http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/joe-klein-plays-the-dual-loyalty-card/ Time magazine columnist Joe Klein has triggered a firestorm with a recent blog post asserting that the neocons and Joe Lieberman’s support for the Iraq war and tough action against Iran raises questions about dual loyalty: The fact that a great many Jewish neoconservatives – people like Joe Lieberman and the crowd over at Commentary – plumped for this war, and now for an even more foolish assault on Iran, raised the question of divided loyalties: using U.S. military power, U.S. lives and money, to make the world safe for Israel. He also seemed to endorse the theory that the president and vice president are sending American troops to die in order to boost oil company profits: And then there is the question – made manifest by the no-bid contracts offered U.S. oil companies by the Iraqis – of two oil executives, Bush and Cheney, securing a new source of business for their Texas buddies. The column drew swift criticism from members of the Commentary crowd, including Peter Wehner and Jennifer Rubin. Klein fired back: Then, what can one say about Jennifer Rubin, who accuses me of antisemitism? I must say that’s rather thrilling coming from the Commentary crowd. You want evidence of divided loyalties? How about the “benign domino theory” that so many Jewish neoconservatives talked to me about–off the record, of course–in the runup to the Iraq war, the idea that Israel’s security could be won by taking out Saddam, which would set off a cascade of disaster for Israel’s enemies in the region? As my grandmother would say, feh! Do you actually deny that the casus belli that dare not speak its name wasn’t, as I wrote in February 2003, a desire to make the world safe for Israel? Why the rush now to bomb Iran, a country that poses some threat to Israel but none–for the moment–to the United States...unless we go ahead, attack it, and the mullahs unleash Hezbollah terrorists against us? Do you really believe the mullahs would stage a nuclear attack on Israel, destroying the third most holy site in Islam and killing untold numbers of Muslims? I am not ruling out the use of force against Iran–it may come to that–but you folks seem to embrace it gleefully. Furthermore, as a Jew, I find it offensive that the American Jewish Committee would support such an ideologically unbalanced publication as Commentary, one that spouts a Likudnik bellicosity that is out of sync with the beliefs of the vast majority of American Jews. A question to all concerned: When was the last time you opposed a policy, any policy, of the Israeli government–other than one that attempted to move toward peace? Before I could tweak him, Klein was able to post this correction: “The American Jewish Committee is no longer associated with Commentary, thank God.” As for when the last time a prominent neocon opposed a “policy, any policy, of the Israeli government – other than one that attempted to move toward peace"… How about Doug Feith playing a main, if not lead, role in cracking down on Israeli arms deals with China? It’s hard to think of any other issue that caused a bigger problem in U.S.-Israeli relations during the Bush administration – and Feith reportedly was the one delivering the hammer on Jerusalem. This isn’t just a case of overlooking an example. There is a larger point here: Feith and his ideological brethren may have what Klein thinks is a crazy world view, but it is just that – a world view, as in China and Taiwan, Contras and Sandinistas, etc. As for the question of fighting a war to make Israel safe, it may or may not be a bad idea – but plenty of non-Jews support the concept and it wouldn’t be the only time the United States determined that it was in America’s interest to take up arms to aid an ally. So why the talk about “dual loyalty”? At least Tim Russert was polite – and responsible – enough to raise the issue in a form of a question, and allow for a response. Bonus: The O.U.’s D.C. blog has audio of McCain ripping Klein. en-us aeden@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-06-27T;15:34:08-05:00 jhamnesty1@aol.com Great post. But the last paragraph suggests Klein (and Walt and Mearsheimer) may be right: “it wouldn’t be the first time that the U.S. determined that it was in America’s interest to take up arms for an ally.” But it didn’t determine any such thing. The suggestion that the U.S. invaded Iraq for Israel is false and extremely dangerous. The Iraq war may have been launched with some Israeli and pro-Israel cheerleaders, but it would have happened anyway, even if Israel never existed. And any US interest in striking Iran would not be for Israel, but for the basic need to prevent a rogue state with a Bin Ladenist ideology from becoming a nuclear power. I should add that if America ever plays host to an anti-Semitic revival, it will likely grow from the belief that Israel causes Americans to go to war. So the claim is worth refuting. Great post. But the last paragraph suggests Klein (and Walt and Mearsheimer) may be right: “it wouldn’t be the first time that the U.S. determined that it was in America’s interest to take up arms for an ally.” But it didn’t determine any such thing. The suggestion that the U.S. invaded Iraq for Israel is false and extremely dangerous. The Iraq war may have been launched with some Israeli and pro-Israel cheerleaders, but it would have happened anyway, even if Israel never existed. And any US interest in striking Iran would not be for Israel, but for the basic need to prevent a rogue state with a Bin Ladenist ideology from becoming a nuclear power. I should add that if America ever plays host to an anti-Semitic revival, it will likely grow from the belief that Israel causes Americans to go to war. So the claim is worth refuting.

