One thing you can say about the Israel lobby theory is that it is becoming a major counter-narrative, just below the American discourse. There's Walt and Mearsheimer's depth charge, and Grant Smith's expose of the origins of AIPAC, America's Defense Line, former Indiana congressman John Hostettler's book on the Iraq war, Aaron David Miller's book on the peace process, which limns the lobby, and Stephen Sniegoski's Transparent Cabal. Now here's a press release for a book called Guilt by Association, about a cabal that got us into war, by a former counsel to the Senate Finance committee, Jeff Gates.
small group of elites and extremists who pledge allegiance to Israel,"
says Mr. Gates. "And our entangled alliance with Israel-with its known
history of stealth and deceit-has led us to war."
The book is apparently endorsed by Noam Chomsky among others. Interesting. I thought Chomsky buyeth not the Israel lobby as propeller of Iraq war.
I find all this remarkable because for all the denial of the Israel lobby that goes on in the mainstream, there's an absolute shadow of that denial in the non-mainstream's embrace of the idea. A friend explained the Yale students' Mearsheimer-inspired vote to end the special relationship with Israel last month in just this fashion. He said that the kids sense exactly where their parents' generation is most hypocritical, and they fly toward that spot with shrieks of delight. Seems to be happening all over. There's bound to be a mainstream discussion before long…
Don't forget James Petras's new Zionism, Militarism and the Decline of US Power (2008), and Power of Israel in the United States(2006).
On a different topic, there's another GOP attack ad–
link to niqnaq.wordpress.com
The target pals around with terrorists, wants to talk to Ahmadinejad, is friends with Cindy Sheehan, etc., etc. The interesting part is that in this case he's also a rabbi. Too bad there's not a chance in hell Rahm Emanuel will ever give him a penny of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee money.
Noam Chomsky commending a work by Jeff Gates.
Newt Gingrich earlier endorsed Jeff Gates' work on ESOP's.
ESOP's are employee stock ownership plans. Sounds great, is great when the desire for employee ownership is the driver.
Unfortunately, the ESOP tax legislation that Gates was a player in forming, has so many and so aggregious loopholes benefitting owners as to make the otherwise good effort (like Zionism) subject to question.
Gates would only write a book on this topic following a similar political "conversion" as others that adopt the nefarious conspiracy as THE event of the day.
http://www.antiwar.com/hadar/?articleid=13669
Israel's Not-So-Future Perfect
by Leon Hadar
In some respects, Israel's ties with the United States are starting to resemble the relationship between the old political and economic elites and the Jewish community in Europe during the nineteenth century. As Hannah Arendt observed in her classic study of European anti-Semitism, it was the erosion in the power of those elites – and their growing inability to protect the Jews of Europe – that sealed the latter's fate. Then, new and angry social classes and political players turned their frustration against the group they associated with the hated status quo – a group that was also very vulnerable.
Today, a similar scenario could take place on an international scale, when a weaker and less confident United States would be under pressure at home and abroad to reduce its global commitments. This would leave Israel, the weakest link, vulnerable to attacks not only from Arab and Muslim nations, but from other new anti-status quo powers.
David,
They definitely should, including most prominently the Arab League proposal.
And, they should establish equal color-blind rule of law in Israel proper, including the day in court to contest land claims originating since 1947.
And, they should insist on similar color-blind establishment of rule of law in Palestine, so that current and former Jewish residents of the region, receive their day in court and are equals in Palestine.
This Witty guy sounds quite sensible and moderate. Why do all the people here whine all the time that he is some sort of monster?
There is also former congressman Paul Findlay's "They Dare to Speak Out" – probably 30 years old by now…
yeah right, Epionoza.
Sensible and moderate.
Nice try though….
They think I am complicit with evil, a devil in nice clothes.