Petras' insight into the "jewish" lobby is both insightful and compelling. Aside from sharing the more well known revelations of Israel's duplicity in the reasons for the US going into war with Iraq, it also points out the insider dealings of the Israel friendly elite who also happen to be running the world's richest State, the USA.
Gladly not a scathing attack on the Jewish faith, nor a tome for anti-semitics - this book is a reminder that all is not well in Middle Eastern politics, particularly with the behind the scenes machinations between Israel and its greatest benefactor, America.

Petras' insight into the "jewish" lobby is both insightful and compelling. Aside from sharing the more well known revelations of Israel's duplicity in the reasons for the US going into war with Iraq, it also points out the insider dealings of the Israel friendly elite who also happen to be running the world's richest State, the USA.
Gladly not a scathing attack on the Jewish faith, nor a tome for anti-semitics - this book is a reminder that all is not well in Middle Eastern politics, particularly with the behind the scenes machinations between Israel and its greatest benefactor, America.

1) Overview: Making the Case for Reducing Israeli and Jewish Power in the US Government

Petras does an excellent step by step job of documenting just how the Neocons in the Pentagon took the United States to war in Iraq. He lays out the strategy and highlights the influence of Jewish Zionists, Mossad agents, and Christian sympathisers in the US government and in Israel and how they work together to move our government in ways that benefit Israel, but- at least in the Iraq invasion- most likely are undertaken at direct cost to Americans' lives and wellbeing. He backs up his points with facts that have yet to be countered by other political science researchers. For example Petras states that 35% of Republican and 60% of Democrat campaign donations come from American Zionists! He links US Government payments to Israel as a primary source of this funding. The work appears to be properly researched to US academic standards and is a moderately easy, if distressing, read.

2) Criticism: The Facts Add Up, But the Writing Method is Somewhat Manipulative

Petras lays out the facts and then slowly but surely introduces naming conventions and other writing techniques demonstrative of agitation propaganda we became familiar with in the Cold War from Soviet media. Being an old Cold Warrior myself I have a zero tolerance policy for this type of manipulation. Further Petras' commentary on Reagan and the Contras/ Central American issues demonstrate a leftist writer with an axe to grind. Still his points on Israel, the Neocons, and the Iraqi invasion are fact based from what I can assess, ergo they must be taken seriously. Effectively, if Dr. Petras had left out the leftist influence in his writing, the work would be a winner no holds barred. As it is it still must be taken seriously by every foreign policy analyst that reads it. Especially pertinent is the apparent move towards converting the American Republic into an empire- which, Petras observes, may be the Knesset's plan to expand its power by using controlled US power as a surrogate for Israeli influence globally.

3) Observations: What we really need is a plan to get the American Government back to being free from foreign influence

If George Washington had two great warnings in his Farewell Address they were:
1) Beware of foreign entanglements
2) Honesty is the Best Policy

We really need to get a bigger picture idea of the influence of Jewish culture and its Neocon/Zionist execution and impact on America and her citizens. The book is limited in scope to the Iraqi invasion, AIPAC/Mossad spying in the US Government, the impact of torture on America's image globally, and the clear massive and intentional over representation of Zionist goals within America's government. The book does not address other issues that may be related to Zionist influences in the US. For example, how will the US Government handle comming conflicts between Zionists and Islamist inside the continental US? Are Israelis responsible for our elected representatives' decision to not protect our borders from illegal aliens? (In this case, what else could explain the Bush Administrations decision to not enforce immigration law with 90% of Americans demanding it?)

Conclusion: This is an important work and a must read for Americans who want their nation to regain its independance and to maintain their role as its owners.

I find it absolutely scary how a little "country" has so much control over our congress and our people here in the U.S.A.Unless we the people wake up and revolt against this foreign powers' control here , we as a nation are doomed to follow in the same path of the Roman Empires' demise.

