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| Pronouncing Blame on the Israel Lobby |
| 2006-08-29 |
| University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer was in town yesterday to elaborate on his view that American Jewish groups are responsible for the war in Iraq, the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure and many other bad things. Mearsheimer, with co-author Stephen Walt of Harvard's Kennedy School, set off a furious debate this spring when they argued that "the Israel lobby" is exerting undue influence in Washington; opponents called them anti-Semitic. Yesterday, at the invitation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), they held a forum at the National Press Club to expand on their allegations about the Israel lobby. Blurring the line between academics and activism, they accepted a button proclaiming "Fight the Israel Lobby" and won cheers from the Muslim group for their denunciation of Israel and its friends in the United States. Walt kicked off the session with a warning that we face a "threat from terrorism because we have been so closely tied to Israel." This produced chuckles in the audience. Walt allowed that this was "not the only reason" for our problems, but he did blame Israel supporters for the hands-off position the Bush administration took during the Lebanon fighting. "The answer is the political influence of the Israel lobby," Walt said. He also hypothesized that if not for the Israel lobby, the Iraq war "would have been much less likely." Up next, Mearsheimer ridiculed U.S. leaders for "falling all over themselves to express support for Israel." And he drew groans from the crowd when he spoke about a lawmaker who, after questioning Israel's policy, "met with various representatives from major Jewish organizations, who explained to him the basic facts of life in American politics." When the two professors finished, they were besieged by autograph- and photo-seekers and Arab television correspondents. Walt could be heard telling one that if an American criticizes Israel, "it might have some economic consequences for your business." Before leaving for an interview with al-Jazeera, Mearsheimer accepted a button proclaiming "Walt & Mearsheimer Rock. Fight the Israel Lobby." "I like it," he said, beaming. Interesting the liberal, blue blood, Ivy League types are ready to leave Israel in the dust, especially if the petrodollars keep coming in to expand those Ivy endowments, but the bigoted, redneck, evangelicals are ready to fight to support God's Chosen. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #9 Tenured faculty members from the most prestigeous universities in the country are not garbage or a crazy cult, much as their words may indicate that they are. They are the establishment of the country and that they are willing to persist in expressing these opinions quite publicly shows that their opinions resonate with a significant portion of the establishment. We have a problem in this country with anti-Israelism, which is also anti-westernism. The media is clearly of that opinion as are large segments of academia and mainline religion. The next step is for one of the Democrat candidates to take that position in the primaries. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-29 17:33 |
| #8 garbage given a megaphone. Not much different than that crazy cult woman from Kansas who pickets funerals. They get in our face and demand we take them seriously and we have to just because they get in our face. Just another bunch of wackos. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-08-29 16:49 |
| #7 American Jewish groups are responsible for the war in Iraq Lunatic conspiracy theory involving Illuminati, Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Trilateral Commision in five ... four ... three ... |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-29 16:21 |
| #6 should've had a comma after professionals... :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-29 13:49 |
| #5 Professional Jew-haters: let me nominate, in no particular order, Mother Sheehan, Osama, Ned Lamont and his Kossacks, Hezbollah, Hamas, the New York Times, Boris the troll, Ramsey Clark, Jimmah Carter, the Mad Mullahs. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-08-29 12:53 |
| #4 These two Academicians™ are truly repugnant and unprofessional Jooooo haters. The professionals being? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-08-29 12:50 |
| #3 Aw, Nimble, you cut out the best parts: It was quite a boner. University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer was in town yesterday to elaborate on his view that American Jewish groups are responsible for the war in Iraq, the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure and many other bad things. As evidence, he cited the influence pro-Israel groups have on "John Boner, the House majority leader." Actually, Professor, it's "BAY-ner." "Ooops, sorry, I was thinking of my Viagra." But Mearsheimer quickly dispensed with Boehner (R-Ohio) and moved on to Jewish groups' nefarious sway over Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who Mearsheimer called "Von Hollen." Such gaffes would be trivial -- if Mearsheimer weren't claiming to be an authority on Washington and how power is wielded here. . . . Whatever motivated the performance, the result wasn't exactly scholarly. Ouch! Nice to see Millbank stick it to someone who deserves sticking for a change. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-08-29 12:10 |
| #2 Stephen Walt of Harvard's Kennedy School This says it ALL!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2006-08-29 12:07 |
| #1 First time in a long time that I liked something Dana ("D" as in Democrat) Milbank wrote. These two Academicians™ are truly repugnant and unprofessional Jooooo haters. Their respective employers should look long and hard at their work and the embarrassment they're bringing. CAIR hires and supports them, nuff said |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-29 11:35 |