Override of Obama’s JASTA Veto Opens Potential for Real Political Change

PRESS RELEASE

Override of Obama’s JASTA Veto Opens Potential for Real Political Change

Sept. 28, 2016 (EIRNS)—The stunning repudiation today of President Obama’s decision to ally with Saudi Arabia against the efforts of the 9/11 families to get justice, not only confirms the President’s weakness, but opens up the potential for real political change in the immediate weeks ahead. The most appropriate follow-up, remarked Lyndon and Helga LaRouche to associates, would be for Congress to immediately move ahead with passage of the Glass-Steagall legislation which is before both Houses of Congress.

There is, of course, the immediate danger that the Obama Administration, and the Saudis and their allies, will attempt some desperate action to recoup. Obama’s distress was signalled almost immediately after the Senate’s 97-to-1 vote, by press spokesman Josh Earnest denouncing it as "embarrassing." The one sustaining vote came from Democratic minority leader Harry Reid, at the President’s request. Not voting were Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

The House vote of 348 to 77 followed a few hours after the Senate.

The vote followed an extraordinary mobilization by the Saudis, the British, and their de facto agents, in the days running up to the vote. Threats were made by the Saudi Kingdom against U.S. companies and, according to Politico, the Saudis spent more than $250,000 a month in their lobbying effort.

But this was outweighed by the personal efforts of the 9/11 families, a handful of committed Congressmen (and former Sen. Bob Graham), and the LaRouche Political Action Committee, who carried out an intense campaign to expose the lies President Obama used to justify his veto, and to demand justice.

There is no doubt that the Saudis and their agents intend to try to reverse the law in some way, despite the massive repudiation of their view. An offensive against the British Empire’s financial power by passing Glass-Steagall is the most effective way to not only keep them off balance, but defeat the politics of empire once and for all.