This book is one of the few recent examples of the anti-Israely wave. it basically criticize US support for Israel while ignoring some hard facts. for example, the writers try to hide the fact that Israel is fighting anti-western forces in the middle east, keeping them at bay for the US.
this book reeks of anti-semetic stench. if you believe the moment the US stops supporting Israel and all the arabs would become Mr Mc democarcy and Mc progress ,you probably owe to yourself to pick a more serious book then this pile of garbage.

I purchased this book to assist me with my dissertation and was horribly disappointed. Personally I disagree with the author but that is ok that is what free speech is about and the ability to freely express one's opinion. If you are looking at this book for academic purposes please find another book. First, one should know this this is a very small book that contains unsupported information that most college professors will not except and I say this from personal experience. The reason that it is not excepted in NOT because it is controversial or opposing public opinion but because the text reads too much like a conspiracy theory. The truth be told most of America is somewhere in the middle on this issue not die hard Israel supporters contrary to the book. Usually one will come around two sets of standpoints when researching this subject, in my case I am writing a paper on the Israeli/Palestine conflict and its effects on international relations and foreign policy, and usually you will find hardcore pro- zionist or the complete opposite and sadly somewhere in the mix extremely racist material. This would fall in the last two categories especially when one is trying to write a credible paper on the subject. If you are looking for a good book about this conflict try Israel/Palestine by Alan Dowty and then try the peer reviewed articles on ebsco host or proquest. These are really the best if you are trying to write a totally fact based paper without personal bias.

I wish copies of this could be made and distributed freely amongst all tax paying Americans so you can see exactly how your hard earned cash is being spent. I highly recommend everyone to read this book, extremely eye opening.

Hello all: I haven't even recieved this book, but I have read summaries, reviews, and i have read many articles by James Petras about international politics. I am an absolute Hegelian and Lacanian, which means that I can review an article, or movie without watching it, that's why i gave this book 5 stars. I know that James Petras digs the truth out of USA government, and Israeli impact on it. I think USA should nationalize itself. This Israeli influence inside USA government and economics is very bad for all americans. Americans must do something about it, in order to democratize this nation like the Founding Fathers wanted. Because if it continues like this we will see the death of the republic, under Israeli rule !!

As long as the Zionist lobby control ME policies this book will never be fully debated.
America needs to read this book and realize how they are being manipulated by this heavily racist state.

Petras was on of the first 'intellectuals' to confront the Jewish-Israeli lobby in America and how it controls American foreign policy. This book preceded Walt and Mearsheimer's book, and goes further. I would read this before you read their book. Learn about this powerful group of Jewish Supremacists and how they are buying our politicians, bankrupting our nation, and leading our nation to destruction by inflaming the entire Arab world. The Jews are pitting Islam against Christianity in an attempt to destroy us both.

I have just finished reading this very revealing book. It is a very bold and detailed account of how Isreal and its Zionist supporters have put America and its people and through them, the entire world in a stranglehold for an illusionery benefit of Israel. Although there is some rhetoric, I found the book full of facts very eloquently written. It should be read by every American to know the harm that Israel and its Zionist supporters are causing to America, its economy and reputation, bringing the world dangerously close to the brink of third world war.

This along with the "Israel Lobby" by Mearsheimer and Walt, a much more complete book on the same subject matter and "State of Emergency" by Patrick Buchanan are must reads if you intend to save America.

This book is a perfect counter-point to They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby. I review that book also, and recommend both books to every American, just as I recommend the books below that document how the Saudis have bought the Bush Family and the Republican and Democratic parties, neither of which represents We the People.

I would normally remmove one star because the author is a bit over the top in blaming everything on the Zionists and the Neo-Conservative servants, but I went with five stars to offset the mindless rapid Zionists (I hold moderate Jews in total respect). The same week that WIRED Magazine had a cover story on a new two way sustainable energy grid, Dick Cheney was meeting secretly with Enron and Exxon. Iraq happened because Dick Cheney wanted it to happen, the Zionists provided the lies, and the Congress and the media both were intimidated into ignoring General Tony Zinn, General Shinseki, and others including myself, who said quite clearly that this was an insanely bad thing to do with an incalculably high cost.

