Book Description
How did a term, once used accurately to describe the most virulent evil, become a charge flung at the mildest critic of Israel, particularly concerning its atrocious treatment of Palestinians?
Edited by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair, the print and online journal CounterPunch has become a must read for hundreds of thousands a month who no longer believe anything they read in the mainstream press beyond the sports scores. On the subject of Israel and Palestine, the Israeli lobby in the U.S., the current Middle East crisis, and its ramifications at home and abroad, CounterPunch has been unrivaled.
Herein, you'll find CounterPunch's most compelling reporting and commentary on this topic.
Contributors include: former U.S. Representative -
Cynthia McKinney, famed British foreign correspon-dent Robert Fisk, former seniorCIA analysts
Bill and Kathy Christison, the trenchant and witty philosopher
Michael Neumann, seasoned Capitol Hill staffer
"George Sutherland,"
Norman Finkelstein, the leading Israeli dissident
Yuri Avneri, Shaheed Alam (who became a target of the fanatical Daniel Pipes), and Israeli journalists
Neve Gordon and
Yigal Bronner.
In addition are:
Will Yeoman's path-breaking essay on Israel and divestment,
>Kurt Nimmo on the hysterical attacks on AmiriBaraka for his poem on 9-11,
Anne Pettifer's Zionism Unbound,
Jeffrey St. Clair on the (Israeli) attack on the USS Liberty and the suppression of the investigation, and
>Alexander Cockburn's caustic and lightheartedmemoir of his own experiences of being attacked as an anti-Semite, consequent upon his criticisms of Israel.
This first book in the new CounterPunch series, is a timely anthology on the compulsion of silence and complicity in crimes against a betrayed people.
Nationally syndicated journalists
Alexander Cockburn and
Jeffrey St. Clair have co-authored numerous bestsellers, including Whiteout: The CIA, Drugs And The Press, Washington Babylon and Al Gore: A User's Manual.
Customer Reviews:
Good review of Jewish identity politics.......2007-09-07
If you've read the synopsis, you're probably aware that Jewish organizations have a tendency to continually smear critics of their actions/policies as "anti-Semites," as well as to dub legitimate criticism of Jewish ethnocentrism in the media, the government, and Israeli politics as "blood libel." This is incredibly unfortunately for a number of reasons, including (1) it tarnishes the reputations of legitimate critics and victims of Jewish racism, (2) it engenders a phobia toward expressing criticism or asking for assistance, (3) it endangers Israelis and Israeli Americans by desensitizing observers to bona fide violence or prejudice directed at Jews.
This book, a collection of essays from a variety of left-wing Jews, Arabs/Muslims, and (assimilated) Americans, does a decent job of exposing all three dangers, primarily from a Marxian, pro-Palestinian point of view.
For example, both establishment political parties cater to organized Judaism, both from internal pressure by Jewish members, and from immense external pressure from Jewish organizations, giving Israeli Americans disproportionate influence over foreign policy, and they use that dominant position to funnel tens of billions of dollars of American taxpayer -- and borrowed -- monies to Israel, as well as to create Judeo-centric legislation.
Additionally, Jewish dominance in the legal industry enables Israeli Americans to both profit from, and quash, dissent. The threat alone of being sued by powerful Jewish groups and Jewish lawyers is often enough to prevent critics from speaking out.
Jewish ethnocentrism and corporate concentration have allowed Israeli Americans to assume control of every major media and publishing company. The Israeli-American media establishment then shapes coverage of Israel-Palestinian affairs to downplay Israeli atrocities and play up Palestinian bombings, as well as to neutralize criticism and to brand critics (and non-compliant politicians) as "bigots," "Jew-haters," "self-hating Jews," "anti-Semites," "Nazis," and the like. (Fascinatingly, even pointing out that Jews comprise a dominant elite within the media is often enough to get one blacklisted.)
Of course, the New Left in American politics is in fact an outgrowth of Jewish socialism, not European socialism, and Israeli Americans continue to maintain a dominant role on the Left. When those Israeli Americans criticise Israeli politics or actions, however, they are typically branded "self-hating Jews." By trivializing their concerns and labeling them "anti-Semitic," pro-Israeli Jews are able to overcome even the formidable power of the victimization, and class-based, politics of the Jewish Left.
Taken together, the essay authors assert, the three rails of organized Judaism work to continually reinforce Israeli hegemony in both the Middle East and in America, and even subvert the actions of Jewish activists with other leanings. This dominance and bullying engender a (typically) private hatred of all Jews and a contempt for their interests, even when those interests are morally defensible. For example, Israeli atrocities embolden and legitimize global anti-Semitism, and Zionist Jew-hatred divides the Jewish community. If European and American onlookers perceive Jews to be always profiteering via the Holocaust industry, or always existing as a militant, parasitic nation using American lives in the defense of Israel, will they come to the aid of Israel or the world Jewry in the event of another Nazi state?
