Realism Comes Into American Discourse on Little Cat Feet

by on November 14, 2008 6

Obama effect. Rahm controversy spilloff. Good piece by Matt Duss raising the double standard for Israeli terrorists–Rahm's George Washington father– and Palestinian ones in the American discourse. Do you see what's happening? The realist wisdom gained from Iraq–that when people blow themselves up it has to do with occupation and arguments over religion and  resources and land–is leaking into the American conversation at last!!

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss is Founder and Co-Editor of Mondoweiss.net.
Posted in Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Neocons, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics

{ 6 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. American says:
    November 14, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    You know….this has been leaking into the discourse for a long time on the net….it has been leaking in comments on c-span every time a subject touches on Israel for a long time….then it started leaking into a few MS publications.

    Jewish organization put out poll after poll saying MOST American support Israel…well, that just isn't true. Look at the World Opinon Poll and polls done by non jewish orgs. And it isn't true if you pay attention to the comments on c-span, the comments on net sites dealing with Israel..the comments of ordinary people in real life when the subject comes up. One thing that stands out regarding polls done on American's support of Israel….the independent polls by different polling enities ALL come in around the same percentages…77%+ or-. The poll done after the Israel invasion of Lebanon showed that 77% of Americans disapproved of Israel….the World Opinion poll on I&P conflict showed 78% of Americans wanted the US to be EVEN handed on I-P. And the negative percentages on Israel are even higher in other countries.

    There is a consensus among Americans regarding Israel…even among the ones who don't know all the details about I-P that shows Americans want FAIRNESS from their government toward both parties….not favortism for Israel.

    BUT…this has not leaked into congress, just like a lot of american preferences haven't been acknowledged by congress.

    As far as I can see there are few choices…more pressure on politicans and I mean real pressure, up close and personal and putting the fear of God in them to change their attitude and policy on Israel…OR..we can wait until a crisis is caused by Israel for the US and hits the national scene in as explosive a way as our current financial crisis.

    Then it will hit congress…..and be much, more implosive for Israel and the zionist..and congress… than we can imagine right now.

    I can see the possibility of someone like Netanyhu being elected in Israel bringing that crisis on…so it might not be that far away.

  2. anon says:
    November 14, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    American, too true–may well have a long hot summer coming up.

  3. David says:
    November 14, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Little cat feet? Dude, I hate to break the news to you, but debates over U.S. support for Israel and the Israel Lobby have been part of American discourse for decades. By way of example, Strobe Talbott wrote a very critical essay for Time magazine in 1981, titled "What to Do About Israel." Oh, and for those who claim that individuals who "dare to speak out" about this topic are punished by the establishment, keep in mind that Talbott went on to become the Deputy Secretary of State under Bill Clinton (1994-2001); and, then president of the Brookings Institution. (Talbott was also a critic of Walt & Mearsheimer — savor the irony!)

    So, it is with something akin to genuine pity when I see you constantly grasping at straws to claim that we are seeing a revolution in American thought ("Jon Stewart made a joke! "Breakthrough at the Yale Debating Society!!!")

    As long as the American public remains generally supportive of Israel (as poll after poll indicates) and policymakers view Israel as, on measure, a strategic asset, I'm afraid your breakthrough in American discourse will be limited to kaffiyeh-wearing protesters, and subscribers to Counterpunch.

  4. Committee for Historical Accuracy says:
    November 14, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Actually, the Strobe Talbott article of 1981 did indeed make the case that Israel was (already) a strategic liability to the U.S., but oddly stayed far away from the subject why then were we supporting it. The lobby is not mentioned once. You can read it here–
    link to time.com
    />

  5. Colin Murray says:
    November 14, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    American: …OR..we can wait until a crisis is caused by Israel for the US and hits the national scene in as explosive a way as our current financial crisis.

    C.M.: My money is on a very public and embarrassing espionage crisis. These have been regularly averted by willing and/or compliant attorney generals and judges. e.g, Mukasey and Ellis. Once the law is enforced with an even hand, public outrage is absolutely inevitable. Time to put some cold ones into the cooler, break out the lawn chair, and sit back and watch the fireworks.

  6. John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta says:
    November 15, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    "Realism Comes Into American Discourse on Little Cat Feet"

    SOUNDS VERY, VERY GAY!!!!!!(LOL)

    PS. Russ Feingold for Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (replacing Biden)

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