Over-all this is an extremely welll-researched, well-written presentation of fourteen chapters that are logical and thoughtful and absolutely meritorious of full consideration.

I was very surprised to read, very carefully, two chapters dissecting two of my personal heros, Sy Hersh and Noam Chomsky, and must confess that the author provoked in me thoughtful concern and reflection. I trust Sy and Noam, but the author is so well-organized that he causes me to realize that everybody has multiple levels of agenda, and that we must all take greater care in discriminating our sources of information.

Congressman Tom Moran, who represents my district, has personally said that Zionish have too much influence on Congress, and I agree. Tom Moran has been a very good representative, and he speaks the truth.

Here are some books and a DVD that can put the totally unacceptable Zionist influence on the USA in a larger context:

Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government--And How We Take It Back
The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom
The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror
Why We Fight
Fog Facts : Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin (Nation Books)
Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It
The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy)

This book is a perfect counter-point to They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby. I review that book also, and recommend both books to every American, just as I recommend the books below that document how the Saudis have bought the Bush Family and the Republican and Democratic parties, neither of which represents We the People.



I would normally remmove one star because the author is a bit over the top in blaming everything on the Zionists and the Neo-Conservative servants, but I went with five stars to offset the mindless rapid Zionists (I hold moderate Jews in total respect). The same week that WIRED Magazine had a cover story on a new two way sustainable energy grid, Dick Cheney was meeting secretly with Enron and Exxon. Iraq happened because Dick Cheney wanted it to happen, the Zionists provided the lies, and the Congress and the media both were intimidated into ignoring General Tony Zinn, General Shinseki, and others including myself, who said quite clearly that this was an insanely bad thing to do with an incalculably high cost.



Over-all this is an extremely welll-researched, well-written presentation of fourteen chapters that are logical and thoughtful and absolutely meritorious of full consideration.



I was very surprised to read, very carefully, two chapters dissecting two of my personal heros, Sy Hersh and Noam Chomsky, and must confess that the author provoked in me thoughtful concern and reflection. I trust Sy and Noam, but the author is so well-organized that he causes me to realize that everybody has multiple levels of agenda, and that we must all take greater care in discriminating our sources of information.



Congressman Tom Moran, who represents my district, has personally said that Zionish have too much influence on Congress, and I agree. Tom Moran has been a very good representative, and he speaks the truth.



Here are some books and a DVD that can put the totally unacceptable Zionist influence on the USA in a larger context:



Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government--And How We Take It Back

The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom

The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

Why We Fight

Fog Facts : Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin (Nation Books)

Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It

The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy)

This book is a perfect counter-point to They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby. I review that book also, and recommend both books to every American, just as I recommend the books below that document how the Saudis have bought the Bush Family and the Republican and Democratic parties, neither of which represents We the People.

I would normally remmove one star because the author is a bit over the top in blaming everything on the Zionists and the Neo-Conservative servants, but I went with five stars to offset the mindless rapid Zionists (I hold moderate Jews in total respect). The same week that WIRED Magazine had a cover story on a new two way sustainable energy grid, Dick Cheney was meeting secretly with Enron and Exxon. Iraq happened because Dick Cheney wanted it to happen, the Zionists provided the lies, and the Congress and the media both were intimidated into ignoring General Tony Zinn, General Shinseki, and others including myself, who said quite clearly that this was an insanely bad thing to do with an incalculably high cost.

Over-all this is an extremely welll-researched, well-written presentation of fourteen chapters that are logical and thoughtful and absolutely meritorious of full consideration.

