Ending the neoconservative nightmare

[IndianaGreen]

Disentangling Israeli interests from the rubble of neocon "creative destruction" in the Middle East has become an urgent challenge for Israeli policy-makers. An America that seeks to reshape the region through an unsophisticated mixture of bombs and ballots, devoid of local contextual understanding, alliance-building or redressing of grievances, ultimately undermines both itself and Israel.

I posted about the need for an American foreign policy in the Middle East and a divorce from Israel. Perhaps as Daniel Levy wrote in this piece, it is Israel that must divorce neocon America.

Sun., August 06, 2006 Av 12, 5766

Ending the neoconservative nightmare
By Daniel Levy

Israel does have enemies, interests and security imperatives, but there is no logic in the country volunteering itself for the frontline of an ideologically misguided and avoidable war of civilizations.

So what should be done, on both sides of the ocean?

It is admittedly difficult for Israel to have a regional strategy that is out-of-step with the U.S. administration-of-the-day. However, the neocon approach is not unchallenged, and Israel should not be providing its ticket back to the ascendancy. A U.S. return to proactive diplomacy, realism and multilateralism, with sustained and hard engagement that delivers concrete progress, would best serve its own, Israeli and regional interests. Israel should encourage this. Israel may even have to lead, for instance, in rethinking policy on Hamas or Syria, and should certainly work intensely with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in encouraging his efforts to reach a Palestinian national understanding as a basis for stable governance, security quiet and future peace negotiations. A policy that comes with a Jerusalem kosher stamp of approval might be viewed as less of an abomination in Washington.

Beyond that, Israel and its friends in the United States should seriously reconsider their alliances not only with the neocons, but also with the Christian Right. The largest "pro-Israel" lobby day during this crisis was mobilized by Pastor John Hagee and his Christians United For Israel, a believer in Armageddon with all its implications for a rather particular end to the Jewish story. This is just asking to become the mother of all dumb, self-defeating and morally abhorrent alliances.

Internationalist Republicans, Democrats and mainstream Israelis must construct an alternative narrative to the neocon nightmare, identifying shared interests in a policy that reestablishes American leadership, respect and credibility in the region by facilitating security and stability, pursuing conflict resolution and promoting the conditions for more open societies (as opposed to narrow election-worship). The last two years of the Bush presidency can be an opportunity for progress or an exercise in desperate damage limitation. It sounds counter-intuitive, but Israel should reflect on and even help reorient American expectations.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746312.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Well, I point to the latest Krauthammer op-ed in the WaPo as Exhibit A

That was a really vile piece, asking what Israel has done for the neocons lately and demanding a price in blood for America's support... if that's how it's gonna be, Israel should listen to Levy. Now.

[IndianaGreen]

2. I read that piece right after WaPo posted it on its website

and I found it so arrogant and revolting that I couldn't bring myself to posting it in DU. I am glad someone else did for this sort of neocon racism must be exposed.

What was it that one DUer posted about Krauthammer? Pass the martini and hold the olive, there is a war going on, I believe is what the DUer posted.

[Misskittycat]

3. Krauthammer is a total moron; no one should pay attention to

him.

I've written this in another thread tonight: why in the world are some folks here dwelling on editorial or op-ed writers or pundits. That is one person's opinion. Moreover, as we've seen in the U.S., most pundits (TV or newspaper) have few qualifications for their punditry and routinely write or say idiotic, outrageous things. Moreover, they rarely represent anyone other than themselves.

[Kagemusha]

5. Because of the intimate relationship between US and Israeli neocons

like Netanyahu. So in that sense this is not simply one person's opinion; it's an 'et tu, neocon?' to a whole movement that previously made a show of being fanatically pro-Israel. Israeli newspapers (Ha'aretz being the one I read in its English form) have reported that US administration officials have asked the same question as Krauthammer: what the hell is taking you so long!? Krauthammer just puts things in a broader political context than such officials dare, mainly by intimating that US support for Israel is conditioned on Israel's willingness to pay a price in blood. And that, is news to the world.

Beyond that, nothing special.

Unfortunately, "total morons" are not without influence and power on this Earth.

[Misskittycat]

6. Yes, I take your point. n/t

[Lithos]

4. Says it all

"war of civilizations."

aka "Clash of Civilizations. Over-simplified theory long since abandoned by historians and cognoscenti of all sides. Useful for discussions maybe 20-30 years ago.

He needs to update his library.

L-

[jonnyblitz]

7. ironically I am almost done downloading a lecture by

Edward Said called "the Myth of the CLash of Civilizations".