Honest, Varied, and a Must-Read.......2007-07-03
Finally an honest discussion about a controversial topic! Each chapter is written by a different contributor, and about half of the writers are Jewish - in fact, prominent Jews. There is so much misinformation and mudslinging regarding this word (anti-semiticism) that its refreshing to have some truth and reality come back to the debate. The problem is that there are essentially two kinds of people who say negative things about Israel - genuine crazy Jew-haters and normal, thoughtful people who care about injustice all over the world. Supporters of Israel, either through stupidity or more likely on purpose lump these two groups together as if they were one. If you speak up when Israel violates the Geneva Conventions, about 100 UN resolutions, agreements with the US on the use of cluster bombs, etc - it doesn't mean you hate all Jews. There is "right" and "wrong" no matter if the war criminal is Christian, Jewish, Muslim or other. And in the case of Israel, since its inception by terrorist thugs who killed British peacekeepers and Arab civilians, this has been going on for almost 60 years. Its actually in the interest of all Jews to stop this criminal behaviour by Israel because it casts a negative shadow on all Jews all over the world. When justice comes to Palestine, the world will be a better place for everyone - including Jews. The first step is to read this book, and get a balanced viewpoint.
Reflections on "Anti-Semitism"........2007-03-21
_The Politics of Anti-Semitism_, published by the anarchist AK Press, consists of a series of essays which first appeared on the website for CounterPunch, edited by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair. This book was published in 2003 and is an attempt to answer the charge of "anti-Semitism" frequently hurled at anti-Zionists by defenders of Israel. The writers of this book maintain that Israel poses a threat to peace and that the Israelis have brutally oppressed the Palestinian population. However, for those who voice such criticism, many American Jews are willing to blindly label as anti-Semitic. Many of the essays ask difficult questions about the nature of American foreign policy and how it relates to the Middle East, as well as the role of a majority of American Jews and Jewish organizations in maintaining such a policy. It should be pointed out though that many of the essayists included in this collection are Jewish themselves and as such it becomes even more difficult to smear all opposition to the Israeli state as "anti-Semitic". The essayists make some important points about historical anti-Semitism, noting that while Jews have born the brunt of oppression in Europe particularly, they cannot fully claim to be entirely innocent in this. It should be pointed out that historically such Jews frequently cozied up to political tyrants, as well as their involvement in banking and usury (something prohibited to the Christian), provoking the anger of the people. While many of the crimes committed against Jews by Europeans cannot be justified by this fact, they certainly can be explained by this. Unfortunately though, some of the essayists appear to still be involved in the "left vs. right" game. Thus, while they defend or excuse much Arab dislike of Jews (as the natural resentment of an oppressed people to its oppressors), they make the necessary and politically correct commentary concerning European, Christian, or "right wing" "anti-Semitism". Thus, they refer to individuals such as Patrick Buchanan and Le Pen as "bigots". This is unfortunate and also hypocritical because it seeks to maintain that only Arabs have a right to defend themselves against such oppression. For example, the hatred of many Jews for Catholicism is well known, and in recent times there have been attempts to smear such Christians with the label of "anti-Semite". It seems only fair that European Christians should have the right to defend themselves from such charges, in the same way that Arabs and Muslims do. The authors of these essays are mostly anarchists and leftists; however, they do occasionally make note of the fact that the beliefs expressed in this book are often shared by paleoconservatives.
The essays included here take a decided stance against the War in Iraq and much of the policy of the neoconservatives. Indeed, these essayists largely maintain that the War in Iraq has been fought to further Israeli interests. They pose the question as to why Israel should have such a powerful influence over United States foreign policy. Other essays deal with such topics as the Jewish response to the immoral activities of the Israeli state and Ariel Sharon in particular, the powerful Israeli lobby and its influence over both major U.S. political parties, the nature of "dual loyalties", the Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty, and the oppression of the Palestinians. It is unfortunate that the mere mention of such realities automatically brings up the charge of "anti-Semitism". In a particularly interesting essay, Norman Finkelstein addresses the topic of how the tragedy of the Holocaust is being exploited to fund the state of Israel in its crusade against the Palestinians. Finkelstein notes the reception his book detailing this fact had in Germany, where a post-war population remains largely artificially contrite and under the sway of political correctness. However, merely by broaching such taboos, the familiar charges have been leveled.
After reading this book, it is clear to the American reader at least that both political parties are hopelessly corrupt. American foreign policy has been largely dictated by a group of elites who care little for either the people of the United States or the necessity of maintaining peace in the world. I think this is the fundamental message of this book for Americans. It should be noted though, that while this book concerns Jews, that many Jews are waking up to the reality of the situation and no longer support the Israeli state to such a degree as they once did. Thus, it is becoming apparent to some that the atrocities of the past cannot be used to justify the atrocities of today.
Review of The Politics of Anti Semitism.......2007-01-16
Found most of the articles well written, informative and even if disagreed with opinions and ideas the presentations were professional so that one could be able to debate without getting too emotional.
The one big downside is the whole book is very one sided, thus by half way one is inclined to view it as propaganda and then start to doubt the integrity of the authors - are they trying to better our world or just shove their point of view down our throats.
Semantics.......2006-12-21
If they can eliminate the use of the term "anti-Semitism" or the charge of same they can be more fully anti-Semitic (if that's possible).
Book Description
"A perfect combination of information and analysis." -Bernard Lewis
FIAMMA NIRENSTEIN covers Israel and the Palestinian territories for the Italian magazine Panorama and the Roman newspaper La Stampa. She lives in Rome and Gilo, a suburb of Jerusalem perched on the front lines of the Israeli-Palestininan War. She teaches Middle Eastern history of at the LUISS University in Rome. In the U.S. she writes for many magazines and newspapers, including Commentary and The New York Sun. Her recent books include: The Anti-Semitic Progressive: The New Shape of an Ancient Hatred Rizzoli (2004); Islam: The War and the Hope, Interview with Bernard Lewis (2003) and The Abandonment: How the West Betrayed the Jews (2002). This is her first book in English.