I was very surprised to read, very carefully, two chapters dissecting two of my personal heros, Sy Hersh and Noam Chomsky, and must confess that the author provoked in me thoughtful concern and reflection. I trust Sy and Noam, but the author is so well-organized that he causes me to realize that everybody has multiple levels of agenda, and that we must all take greater care in discriminating our sources of information.

Congressman Jim Moran, who represents my district, has personally said that Zionish have too much influence on Congress, and I agree. Tom Moran has been a very good representative, and he speaks the truth.

Here are some books and a DVD that can put the totally unacceptable Zionist influence on the USA in a larger context:

Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government--And How We Take It Back
The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom
The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror
Why We Fight
Fog Facts : Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin (Nation Books)
Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It
The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy)

If you are easily swayed by author's opinions and are anti-Israel, then this book is for you. It has an undisguised anti-Israel agenda. I would recommend reading more politically advanced titles. Anyone who can honestly say that we are in Iraq now, because of AIPAC/Israeli influence is proof that this country has irreversibly lost the "war on drugs". Skip this one. Take a look at recent John Perkins, Noam Chomsky, and Robert Baer titles. While your at it, read Blackwater.

Having spent several years doing a thesis and a book on the role of domestic politics in American policy toward Israel, I'm always looking for more and better information. Unfortunately, that's not what you get in this book. It relies almost entirely on secondary sources, using quotes not to establish facts but to use a different voice for the author's opinions. There is almost no coherent argument at all. Petras conflates the lobby, which is a group of organizations formed to affect policy led by AIPAC, with the entire Jewish community, selected neocons, or Israel. All "facts" are selected to support the author's conclusion that the "Jewish lobby" is all-powerful, ignoring instances where AIPAC lost or was rebuffed by the government of Israel. Jews are treated as monolithic, when the fact is that they are not, even if the loudest voices in the public discourse makes it seem so. Petras does not address the reasons the American citizenry consistently supports Israel over Arabs or Muslims, or the mechanisms by which American beliefs have been fixed and enforced, or the conditions and limits on that support.
This is a deeply disappointing book, the more so because it is being pushed by Amazon as one to buy if you buy the Walt-Mearsheimer book coming out in September. Judging by the earlier articles written by Walt and Mearsheimer, that book will have its problems of evidence and logic as well, but nothing on the order of Petras's book. The shame is that our country really needs an informed debate about policy toward Israel. US policy has been badly flawed, and has done serious damage to US interests, over and above the damage it has done to people living in the region. But to fix it, Americans need to understand how it has gotten to be what it is, and Petras doesn't contribute to understanding.

This book is actually so far out of line that it is difficult to write a review of it. It appears to attack Noam Chomsky for being too pro-Israel. And it asks how we can confront Zionism. Well, Zionism is just one aspect of human rights, so I would think that those who can figure out how to confront human rights can figure out how to confront Zionism.

Petras does discuss suicide bombers. That's refreshing, given that some anti-Zionists would rather ignore them. And he says that the suicide bomber is driven by "an effort to redeem the Sacred from the Desecraters."

Well, that's actually interesting. But Petras ought to realize that what goes around can come around. It just might be that some people will regard those who oppose truth, justice, freedom, peace, and human rights as the "desecraters" rather than the "sacred."

Petras does not mention the fact that Israel has been a great success story in many ways. It won its independence from a wicked colonial regime. It defended itself against eliminationist aggressors. It settled for a small amount of land: if every nation were as "greedy" for land as Israel, there would never be any wars over land. It showed respect for the environment: it is the only nation to have more trees on its land in the year 2000 than were there in 1900. And it has been a reasonably tolerant democracy, in spite of the nearly constant assaults on it.

I think that if we consider the truth about how well Israel has done, it is easier to see why many Americans oppose gratuitous aggression against it, and why many Americans feel that it is in America's interest to give it some support. That could be a reason why many American members of Congress show some support for Israel. Yes, there is a pro-Israeli lobby: AIPAC. But it has a very easy product to sell. You won't see much of this in Petras' book either.

