This link is really a "teaser" to generate subscriptions to Foreign Policy, the more "youthful" rival to Foreign Affairs.  

Regrettably, several of the criticism of Mearsheimer/Walt are only excerpts, but they give the flavor of the various arguments.

Let me favor you with some quotes pro Mearsheimer/Walt.

"Israel also gets a variety of other special deals and consistent diplomatic support. We believe that this generosity cannot be fully explained on either strategic or moral grounds. Israel may have been a strategic asset during the Cold War, but it is a strategic burden in the war on terror and the broader U.S. effort to deal with rogue states. The moral rationale for unconditional U.S. support is undermined by Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and its unwillingness to offer them a viable state. We believe there is a strong moral case for Israel’s existence, but that existence is not at risk. Palestinian extremists and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may dream of wiping Israel “off the map,” but fortunately neither has the ability to make that dream a reality." [M/W]

"We also traced the lobby’s impact on recent U.S. policies, including the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Neoconservatives inside and outside the Bush administration, as well as leaders of a number of prominent pro-Israel organizations, played key roles in making the case for war. We believe the United States would not have attacked Iraq without their efforts. That said, these groups and individuals did not operate in a vacuum, and they did not lead the country to war by themselves."  [M/W]

"There is nothing improper about pro-Israel advocates trying to influence the Bush administration. But it is equally legitimate for others to point out that groups like AIPAC and many neoconservatives have a commitment to Israel that shapes their thinking about Iran and other Middle East issues. More important, their perspective is not the last word on what is good for Israel or the United States. In fact, their prescriptions might actually be harmful to both countries."  [M/W] [It's amazing that pointing out something this basic is considered controversial, and for the more feverishly pro Israel-minded among us, anti-Semitic].


"Mearsheimer and Walt are critical of the proIsrael lobby and of Israel’s conduct in a number of historical instances. They are outspoken regarding Israel’s prolonged mistreatment of the Palestinians. They are, in brief, generally critical of Israel’s policy and, thus, could be labeled as being in some respects antiIsrael. But an antiIsrael bias is not the same as antiSemitism. To argue as much is to claim an altogether unique immunity for Israel, untouchable by the kind of criticism that is normally directed at the conduct of states." [ZB]

"Anyone who recalls World War II knows that antiSemitism is the unbridled and irrational hatred of Jews. The case made by Mearsheimer and Walt did not warrant the hysterical charges of antiSemitism leveled at them by several academics in selfdemeaning attacks published in leading U.S. newspapers. Sadly, some even stooped to McCarthyite accusations of guilt by association..." [ZB]


50 years ago we would have been having this discussion re the activities of The China Lobby.  Anyone remember them?  Hardline [and other] supporters of Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT and opponents of  Mao Tse-tung unable to accept the fact that the communists had prevailed over the Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War.  The China Lobby was widely denounced for distorting and perverting US foreign policy in East Asia, leading this country down  wrong paths and into dangerous political corners and dead-ends, including an lack of political understanding re the Far East which contributed in no small way to the eventual US involvement in VietNam.  Remember William Knowland?  From California, he was often called "The Senator From Formosa."  Why is NO ONE ever referred to as "The Senator From Israel"? I mean, there's PLENTY to choose from on that score.[In my younger days, as a budding wit, I often referrd to Daniel Patrick Moynihan, then running for the US Senate in 1976, as "The Judean-Samarian Candidate."  Sadly, few got the reference -- those who did universally hated it.  But I was content that i had drawn some small measure of political blood, figuratively speaking of course].

So, critcizing foreign policy lobbying on behalf of other countries is nothing new.  What is new is the mindset of Israel's supporters in THIS country , too many of whom seem to feel that Israel is above and beyond any and all criticisms. [No, not all -- many of them would accept a criticism that Israel has been too "moderate" in it's treatment of the Pallys.  But thats another post].  And when all else fails, quess what rhetorical WMD is employed?  If you guessed 'anti-Semitism" DING! DING! DING! I've got some swell prizes for you.

Congratulations. you win. AIPAC is the Scourge of Satan. Al Qu'ai'da Hamas and Hizbullah are angelic little charities that want nothing but happiness and joy for all the little children of the world, as long as they arent Jewish.

It is not incomprehensible to me how the world can continue to hold Israel to a double standard. Hatred of Jews, and by extention, hatred of the JEWISH state of Israel, has long been an undercurrent of society, thanks in no small part to the 2000 years of propaganda emanating from the Vatican as to who killed Jesus Christ. And yet, even after they finally admitted it didn't happen that way, the majority of the world continues to choose to despise the Jew. And by extension, Israel. Why? Mostly due to the unrelenting public relations and marketing campaign financed by 1 billion dollars of Arab money annually. and thats just in this country. so it is easy for me to understand how it happens at the macro level.
But on an individual basis, i simply do not understand how an otherwise intelligent fellow like yourself can be so utterly blind to the ties between Jews and Israel.