On July 9, 2005 Fiamma Nirenstein will receive the 2005 Ischia Prize for Best Journalist of the Year presented to her by the Italian Government.
ANNE MILANO APPEL specializes in the translation of fiction and non-fiction from Italian to English. She holds an MA and a PhD in Romance Languages from Rutgers University.
Customer Reviews:
A courageous voice against Terror .......2006-02-14
The outstanding review of this book by Jill Malter on the Amazon Site provides a good guide to its basic themes.
Fiamma Nirenstein has been a courageous voice, especially in Italy in defense of Israel against the Anti- Semitic onslaught of Terror International.
She is one of those originally from the Left, in fact a Communist who became increasingly disenchanted with the Left's toadying up to Totalitarians. As a correspondent for Italy's leading daily 'La Stampa' she has closely followed political developments within Italy and throughout Europe and the Middle East for the past thirty years or so.
As she understands it the propaganda campaign of the Palestinian Arabs against Israel has brought into being a strange alliance of the Fascist Right and the extreme Communist Left. This she says has been the only point about which two such divergent ideologies have been able to come together. In the process she understands them to have been totally one- sided and misleading in their reading of Middle Eastern realities.
Her understanding of the situation, in which the new Anti- Semitism is Anti- Israel activity is one she shares with major students of the problem.
She also connects this theme with the basic anti- American bias of the Left in Europe.
Clearly characterizes the war against Jewish rights.......2005-06-08
This is an excellent book about the Arab war against Israel and the media's involvement with it.
Nirenstein tells us right away about the problems causing distorted reporting of this war. First, there is a failure to admit that the Arab side refuses to accept Israel as a Jewish state. Second, there is an unwillingness to assign responsibility for deaths caused by armed Arabs who strike from within an otherwise unarmed crowd. Third, there is a failure to recognize the effect on Arabs of systematic education in schools and in the media to idealize terrorist acts of murder and mayhem. Fourth, there's a tendency to describe terrorism and the war against it as if they were the same thing. Fifth is the pretense that sypathizers with Arab terrorism are the most reliable sources for news. Sixth is misleading reporting of events, as if responses to terror are the problem. Seventh is refusal to condemn terrorism or even call terrorist acts "terrorism." Eighth is refusal to recognize that Jews living on the West Bank are human beings. Ninth is abiding by Arab wishes in reporting, in order to avoid being threatened and to be rewarded with scoops.
We see people call Israeli attacks on major terrorists "illegal executions," but a nation has a duty to protect its citizens from murderers. The author explains that some Europeans react this way due to fear of Islam, shame at what Europe has done to Jews, and a "need to justify past crimes by criminalizing the Jews."
Some people complain that if they criticize Israel, they are taken to task for it. But Nirenstein explains that much of this criticism is not lucid. If someone says that Israel kills children and journalists on purpose, and calls Jenin a slaughter, Nirenstein labels that person an antisemite, just like the antisemites of old that many of them now pretend to hate.
We are shown the constant lies and taunts, the demonization of Jews, the denial of rights to Jews, claims that no Jewish Temples ever existed, claims that there never was a Holocaust, and so on. The author says these are an integral part of the action, not merely background to it. And there is a substantial discussion of the demonization of Jews at the well-named Durban racism conference in 2001. Nirenstein also provides an interesting interview with would-be suicide bomber.
The author concludes that to defeat antisemitism in Europe, education is needed in four major areas. First, that the purpose of demonization of Israel is to incite violence and terrorism. Second, that ignorance of the history of Israel and Zionism are essential for this demonization to work. Third, that grief for the deaths of Jews in no way implies any willingness to save Jews who are still alive. Fourth, that the Arab terrorists are not in fact victims.
I highly recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
- How hatred of the Jews is used as a political weapon.
- A Good Analysis of the Arab Propaganda Machine
- Interesting for what it is, but too short
- Not worth the paper it is printed on, right wing manifesto
- Finally!!!
|
Islamic Anti-Semitism As a Political Instrument
Yossef Bodansky
Manufacturer: Freeman Center For Strategic Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0967139104 |
Book Description
ISLAMIC ANTI-SEMITISM AS A POLITICAL INSTRUMENT
By Yossef Bodansky
Anti-Semitism, that is, anti-Jewishness and anti-Judaism, is intensifying throughout the Muslim World. The significance of this virulent anti-Jewishness and anti-Judaism is in that this type of anti-Semitism goes beyond the hatred it espouses. In the contemporary Muslim World, anti-Jewishness and anti-Judaism constitute a major political instrument in the hands of both state governments and Islamist terrorist organizations to mobilize the entire region for the destruction of Israel - irrespective of diplomatic treaties, including the current peace process.
Customer Reviews:
How hatred of the Jews is used as a political weapon........2002-11-13
Although the definition of anti-Semitism has been subjected to some mis-interpretation, it's original and true context is that of anti-Jewishness or anti-Judaism.
Yossef Bodansky, in another of his fine works examines the significance to the ongoing, intensifying hatred and vilification towards the Jews throughout the Moslem/Arab world.
Bodansky investigates how this anti-Semitism, today more than ever, constitutes an enormous political instrument, being so venomously applied by both regional and international Islamic terrorist organisations and also Moslem/Arab governments.
The author delves into how these same entities, government & terrorist leaders, use anti-Semitism/anti-Israeli incitement as such extremely effective weapons of populist agitation in order to achieve the desired political and public results on the ground and amongst their populations.
