The internet is going to blow our minds even more than the printing press blew my daddy's. This is the personal blog of Lawrence R. Velvel, the dean of the Massachusetts School of Law. He has taken on Michael Mukasey's statements about torture specifically as one Russian Jew against another, saying that Mukasey is a "disgrace to our religion," before he moves on to the Joe Klein divided-loyalty issue.
Wolfowitz, Kristol, Abrams, Lieberman, in my judgment Mukasey, and
others — take the positions they do (on Al Qaeda, Iran, etc.) because
of their concern for Israel. It is also said that they have had
outsized influence during the last eight years. I cannot say these
accusations are wrong. Truth be told, I think they are right.
But my
deep concern for Israel and for Jews as a people lead me to revile
those bastards because not only have they been a disaster for the
United States itself, but they also seem to have gone far toward
achieving the very opposite of what they wanted to achieve in behalf of
Israel. By leading the U.S. down a terribly wrong path, they have
caused many Americans — with whom I agree about most other things –
to revile Israel, they have caused Arabs to hate Israel even more, and
they have lessened, not increased, Israel’s security. Nice work, guys.
This is the Walt and Mearsheimer effect–a depth charge in the Jewish community. Velvel then gives his own prescription for peace in the Middle East. But let's get to the headline here. Just what I have always called for is happening: progressive Jews are calling out neocon Jews on their pro-Israel agenda. It is just a matter of time before post-Zionism cleaves the American Jewish community like that water buffalo in Apocalypse Now. And nonZionist Jews call out Zionist Jews for behaving exactly like Soviet symps in the 40s, who could not see what their beloved utopia was doing to its own people and the world… The future is knocking on the door.
I have the same reaction to Mearsheimer, as Velvel has for Mukassey.
The insight described is common, and happens widely in spite of Mearsheimer's comments and carelessness in delivery, moreso than because of them.
But, maybe I'm wrong.
I think its too little, too late.
But, maybe I'm wrong.
You are very, very wrong.
The Spirale of Silence: I witnessed this several times in minor cases. It's impressive. It always needs at least one brave person to speak out, to open the valve.
That does not mean that people do not whisper these things in private, they simply do not speak out publicly, before it does not feel safer to do so.
Let's see what happens to Velvel over the next year or two.