tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557908988533139306.post5635377621196651194..comments2023-10-31T03:50:49.318-07:00Comments on Rational International: Walt, Mearsheimer and IsraelMatt Eckelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01521606439967262492noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557908988533139306.post-60661185339445378092007-10-02T20:20:00.000-07:002007-10-02T20:20:00.000-07:00It's an interesting question, and they certainly a...It's an interesting question, and they certainly address it in their book (I only have so much energy here as a blogger). The authors don't see the US agenda in the Middle East as imperial in the traditional sense. They see the appropriate American role as an "offshore balancer" that serves to flexibly maintain an advantageous balance of power in the Middle East (so invading Iraq, Iran etc. isn't in America's interest in the first place). To the extent that (in their view) overzealous US support for Israel harms that flexibility by locking the US into enmity with certain powers (Iran, Syria), it is a bad thing. They also note that the failure of the US to put pressure on Israel to deal fairly with the Palestinians harms America's reputation in the rest of the Middle East, makes it more difficult for regional governments to support US interests openly, and drives anti-American extremism. I don't know that I'm really doing their argument justice here, particularly as I don't completely agree with it. You may want to pick up the book, or at least read the original article, for a better synopsis.Matt Eckelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01521606439967262492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557908988533139306.post-13562028959566824642007-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:002007-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:00You begin to develop a point which needs to be ful...You begin to develop a point which needs to be fully explored. To what extent do Walt and Mearsheimer critique on component of US policy in the Middle East, Israel, so the other components can proceed with less friction? For example, does the US need to rein in Israel, in order to get stronger Gulf Arab, Egyptian, and Jordanian support for the Iraq War, invading Iran, and maintaining the US's enormous military footprint throughout the greater Middle East? <BR/><BR/>In other words to what extent do Walt and Mearsheimer want to change US policy toward Israel in order to advance the rest of the US imperial agenda in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere in the region?Plan-it Los Angeleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00563341811839232252noreply@blogger.com