Bodansky extends his analysis to the consequences that this incitement of hatred have in mobilising Arab/Moslem public opinion against Israel and the popular intent of destroying the Jewish state, irrespective of any diplomatic or political initiatives/peace-process during what can only be seen as an interim period within that same agenda or purpose.
In under 200 pages, Bodansky provides a worthy reference towards this timely subject. Further recommended reading is Bodansky's most recent work, "The High Cost of Peace: How Washington's Middle East Policy Left America Vulnerable to Terrorism".
A Good Analysis of the Arab Propaganda Machine.......2002-01-15
I cannot recommend a better book that shows the true face of the Arab world.Their ideology is built on hatred and propaganda which is used against Christians and Jews. It shows the reasons why totalitarian governments(which are the only kind of governments in the Arab world)use this kind of propaganda to promote their politics, especially in the Arab world and suppress democracy.
Interesting for what it is, but too short.......2001-11-08
" Yossef Bondansky's scholarship is generally of considerable value, though his writing style is often dry. Here, in a work that is far too short, he seeks to examine the anti-Semitism that is rampant in the Muslim world and its roots. (Please note, I like Professor Bodansky am aware that Arabs are Semites, however, the term, originating with 19th century racists and in use to the present day, then and now refers only to hatred of Jews). Bodansky does a fair job of tracing how these European concepts entered the Arab world view, beginning with the famous Damascus blood liable, but does not give the topic the attention it deserves.
Some reviewers have argued that Bodansky overstates the pervasiveness of anti-Semitic content in Arabic papers. Clearly, they are ignorant of the facts. As Bodansky documents, major mainstream Arab papers such as the semi official press organ of the supposedly moderate Egyptian government (whose editor and chief is hand chosen by the President) has continually reported such stories. Examples of what can be found in theses papers pages on any given day include:
*Jews are responsible for the September 11th attack in order to defame Islam (included in the charge is that no Jews died in the WTC, even though Jewish casualties numbered over 1,000).
*Jews engineered AIDS and spread it among Arab youths.
*Jews have infected Arab women with a virus that loosens their morals.
*Jews kill Arab children for sport and use their blood to make Matzo.
*Bill Clinton, George Bush and Colin Powell are all really Jewish.
*Jews tricked Saddam into invading Kuwait.
*Jews have a secret plan to castrate all Muslim men.
The list goes on. Where Bodansky's work shines is in showing how propagating these lies helps prop up the brutal autocratic regimes of the Arab world. By creating an all powerful entirely evil foreign enemy, these nations can attempt to excuse their own barbaric and repressive tactics that include some of the world's worst human rights abusers in places like Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and others (all of which always rank worse then Israel on lists of human rights abusers). The book also includes several excellent examples of anti-Semitic cartoons.
Readers should note what this book is and what it is not. It isn't a comprehensive history of Jewish-Muslim relations. For that I suggest looking at the work of Bernard Lewis. For what it is, however, it is a worthwhile read.
Not worth the paper it is printed on, right wing manifesto.......2001-10-24
I dont know what else to say about it, if you are already an Anti Arab, and Anti Muslim, and a right wing Israeli, you will love this book. Everybody else cans see through his gargbage by the first chapter.
His writing style is so bland and annoying that it will drive even the most militant Arab hater crazy before you make it through the first half of the book, and you will surely be in a coma if you manage to finish it.
Finally!!!.......2001-08-07
This is (as far as I know) the first book on a very necessary subject: Anti-Semitism in the modern Arab world (mid 1950s - present). It seems to do a thorough analysis of trends in Islamist and pan-Arab circles, Arab governments, elites, intellectuals and masses. It is amply illustrated with samples of anti-Semitic writings.
I gave it 4 stars, even though there are some questionable issues. For instance, the author seems to imply that Egypt's signing of the peace treaty with Israel was nothing more than a trick. It seems to me that Anwar Sadat paid too high a price for it to be just a trick. The quote from Alija Izetbegovich does not look very convincing, since there has been no anti-Semitic persecution in the modern Bosnia.
Another major problem is total lack of reflection on Arab Muslim non-Anti-Semitism. Does it exist at all? I think it probably does. So I think it should be written about, at least for the sake of comparison.
The author also writes (and quotes others) about the terrible threat fundamentalist Islam presents to the Arab states. But so far I don't see a single Arab regime falling. It seems to me that the ability of Arab leaders to lie to/manipulate their population is underestimated. The author also mentions lack of legitimacy of Arab governments. But the question here is: legitimacy based on what? The popular vote? Descent from Muhammad? Being the toughest? It seems to me that people who have never known democracy might view things differently.
Possibly there are other problems with the book, but since it is the only book on the subject, I have no way of knowing that.
The style of the book is also somewhat heavy and repetitive. The author tries to follow a complex web of ideological trends across different countries and strata of Arab societies - a very hard task. The same "precepts" are drilled into the reader's mind over and over: "Enmity between Muslims and Jews is eternal and irreconcilable", "Scheming, duplicity and corruption are at the root of Jewish character", "The Torah has been distorted by Jews, and the Talmud promotes hatred, racism and arrogance", "Jews eat matza with human blood", "All tragedies of Jewish history are due to their wickedness and despicable acts", "Israel is the first step in the worldwide Zionist conspiracy", "The entire land of Palestine must be returned", and a few others. These are repeated throughout the book ad nauseam.
