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Thus, it is clear that the pro-Israel orientation of the neo-conservatives has been a primary matter of concern in the formulation (and conduct) of the policies they have sought to implement. And this raises the question as to how much influence the state of Israel (and its American adherents, particularly in the neo-conservative network) did indeed play in sparking the war against Iraq.
As we have seen, the role of Israel in the Iraq affair was a problematic one in terms of protecting Israel (and American Jews) from a possible backlash by many Americans who resented the idea that perhaps U.S. policy was being predicated on the interests of Israel alone.
On November 27, 2002 The Washington Post reported that a group ofAmerican political consultants who had previously advised Israeli politicians had been hired by the Israel Project—described as “a group funded by American Jewish organizations and individual donors”—to draft a memo to American Jewish leaders and Israeli leaders as to the best means by which to address the raging controversy over Iraq. The memo advised them: “If your goal is regime change, you must be much more careful with your language because of the potential backlash. You do not want Americans to believe that the war on Iraq is being waged to protect Israel rather than to protect America.”
However, as Michael Lind reflected in his new biography of President Bush, the influence of Israel and the neoconservatives is undeniable: "Under George W. Bush, the American executive branch and the government of Israel were fused in a degree without precedent in American history. . . "
( Read more... )As we have seen, the role of Israel in the Iraq affair was a problematic one in terms of protecting Israel (and American Jews) from a possible backlash by many Americans who resented the idea that perhaps U.S. policy was being predicated on the interests of Israel alone.
On November 27, 2002 The Washington Post reported that a group ofAmerican political consultants who had previously advised Israeli politicians had been hired by the Israel Project—described as “a group funded by American Jewish organizations and individual donors”—to draft a memo to American Jewish leaders and Israeli leaders as to the best means by which to address the raging controversy over Iraq. The memo advised them: “If your goal is regime change, you must be much more careful with your language because of the potential backlash. You do not want Americans to believe that the war on Iraq is being waged to protect Israel rather than to protect America.”
However, as Michael Lind reflected in his new biography of President Bush, the influence of Israel and the neoconservatives is undeniable: "Under George W. Bush, the American executive branch and the government of Israel were fused in a degree without precedent in American history. . . "
