The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

By: John J. Mearsheimer, Stephen M. Walt

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 20 hrs

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

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.

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?

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.

Boldness

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

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.

Do you pay taxes? Read this book.

If you could sum up The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy in three words, what would they be?

Mandatory for taxpayers.

What did you like best about this story?

Reliance on public statements and available information instead of speculation.

Which character – as performed by Jason Culp – was your favorite?

Surprisingly appropriate question, as the narrator sometimes goes into an almost cartoony voice when quoting foreign leaders.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Insight on the origin of the Iraq war.

Any additional comments?

Would love to get an expanded edition, updated for the Obama administration and recent events involving HAMAS. Sometimes it skims over points that I thought needed more clarification, but over it's an incredible way to see how the conflicts of the middle east have started and continued. Best of all it doesn't accuse the people discussed of anything - it just holds a mirror up to them and lets their statements speak clearly.

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.

The Lobby Must Be Stopped

Went to high school with a guy from Gaza. Cool guy. Was not too happy about all the bullshit from Israel. I'm sure this review will go through some of their data processing centers that they use to spy of people they see as antisemitic. This is an objective fact that they do this and that their cyberterrorism division is the largest and best funded in the world. Or at least it was. I think they can give China a run for their money. In both election interference and surveillance and lobbying. They aren't even on the same continent as we are I mean fuck off.

A non-biased version of the Jewish - Palestinian conflict !

Everyone familiar or unfamiliar with the Jewish and Palestinian History should listen to this audiobook!