There isn't much more that's worth saying about this book.

POWER paints an accurate picture of the reality of Israel's control of America from within. It explains how this power isn't only exerted from Israel, but specifically from Americans themselves - Zionist American traitors. For those unfamiliar with this issue, a simple search for AIPAC or "Zionists of America," Amdocs, AEI will be an introduction. It's important to remember that Christians can be Zionists. 'Zionist' is not a euphemism for Jewish. The term 'anti-Semitism' cannot possibly apply. There are many Jewish Americans whose loyalty is to the United States. Zionists try to hijack Judaism so they can smear such truthful books such as this one.

I recommend this book for its truth.

In blunt words, Prof. James Petras calls upon Americans to look at how American Mideast policy has been conducted, especially since September 2001. Dr. Petras takes the reader across a number of issues related to the overt pro-Israeli positions of America's foreign policy. He identifies many pro-Israeli supporters in the Bush administration and how they contributed to the disastrous policies of the last six years. What Mr. Petras has to say will upset many, but this book is important as a launching pad for America to change its Near East policy before even more harm comes our way.

This book should be read to understand the truth behind our Government's support of Israel and it's military domination in the Mid-East. We have not been told the truth, only what our Government wants us to hear and believe. READ THIS BOOK!

I sincerely wanted a discussion of the influence that Israel plays in US politics, but found this to be such an anti-Semitic diatribe that I couldn't even finish the book. As examples of Israel's influence Petras names the Jews in the current administration. This no more indicates that a person has unreasonable influence from Israel than the presence of a Catholic would indicate unreasonable Vatican influence. Books like this do not further the cause of justice, human rights, Palestinian rights, or anything else. They do not convince readers who genuinely want to learn how this government works. They only end up branding the author as an extremist and bigot.

Petras' book makes many arguments, but with each argument comes with equally as many pitfalls which serve to discredit his otherwise thought-provoking and plausible claims. One of the main problems with his arguments, as already illustrated, concerns his lack of credible sources and, in some cases, any sources at all. While the book features many endnotes, citations crucial to his arguments remain omitted in such instances as the amounts of money donated to political parties and financial aid given to Israel by the United States. Petras also has the problem of continuously referring to sources as "sources" (74) or "former and present knowledgeable news reporters" (73). Claims such as "The US state has repeatedly violated all international conventions and laws related to torture of prisoners, mass killings of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, pillaging of natural resources, and the establishment of client colonial states and imperial-centered economies" (83) are presented with no citation or information to back-up the claim. Consequentially, many of his statements are read as being little more than assumption and opinion; he continuously fails to support the lofty and serious accusations he makes throughout the book with citations and references. If one is to make claims as insinuating and potentially offensive as the ones he makes, that person must have sound and solid references and citations that can bear the burden of lofty claims.

Another dent to Petras' credibility is his writing style. The book is written in an irritatingly slanted manner with far too much subjectivity interjected. Instead of presenting an objective argument, Petras litters his pages with sensationalism and blatant anti-Zionism verging on anti-Semitism. It is very hard to take a writer seriously when he makes the claim that "Kristalnacht, the 1939 Nazi assault on Jewish homes, stores and persons in `reprisal' for a Jew killing a German Embassy officer was a garden party compared to the Jewish State's ongoing destruction of Lebanon" (110). Irregardless of how bad the situation is in Lebanon, under no circumstances should Kristalnacht be referred to as a "garden party" and trivialized to the point where the events of that night are considered nothing more than "the killing of a few Jews and property damage" (110). Referring to some Israelis as "mad dogs" (115) in the form of juvenile name-calling doesn't help one's credibility either nor do black and white statements like "You are either for America or for AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee]" (81). Other examples of immaturity in his writing include referring to Flemming Rose as "`Fleming Rose'/Mossad [Iraqi secret police]" (140). All of these instances are both annoying and discrediting. A more objective and moderate writing style and tone would have done wonders for his arguments in terms of not detracting from his credibility and keeping his book from reading like a radical conspiracy theory as opposed to an educated political commentary.

