For what it's worth I'm Jewish, not terribly observant, preparing for my son's bar mitzvah next Saturday, and about to quit my congregation in part because the allegedly humanist rabbi wants us to join AIPAC.
I don't maintain that the Israel lobby controls, determines, etc. US middle eastern policy. I do think that it is one of the domestic factors that is important in affecting that policy. I don't think you can fully understand the specific shape American Israel policy without reference to AIPAC, the ADL, and related groups. (Including Christian right groups.) Domestic considerations matter. It's not all about the price of oil (set by the market under ogiopolistic conditions anyway) or a white settler state policing brown unruly nationalistic masses, though those are also relevant considerations. But it should not be a matter of dragging up the ostracism machine to discuss the totality of factors.
Two substantive points: anyone who thinks that most American Jews support positions we would find amenable on these matters has never done work in the American Jewish community -- this despite the fact that American Jews are as a group way to the left of AIPAC. But I can assure you, as can anyone who works with, e.g., Jewish Voices for Peace or, here in Chicago, Not In My Name, that it's an uphill battle with a ten ton safe on your back.
Second, sociologically, the small size of AIPAC or any well organized political group is not a measure of its effectiveness. No, AIPAC does not speak for American Jewry. Yes, they are tremendously effective in getting heard and having their views made into policy. If their ideas were opposed to the perceived interests of US imperial middle east policy, that would not be so, but that does not mean that the Israel lobby is irrelevant.
--- Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> wrote:
> I'm seriously beginning to think that whenever we
> see the phrase "Jewish
> Lobby" we should mentally translate, "Protocols of
> the Elders of Zion."
> Here is another fwd from Marxism that is rather
> preferable to the post
> Carl fwd. We are, I fear, in the presence of
> conspiracism, and one which
> intertwines with the oldest conspiracy theory of
> them all.
>
> Carrol
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Useful scapegoats - WAS [Marxism] James
> Petras: The Tyranny Of
> IsraelOver America
> Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 15:19:40 -0800
> From: Gilles d'Aymery <aymery at ix.netcom.com>
> Reply-To: Activists and scholars in Marxist
> tradition<marxism at lists.econ.utah.edu>
> Organization: Swans Commentary
> To: marxism at lists.econ.utah.edu
>
> >From some comments on the list I am left under the
> impression that the
> famed "Jewish lobby" that has existed in one form or
> another from 1850
> onward, first in Europe and culminating now in the
> USA, has taken
> control of the foreign policies of [enter country
> names here].
>
> In more recent history, American history mind you,
> the administrations
> of US presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford,
> Carter, Reagan, Bush
> Sr., Clinton, and Bush Jr. have all been subverted
> by mighty Israel and
> its fifth column, the J. Lobby, to benefit the state
> of Israel against
> the better interests of the USA. Some on this list
> also "believe" that
> these would be better served by following pro-Arabic
> policies.
>
> Moreover, the latest "academic" study even posits
> that, "The Lobby's
> influence has been bad for Israel." American
> academics, of course, know
> what's best for Israel. Americans, as we all are
> fully aware, always
> know what's best for the world, including some 195
> nations.
>
> James Petras keeps nailing the evil Sayanim who,
> treasonous as they are,
> put the interests of Israel and the "Jews" before
> their own countries.
> The danish cartoons were a Mossad conspiracy, in his
> views. The Iraq War
> is a war made on behalf of Israel has long claimed
> Justin Raimondo. So,
> according to him, will the next war (Iran) be. From
> Alex Cockburn, Jeff
> Blankfort, Kathy and Bill Christison, James Petras,
> Justin Raimondo, Pat
> Buchanan, to a whole lot of useful idiots, Israel
> and the J. Lobby
> control US destiny (and the entire world, I
> presume).
>
> Nothing that can be said will sway those people.
> However, allow me to
> present a few facts for you to ponder.
>
> A - First follow the money:
>
> US financial help to Israel: $3 to 4 billion a year.
> Israel Budget: $44
> b. (revenues) - 58 b. (expenditures) Israel GDP:
> $124 b.
>
> 2005 profits by US oil and gas conglomerates: about
> $63 b. That's
> *profits* only, and do not include Halliburton,
> security firms (aka,
> mercenaries) and the usual beneficiaries of war (arm
> manufacturers
> should come to mind here).
>
> Do the math.
>
> B - Israel vs. The "Arab world" (as though there
> were an "Arab World")
>
> Question: Is it an either or proposition? Some on
> this list seem to
> think so.
>
> Answer: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan,
> Egypt, Yemen, Saudi
> Arabia, Oman, UAE (which includes Dubai, that
> "dangerous" country to US
> ports security), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, are all
> governed by pro-USA
> elites. Iraq was not. Iran and Syria, not yet. (Have
> I missed anyone?)
>
> Rhetorical questions: Were there no oil in the
> region, how much US
> interests would coincide with Israel's? Were oil
> located in Alaska or
> Argentina, or on the moon, would the USA be in Iraq?
> To defend Israel,
> right?
>
> C - The power of the Jewish Lobby in America.
>
> About 80 percent of Jewish Americans are either
> anti-Zionists, don't
> really care, want a two-state solution, and just
> struggle with life like
> we all do.
>
> Only 20 percent are somewhat Zionists, of which a
> tiny few are rabidly
> and racistly involve. (AIPAC has plus or minus
> 100,000 members.)
>
> The "Jewish" population (scare quotes because I have
> no idea what it
> means) is 2.3% of the US population. Do your
> arithmetic and see what 20
> percent of 2.3 percent equals to in the USA.
>
> That minimalist number controls everything, right?
>
> D - Two examples of the Israel/Jewish Lobby power:
>
> 1) Jonathan Pollard
>
> 2) Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
>
> Conclusion:
>
> There is no way to convince people rationally when
> emotionalism is at
> stake.
>
> There are people who do honestly believe that the US
> policies toward
> Cuba are dependent on the Florida Cuban Lobby.
>
> Maybe we are in the Congo because of the
> African-American Lobby.
>
> Everything's possible when one does not think.
>
> I'll avoid the guilt by association tirade by
> respect for our moderator.
> I'll only suggest that he is incorrect. Judeophobia
> raises its ugly head
> when it helps the elites, the same way
> anti-immigrants rhetoric
> (Mexicans, colored, tax evaders, jobs takers, etc.)
> allows the Lou Dobbs
> of this insanity to have a field day.
>
> In a list that calls itself Marxist, I am bewildered
> by the poverty of
> thinking on the part of some posters.
>
> But then, what do I know? I'm French, and not a
> Marxist or otherwise
> scholar.
>
> Enough said.
>
> Sincerely,
> Gilles d'Aymery
> Swans Commentary
>
> P.S. I have written on and on and on and on, on this
> crap. Just take the
> time to visit Swans and figure it out.
>
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