Perhaps this repetition is necessary, because it gives the reader a feeling for the spread and intensity of such sentiments in the Arab world. On the other hand, this obscures the message the author is trying to convey, "the Islamists have brought their relationship with the Jews a full circle - back to their Qu'ranic roots where relationship is based on enmity and confrontation.", i.e. that the status of Jews as Dhimmis (minority within Islamic world, protected from outright extermination, but not from all kinds of indignities) is not possible any more, and therefore Israeli Jews would face outright extermination should Israel fall, just as the Jews of Arabia were exterminated at the time of Muhammad. This is a good argument. Unfortunately, the author never tells us the reason for presenting it. And there is a reason.
Still, if just one tenth of the book is true, the amount and viciousness of anti-Semitism in the Arab world is staggering. (It is far beyond anti-Semitism in the Western and even the Soviet world.) It is everywhere: in the media, schoolbooks, summer camps, official speeches and religious sermons. When hatred is so massive, it becomes a threat to everyone around. There is a major need for drawing conclusions, yet since nothing had been written on the subject of modern Arab anti-Semitism, there is no knowledge of it, so no conclusions are drawn. Israel and the world have engaged in appeasement (withdrawal from Lebanon, "peace-process"), which has become a major impetus to growth of Muslim extremism and further hatred. Thus the process which was supposed to bring peace is actually bringing war. No one until recently asked, "What is wrong with this picture". I hope that now, when this book has appeared, someone will.
Book Description
On the day Pedro Sanjuan moved into his new office at the UN Secretariat in 1984, he had the foresight to unscrew his telephone receiver. Out fell a little packet of high-grade cocaine. When he confronted the undersecretary to the chief Soviet diplomat—really a KGB colonel and the top Russian spy—the agent laughed good-naturedly and congratulated him on passing the test.
That was the beginning of Sanjuan’s long, peculiar odyssey into the looking-glass world of the United Nations Secretariat.
Pedro Sanjuan had been appointed by then–Vice President George H. W. Bush to a high-ranking UN post. His real mission: to keep an eye on Soviet espionage activities. Over the years, the Russians had managed to install nearly four hundred KGB and GRU agents in strategic positions throughout the Secretariat, and had turned it into a massive spy facility, operating openly and with absolute impunity on American soil.
But this, it turned out, was the least of the problem. Sanjuan soon discovered that incompetence, corruption, anti-Semitism, and outright criminality were rife throughout the UN Secretariat. Among the shady activities that he personally observed or documented were rigged bidding for major service contracts; drug transactions conducted in the UN’s parking garage; sale of shotguns and beryllium directly out of the UN building; ties to global organized crime figures; use of UN Information Centers and other agencies to disseminate anti-US and pro-PLO propaganda; systematic theft and abuse of UN facilities and budgets in East Africa; graft and corruption in Vienna; widespread sexual harrassment; use of the UN employee’s lounge to plan anti-Israel and anti-US activities by Muslim delegates; open celebration of 9/11 by said delegates in the halls of the UN; and inexplicable tolerance of all of the above on the part of the secretary general and the US government.
Sanjuan’s cast of characters includes every secretary general from Kurt Waldheim to Kofi Annan, and a large number of bureaucratic rogues and scoundrels. Much of what he documents in The UN Gang is absurdly comical. But its seriousness should not be overlooked.
Ultimately, Sanjuan argues, the weakness and corruption of the UN is our own responsibility. During the Cold War, the superpowers conspired to render it a useless forum for international pronouncements and posturing. Now, however, it has become the focal point of global resistance to American interests and policies. Will we continue to host an unholy convention of anti-Semitic, America-hating hypocrites? Or will we take steps to reform this once-proud institution and make it serve the ends of peace, justice, and international order? Only time will tell.
Customer Reviews:
Pestilential swamp.......2006-05-13
In his compelling expose', the author reveals the incompetence and the criminal activities of this accursed organization as he experienced it for more than a decade from 1984. In an acerbic and humorous style, he lifts the lid on the massive waste perpetrated by the useless and often devious parasites that infest Turtle Bay and other UN offices worldwide. As such, Sanjuan provides us with a lively portrait of the nature and habits of the denizens of this reeking swamp.
Waste and incompetence are the least of it, unfortunately. Drug dealing, theft, nepotism, large-scale corruption, espionage, the selling of weapons and the manufacturing of propaganda against the USA and Israel are some of the other activities observed by the author. Sanjuan mentions the names of certain individuals and the figures involved in some instances of corruption.
In the 1980s, the Secretariat was dominated by Soviet spies who also completely controlled the UN library. Since the end of the Cold War the influence of Islamic extremists has increased. He suggests that attacks against Israel and the US might even have been planned at the UN. It seems plausible that UN employees helped to gather information for the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. On 9/11, certain staff openly gloated about the atrocity.
Most disturbing of all is the rampant Antisemitism that permeates the organization at all levels. Shocked by what he observed, the author made it his duty to try to combat and expose this sinister obsession of the UN. Sanjuan deals with Waldheim, Perez de Cuellar, Boutros Ghali and Kofi Annan. The Oil For Food scam is discussed in detail and it becomes clear that Annan knew more than he has acknowledged up to now.
The author concludes the book with 10 proposed reforms that may bring about transparency and efficiency. Of course, nothing will come of this. This irredeemably corrupt and loathsome organization cannot be reformed. One can only hope that the American taxpayers who are funding these parasites will one day decide that enough is enough. The best outcome would be if the USA kicks the ghastly institution out of the country.
For further information, I recommend Tower Of Babble by Dore Gold, Inside The Asylum by Jed Babbin, Global Deception by Joseph A Klein and The UN Exposed by Eric Shawn.
