Who can forget the storm Walt and Mearsheimer caused, first with their piece on the Israel Lobby in the London Review of Books, and then with their book - which became a best-seller - on the same subject.
The authors were accused of anti-semitism for claiming that the Jewish lobby used its influence with US administrations to shape America's pro-Israel policy.
Now, Walt rightly points out in the latest posting "Wish I'd said that ... (wait a minute ... I did!)" on his blog on FP that he and Mearsheimer were right all along:
"From the New Yorker profile of Haim Saban:
Presumably Abe Foxman will now denounce Saban for peddling noxious anti-Semitic stereotypes about "Jewish influence." My view is different: I think Saban is just a smart businessman who cares a lot about a single issue and understands how the American system of interest group politics works."
The authors were accused of anti-semitism for claiming that the Jewish lobby used its influence with US administrations to shape America's pro-Israel policy.
Now, Walt rightly points out in the latest posting "Wish I'd said that ... (wait a minute ... I did!)" on his blog on FP that he and Mearsheimer were right all along:
"From the New Yorker profile of Haim Saban:
"His greatest concern, [Saban] says, is to protect Israel, by strengthening the United States-Israel relationship. At a conference last fall in Israel, Saban described his formula. His 'three ways to be influential in American politics,' he said, were: make donations to political parties, establish think tanks, and control media outlets."
Presumably Abe Foxman will now denounce Saban for peddling noxious anti-Semitic stereotypes about "Jewish influence." My view is different: I think Saban is just a smart businessman who cares a lot about a single issue and understands how the American system of interest group politics works."
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