This book is stunnig. The two authors are prominent political scientists with impeccable credentials, hailing from Harvard University and the Univerity of Chicago. They have boldly gone where many of their academic colleagues would fear to tread. Although their conclusions about Israel and its negative influence on American foreign policy will awaken much anxiety, resentment and fury in certain quaters, Walt and Mearshimer don't seem to care. Why not? They are scientists. They appeal to logic, facts and common sense; and let the conclusions fall where they may. The writing is calm, dispassionate, thorough. The basic argument is that the extraordinarily high degree of economic, military and diplomatic support given to Israel by the United States cannot be explained or justified by the notion that Israel functions as a strategic asset to the U.S.,or that Israel as the "only democracy" amidst a sea of authoritarian neighbors is deserving of special favor of its "shared interests and values". In facts, the authours claim, Israel is more a liability than an asset. During the Cold War, the strategic-value argument had perhaps some plausibility but no longer. What has replaced the Soviet menace, as the enemy which the U.S. supposedly needs Israel's help to combat, is Islamic terrorism. But the U.S. favor shown to Israel at the expencse of the Palestinians only makes us more not less vulnerable to terrorism. Furthermore Israel;s cruelty towards the Palestinians and its essential natire as a Jewish but not a truly democratic state in which all citizens of whatever ethnicity of religin would be given equal ights and respect, belie the "shared values" argument.
In the end, perhaps what is most significant and remarkable about this book is that is has seen the light of day. it got published. Could it be that there is still hope for reasonable, open debate about the right courses of action in the Middle East? The authors have been and will continue to be villified as anti-Semiric or worse. They are owed a debt of gratitude for having the courage to stand up and to refuse to be silenced.
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