I knew AIPAC and the the Zionist lobby would be lashing out soon enough but I didn't expect it to be this aggressive or indeed effective. Its sad that we need to look to Israeli media to find any meaningful analysis of Israel (excluding The Guardian), but its good to see you're on the ball.

"Before no other country on the planet does the United States kneel and plead like this. In other trouble spots, America takes a different tone. It bombs in Afghanistan, invades Iraq and threatens sanctions against Iran and North Korea."

Fred Hiatt, as usual (see link at sig), sees a problem and calls for bombs. Because clearly, unless we launch more Predator Drones, we get another 9/11.

They hate us for our freedoms

Another excellent article Glenn, thank you.

The terrible irony is that by adopting this hardline stance, supported by ignorant/terrified of AIPAC US politicians, Israel is making the two state solution impossible to achieve.

Assuming that does happen, then Israel's future means the rejection of democracy, or the end of the Jewish state. Both options are much worse than a sensibly negotiated two state solution.

But Israel isn't only potential massive loser here. The USA, alone with it's unconditional support of Israel, will find it's own foreign policy increasingly damaged by such support. This applies not only to the Middle East, but also the rest of the world including European democracies and upcoming powers such as India, China and even Japan.

It's difficult to exaggerate how much sympathy there is for the Palestinians and how much hatred there is for Israel throughout the world. Yes, some of this is undoubtedly the result of anti-Semitism, but a great deal is generated by a humane desire for justice.

Unconditional support for Israel damages American interests every single day.

Especially after I heard (this morning?) that Clinton is touting the idea that Israels refusal to stop building settlements is "Progress".

Handing an olive branch to the Palestinians, Netanyahu promised that next year, the Israeli army would only kill "A small fraction" of the Palestinian kids that it killed this year.

... is not only that you stretch a nation's resources beyond any rational or sustainable limits, and in so doing, weaken and ultimately destroy the value of its currency. Hell, that's what happens if you approach the job diligently --as you pave the road to hell with the folly of your good intentions.

The worse problem with being the world's policeman is police corruption. When the cop on the beat looks the other way in response to the crimes and atrocities of its buddies, it becomes an enabler, not a protector. Perhaps that's what Jefferson had in mind when he advocated "peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none." If he'd chosen to elaborate a little further, he could just as well have added: "unconditional support for none" -- but with the phrase "common sense" so memorably ingrained in the culture of his day, he probably assumed it wasn't necessary.

Not that it makes any difference, for in the culture of our modern government, the principles of the Founders are quite despised.

I have almost nothing but good things to say about J Street -- they are fighting a difficult and largely noble battle ...

Are they? Or are they the "feel good" version of the Israel lobby, attracting support from those who see AIPAC as too extreme, but nonetheless want to support Israel well beyond what it deserves?

Don't you think the movers and shakers in Washington and Jerusalem are smart enough to recognize the double standards of accountability and all the other truths you point to?

They know, of course they know, and the war crimes (blatant, no need for "") committed during the Gaza incursion were often being reported as they happened -- at least by some media. Despite common beliefs, there were media on the ground in Gaza throughout the campaign, and they were reporting. And a good deal of what they were reporting about what was going on in Gaza wound up in the Goldstone report.

Yet it's as if Mark Regev has become the defacto spokesperson for both Israel and the English-speaking governments throughout the world. Deny, deny, deny, and hurl mud at anyone who disputes the denials, then deny you did that, in an endless round, over and over, the same things: destruction, death, lies, denials, character assassinations, excuses, lies, denials, death and destruction.

As Goldstone points out, Israel won't even respond to the substance of the issue. Ever.

And as Levy points out, as long as the US "permits" this behavior, it will continue.

But what he seems to miss is that the United States is an active participant in this behavior, and so are most governments in the English-speaking world. They're almost all playing the same game.

They know what they are doing. They know how disreputable it is. And they know, at least for now, they can get away with it, and so they see no reason not to.

Nobody is going to stop them.

The US being in AIPAC's pocket is only one thing among too many that is disheartening and sickening. The list is seemingly endless. I can't watch those Sunday morning bullshit sessions anymore, because it's too bizarre, jarring, surrealistic. Especially when Joe Lieberman comes on.

Now yesterday on the Fox channel (!!!) was pure, refreshing entertainment. First the Eagles vs. the Giants. Then the Vikings against the Packers. And finally, the Yankees vs. the Phillies. Here, as far as I can discern, is where the playing field is level, the rules are scrupulously enforced, and the best team wins.

Only there in sports is sanity, fair play. Everywhere else? Forget about it.

blatant partisanship on behalf of foreign countries half a world away. The US Secretary of State has got a rough ride on her visit to Pakistan, Mahmoud Abbas has also been less than gracious to her. Israel's Foreign Minister, prior to the election which brought Netanyahu to power made what can only be described as racist comments on Arabs but the Amerikan media has kept remarkably quiet about Mr. Avigidor Lieberman. Meanwhile, the settlements go ahead because Uncle Sam has a habit of looking away when naughty nephew has his hand in the cookie-jar. The Amerikan media went doolally about the elections in Iran last June but now that Karzai has been offered Afghanistan on a gold platter will the tweety-birds go wild with Twittering?