Month: August 2006

To the extent a Religious Right of any kind existed in 1964, Eugene Siler easily qualified as a platinum-card member. In his nine years in the U.S. House, he was unrivaled in his zeal to implement "Christianism and Americanism." Yet 42 years ago this month, on Aug. 7, 1964, he did something that would be … Continue reading “The Christian Conservative Who Opposed the Vietnam War”

Suddenly, I’m an ‘Islamic Fascist’ Hi Jonathan, I am a Pakistani Muslim woman – I live next door to Walthamstow. I have spent the last few years trying to convince my Muslim neighbors that we must respond to the rubbish that ill-educated gangster imams have been pounding our heads with. I have tried to argue … Continue reading “Backtalk, August 22, 2006”

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt page 6 previous back to page 1 Dreams of Regional Transformation The Iraq war was not supposed to be a costly quagmire. Rather, it was intended as the first step in a larger plan to reorder the Middle East. This ambitious … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt page 5     next    previous     back to page 1 THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG If the Lobby’s impact were confined to U.S. economic aid to Israel, its influence might not be that worrisome. Foreign aid is valuable, but not as useful as having the … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt page 4     next    previous     back to page 1 Manipulating the Media In addition to influencing government policy directly, the Lobby strives to shape public perceptions about Israel and the Middle East. It does not want an open debate on issues involving Israel, because … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt page 3 next previous back to page 1 The explanation lies in the unmatched power of the Israel Lobby. Were it not for the Lobby’s ability to manipulate the American political system, the relationship between Israel and the United States would … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY John J. Mearsheimer & Stephen M. Walt page 2 previous next A DWINDLING MORAL CASE Apart from its alleged strategic value, Israel’s backers also argue that it deserves unqualified U.S. support because 1) it is weak and surrounded by enemies, 2) it is a democracy, which is a … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

Endnotes              back to page 180 Robert S. Greenberger and Karby Leggett, “President’s Dream: Changing Not Just Regime but a Region: A Pro-U.S., Democratic Area is a Goal that Has Israeli and Neo Conservative Roots,” Wall Street Journal, March 21, 2003. Also see George Packer, “Dreaming of Democracy,” New York Times Magazine, March 2, 2003. Although … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

Endnotes              back to page main page one 115 Steven Kull (Principal Investigator), Americans on the Middle East Road Map (Program on International Policy Attitudes, University of Maryland, May 30, 2003), pp. 9-11, 18-19. Also see Steven Kull et al., Americans on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Program on International Policy Attitudes, University of Maryland, May 6, 2002). … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”

Endnotes back to page 84 Eric Alterman, “Intractable Foes, Warring Narratives,” MSNBC.com, March 28, 2002. 85 Quoted in Bret Stephens, “Eye on the Media by Bret Stephens: Bartley’s Journal,” Jerusalem Post, November 21, 2002. 86 Max Frankel, The Times of My Life And My Life with the Times (NY: Random House, 1999), pp. 401-403. 87 … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”