Reply #68: I suppose one of the things that confounds me is that in Israel itself

[Douglas Carpenter]

there is much more open debate in the mainstream of their body politic and within their mainstream media. One can read editorials in Haaretz than one would seldom find in the New York Times or the Washington Post.

I cannot say know why this. But there is a level of debate missing in the U.S. mainstream on this issue that is much more prevalent almost everywhere else; including Israel.

As far as the national interest question, that I don't know either. Actually even Noam Chomsky agrees with you that American power and economic concerns drive U.S. policy regarding the Israel/Arab conflict with the issue of the Israeli lobby being only a minor factor; but still a factor.

Still I don't know why that it is more acceptable in mainstream American political discussion to criticize American military actions than to criticize American military actions. I cannot say for any certainty that the main reason is the Israeli lobby. But for me it is hard to imagine that it is not a factor.

Still one can only look inside themselves and ask if they are in any way whatsoever influenced by prejudices whether anti-Semitism or anti-Arab racism. I would agree that both of those might be factors in some peoples understanding of the Middle East.