Former CIA Officer: U.S. Military Build-Ups Are Political Pressure… And the Israeli Lobby “Topples” Any Candidate Who Does Not Pledge Loyalty to Tel Aviv
John Kiriakou says U.S. naval presence is insufficient for full-scale war and reveals a mechanism of “financial intimidation” shaping American elections in Israel’s favor.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency officer John Kiriakou revealed that recent American military and naval movements in the region do not necessarily reflect readiness for a full-scale war. He argued that the current level of deployment does not rise to the scale required for a broad military operation, but rather falls within the framework of political pressure and shows of force.
In a recent interview, Kiriakou said the United States uses such movements more as political messaging than as direct indicators of war intentions, explaining that Washington often employs military build-ups to gain negotiating leverage and raise the ceiling of threats.
U.S. Build-Ups: A Show of Force Short of Full-Scale War
Kiriakou clarified that the U.S. naval presence in the region is insufficient to launch a comprehensive war, noting that any such decision would require far greater preparations in terms of deployment, capabilities, and domestic political backing.
He emphasized that these movements are typically read within the context of crisis management and the assertion of influence, rather than necessarily as immediate war scenarios.
The Israeli Lobby Extends Beyond Congress to State Elections
In another part of his remarks, Kiriakou addressed the influence of the Israeli lobby within the United States, asserting that its impact is no longer confined to Congress and decision-making circles in Washington, but has expanded to include state-level and local elections.
He pointed out that tens of millions of dollars are spent annually to ensure the rise of candidates who fully adopt pro-Israel positions and offer political loyalty to Tel Aviv without reservation.
“Systematic Exclusion” of Any Balanced Voice
The former CIA officer stated that the Israeli lobby follows what he described as a strategy of systematic exclusion against any politician attempting to adopt a less partisan stance.
He was quoted as saying:
“If you are not 100% supportive of Israel, they will field a challenger against you and spend millions of dollars to defeat you—and they are very good at it.”
Money Creates “Immunity” and Unconditional Support
Observers argue that this financial dominance translates in practice into diplomatic immunity and unlimited military support for Israel, including political cover for military operations in Gaza, overlooking settlement expansion, and backing projects aimed at imposing new realities on the ground.
Analysts affirm that the commitment of many American lawmakers to the lines set by the Israeli lobby has become one of the primary drivers of continued U.S. alignment in regional issues, often at the expense of Palestinian rights and the sovereignty of regional states.