On an almost-tangential note, the book is poorly written and constructed. It is littered here and there with grammatical and typographical errors. Structural problems include the Index referring the reader to pages that don't exist as well as citations that don't appear in the endnotes (36). At one point, Petras sets out to "examine the fifteen erroneous theses of the highly respected Professor [Noam] Chomsky" (170). He then lists fourteen points. Glaring and easily correctable errors like these do not have a major effect on the content, but promote the idea that the book (and consequentially the author) is an amateur and unprofessional production which reflects poorly on Petras and his argument.

Reviewer Shalom Freedman lists a series of major differences between the Israeli government and various U.S. administrations. The fact that they occurred is undeniable. Many more could be added. For example, both the Truman and Eisenhower Adminsitrations refused to sell any weapons to Israel, not even those of a defensive nature. Jimmy Carter was certainly no friend of Israel and pressured Israel into giving up all of Sinai. (As the winner of a war it did not seek, Israel had every right to keep it or at least part of it.) Bill Clinton interfered in Israel's internal electoral process in favor of the Labor Party and in opposition to the Likud party.

What is incredible is that the vast majority of readers found Friedman's review to be of no value. That so many people do not wish to be confused with the facts is rather scary.

The question remains, "Will Petras suffer the same outcome as Professors Mearshiemer and Walt?" At least Petras is an Emeritas professor
but because I believe everything that he wrote in this extraordinarily brave, insiteful and prophetic book I fear for his safety. Yes--it is easily within the realm of possibility that bad things could mysteriously befall Petras in the next months, after the dust settles and the memory of all that he has written in this powerful book fades.

I am not one iota surprised by all that Petras has written; the enormity of the threat posed by Israel and its Lobby in the United States has been maturing for the decades that I have been a student of world affairs. There can be no question about this statement regardless of the vociferous denials spalashed on every contradictory statement that ever appears in print or on the electronic media. How can there possibly be a resonably intelligent exchange of views and opinions about the world's most malignant cancer--contemporary Middle East affairs, when one of the major players uses any form of dissuation and disinformation to minimize that debate?

The Power of Israel in the United States raises so many points germane to the current discussion about this most important area of the world. Obviously, of all that Petras writes, the expansion of Israel into what the Zionists call Greater Israel is the most important. When 9/11 happened I told Diane that America was protecting its parent state, Israel, because only the US was powerful enough to withstand the opinion firestorm that would follow an attack on Iraq. Nothing that I have read since then disaproves this original opinion. Petras agrees with the general idea in all of chapter one and speciffically on P. 25 and p. 28.

I feel bad because I still have this childish notion that countries will not drop to the depths of evil but that what looks bad is just something I do not understand--how wrong Petras has proven that I was. On page 86, Petras solves one of the most puzzling events of this murderous assault on Iraq and that was the looting of Baghdad's national archaeological museum. This destruction of one of Western civilization's premier collections of our heritage ranks as a war crime of the highest order and I could not understand how even the incompetant American army could allow it to happen. Now however, after Petras explains what the invasion was about, all the pieces fall into place. I childishly thought that only the Nazi army in Warsaw and the Soviet Union called for the total destruction of the Slavic nation's intellectual and historical infastructure. After reading chapter six, I realize this evil is open to any players and I am ashamed. Poor stupid me; I guess I had better grow up.

If you are not afraid, read this book: underline it, take notes about it but most importantly absorb it. It really is that important!

He talked about a subject which is affecting our daily life in words never heard before. I suggest the subject of this book should be taught to every student in the USA, in preliminary school or in university. If we the American people know about such subject long enough before, we would not be asking ourselves, today; why we were attacked in September Eleven? Or why we are, what are we doing, in Iraq? And why are we going to Iran and Syria, tomorrow?

