If you re-read my comment, you'll see that I refer to Israelis who oppose Israel's policies, not the ADL's. I have no idea what Israelis think about the ADL and its policies, although I'm sure that some support them, some oppose them, and most have no idea what they are or have even heard of the ADL, which is a US-based organization that is at least in principle dedicated to Jewish issues, not Israeli ones (although of course there is much overlap, but these are NOT the same things). But anyone who's read the Israeli media over the past 20-30 years knows that Israelis are not all in lockstep with the Likud (or Likud-like organizations) and its policies, and that there is much opposition to them, especially among Israel's intellectual elite, but also among its everyday people. I have several cousins who strongly oppose Israel's occupation and wars. And I have other relatives who strongly support them. Like the US, Israel is a diverse country with diverse people who have diverse opinions. Seriously--it's not one big Chuck Norris movie with some Fiddler on the Roof thrown in.

And as in the US, despite much opposition to its policies and only minority political support, its ruling regime continues to stay in power and determine policy. I have no idea what percentage of Israelis supported or continue to support the Iraq war, or support an attack by the US on Iran, but even if it was widely against both, its regime will likely be able to do whatever it wants in either situation, as in the US. So to blame Israelis for Israel's (let alone the ADL's) hawkish policies makes about as much sense as blaming Americans for the US's ongoing policies. We are living in an era where well-organized, highly motivated and often ruthless political factions can gain and maintain power via democratic means, even if their policies end up being not only disasterous for their countries, but highly unpopular. Did you realize that Olmert was in the single digits in approval not that long ago, and yet he stayed in power? Ruthless, fear-based politics that exploits the media shrewdly allows such regimes to stay in power well past their sell-by date. No different in Israel than here.

So don't assume that the ADL has the support of most Israelis or even American Jews. I'm guessing that it doesn't, although I don't have any data on that. But whether or not it does, it acts independantly of such opinion, since it's clearly persuing an agenda of its own, in concert with various other organizations and entities whom we can all guess at, which do not rely upon the support of Israelis or US Jews in order to persue their agenda. I'd look far more towards the executives and major shareholders of big oil, big media, the M-I complex, neocon leaders and organizations, and leading members of both US political parties and several Israeli ones, for support, before I'd look for it among the general Israeli populace. What's going on here, I'd argue, has far less to do with what the Israeli people want (although, I'm sure, a sizeable number of them do want it too), than what these more privileged entities want--just as what's going on in the US has far less to do with what Americans want (although around 30% of them still appear to want this), than what these entities want, too.

Are you starting to see the connections here? Both countries have been hijacked, I'd argue, by certain special interests, who, for a variety of reasons (and it's clearly more than just one), have decided, or have appear to have decided, on a certain set of policies, that their people have not necessarily decided upon, or are even fully aware of. And both countries have been hijacked by these interests for some years now--one might even argue decades. I'm in no way excusing everyday Israelis (or Americans) who support these policies. But their opinions, I would argue, are far less important than one might think. That certainly appears to be the case here, and I'm guessing is true in Israel as well. And, of course, both peoples--like all peoples--are susceptible to all sorts of propaganda. And that, clearly, is where FNC and the ADL come in. They might not be able to capture that lost 70%, but they're going to do their damndest to hold onto that 30%, and, depending on circumstances and evolving events, they might well capture or recapture some of that 70% again.

We're in the middle of a war of ideas and perceptions, as much as a war of guns and bombs. And no one's immune to either. Each country's military (and military contractors like Blackwater) do their part, and each ruling regimes' propaganda outlets do theirs. C'est la guerre...

Your posts are very worthwhile and informative.

Thanks

At the same time he feels that any one who defends the constitutional rights of Jews in America or speaks at all favorably about Israel is a fifth columnist.

Oh, and I suppose you've had a heart to heart with Glenn over some chai tea where he revealled this to you? Because I guarantee he has said no such thing.

I suggest people read his entire bio on wikipedia to get a better feel for his thinking were you will find this

".....One of Greenwald's more notable clients was neo-Nazi Matthew Hale. Hale was eventually jailed and tried for solicitation of murder against Joan Lefkow, who had been the federal judge in the trademark case. ...."

You're a marvel. Here's the rest of that passage, because I don't think Glenn will lower himself to answer your specious tripe:

"Although Greenwald was not involved in his criminal defense, between Hale's conviction and sentencing, Hale attempted to use Greenwald to convey a coded message, but Greenwald refused."

So Glenn, grand wizard of the KKK that he clearly is, refused to help a fellow neo-nazi pass a message along while in jail pending a trial for attempted murder of a (I gather) Jewish judge.

Seems reasonable.

Funny it seems that he doesn't mind some people using the term "Nazi" just the ones he feels shouldn't use it as an insult with out his permission.

Funny, because it doesn't "seem" that way at all to anyone who can read english with better comprehension than a house cat.

You are as despicable as whomever it is you believe you're fighting against. You use the same tactics you accuse them of, conspiracy theories, hanging insinuations, selective quoting and overt misrepresentation. Maybe you justify it all by the "higher purpose" you work for, but it's still despicable from where I sit. The ends don't justify the means, the means are the ends.