As for ‘uncritical supporters of Israel’ having undue influence over American Mideast policy, please: if this were so then the last four years of Bush and Rice going back on one commitment after another made in the first term, culminating in the Annapolis farce, would never have happened. Your Mearsheimer-Walt impression needs an update. The only one uncritical around here is the grumpy old man on his grumpy old computer.

They believe the Palestinians are victims of Israeli oppression. Furthermore, these individuals contend that Israel dominates American policy in the Middle East.

The Palestinians are the victims of Israeli oppression, as well as their own horrible leadership and Arab hypocrisy.

“Dominates” may be too strong, but uncritical supporters of Israel do have undue influence over American policy in the Middle East.

This is a false charge and I apologize. Soccer Dad’s facts are indeed very accurate.

You have right to your own opinions—but not your own facts. Marty Peretz is currently ignoring the long list of Israel haters advising Barak Obama. I read his most recent article in TNR. He did not even mention Samantha Power. When everything is said and done, Obama’s advisors indulge in mealy mouth Israel hating. They believe the Palestinians are victims of Israeli oppression. Furthermore, these individuals contend that Israel dominates American policy in the Middle East.

Marty Peretz misled himself. This has been going on for a long time. He is a strident Democratic Party partisan who at the end of the day—lies to himself. The sad thing is that many other people have essentially shrugged their shoulders and concluded “Things can’t be too bad within the Democratic Party. After all, Marty Peretz tells us not to worry.” Oh well, this embarrassing incident should dispel that myth. It is now abundantly clear that Peretz does not have a firm handle on these matters. Anything he says from here on end should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

Everyone should read the brilliant essay by Joseph Epstein entitled “The Man on Whom Everything Was Lost” about Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. In many respects, it also indirectly deals with other Harvard University denizens like Marty Peretz.

I don’t care what he’s said in front of AIPAC or to this group or that group, look at his team and it tells you all you need to know. Dan Shapiro, for instance, was Sen. Bill Nelson’s legislative director and in charge of Jewish outreach when the Senator decided to go visit Little Assad and undermine US policy toward Syria. The Senator reported that Bashir wants good relations and isn’t bent on Israel’s destruction . Wow, what a relief! So either Shapiro is your typical left-wing Jew who thinks all will be well if only Israel gives back the Golan, or he’s ineffective — take your pick.

Let’s hear from this Dan Shapiro: is he the author of this Obama quote: “nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people” or the brains behind Obama not mentioning Israel as one of America’s top allies at a debate last year in South Carolina? As readers of Contentions know, these are not isolated gaffes, but rather a pattern of the Senator’s “even-handed” approach to Israel.