Confirms what any observer of the U.N. knows true .......2006-04-11
One does not have to read this book to understand that the U.N. is a corrupt, anti- American, anti- Semitic , racist organization. One only has to have followed the U.N. in its long history of hysterical anti- Israel resolutions, its obsessive focusing on one area of the world while ignoring totalitarian crimes in most of its member states to understand the moral bankruptcy of the organization.
One of course could read other books about what Dore Gold calls in his book on the U.N. "The Tower of Babel" but Sanjuan writes as an insider who knows the bureaucracy well, and so exposes the corruption of the Secretariat.
What is ironic is that an organization founded in the post- second World War idealism with deliberate intent of avoiding the mistakes of the feckless "League of Nations" should have turned out to be such a loser.
Time and again when there is a crisis ( Consider the present one in 'Darfur') the U.N. either proves ineffective or negative in influence.
Many have spoken of alternative forms of international organizations, for instance of an organization of truly democratic nations.
Sanjuan provides a convincing body of evidence of why the UN as it is now needs to be dramatically reformed or replaced.
Whether this will have any real effect or not, is however another matter.
Core Competencies blah, blah .........2006-02-27
Pretty accurate and entertaining. Especially amusing if you happen to work there and read about what you already knew happens at the UN.
Stupid BOOK - Do Not Buy This.......2006-01-21
This is a stupid ignorant book. This guy does not know anything.
Do not buy this.
In support of The UN Gang.......2006-01-13
I'd like to respond to some reviewer criticisms of The UN Gang.
Indeed, as noted in Publisher's Weekly, Sanjuan eludes to a possible connection between the 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings and intelligence gathering at the UN while giving no evidence to support this hypothesis. But should we scoff at this as the Publisher's Weekly reviewer does? Sanjuan demonstrates in his memoir that the UN's New York offices (off limit to U. S. law enforcement) were utilized as a huge intelligence gathering post for first the Soviet Union and afterward for Russia. He also shows a UN propensity toward coddling Islamists. Lastly he notes the importance intelligence played in targeting the buildings at their most vulnerable locations. Should we not be concerned about the possibility of the UN being a haven for hostile intelligence gathering and could this not have consequences for us in the future? If Sanjuan overstates the case for a 9/11 connection, he does it to call attention to an important and neglected security issue.
Another criticism worth addressing is Sanjuan's accusation of anti-Semitism regarding the transfer of the Chagall stained glass mural from the UN employee entrance. One thing that the critic above (A reader - New York City) does not address is that Sanjuan paraphrases the UN Secretary General as admonishing "that was not what the UN was about" after having the window moved from a prominent location in the employee entrance to a location in the visitor entrance. The implication is that the UN director felt the staff should not have to pass by a work of art by a Jewish artist. This is quite plausibly an instance of anti-Semitism.
Other claims in the book that seem worth noting have been neglected by reviewers. For example, there are accusations against the U. S. State Department. One accusation is the toleration of a massive Soviet spy ring at the UN by spies hiding behind diplomatic and territorial immunity. Another is long standing complaisance of the State Department to anti-Semetism extending from the 1960's to its present toleration of anti-Semitism at the UN. A third is the State Department's punishing and firing a member of the UN budget oversight committee (Linda Shenwick of the ACABQ) after she exposed unbridled corruption at the UN while testifying before congress.
As other reviewers have noted: the book isn't full of numbers and exhaustive research, it does not give a detailed plan for saving the UN, and the writing often embellishes events. But then it never claimed to be an academic treatise. It fulfills its claim to be a memoir of incompetence, corruption, anti-Semitism and Islamic extremism at the UN Secretariat.
Average customer rating:
- Highly intellectual, but interesting exposition
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In Search of Anti-Semitism
William F. Buckley
Manufacturer: Continuum Intl Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
Highly intellectual, but interesting exposition.......1998-05-01
Mr. Buckley is an excellent writer and a spiritual man with a conservative point of view. In this book he takes several of his writer-colleagues to task for alleged anti-Semitic sentiments expressed in anti-Israeli discourse. In doing so, he attempts to delineate a careful distinction between being critical to another country's policies (namely Israel's) and using such legitimate criticism as a means of promoting bigoted ideas. This is an important subject burdened by a lot of emotion, and Buckley makes every effort to be fair.
Yet through his careful editing, the book is drained of the passion the subject deserves. Expect your mind to be challenged but your heart unmoved by this book.
Book Description
Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the peril today confronting Jews, Isreal, and Western democracy as a whole.
Customer Reviews:
A serious topic not seriously addressed.......2006-09-12
I wanted to like this book. I wanted to learn something about the modern rise of anti-semitism. Sometimes, you just don't get what you want.
I read the book, hoping to answer some serious questions: Is anti-Zionism the same as anti-semitism ? Are Jewish anti-Zionists experiencing self-hate ? Is the rise of European anti-semitism a product of long lasting traditions or a by-product of Muslim immigration ? I still have these questions.
The book does attempt to address these issues. It does so by a selectively culling statements, events, and quotes. Where a book of this nature would demand 100's of pages, the author here feels that his cobbled collection of editorials can address these issues with limited research and less than 200 pages. It is tragic that such a serious topic is handled, so casually.
Like many people, I fear a second Holocaust prompted by Iranian nuclear ambitions. What does Schoenfeld think of this issue ? He agrees that such a threat exists, but sees fit to address it in only one paragraph.
