The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

By: John J. Mearsheimer, Stephen M. Walt

Narrated by: Jason Culp

"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

something everyone must know

The Zionist movement had bled into all American lives. Israel is a racist nation and a cruel and terrible government. It is influential and powerful and it grip is real. Every American every human should be aware of Israel Lobby for knowledge is power.
This book helps one see just how much Israel lobbyist have done to all of us. I am not a jew hater by any means, but I am not for the Zionist and their ways. Norm Finklestien and others like this author are pointing out the Godless nation Isreal and it's ways. If the world rose against apartide then why not has the world rise to curb zionism?

Boldness

The book is factual and anyone can reach that conclusion but the boldness of the authors is where they deserve the credit.

The story that needs to be heard

We need more US citizens to read this book to understand the problems of the Israeli-Palestinians conflict and the role of the United States plays in this.

Otherwise there will never be peace.

This entity should not be trusted

You know, from the beginning We’ve had plenty of chances to use plenty of sticks because obviously the carrots are not working. Obviously, They don’t respect carrots lol and only appreciate sticks. The nagging feeling I have is that we will pay for our lack of bravery, our lack of spine. We will pay for our politicians that care nothing about the actual security of the nation, but everything about their fat pockets and how much power they can accumulate Democrat and Republican alike, the unwillingness to do the right thing here and the numerous chances we had to do so. This entity will stab the USA it in the back first second it gets. I mean cmon selling weapons to America’s so-called enemies??? using our military gear to do invasions in other peoples countries and an occupied territories ??? this is the kind of stuff enemies do.! not a so-called ally!! so the day that our ally bites us in the ass I don’t wanna hear nobody say shit because we gonna deserve it at that point

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!

Informative, Engaging and Perspective Shifting

I read this book on recommendation from a friend who had spent the greater part of 10 years (at the time) abroad. The author's work to highlight a clear bias American's have, especially within political contexts, toward Israel. This is not a critique or condemnation of Israel, Israeli politics nor is it a Palestinian advocate piece. Rather, this is an invitation for American's to look inward and thoughtfully consider whether the current, unequivocal and unmitigated bi-partisan support for Israel is as mutually beneficial as we often think. It begs the question: Is America Israel's greatest ally for this support, or is America enabling a country's own self-destructive policies. Well worth the read for anyone interested in foreign policy, the Israel/Palestine conflicts, or America's possibly only unifying issue.

Eye Opening in a Scary Way

JM makes his case on the malignant Israel Lobby thoroughly and objectively and brings receipts to back it up. Chapter 5 is particularly disturbing.

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.

Great book...but not for everybody

Book is very interesting and informational, however I would not recomend it just to anybody. Reader should be prepeared to read it. If reader has a poor knowledge in political science, then this book is not for the one- simple minds may end up thinking that authors are antisemites...

A Must Read

A very serious scholarly and well written work every american tax paying citizen must read.