The Israel Lobby
Talk The Middle East
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1GoofyOcean110
Anyone read The Israel Lobby? John Mearsheimer was on The Colbert Report the other night. Any thoughts?
2EncompassedRunner
yeah, *yawn,* the myth is old
4BGP
>2 EncompassedRunner: It is not a "myth," per se, for there are lobbyists who advocate one side of virtually every contentious issue (be it national, economic, religious, secular, race-related, etc) in Washington. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with the existence of any "lobby" in a democratic nation! Some pro-Israeli lobbyists are, like myself, moderate Zionists who fervently support the creation of a Palestinian state (for they believe that such a development is absolutely necessary if we wish to secure the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians). Obviously, there are others who take a more "hard line" stance on specific issues (Likudniks, primarily) and are, therefore, worth challenging/critiquing if and when one honestly believes that they are taking a stance on a particular issue which indefensible. That's the nature of life in a democratic state.
I have not had the time to read Mearsheimer's work, but even The Economist (by no means an enemy of Israel) has contended that the book should not be considered a threat by anyone.
In the end, it is never difficult to identify the difference between an argument which is essentially rooted in racism* (see: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=26173 for a recent debate), and an honest critique (and/or rebuttal) of the specific political views of any and all particular interest groups.
There must be room for a critique of every side on every political policy or platform.
*I have chosen the phrase carefully, in order to avoid a violation of LT's terms of service: I am attacking the argument presented by an individual in the "linked" thread, not the individual who has posed the argument.
I have not had the time to read Mearsheimer's work, but even The Economist (by no means an enemy of Israel) has contended that the book should not be considered a threat by anyone.
In the end, it is never difficult to identify the difference between an argument which is essentially rooted in racism* (see: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=26173 for a recent debate), and an honest critique (and/or rebuttal) of the specific political views of any and all particular interest groups.
There must be room for a critique of every side on every political policy or platform.
*I have chosen the phrase carefully, in order to avoid a violation of LT's terms of service: I am attacking the argument presented by an individual in the "linked" thread, not the individual who has posed the argument.
