Hat’s off to the New York Times. Yesterday’s front-page profile of Philip Zelikow, a top aide to Condoleeza (help me, spellcheck) Rice and the head of the 9/11 Commission, referred baldly to a fundamental divide among policymakers between “realists” (Zelikow) and “neoconservatives and the pro-Israel lobby.” This is great news. The Times accepts the existence of the lobby in its news columns. Who knows, before long they may take out the “pro” and start capitalizing it.
Indeed, Zelikow’s emphasis on the Israel/Palestine issue as the key to dealing with the Arab world is the leitmotif of the article. About time.
There the candor ends. You’d think that Times reporters Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger might have gotten to the heart of the matter, and said that Zelikow has specifically charged the pro-Israel neocons with deceiving the public about an important motivation for the invasion of Iraq, their concerns for Israel’s security. Here is what Zelikow said during the runup to the war (as reported by the Inter Press Service):
The unstated threat—and here I criticise the [Bush] administration a little, because the argument that they make over and over again is that this is about a threat to the United States. And then everybody says: ‘Show me an imminent threat from Iraq to America. Show me, why would Iraq attack America or use nuclear weapons against us?’ So I’ll tell you what I think the real threat is, and actually has been since 1990. It’s the threat against Israel. And this is the threat that dare not speak its name, because the Europeans don’t care deeply about that threat, I will tell you frankly. And the American government doesn’t want to lean too hard on it rhetorically, because it’s not a popular sell.
Iraq is now burning, and people are trying to figure out who got us into this mess and why, yet the Times can’t report this. (Presumably out of the fear that People will blame The Jews. Well, maybe some Jews deserve some of the blame). Let’s be clear: we still can’t have an open argument about the Israel lobby in the pages of our leading newspaper, which has also suppressed the raging controversy over the LRB article on the lobby by realists Walt and Mearsheimer (which first brought Zelikow’s comments to my attention last March).
How vast and controlling is the Israel lobby? I sure don’t know. People imagined the giant squid as taller than the Chrysler building until one was brought to the surface at last, at something under 100 feet, I think. The Times should shed light.
Another day another column by little Philly ( lets suck up to the Arabs and the left wing intelligentsia ) Weiss. Yes Phil, the Jews started the war, in fact we've started all the wars, control the economy, and generally are in charge of things everywhere. I don't know how we missed you but I'm going to submit your name to the elders in Jerusalem for retribution. Certainly you won't be able to get a job at the jew york times because has everybody knows they are run by the yids like all the rest of the media. In fact the bravery that you show in your writings is astounding. It's right up there with well nothing.
yes
An addendum:
I guess analogizing the Jews with a squid is a marginal improvement over comparing us with rats, marginally better I suppose.
Mr. Pearlman
There's a difference between talking about the very powerful Israel lobby in Washington (nobody with a brain can't deny their power!) and talking about the fantasy of a world under the control of a secret jewish conspiracy AKA Protocol of Elder of Sion. There's a major difference between strong influence and total control, so please don't confuse them.
It's not because the "Report from Iron Mountain" was an hoax that there's no powerful military industrial complex in the US either.
Why can't we be critical of the nation of Israel without being accused of Anti-semetism ? It's not because I hate what the Bush regime or the Israel gov is doing that I have something against Americans or the Jewish people. And when you look at their news and who control their information channel, you understand why some "democracies" can be so "evil" with popular support. It's all about brainwashing and reducing the world in good and evil (and naturally, you're on the good side).
Way to go, Phil! If they ever start handing out Pulitzers for journalists brave enought to talk about the elephant in the living room you'll be the first winner.
Pearlman:
Most Jews are regular Americans just like everyone else. It's the neo-con Israel-firsters that are the squids.
Crikey!
Nice metaphor Little Philly, calling out the christkillers as giant squid. Pop and I prefer to refer to them as more of a giant gefilte fish.
Anyway, we are glad a little jew like yourself finally can see the light and shed some light on what I was trying to tell that dopey CHIPs cop in LA; who is really behind all the wars in the world.
Your mates,
Mel and Pop
Alain Robert:
Be intellectually honest, you can make all the nuances and distinctions that you want between your supposed anti-zionism but of course some of your best friends are jews. The fact is that post holocaust Israel is the central enterprise of the Jewish people. If you think that Israel is evil and should be expunged, sat so, don't couch it in euphemism. At least the Arabs say what they think and I'll give little Philly Weiss credit here. he hates Jews and he hates Israel, and he makes no bones about it
Mr. Pearlman seems to be incapable of making a cogent comment about anything that is even close to a criticism of his beloved Israel and the pro-Israel lobby. Strange as it might seem to you, Mr. Pearlman, there are those of us in the United States who place the interests of the United States above other states, including and especially Israel. I for one have had more than enough of the arrogance and superiority spewed forth by people like you. There are those of us who believe we are at least a little expert on the Middle East and on the history of the events leading to today, who are convinced that the worst thing that has happened to the United States is to have been seen as the protector of Israel and apologist for Israel's terrorist occupation of the territories occupied during the 1967 War when Israel attacked her neighbors.
Don Adams
Come on Don, arrogance and superiority, let it out buddy, we both know what your driving at. What history are you referring to from 1967, Nasser, U Thant withdrawing the UN troops from the Sinai, the three no's at the Khartoum summit. You want the extermination of Israel, I don't, I admit it why can't you, or are you going to hide behind euphemisms.
Furthermore, Don Adams, ( or has your better known secret agent Maxwell Smart )
I'll match up history with you anytime. I know your a Hezbollah-Hamas kind of guy but the American people generally look at it the other way. I know that aggravates you but at least for the moment that's the way it is
Furthermore, Don Adams, just because I have a small penis, does not give you the right to disagree with anything I say, or else you are you a self-loathing Jew who probably gets teary-eyed when you read the Hezbollah Charter.
Did you ever hear the term psychological transference. Projecting on someone else your own shortcomings. Need i say more or are you that retarded that you need it explained. Your intelliegence and with is right up there with a stream of plankton. Come up with something better.
BP: Come on Don, arrogance and superiority, let it out buddy, we both know what your driving at.
Tell us what you think he's driving at, Mr. Pearlman. For someone who posts so often, you really must begin to make a little sense.
Dave:
You can couch it in all the euphemisms you want but they fact is your either on Israels side or the Arabs side. And can you or anyone else deny that the Arabs would kill every Jew if they could. They say so explicitly. So don't come on here and say your anti zionist and not antiJewish. Post holocaust it just doesn;t fly
You're right. The Arabs hate the Jews so much they moved up to Europe and colonized their homelands.
Oh wait — I'm thinking of someone else.
what holocaust? the Armenian holocaust?