This is a great book for those who suspect the stupendous influence of a foreign government on our own. It deals with Israel and it's Zion-con agents within and without our government. It is divided into standalone topics - every one of which is an eye-opener in itself. Well written and researched this book is a very valuable tool and historic reference.

For those who have ignored the reckless, unfair and dangerous path we have adopted in the Mid-East it is a must for understanding the overall situation. For those who have watched in horror while the U.S. has become more and more entrenched in operations - over which we have seemingly little or no control - think again and read this book. It is a must! Incidentally, 'seemingly' is the keyword.

P.S. Encourage your local library to buy this book and also buy this book; you will not be sorry!

This book is detailed and well-researched. It targets facts and events which are in most cases intentionally ignored by politicians and mass media. The facts are there, but who dares to share them. Better, who dares to face them. I have only read two chapters and am overwhelmed by the deepness of the research and fact-finding.

I believe that every American ought to know the truths which are documented in this book about what is going on in Washington DC. I believe many politicians wish to be able to talk about the abuse of power by the pro-Israeli lobby, but dare not. They have a lot to lose (personally speaking), but the writer of this book holds nothing back from the American public of what they ought to know. He is interested in informing and educating so that the reader can make his judgement and help protect democracy and freedom in the USA and work for a just peace in the Middle East.

Don't read this book unless you are ready. Are you? I dare you.

Any reader interested in surveying the landscape of analysis about the unique and "special" relationship between Israel and the U.S. must read this penetrating and scholarly book.

Author James Petras unmasks the concocted basis for America's unconditional support for the Jewish State. Petras exposes the duplicity among Leftist intellectuals (author and Prof. Noam Chomsky is his primary target) who would have Americans believe that Israel is a pawn of the U.S., that America's military interventions in the Middle East are all about oil, and that the pro-Israel Lobby is like many others operating in Washington. Indeed, both liberal and neo-conservative collusion with Zionist 'values' in America has produced a moral mailaise in official Washington where, for instance, racism is universally decried--except in Israel.

Still worse, the acquisition of 'weapons of mass destruction' and the option of employing pre-emptive military strikes are invaribaly acceptable to our nation's ruling elites whenever Israeli interests are concerned.

Why is America so hated? Petras makes it perfectly clear, only you won't find these salient conclusions noted on the evening news.

Indeed, the legendary Israel Lobby is both better realized, and more complex, in "The Power of Israel in The United States" than in many similar books. The countless Jewish federations, "gatekeepers" and think tanks, and non-government organizations which interconnect to advance Zionist goals throughout the U.S. comprise, says Petras, a "Zionist Power Configuration", or "ZPC", which further magnify the better-known operations of Washington's formidable AIPAC (American Israel Political Action Committee). In short, there is no 'lobby' in America that comes close to exercising the kind of cultural and political influence which today's Zionist lobby now wields. This is a disturbing but important book.

"Every time we do something, you [Shimon Peres] tell me America will do this and will do that..... I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it."

Ariel Sharon
Israeli Prime Minister
Knesset, Tel Aviv
October 3, 2001

And this book proves it.

Excellent synopsis of how America has allowed others (One other) to influence our politicians to make decisions counter to the interests or benefit of our own nation, and how a government-friendly media has helped spread their message.
This could be made into a movie: produced by the United States, directed by Israel and staring (but not introducing) a cast of thousands of innocent victims.
Highly recommended reading.