What about a solution to the rise of anti-semitism ? The only one I can find, is the belief that a stable democratic Iraq will reduce the phenomena. I don't want to get too political here, but that's a pretty disquieting source of optimism.
There is something here, but there's not quite enough. I don't disagree with the author, but I don't feel that throwing out a collection of individual opinions constitutes a serious analysis of a serious topic.
The disturbing rantings of a very racist mind........2006-08-08
I have read Schoenfeld's book in an attempt to understand where and how anti-semitism sits within today's society, as part of some research work I have been conducting.
To be honest the book has disapointed me greatly. I have found the book full of half truths, missing counter points, which I feel completely insults the intelligence of the reader, assuming they have never performed any winder reading on the subject of the position of judaism and israel within today's world. In fact Schoenfeld takes the un forgivable position of actually wanting us to confuse anti-semitism with feeling against israel's political position.
For example, on page 29 Sheonfeld tells us, without any references that Palestine was nothing but sand and swap before the arrival of israel (already he is asking to consider anti-semitism along side the issue of palestine and israel). In these remarks he shows either his lack of research, or his desire to lie about the history of Palestine. We just need to look at the poster of franz krauz or look at books such as "Before their diaspora: A photographic history of the Palestinians, 1876-1948 (Unknown Binding) by Walid Khalidi" to see this is just not true.
Nowhere in the book does Sheonfeld address the anger people have towards the way israel has acted to it's neighbours, or the propoganda machine that tries to deny and rebrand the 1996 massacre at the Qana UN post. In fact it seems he doesnt care about exaplaining the reason why people may be ant-semtic/anti israeli, he just wants to cite and fabricate incidents of it.
This book seems to address more the rise of anti-arabism, and seeks to promote it. I would recommend this book only to people wishing to journey into the worrying fantasies of a very racist individual.
Excellent analysis of present- day Anti- Semitism. Plus update .......2005-06-27
This book was published in October 2003, and this review is being written in late June 2005. This is important because even though the fundamental picture of Anti- Semitism in the Islamic world, in Europe, and to a lesser degree, the United States is valid there is an element of Schoenfeld's analysis that has already failed to pass the test of time. When he wrote the work there was a great deal of hope that the US effort in Iraq would effect a fundamental transformation throughout the Middle East, toward Democratization, and with this reduction in Terror, and even reduction in anti- Semitism.
But as it appears now the situation in Iraq is a quagmire. Defense Minister Rumsfeld said a few days ago that the Iraqis would have to win it ' by themselves' indicating that the US might leave fairly soon , and with it leave a big mess. This summer there is also planned the Israeli disengagement from Gaza which is being interpreted by all Palestinian groups, and especially the Terror groups as a victory for violence.
In other words the reduction of anti- Semitism hoped for by Schoenfeld in this book does not seem on the way. In opposite the election of a hardliner President in Iran earlier this week, who referred to Israel as an ' illegimate state' only underlines how strong Anti- Semitism in the form of Anti- Zionism is in the
Islamic world.
And here one warning made by Schoenfeld is extremely timely. He shows how many Jewish leaders, including Louis Marshall believed that the Nazis were just a bluff, and would go away of themselves. It seems to me that anyone who thinks a bit about Jewish history should understand that the fundamentalist terrorists who are threatening destructive action to Israel are not just going to go away. It is extremely alarming that when a month ago the leading Islamic clergyman connected with the Palestinian Authority called for ' the genocide' of all the Jews in the world , no one paid attention. There was no outcry. Israel did not even attempt to intervene.
Schoenfeld outlines a situation of increasing danger for the Jews through the actions of anti- Semitism. Since he wrote the book the dangers have only increased. And here I would point out that the greatest dangers are what might be called ' state- anti- Semitism', and especially the state Anti-Semitism, of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.
The return and intensification of the one world's oldest ' social diseases' ought to be I want to suggest a source of worry not only for Jews, but for all those who care for human dignity and freedom.
For if the Islamic world succeeds in its goal of destroying the Jewish state this will not simply mean the end of one small democracy in the Middle East. It will be a signal that Terror and Totalitarian violence are on their way to taking over the world.
Powerful, required reading.......2005-03-11
Gabriel Schoenfeld is a great writer and makes excellent point in The Return of Anti-Semitism.
People think that Anti-Semitism is a discrete form of hate. But the enemies of the Jews end up being enemies of freedom.
Think about it, the biggest enemies of Israel are the biggest enemies of freedom and democracy. You do the math.
this is a brilliant book.
A report on the popularity of antisemitic ideas today.......2004-10-21
In the 1930s, antisemitism was a serious problem. It manifested itself in widespread defamation of Jews, attacks on European Jews in particular, a series of horrible anti-Jewish laws, and an environment in which the combination of attacks on Jews and anti-Jewish propaganda caused Jews in general to become increasingly despised. So despised that it was possible to murder millions of them in World War 2.
That is not exactly what is happening today. For the most part, Jews are faring well, and very few have been murdered. But anti-Jewish propaganda (much of it "antizionist") is widespread, especially in the Arab world. This book describes where things stand, and it notes the intensity of anti-Jewish propaganda in the Arab world, clearly showing that "the parallels between Nazism and the current Arab-Muslim brand of anti-Semitism are striking." It also shows how Arabs are training many of their children to be antisemites.
A chapter on Europe shows a striking correlation between Arab attacks on Israelis and local attacks on European Jews. I hadn't realized the extent to which terrorist attacks inspire violence elsewhere, but the author also explained that "the September 11 terrorist attack on America led to a sharp increase in European violence against Jews," with dramatically increased incidents of violence in England and France in the months of September and October, 2001.
