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May 22, 2012

David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Caroline B. Glick: Embracing dangerous delusions and not our friends
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Janet Bodnar: How to Teach Kids to Handle Credit Cards
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Mary Beth Franklin: Retirement Savings Tips for New Grads
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
Chelsea Sheasley: Social media: Is it too feminine?
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex
Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks
Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims?
Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety
Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive
Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites
Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start
Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male
Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83
Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up?
Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans
The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors
May 8, 2012
Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate
Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps
Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques)
May 7, 2012
Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway
Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed
Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care
Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst?
Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat
May 4, 2012
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities'
Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around
Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide
Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now
Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired?
Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile
Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble
May 3, 2012
Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah?
Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War
Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age
Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market
Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment
Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses
Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby


Jewish World Review April 25, 2006 / 27 Nissan, 5766

Shutting Up Won't Quiet Critics

By Jonathan Tobin



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Payoff for ‘Lobby’ conspiracy theorists would be Jewish silence on Iran threat


http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | The controversy over two leading academics who published a scurrilous essay claiming that Israel and its American "Lobby" control American foreign policy may be starting to die down.


The pair, John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt, academic dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, have been roundly criticized by figures spanning the political spectrum for pawning off garden variety anti-Semitic canards as scholarly work.


Predictably, the two have painted themselves as martyrs to the cause of stopping the pro-Israel cabal they fear so much, with Mearsheimer even whining to friendly media (such as the education section of The New York Times) that he and Walt had committed "career suicide."


But Mearsheimer's prediction of a gloomy life with fewer invitations to conferences in the future (cancel his reservation at the sushi bar!) is a crock. Intellectual poseurs such as these two have made a good living (from both federal grants and funding from the Arab world) bashing Israel and the Jews at the expense of elite institutions for decades. By contrast, it is still those few scholars of genuine merit who speak up for Israel — such as the Middle East Forum's Daniel Pipes — who will continue to be shut out of consideration at the top schools.


But while Mearsheimer and Walt can get down from their cross, the payoff for their cause may not be far off. After all, the goal of "The Lobby" thesis and its fans living in the fever swamps of the far right and far left is to effectively silence Americans who support Israel. And, as implausible as that may sound, their chances are better than you think.

CAN ‘THE LOBBY’ BE LICKED?
Given the fact that their definition of "The Lobby" included everyone from the president of the United States to the president of your local Chamber of Commerce — not to mention the mass media — how can the vast array of forces that have created a wall-to-wall bipartisan pro-Israel majority be licked?


The outcome of the coming debate over how to restrain Iran's nuclear ambitions may provide an answer.


The threat of a nuclear Iran is getting harder to ignore. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's vows to pursue Iran's nuclear program to fruition has sent shivers down the spines of policy-makers.


Ahmadinejad's quotes taunting the United States, promising to annihilate Israel and denying the Holocaust are often put down as mere rhetoric aimed more at shoring up the Islamic regime's internal power base.


But Ahmadinejad is probably scarier than you think. As an article in the April 24 issue of The New Republic reports, the Iranian leader's statements are part and parcel of the ideology of the Basiji, the most extremist element of the Iranian ayatollah's Revolutionary Guards.


The Basiji were used in suicidal attacks during the Iran-Iraq war, in which tens of thousands of teenage "volunteers" were sacrificed. Add in the fact that suicidal sacrifice is at the core of Shiite Islam and the notion that concepts like the "mutually assured deterrence" that kept the peace during the Cold War will work against a nuclear Iran seem forlorn hopes.


For now, the Bush administration is committed to a policy of diplomacy to deal with Tehran. But the idea that this will work or that our European allies will stick with us to impose sanctions against Iran is ridiculous. The only question is whether or not the United States is prepared to risk military action to halt Iran's program. If not, our only option will be to shrug and stand by as Ahmadinejad's scientists present him with nukes by the end of the decade or even sooner.


That stark dilemma has aroused many in Washington to begin speaking seriously of doing something about Iran.


According to writer Seymour Hersh, who made a splash with allegations about plans to attack Iran in the April 17 New Yorker, "Bush and others in the White House view [Ahmadinejad] as a potential Adolf Hitler, a former senior intelligence official said. 'That's the name they're using. They say, 'Will Iran get a strategic weapon and threaten another world war?' "


Since President Bush himself has stated he will "use military might to protect our ally Israel," from Iran the question of the pro-Israel community's stance is likely to loom large in the debate over what, if anything, America will do.


But given the fact that the last thing the pro-Israel community wants right now is to give extremists another reason to claim the Israeli tail is wagging the American dog, it may well be that some voices that might otherwise be loudly declaiming the danger from Iran will be silent.

A MORTAL DANGER
Indeed, the not-so-subtle message coming from the increasingly vocal anti-war crowd right now is that if "The Lobby" knows what's good for it, it will pipe down and, by its silence, help quash any support for decisive action on Iran.Given the fact that some extremists still falsely claim that the Iraq war is being fought for Israel's sake that might seem like good advice.


Whatever your opinion of the potential threats that Saddam's Iraq posed in 2003, there is very little doubt that a nuclear Iran poses a mortal threat to the peace of the world. If the United States were to act to keep Ahmadinejad's finger off the nuclear button, it would not be so much to save Israel as to save the world from his Basiji notion of purification and sacrifice.


That said, there should be no reason for us to be afraid of also pointing out that a nuclear Iran could set off a nuclear war with an Israel that it says it wants to exterminate. What good would a prudent silence on the issue do us if a few years from now — or sooner — we wake up to learn that Iran has a bomb ready to drop on Tel Aviv and create a new Holocaust?


None of the options facing Bush on Iran are good, but supporting a do-nothing policy is as bad for America as it is for Israel.


Israel-haters such as "The Lobby" authors and their extremist fans want us to be silent because they don't want such a deadly Islamic threat to millions of Jewish and non-Jewish lives to be forestalled. Still, that is no reason for the majority of Americans who are members of a democratic pro-Israel consensus to be shy about pointing that out.

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JWR contributor Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Let him know what you think by clicking here.

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