The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

By: John J. Mearsheimer, Stephen M. Walt

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

"The Israel Lobby" by John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, was one of the most controversial articles in recent memory. Originally published in the London Review of Books in March 2006, it provoked both howls of outrage and cheers of gratitude for challenging what had been a taboo issue in America: the impact of the Israel lobby on U.S. foreign policy.

Now in a work of major importance, Mearsheimer and Walt deepen and expand their argument and confront recent developments in Lebanon and Iran. They describe the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel and argues that this support cannot be fully explained on either strategic or moral grounds.

This exceptional relationship is due largely to the political influence of a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction. This lobby has a far-reaching impact on America's posture throughout the Middle East in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Lebanon, and toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and, the authors contend, it has encouraged policies profoundly damaging to both America's national interests and Israel's long-term security.

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy is certain to widen the debate at a time when there is no more urgent issue than America's role in the Middle East.

©2007 John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

The Truth At Last!

This book exposes all of the common myths that pro-Israel supporters use to justify massive, uncritical U.S. support and aid to Israel, namely:
Israel as a "strategic" ally- in fact the opposite is true, all-out support for Israel jeopardizes our national security, and erodes our credibility on the world stage. Yet no major American candidate will ever speak a word of criticism against Israel for fear of alienating or offending the Israel lobby and major campaign contributors. The authors correctly argue that we need to come to grips with the fact that what is good for Israel is not always good for the U.S.

58 of 77 people found this review helpful

Courageous and Fantastic!

The book's central idea is that the "war for oil" is just spin and smokescreen: the real reasons for war in Iraq, and increased antagonism against the peaceful nation of Iran, are the interests and security of Israel. They meticulously document the public statements of record made by various individuals and groups, and illustrate that the oil lobby was almost totally silent on the issue of the Iraq invasion, but the "Israel Lobby" was vociferously beating the war drum. The sheer size and scope of the Lobby, the staggering funding they provide to both Republican and Democrat coffers, is rarely or never discussed in the mainstream media. Its like the elephant in your living room that everyone pretends not the notice. Those who claim - like Noam Chomsky - that Israel is a U.S. satellite state miss the obvious: it is the other way around. As Ariel Sharon once infamously quipped: "Washington is Likud occupied territory."

For those that view this whole topic as anti-semitic, this is hogwash. Israel is a nation, not a religion or a race. The authors spend a good deal of the book pre-emptively defending themselves against the absurd charge of "anti-semite!" and document their argument with scientific precision. Knowing full well they will be attacked by the considerable weight of the Lobby, the authors were careful to omit all conjecture and speculation, and stick to publicly available facts. Very well narrated. A MUST READ/LISTEN!

25 of 33 people found this review helpful

Finaly the truth is out there

It is a long book! So it is not to faint hearted.

If there is one thing I will have to criticise the authors about is the fact that they feel they must apologise for their discoveries and their statement, they feel they must preface every word in stating that they are committed to the "survival of Israel", lets we think that they are anti-Semitic bigots, hell raisers, idiots, that they do not realise the importance and the greatness of Israel.

And that fact alone should show us the reach and the power of the lobby, that made sure that a single voice of moderation within the recent administration's foreign policy adviser be rejected on the ground that : "it will give an unbalanced view" to the Middle East policies of the administration.

Lets hope that books like this and others will finally permit an open and franc discussion about the US role and ultimate intrests in that region.

20 of 28 people found this review helpful

Facts you won't find in the U.S. media

One the really interesting observations in this book is that the debate over Israel's conduct is much more open in Israel itself than it is in the U.S., where detractors are immediately intimated with accusations of anti-Semitism (never mind that Arabs are Semites as well)

11 of 16 people found this review helpful

Illuminating and concerning

Get this book. It reveals clearly how American foreign policy is influenced on frightening levels by pro-Israel lobby groups in the United States. The language is precise and the various cases that the authors make are supported by a barrage of facts that come at your face in brutal fashion. They even anticipate the questions that a skeptic might ask and answer so many so thoroughly that your inner devil's advocate decides to pack up and go on vacation while knowledge is literally injected into your brain.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Here you will find TRUTH

To all Christians: the Bible says "seek and ye shall find". Jesus Christ said, "I AM THE TRUTH...". My conclusion- seek the TRUTH and you will find HIM.

This book is amazing. And revealing beyond all of my expectations.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Answers to widespread phenomenon

What if you believe the earth is flat, and then scientist proved it is not. However you live your entire life thinking you’re right and out of the blue your assumption is proven correct.
This book is by far very detailed and references every factual statement. I’ve read the text version and the Audio just as great as the book…

7 of 12 people found this review helpful

Enlightening

This is probably one of the most insightful books I have ever read. To have everything laid out with clinical objectivity and related in such a riveting fashion is remarkable. Confirms all of the conclusions of Jimmy Carter's Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, which I also downloaded from Audible. These writings open your eyes to the real world without all of the spin. A must read for all who seek the truth.

11 of 19 people found this review helpful

Coherent on lobby's nature, imbibes false rhetoric

I don't have much bad to say about this. it's thought provoking and provides great primer on the vast subject that is the Israel USA relationship. At the base level I walk away from this much more informed than not. I highly recommend it to absolutely anyone who wants to get started in understanding American foreign policy post 1960s.

The problems with this book are minor but noticeable to anyone familiar with other subjects around the book, namely the Iran narrative. The authors' struggle to remain as neutral as rhetorically possible provides these faults. In order to suggest policy prescriptions that might ease tensions between Israel and Iran, the authors unfortunately engage in the false presupposition that Iran engaged in a nuclear weapons program post 2003. For more on the subject, read "Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of Iran's Nuclear Scare" by Gareth Porter. The non diversion of nuclear material into weapons grade has been confirmed over and over by the IAEA as well as JSOC itself. This is a shame because this book provides a powerful argument from an essentially pro Israeli perspective aimed at defusing hostilities toward the country, often by debunking certain policy myths from the lobby. However, it seems the Iran myth is a dogma so rigid that even these voices cannot penetrate the basic presupposition. I can't say whether it's out of fear or honest believing.

I don't particularly agree with policy prescriptions provided by the authors, as I am not as positive about the members of the lobby leadership even being able to do the right thing. But it is an opinion worth considering. This book is fantastic and absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in foreign policy regardless of political affiliation.

A must read for all students in the US!!!

Would you listen to The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy again? Why?

Much information to take in and manage. Should be read several times, as you discover more and more about how the authors are spot on in this issue.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful