LOL!
Posted on 03/26/2006 3:43:54 PM PST by abu afak
It brings no joy to issue a public rebuttal against a valued colleague, but there are moments that demand no less. The occasion is the publication of an essay titled "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy," written by two professors, John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt, the academic dean and my colleague at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
In essence, their 82-page piece argues that U.S. policy in the Middle East has been hijacked by a pro-Israel "Lobby." "The core of the Lobby," they say, "is comprised of American Jews who make a significant effort in their daily lives to bend U.S. foreign policy so that it advances Israel's interests."
As a result, "the United States has a terrorism problem in good part because it is so closely allied with Israel."
Mearsheimer and Walt assert that for decades, and especially since the Six-Day War in 1967, the lobby has manipulated our political system to give short shrift to Palestinians, was a "critical element" in the decision to invade Iraq and is now skewing our policy on Iran (the United States, they say, "can live with a nuclear Iran").
Not only are these charges wildly at variance with what I have personally witnessed in the Oval Office, but they also impugn the unstinting service to America's national security by public figures like Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk and many others.
As a Christian, let me add that it is also wrong and unfair to call into question the loyalty of millions of American Jews who have faithfully supported Israel while also working tirelessly and generously to advance America's cause, both at home and abroad. They should be praised, not pilloried.
To be sure, pro-Israeli groups in this country, led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, push hard to gain the support of U.S. political leaders. AIPAC is officially registered as a lobbying group, but that does not mean that its members are engaging in something sinister.
It is just not true that the Israel "Lobby" has captured U.S. policy toward the Middle East. As David McCullough writes, Harry Truman recognized Israel in 1948 out of humanitarian concerns and in spite of pressure from Jewish groups, not because of it. Since then, 10 straight American Presidents have befriended Israel - not because they were under pressure but because they believed America had made a commitment to Israel's survival, just as we have to other threatened outposts of freedom like Berlin, South Korea and Taiwan.
Over the course of four tours in the White House, I never once saw a decision in the Oval Office to tilt U.S. foreign policy in favor of Israel at the expense of America's interest.
Moreover, history shows many instances when our Presidents have sharply opposed the Israeli government. I was there when Ronald Reagan, a great friend of Israel, was so repelled by pictures of victims in Lebanon that he insisted the Israelis call off their assault on Beirut (they did).
Has Washington sometimes tilted too much toward Israel? Of course, just as we have toward other friends overseas. Is our policy in the Middle East worthy of serious debate? Absolutely, and we should defend the right of academics to question it.
But let that debate go forward with a clear mind and an understanding heart. And let us remember that our friendship with Israel has always been rooted in noble values - just as our friendships have been with other outposts of freedom.
No one is being charged with espionage or anything close to espionage as the poster in #14 knows.
In fact the charges involved may be unconstitutional.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1603481/posts
A truth lobby is needed to point out all the anti Israel and anti Semitic lies told.
Maybe the question that should be asked is whether it is possible for America's interests and Israel's interests in terms of Middle East politics and policies to ever differ?
The Jews I know about all support the liberals no matter.
And don't tell me they aren't "real" Jews!
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Stick a fork in 'em - they're done. :)
They now hang out there on the fringe, with Joe Sobran, David Duke, the mad Iranian mullahs, Holocaust deniers, and other nutcases.
:)
It does make one wonder how bad things are when we have to depend on the likes of Gergen to defend the policy...
As David McCullough writes, Harry Truman recognized Israel in 1948 out of humanitarian concerns and in spite of pressure from Jewish groups, not because of it.
That's a straw man or a red herring. Clearly Truman wouldn't bend to pressure. Indeed, he might turn against those who tried to pressure him. That's probably what he's getting at with the "in spite of." And in fact there wasn't much to pressure Truman with. Recognizing Israel still didn't win him New York or New Jersey in 1948.
But pressure isn't the only form of influence. If Truman came to see things in the same light as the Zionists, it could be a sign that their efforts at getting their message out and framing the situation were successful. Of course, it could also be true that Truman was inclined to go their way, and Zionists didn't need to put in the effort. But Gergen offers such a narrow view of what lobbies and lobbyists do, that it's hard to take him seriously. He thinks it refutes the view he attacks, but his naivete does a lot to undermine his own argument.
I don't mind that there is an Israel lobby. Credit to the Israelis for being able to exercise so much influence on the US. However, all Americans should be loyal to the USA first and NOT make the mistake that the two countries' interests are 100% aligned. 1. WE need oil. 2. WE need security 3. WE need to have talking relations even with Israel's enemies in order to make progress anywhere. I admire the Israelis tremendously for what they have acheived in building their nation. However it would be foolish for America to ignore the rest of the world and continue to blindly follow Israel policy
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