The author says that antisemitism is a grossly delusional view of the world and its implications continue to reach far beyond the fate of the Jews. I agree, and that's a reason I think this book is important for everyone.
Average customer rating:
- excellent book
- The title is mis-leading...The book stops in the year 1870..
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A Scapegoat in the New Wilderness: The Origins and Rise of Anti-Semitism in America
Frederic Jaher
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0674790073 |
Customer Reviews:
excellent book.......2003-08-11
I used this book in my qualifying exams for my doctorate and it was invaluable!
The title is mis-leading...The book stops in the year 1870.........1999-05-31
This book is probably not what you are expecting it to be based on its title. You probably expect it to cover the history of American anti-Semitism up to the present day. In fact it stops at around the year 1870. To me the title is (deliberately) misleading, intended to create sales to readers who, like myself, feel cheated when they discover there is not a word of any event of the twentieth century. Furthermore, my impression of this book's style is not favorable. It seems to me to be a compilation of historical factoids without much of the author's "heart and soul" showing through. It strikes me as being rather dry, lacking the feeling of being taken under one's wing that one gets from the excellent compilation, "History and Hate: the Dimensions of anti-Semitism" editied by David Berger. On the bright side, Jaher's book is only 249 pages so at least it doesn't take half a year to read. It has favorable reviews printed on its back cover from the likes of the "New York Times Book Review", so obviously this book is not entirely without merit. Perhaps it is ultimately a matter of personal preference. For me, this book was not what I expected based on its title. I felt the tone was inappropriately impersonal, giving me an impression of the author as a person trying to pretend he himself is not in the end the books' inner soul. To me this book seemed cold and soul-less, failing to communicate to me a sense of an author possessed of passion or strong feeling.
Average customer rating:
- Scorching Indictment of Leftwing Antisemitism
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The Socialism of Fools: Anti-Semitism on the Left
Michael Lerner
Manufacturer: Institute for Labor & Mental Health
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ASIN: 0935933050 |
Customer Reviews:
Scorching Indictment of Leftwing Antisemitism.......2003-03-11
A few years ago it was claimed that anti-Semitism existed only in rightwing ideolgies. Two problems rear their head: (1) Soviet collectivism showed the same virulence of Jews as Hitlerian collectivism and (2) what is it mean to be "left" or "right"? One assumes that "left" refers to collectivism and group rights -whether Soviet adulation of economic status or Nazi worship of race. "Right" has usually been thought of as tending toward the individual which pretty much explains why the U.S. is and always has been a moderately conservative nation.
The slights and prejudices of Ivy League WASPS have given way to screams of hatred from "radicals". One cannot fail to notice a peculiarity of today's peace marches: the anti-war banners are almost smothered in the sea of anti-Israeli/pro-Arab flags / red radical flags. The transformation of the Left into an anti-Israeli/anti-Jewish (they are virtually the same) had its beginnings in Europe.
Th author notes this and adds that this is nowhere more evident than France, the origin of intellectual anti-Semitism. It is certainly not surprising - the vast majority of persecution occurred under Catholic and Orthodox rule and even if France has gone the way of paganism, cultural fossils remain. The longtime connection between Jews and moneyed interests almost guaranteed persecution in the Soviet empire and now that Socialism is the god of Europe, the Left has found a natural enemy.
After all, Israel is not only pro-Western but pro-capitalist, two marks against it in the eyes of the ideologue. The odd thing is that Jews have for centuries been on the liberal side of almost every social issue. As with most issues though, when one disagrees with the Left it is not just wrong but evil. Few thought they would witness Leftists in Europe marching for Arab dictatorships over the one democracy in the region. This book explains why this has occurred and why the media is so silent about it.
Average customer rating:
- A strange little pamphlet
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Confronting Anti-Semitism: Essays by Kofi A. Annan, Elie Wiesel, et al
Kofi A. Annan
Manufacturer: Ruder Finn Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1932646167 |
Book Description
In this book, the reader can share their thoughts on intolerance, anti-Semitism and what can be done to end this longest surviving for of bigotry that has brought suffering and destruction to millions of ordinary people. Their thoughtful and passionate words explore the issue and their hopes for the future.
Customer Reviews:
A strange little pamphlet.......2006-08-12
This book is really much shorter than one would expect from 88 pages plus covers. There isn't much on those 88 pages. But what is on them is interesting.
There is a brief introduction by Shashi Tharoor. After that is a short speech by Kofi Annan. In that speech Annan does say "let us acknowledge that the United Nations' record on anti-Semitism has at times fallen short of our ideals." And he calls the 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism (since rescinded) "especially unfortunate." These are mild words from Annan, but they ought not be ignored. Slaughters of Jews were often triggered by a few words, and opposition to such slaughters may similarly be triggered by what look to us now as just a few words. Annan needs to be applauded for saying what he did, even though I think he ought to have said more.
We then see a short but excellent speech by Elie Wiesel. Wiesel does mention the extremely counterproductive Durban racism conference, and I think Annan ought to have done so as well.
The rest of the book includes some very interesting photos, many of them well-chosen examples of anti-Semitic propaganda. I do think there is an exception: the flyer about a conference at Rutgers in 2003 does not look like an example of anti-Semitism but appears to be protesting an anti-Israel hate fest. This flyer ought to have been described as such, and I'm deducting a star for including it without explaining it.
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