launched in August 2007, and "is perceived in media circles as a mouthpiece for Netanyahu," per this rather excellent overview on Freedom's Watch from Sourcewatch.org.

The Sourcewatch piece, linked immediately above, states the following about Freedom's Watch:

Freedom's Watch, the "$200 million mouthpiece for military action",[8] was "hatched" in March 2007[7] at the "winter meeting" of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) in Manalapan, Fla., where keynote speaker Vice President Dick Cheney[7][9] "accused the Democrat-led House of Representatives of not supporting troops in Iraq and of sending a message to terrorists that America will retreat in the face danger."[10][11] The RJC was described in 2005 as "a big money pro-Israel lobby group[12] linking Jewish-American neoconservatives to the Christian Right and Israel's Likud government."[13][7][14]

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"The controversial ads are the handiwork of Jamestown Associates, whose client list also includes the Republican Jewish Council [sic] and Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Israel's Likud Party," David McKee wrote September 13, 2007, for Las Vegas CityLife.[36] Freedom's Watch funder Sheldon Adelson's "Israeli newspaper, the free daily Yisrael Hayom, launched [in August 2007], is perceived in media circles as a mouthpiece for Netanyahu. And five board members of the Republican Jewish Council [sic] -- including Adelson, Fleischer, (Lewis) Libby Legal Defense Trust chair Mel Sembler -- turn up in the directorate or on the donor roll of Freedom's Watch," McKee wrote.

So, I've got to ask the question: Are Democrats running against the Republican Party or the Likud Party this year? With Freedom's Watch ready to spend $250,000,000 against Obama and all of our downticket Dems this year--and already spending it--why don't we just combine the two and call 'em: "the Republikuds!"

The United States' relationship with Israel is extremely complex, to say the least. Perhaps the very best (and evenhanded) piece I've ever read on this topic, is: "The Israel Lobby," by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. IMHO, this piece is nothing less than mind-blowing in terms of its brilliant overview of not just our relationship with Israel, but the U.S.'s and Israel's true positions with regard to all that's going on in the mideast today and how it affects much of what occurs right here in Washington, DC, politically, almost every day! It's a must-read, IMHO, for any real blogger. If you're looking for real answers behind what's going on in this mess, this piece is "the source!"

As for me, IMHO, after reading Mearsheimer's and Walt's overview, all I can say is that this is about as close as it comes--skirting all legal campaign finance regulations in their entirety--to a foreign government exerting undue influence upon U.S. public opinion.

IMHO, this matter is downright pervasive throughout our government infrastructure and as it relates to our entire 2008 election cycle; and it should be more heavily regulated! It sure looks like a fine line to me! Your thoughts?