PrintAugust 24, 2008
Prominent Obama endorser critcizes "Israel Lobby"
Andrew Bacevich's writes a somewhat disturbing op-ed in today's Los Angeles Times . He asserts that the next President-whoever he may be-will be probably disappoint his followers because his power to bring change is constricted by various interest groups. Bacevich, in particular, writes that the "the Israel lobby will oppose attempts to chart a new course in the Middle East".
Aside from the fact that American supporters of Israel-which include millions of Christians-have long sought peace in the region, his comments regarding the "Israel lobby" might cause some qualms-since he was one of the first prominent conservative endorsers of Barack Obama.
His views of a malignant, all-powerful "Israel lobby" conjures up fevered images that increasingly seem to have emerged from the swampland of conspiracy theorists to find a place among well-known academicians (Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer), foreign policy experts (Zbigniew Brzezinski-also a supporter of Barack Obama) and powerful donors to politicians (George Soros-an early supporter of Barack Obama, who is wielding his empire of 527 and 501 c4 groups to aid him during his run for the Presidency).
His views of a malignant, all-powerful "Israel lobby" conjures up fevered images that increasingly seem to have emerged from the swampland of conspiracy theorists to find a place among well-known academicians (Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer), foreign policy experts (Zbigniew Brzezinski-also a supporter of Barack Obama) and powerful donors to politicians (George Soros-an early supporter of Barack Obama, who is wielding his empire of 527 and 501 c4 groups to aid him during his run for the Presidency).
Andrew Bacevich's endorsement of Barack Obama , which he neglects to mention in his op-ed, can be found here (published in Pat Buchanan's fiercely anti-Israel, anti-"Israel Lobby" magazine The American Conservative, no less). Bachevich positions Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher as leaders of the foreign policy team (the "national security group") which is a stretch. The national security group was formed as an ad hoc group to burnish Barack Obama's credibility on the campaign trail.
Susan Rice, Tony Lake (who Bacevich does mention), Richard Holbrooke, Richard Danzig and others are much more likely to guide foreign policy. Samantha Power, previously his top foreign adviser until she "resigned" for insulting Hillary Clinton, has also stated at different times recently that she will most likely serve in an Obama Adminsitration The Economist Magazine recently predicted Power will serve in a powerful position in an Obama administration
Samanatha Power has been a harsh critic of America's support for Israel and has made disparaging remarks about Israelis and complained about criticism from American Jews, as well. She has also criticized special interest groups in America who "dictate" the way in which the "natonal interest is defined and pursued" and recommended the next President may need to take steps to eliminate aid to Israel and direct it to "Palestine" even if this means "alienating a domestic constituency of tremendous political and financial import"
