November 27, 2004
REALISTICALLY, ZION'S BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE:
'Anonymous' Agent Blasts Israel Lobby (MARC PERELMAN, 11/26/04, Forward)
"It is in the self-interest of the United States to find a way to cut into the ability of bin Ladenism to grow in popularity and gather support in the Muslim world," Scheuer said in an interview last weekend. "I am not saying we need to abandon Israel, but there is a perception in the Islamic world that it is a case of the tail leading the dog.... America is not perceived as an honest broker, but as backing Israel unconditionally."
Scheuer claims that because of savvy lobbying, crucial policies in the Middle East — he cited America's unflinching support of both Israel and Saudi Arabia — have not been debated during the past 30 years.
Scheuer denied any antisemitic leanings, after he was asked about the critical assertion he made in his book, stating that Israel, with the aid of its network of American supporters, had demonstrated an uncanny ability to stifle such a debate in the United States. He reaffirmed his strong belief in Israel's deep influence over American policymaking.
"I admire what Israel has accomplished," he said. "As a former intelligence official, I wish our intelligence service could acquire a basis of support and the influence in the politics of another country like the ones Israel has established here."
While advocating bolder military and intelligence operations against radical Islamic terrorist networks, Scheuer argues those steps should be followed by a slate of economic and diplomatic initiatives, as well as policy changes, aimed at generating support for America in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
When pressed about his policy advice, Scheuer demurred, saying his thoughts were narrowly focused on American interests and that he was not a policy expert. Asked whether he was only criticizing the close relationship between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, he said he felt the United States was perceived as a more honest broker under President Clinton than it is now. "Still, we have a long record of doing things perceived as pro-Israel," he said. "My own view is that we should talk about it."
Of course we should talk about what State and the CIA really want to do in the Middle East--sell out Israel to the Arabs.
"...aimed at generating support for America in the Arab and Muslim worlds"
Ah, the Arabists that have fill the halls of just about every Western foreign ministry since the 19th century! As one who did a guest stint in one of them, I learned that nothing is so thrilling to a professional diplomat as to look at a map of that huge swath of geography and dream of untold riches and influence. Which would happen if it weren't for that pesky, irksome little country. They don't even have oil, for cryin' out loud. Just oranges.
Arabists remind me of the types, too prevalent here in Canada, who look at maps of the Arctic and dream of a mineral-rich eldorado that will guarantee perpetual prosperity. Billions of wasted dollars later, they retreat in scandal and frustration, only to lick their wounds and rise again when a new gullible generation comes along. In the Arctic it is climate and distance that defeats them. In Arabia, it's the Arabs.
Posted by: Peter B at November 27, 2004 8:09 AMPeterB,
Climate and distance are conquerable, the Arabs are not unless you want to be Scipio or Suleiman the Great when you deal with them. Just sell the rights to private sector interests and tell them they're on their own. It worked in the 17th century, why not today? The technology will be developed if the profit motive is there.
If Scheuer claims he is not a policy expert, why is he rendering opinions on policy, and why is anybody listening to him? Also, there is something offensive about his failure to comprehend that the reason Americans support Israel is that a dispassionate analysis of the area says that it is the right thing to do, it is not the result of any undue foreign influence. How can we employ such people as 'analysts?' He doesn't have a clue about America, the country he works for and is at least theoretically loyal to, so how can he possibly have a clue about anywhere else?
Posted by: Bart at November 27, 2004 10:08 AMI should like to point out, one more time, that our alliance with Israel is a foundatiiostone of our hegemony. It is what commits us to war with Islamicism, whereby the blessings of transformation will come to those parts of the Islamic world which adapt, and the blessings of annihilation to the rest..
Posted by: Lou Gots at November 27, 2004 12:42 PMDear Angry Arabs,
Israel is a democracy and friendly to us. When you become democracies and friendly to us, we'll treat you the same way we treat Israel.
Sincerely,
The United States
Posted by: PapayaSF at November 27, 2004 6:25 PMImagine if you would, that a terrible epidemic that only afflicts Jews sweeps through the Middle east and kills all of the Jews in Israel next week. Does anyone think that anything would change a bit in the Middle East? The only result I could imagine would be even more savage civil war among the palestinians.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at November 28, 2004 11:44 PM