]]> 2009-11-05T;15:59:00-05:00 asc@njjewishnews.com You meant Jennifer Rubin, not Wiener. You meant Jennifer Rubin, not Wiener.

]]> 2009-11-05T;15:59:00-05:00 dkite@mischlerfinancial.com How soon we forget, Joe Klein, where is your memory man? 1979:  Iranian maniacs take over US embassy and hold almost 100 Americans as humiliated prisoners for 444 days.  Oh, and the bubblehead in chief (mis)arranges a rescue mission which ends in failure and disgrace.  Or has he written a book denying that too? 1983: Hezbollah maniacs(on Iran’s payroll) use a vehicle bomb to blow up a barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 180+ U S troops, and 40 French peacekeeping soldiers.  1991: Hezbollah blows up a Jewish Community Center in Argentina killing 90 people in cold blood(Argentina recently issued an arrest warrant through Interpol for several Iranian officials including the former Premier Rafsanjani for helping plan & finance this operation). You really have to be dense politically for bringing out the dual loyalty card on Iran in view of these acts of war having occurred.  Why not bring out the dual loyalty card on all the Anglicans/Episcopalians for the US aiding Britain before and during World War II?  Why is it so different now, because American Jews don’t want to see Hezbollah start its shenanigans here on US soil, or because they worry about the not so idol threats made by Amaddogonajihad and the Mullahs about the Great Satan (USA) and the Little Satan(Israel). How soon we forget, Joe Klein, where is your memory man?
1979:  Iranian maniacs take over US embassy and hold almost 100 Americans as humiliated prisoners for 444 days.  Oh, and the bubblehead in chief (mis)arranges a rescue mission which ends in failure and disgrace.  Or has he written a book denying that too?
1983: Hezbollah maniacs(on Iran’s payroll) use a vehicle bomb to blow up a barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 180+ U S troops, and 40 French peacekeeping soldiers. 
1991: Hezbollah blows up a Jewish Community Center in Argentina killing 90 people in cold blood(Argentina recently issued an arrest warrant through Interpol for several Iranian officials including the former Premier Rafsanjani for helping plan & finance this operation).
You really have to be dense politically for bringing out the dual loyalty card on Iran in view of these acts of war having occurred.  Why not bring out the dual loyalty card on all the Anglicans/Episcopalians for the US aiding Britain before and during World War II?  Why is it so different now, because American Jews don’t want to see Hezbollah start its shenanigans here on US soil, or because they worry about the not so idol threats made by Amaddogonajihad and the Mullahs about the Great Satan (USA) and the Little Satan(Israel).

]]> 2009-11-05T;15:59:00-05:00 panenka@shaw.ca Joe Klein got it all wrong. The darkest hidden extremely powerful anti-semitic forces in America are using neo-Con Likudniks to keep Israel in a perpetual state of danger, of war. Israel in peace with the Moslem world, with access to their markets, with her human & financial resources (not wasted on military), would surpass America as well as everyone else, in no time. While dangerous for Israel, these U.S. policies favor military-industrial complex as well as Big Oil. Israel can become an extremely prosperous city-state, beneficial to its neighbours, beneficial to the whole world...true “Light unto Nations”.....for that, she needs peace, not territory. Joe Klein got it all wrong. The darkest hidden extremely powerful anti-semitic forces in America are using neo-Con Likudniks to keep Israel in a perpetual state of danger, of war. Israel in peace with the Moslem world, with access to their markets, with her human & financial resources (not wasted on military), would surpass America as well as everyone else, in no time. While dangerous for Israel, these U.S. policies favor military-industrial complex as well as Big Oil.
Israel can become an extremely prosperous city-state, beneficial to its neighbours, beneficial to the whole world...true “Light unto Nations”.....for that, she needs peace, not territory.

]]> 2009-11-05T;15:59:00-05:00 Maripaulten@comcast.net Why is it that Joe Klein (gernegross) wishes to distance himself from those Jews who feel for Israel. As a Holocaust survivor but also having served in the US Army (1951-1953) I have a certain affinity for Israel not so much for myself but for those Jews for whom Israel has that special meaning, namely being a CITIZEN. Joe K. likes to see his name in the news, fine, but attack a segment of our people who feel different from him. I can tell Joe that during the Holocaust there were also jews who thought the Nazis would be OK. If the compairison is harsh so be it. Joe should reflect before he starts with dualism. Why could he not write about Hamas and what they cause? Why is it that Joe Klein (gernegross) wishes to distance himself from those Jews who feel for Israel. As a Holocaust survivor but also having served in the US Army (1951-1953) I have a certain affinity for Israel not so much for myself but for those Jews for whom Israel has that special meaning, namely being a CITIZEN. Joe K. likes to see his name in the news, fine, but attack a segment of our people who feel different from him. I can tell Joe that during the Holocaust there were also jews who thought the Nazis would be OK. If the compairison is harsh so be it. Joe should reflect before he starts with dualism. Why could he not write about Hamas and what they cause?

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