[Peace-discuss] Finkelstein on the Israeli lobby

[C. G. Estabrook]

Certainly correct.  The events of the last week remind us of Chomsky's 
description of Israel as a "permanent US aircraft carrier" -- and of the 
terrible internal damage to Israeli society being done by its client 
status. --CGE

David Green wrote:
> ... The following quote appeared on another list praising
> Mearsheimer/Walt, and my response. We have to remember that
> Mearsheimer is the ultimate foreign policy "realist," but ironically
> realism is now attributing to Israel the power to direct major
> foreign policy decisions:
> 
> From Mearsheimer and Walt, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy: 
> "The [2008 presidential] candidates will inevitably differ on various
>  domestic issues - health care, abortion, gay marriage, taxes, 
> education, immigration - and spirited debates are certain to erupt on
>  a host of foreign policy questions as well... Yet on one subject, we
>  can be equally confident that the candidates will speak with one 
> voice ... None of the candidates is likely to criticize Israel in any
>  significant way ... Any who do will probably fall by the wayside ...
>  The real reason why American politicians are so deferential is the 
> political power of the Israel lobby"
> 
> This quote illustrates why M/W are misguided. Do they not realize
> that the major parties will *not *differ on any major issue, only
> "social issues"? This is perfectly consistent with their support for
> U.S. foreign policy and Israel's assistance to its goals, in return
> for their own piece of the pie.