``..I hasten to add that when it comes to Israel and strategic interests, I'm on `the ruling class can make a mistake' side and not `the ruling class has been misled' side. But I believe it is a failure to entertain the first possibility -- and to explain it -- that gives so much fuel to the second. People who decide -- on what I think are reasonable grounds -- that the US ruling class has been acting contrary to its interests in acting out its alliance with Israel are then left with the lobby explanation because no other one is being offered...'' Michael Pollak
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I agree with the entire post, the ruling class makes big mistakes. But I disagree with the last sentence.
It isn't necessary to conjure up a Jewish conspiracy, via the Israeli lobby, if you lay out what and how any lobby in DC operates. What they do is supply policy direction outlines backed up with argument, data and information that they think best serves their interest and then promulgate those directives through out governmental policy agencies and elected bodies. Collectively lobbies, with their think tank contractors are probably the primary (and sometimes the only) source of policy, data, and information on any particular subject at issue.
The same people in and out of power simply pass between private and public payrolls and back via rigged civil service and political appointments. For example, note how many of the privatizing energy lobbyists of the Clinton years are now serving under Bush.
The entire lobby system constitutes the traditional policy making apparatus of the US government, and policy on Israel is no exception. In my mind this accounts for the limited spectrum of what can and can not be contrived via Israel. Actually it also helps explain why there is so little apparent difference between political parties on any issue---if you develop the argument a little more.
The most concrete problem for progressive Israelis and Palestinians is they don't have their own lobbies and the extensive financial connections to support the necessary spokesmen, experts and data to feed the US apparachek. As a result both are thrown back on the same resources that the rest of us use and are therefore barred from direct access to government policy and the power to act out their programs.
Chuck Grimes