I respect your right to present your perspective.

But your perspective makes you my mortal enemy.

go ride your trike.   People will always fulminate about politics, and you gotta watch the pot enough to get out of the way when it boils over; but whether it boils over or not is rarely affected by anything you or I can do.

Aren't you the guy who slammed the Israelis for not eliminating Hammas before they became the ruling party of the Pallys? What you fail to understand is that no one can give the Pallys a viable state because they are an unviable culture.

1. Ah, the Deicide thing -- I guess you had to work that in somewhere.  When all else fails...  Personally, I think the leadership of my benighted one-time coreligionists has since moved d on to more interesting fare. You know, the pedophile thing...

2. Billions of $$$$ in BigOil lobbying propanganda -- somehow more offensive that the propaganda engaged in by AIPAC, The Presidents' Cenference, Americans for A Safe Israel, and other like-minded groups.  Ain't all propaganda suspect, or just the propaganda of which you disapprove? [PS. The word prpaganda stems from the unmentionable RC church, adding insult to injury I imagine].

3. Una pregunta para ti? ; Can you conceive that someone, even someone as misguided as me, might have a position that looks askance at both the Pallys and the Zionists?  I know pretty much everyone views this as a zero-sum game, but here's a game I'd prefer not to watch in sport I'm no fan of.  Or does it always gotta be either/or with you?

4. Yes by al means ride the monster trike -- but I suggest you refrain from inhaling too deeply the gasoline fumes when you fill er' up.  And don't you realize, your gas-guzzling trike helps to support Arab terrorism?  It runs on gas, which is refined from petroleum, which is pumped from the Midle East, payment for that petroleum going to Saudi Arabua and similar ilk, which is funneled to Hamas et. al.  See Doc, even you, in your private receational choices, act in a manner wich is prejudicial to the interests of Israel, your protestations to the contrary notwithsanding. Be careful, if others figure this out YOU might e denounced asan anti-Semite.

but try to extract a constructive idea how to resolve the issue and you'll probably have to wait for the 2nd coming before this sage can come up with something meaningful.Until then it's all smoke and AIPAC... AIPAC... AIPAC!

"What you fail to understand is that no one can give the Pallys a viable state because they are an unviable culture"

Damn right. Well said.

AIPAC in his quest for an honest man.  Ain't none there!

You oughtta know -- with your tight connections with the IDF "high command" and your justifications for Israel's attack on the USS Liberty.  And you have the gall to live in this country?  Have you no shame?

as I said, if you had any military experience whatsoever(even as a kitchen orderly with a broom)you would have comprehended why the "Liberty"- a CIA spy ship was hit!But, you're all talk,no relevant experience on the issues discussed.Like Diogenes keep on living your ascetic life.BTW, with so much hatred do you ever get it up to visit a provider or,is that the reason you show 0 reviews?

So what's your point, Field Marshall?  That the US was going to warn Egypt of an imminent Israeli sneak attack?  You make me laugh -- when you don't disgust me. Field Marshall Riem, you've been on latrine duty far too long, the odiferous human wastes have permanently degraded your thought processes.

Yep, and for an American to justify Israel's sneak attack on that or any other basis is absolutely amazing.

How do you live with yourself?

BTW, it's more along the lines of a spacious garret, not an attic.  Alas, I don't have acres of ill-gotten land siezed from defenseless Pallys to live on, like the residents of the country you are so hot to defend at all costs. And who seem to make immeasurable demands upon your loyalties?

If you're that interested in my hobbying activities, please PM me next time you're in the Big Apple.  You can accompany me on a visit to an ATF.  She's really old fashioned, no website [in fact, she gave me the computer on which I'm composing this], just an ad she's run for ages in New York magazine.  To add interest to the story, she's a Moroccan Jew, very exotic-looking [the first time i met her I though she was Indo-Chinese], but sadly getting quite long in the tooth.  Still, despite all the wear-and-tear on her treads, she can still grip the road quite nicely if you know how to ride her properly.  Even more interestingly, she lived in Israel for several years after being impregnated and abandoned by her Roman boyfriend.  And she's anti-Zionist to boot.  So how about it Field Marshall, up for this?  There will of course be no reviews, but you can warmly remember the activities I'm allowing you to be able to watch.  Or would you just rather remain in the safety of upstate NY and gloat over the memory of how Israel murdered your countrymen on the USS Liberty?

Oh, sily question.

-- Modified on 7/23/2006 11:55:05 AM