I've noted many times on this board that many elements of the left does contain an ugly anti-Semitic undercurrent.

The impulse your observing isn't anti-semitism. It's simply the reflex to support the underdog and/or oppressed. It's a powerful human emotion and many (or almost all) political fights involve people trying to position themselves as victims and their enemies as aggressors.

Israel has shown time and again, the willingness and capability of defending itself. If that makes it a villian in some people's eyes, then that's only a natural result of their actions and in some undeniable cases - overreaction.

To blame anti-semitism is just another example of maneuvering toward victimhood.

As a strong supporter of Israel and a liberal, I don't see why, despite the usual repugnant right wing use of terminology and outright lying, asking Obama's stance on Israel isn't germane?

Winston

You're not suggesting that Goldberg's interview was merely "asking Obama's stance on Israel", are you? If so, why is McCain not subject to the same kind of inquisition, the fundamental assumption of which was that Obama's views on Israel are somehow suspect?

I thought The Other Greeks was a re-worked version of his dissertation? I could be wrong.

I've been a fan of his since Coup d'Etat: A Practical Handbook.

But I started looking askance at him when he started making claims that air power alone could win wars. It's an interesting notion, but every queen of the battlefield has always been replaced in turn by another one. He was out of place and out of line---and too much in step with the Pentagon.

And you have to wonder why a military historian doesn't bother asking the question why. Why would you want to win a war with air power alone? To save money on tanks? To carry out genocide with no casualties to your own side? It has no beneficial political purpose whatsoever.

You may as well claim the ability to build a better death camp.

I thought The Other Greeks was a re-worked version of his dissertation? I could be wrong.

Me too. I went to look it up in 'W3' before posting the last time, but my library's a mess and it's at the bottom of a stack behind another stack. Whatever. We agree he's an ass and subject to the proposed (or perhaps amended?) ordinance ...

NO other country besides Israel to which American politicians are required to vow absolute allegaiance. And Glenn Greenwald is one of the only people in the so called "progressive" blogosphere to turn the spotlight on this issue. Go Glenn! Israel and the Palestinians will ultimately be the benefactors of this light shining.

Will anyone touch the U.S. Vs. Rosen trial and investigation. Firedoglake has been too chichenshit. One of the only folks who continues to write about it is Justin Raimando.

I have been calliong th

Glen I have been calling the Alexandria Division U.s. District Court every several day to see if a date has been set for the trial since the April 29th date came and went and Judge Ellis "indefinately postponed" the trial. I know you are a lawyer have you written about this investigation and trial that dare not speak its name in the MSM and the so called "progressive" blogosphere.

Several of the people that I have spoken with at the Alexandria Division have said there are several motions about to the public on May 20th and the May 29th. They have also said that no press is allowed in. What can you tell us about U.S. Vs. Rosen and how this investigation and trial are being ignored by the MSm and the progressives.

Please don't forget to remind the Republicans, especially conservatives, about their previous thoughts on Sen. Mc Cain.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/11/america/letter.php

When Israel and Israel's policies come up this is when the left turns right (wrong) and goes blind. Few in the so called "progressive" blogosphere are willing to tackle this issue.

When folks run for Prime Minister in Israel, is there a corresponding frenzy of think-tankers and media pundits who put those candidates through a grueling "do you love America enough" torture test?

Are they required to answer multiple, cross-cutting and tricky questions establishing beyond question that the Israeli Prime Minister will, regardless of what else may happen, always stand by the United States?

Will there ever be a pundit in Israel who writes "I don't know about this guy. He just doesn't seem to be sufficiently supportive of the United States"?.

In other words, could Israel ever be as rigidly rediculous in this regard as America is?

Isn't that somewhere in Maine?

Oops! Nope, it's California:

http://www.wylandfoundation.org/whalingWalls/whalingWalls_index.cfm

The specifics of the Arab Israeli conflict are nothing more than a distraction when we address the claim that this or that Democrat is insufficiently pro-Israel. Those facts are way too reality based because the issue isn't Israel at all. The issue is permission to be the bully.

Israel is nation bristling with weapons, claiming the right to employ a hair trigger against its enemies because it is always the victim and must therefore always be strong. This is a set of principles from which the American right always operates.

They have re-imagined Israel as still the hardy band of refugees from the European horrors, battling evil with their backs to the sea. All goodness was on their side, all evil arrayed against them. Yes, this is nonsense, particularly today, and it is even more nonsensical for America to believe that 9/11 conferred upon our country such profound victimhood that we can stomp wantonly across whatever country might in its darkest recess harbor ill thoughts against us.

This isn't anything that can be dealt with rationally and the sooner we realize what game's being played, the easier it will be for Progressive politicians to untangle themselves from the trap that denying the Israeli right wing anything at all is tantamount to wishing evil to triumph and America to fall.

And it is, of course, necessary for me to state here that I am a Jew and so allowed by virtue of my birth to have opinions that differ from Israel's far right wing.