There's no Israeli 'lobby' [VS GLOBAL ARAB MUSLIM GOLIATH LOBBY!]

It brings no joy to issue a public rebuttal against a valued colleague, but there are moments that demand no less. The occasion is the publication of an essay titled "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy," written by two professors, John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt, the academic dean and my colleague at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

In essence, their 82-page piece argues that U.S. policy in the Middle East has been hijacked by a pro-Israel "Lobby." "The core of the Lobby," they say, "is comprised of American Jews who make a significant effort in their daily lives to bend U.S. foreign policy so that it advances Israel's interests."

As a result, "the United States has a terrorism problem in good part because it is so closely allied with Israel."

Mearsheimer and Walt assert that for decades, and especially since the Six-Day War in 1967, the lobby has manipulated our political system to give short shrift to Palestinians, was a "critical element" in the decision to invade Iraq and is now skewing our policy on Iran (the United States, they say, "can live with a nuclear Iran").

Not only are these charges wildly at variance with what I have personally witnessed in the Oval Office, but they also impugn the unstinting service to America's national security by public figures like Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk and many others.

As a Christian, let me add that it is also wrong and unfair to call into question the loyalty of millions of American Jews who have faithfully supported Israel while also working tirelessly and generously to advance America's cause, both at home and abroad. They should be praised, not pilloried.

To be sure, pro-Israeli groups in this country, led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, push hard to gain the support of U.S. political leaders. AIPAC is officially registered as a lobbying group, but that does not mean that its members are engaging in something sinister.

It is just not true that the Israel "Lobby" has captured U.S. policy toward the Middle East. As David McCullough writes, Harry Truman recognized Israel in 1948 out of humanitarian concerns and in spite of pressure from Jewish groups, not because of it. Since then, 10 straight American Presidents have befriended Israel - not because they were under pressure but because they believed America had made a commitment to Israel's survival, just as we have to other threatened outposts of freedom like Berlin, South Korea and Taiwan.

Over the course of four tours in the White House, I never once saw a decision in the Oval Office to tilt U.S. foreign policy in favor of Israel at the expense of America's interest.

Moreover, history shows many instances when our Presidents have sharply opposed the Israeli government. I was there when Ronald Reagan, a great friend of Israel, was so repelled by pictures of victims in Lebanon that he insisted the Israelis call off their assault on Beirut (they did).

Has Washington sometimes tilted too much toward Israel? Of course, just as we have toward other friends overseas. Is our policy in the Middle East worthy of serious debate? Absolutely, and we should defend the right of academics to question it.

But let that debate go forward with a clear mind and an understanding heart. And let us remember that our friendship with Israel has always been rooted in noble values - just as our friendships have been with other outposts of freedom.

Gergen is a professor of public service at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of its Center for Public Leadership. He served as a White House adviser to Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Originally published on March 26, 2006

I was going to start asking about hypocritical liberals that tell us 24/7 that Bush is influenced by Arab Oil, but, let's be more specific.

Lobbies, lobbies, lobbies all around, good lobbies, bad lobbies

So It's not OK for a Chinese lobby, a Japanese lobby, a textile lobby, a tobacco lobby, (so many of them in Washington, apologies for those lobbies I left out...) or what have you, oh, last but not least, the ARAB MUSLIM LOBBY, Saudi, or other wise, (wait, How can we ignore the cute other Oil-y Arab Muslim "moderate" influencing powers) but God forbid the few Jews, oh no, we wouldn't be allowed to say: ARAB MUSLIM LOBBY is HIJACKING (not only Washington, but) the entire GLOBE!!!

The ISLAMO ARAB GOLIATH LOBBY http://lightonthings.blogspot.com/2006/02/islamo-arab-goliath-lobby.html

Start by : why the UN has the longest record on "denouncing" Israeli defenders from Arab baby murderers, Why do you think it is?

Start by: why the EU reluctance to include Israel (as oppose to corrupted no-democracy-model: Turkey,) that is --at least -- no worse than ANY western European country, it's free & open democracy, free press, free elections, etc., and yes advanced education and technology, Why do you think it is?

Start by why so many countries around the world are giving in to pressure to shun & not even include Israel in their "normal" activities, Why do you think it is?

Start by why so many countries have been blindly "automatically" voting against Israel in the UN, not even knowing what happened, never bothered to find out any background or minimal info on each single case, Why do you think it is?

Start by why so many countries are giving in to Arab Muslim pressure not to trade with Israel, in their vicious 50+ years against the only country that experiences this blatant racism, Why do you think it is?

Start by the very recent example of major media (even) in the US bowing to Arab Muslim pressure not to "offend" them with a little comic draw, while they are demonizing other religions full force, Why do you think it is?

Start by many more examples, but finish-conclude acknowledging the very fact: why no one even talks about Arab Muslim oil & violent-threats (the other more "humane" influence-tool) ? About the Arab Muslim Goliath?

[Because it's not just a matter of 'the Pot Calling The Kettle Black ...', that's a gross understatement.]

Ask yourself again, but not in the open, because, (you can say whatever you want on the "few Jews" I. E. "DAVID", but don't dare touch the "poor" Arab Muslim powers, restrain yourself back real tight, you CAN'T say anything, you better not,) that's right, well, they are the real Goliath!
So powerful that there isn't even a discussion on it.

This attempt of blowing up the victim to a "monster" is so classy, classy of the source these two professors' report on the 'lobby' is all rooted in, that's right, it's all out now in the open, as we all know by now, a dreadful neo-Nazi site, "tradtionally" pumping air into the victim that he looks "big and powerful", it suits the objective of demonization campaign very well.

http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/650/documentid/3364/history/3,2359,650,3364 Israel as a Security Asset for the United States

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/402910p-341257c.html There is no Israel 'Lobby'

http://www.nysun.com/article/29741 Harvard's Paper on Israel Drew From Neo-Nazi Sites

http://www.israpundit.com/2006/?p=555 Poisoned ivies

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5342 Stehpen Walt's War with Israel

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21720 The Islamization of America?

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/013507.php Professor Mearsheimer's first sip

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/3/22/135819.shtml Attack on 'Pro-Israel Lobby' Has Flaws

http://www.dafka.org/NewsGen.asp?S=4&PageID=1107 HARVARD'S PROTOCOLS OF ZION

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/jbiga_20060326.html Israel the Good Under dog

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