Given American's unprecedented military involvement in the Middle East- we have invaded a soveriegn Arab nation based on contrived false assumption, we have allowed Israel (our supposed ally) in invade Lebanon, decimate Gaza and to further colonize the West Bank regardless of the consequence to US strategic interests, it is time to ask "why." Recently we have seen several courageous, credible Americans put forth theories that US Middle East policy has been highjacked by a highly organized political lobby made up of pro-Israeli Jews and so-called Christian Zionists. The works of Professors Mearsheimer and Walt and President Jimmy Carter come to mind. Petras paints a picture of an international organized pro-Israeli lobby that has one mission- advancing the strategic political and military interests of a foreign power. This is without precedent in American history. Although we had other "ethnic based" lobbies (the pro-Taiwanese Chinese lobby of the 1950s, the Cuban lobby in Miami, and the pro-IRA lobby of Irish-Americans), non of these has been able to so capture the entire regional policy of the United States. In fact, Petras argues that the Jewish lobby bears direct responsibility for the Iraq war and the current effort to manipulate the United States to attack Iran and Syria. Sadly, the facts are on Professor Petras' side. One interesting fact that I did not know and was not reported in the US media was the so-called Danish cartoon controversy was caused by a Ukranian, Mossad connected Jew who went by the phony name of Flemming Rose. Petras documents that this was part of a deliberate strategy to further isolate the Muslim world from the West. It is interesting to note that most of the anti-Muslim diatribes being printed in the US media are for the most part written and produced by individuals with close, known pro-Israeli proclivities and generally Jewish. These are indisputable facts the Petras supports with solid references. Petras warns us to beware! Excellent, easy to read, well documented work.

This book is a clear exposition of the Zionist criminals and their apologists who have usurped the US gov't, media and financial systems and are trying to drag the US into WWIII. A must read for anyone interested in the truth that one will never hear or see in the Zionist controlled media or hear from the Zionist controlled politicians. The scourge of Zionism is finally being exposed. Let's hope it is not too late to stop these ruthless criminals and save the world from more barbarism and a new dark age.

Petras seems to cover it all in this scathing and incredibly well informed analysis of Zionist control over United States decision making regarding the Middle East. He proffers a myriad of statistics augmenting his point that the Jewish Lobby is ultimately in the driver's seat when the Pentagon, State Department and Executive Branch deliberate on Middle Eastern policy, and carry out their policy objectives in that region of the world. The Power of Israel in the United States is such a scholarly and well sourced book that it's hard not to laugh in the face of those who scream accusations of anti-Semite at anyone who happens to be toting the book about.

It does an excellent job in explaining how the Jewish Lobby in Washington greatly desired a fragmented Iraq which would pose no threat to Israel's continued ethnic-cleansing of Palestinians and Israel's illegal land grabs into the occupied territories. The Israel-Firsters have pretty much gotten exactly what they wanted: Iraq is indeed turning into a fractured state which will likely end up a tripartite entity virtually powerless to effect change in the Middle East -- cheers from the Israel-Firsters are no doubt echoing from Tel Aviv and AIPAC headquarters.

Naturally Petras points out how the Jewish Lobby is acting consistently on behalf of a foreign power that is outside the reach of American voters. He explains the truism (a truism to anyone garnering information outside major United States media channels) about how the U.S. Congress is completely subservient to Israel and how both Republicans and Democrats are major recipients of the campaign cash emanating from the coffers of the Israel Lobby. Democratic congressional candidates receive roughly 60% of their campaign contributions from Israel-Firsters while GOP candidates receive approximately 35% of their total campaign contributions from the Jewish Lobby. To believe either party on Capitol Hill will buck this stranglehold is delusional.

Petras is truly dedicated to world peace; he explains that one critical step in curbing Middle Eastern violence is for Israel to relinquish its colonial occupation over Palestine. Clearly mainstream media sources will stay as far away from this book as possible given Zionist power over most major media outlets in America. Petras' seminal work should be on the bookshelf of every citizen who considers themselves well informed, and vast passages should be duly highlighted.

Any one who has followed closely as I have Israel -America relations for over four decades knows how often they have involved conflicts of interest, and U.S. pressure on Israel. While Israel and the United States are allies they very often disagree. The United States has many times taken action which is against the interests of Israel, as its leaders and people conceive it.
This makes the major claim of this book completely ridiculous. The U.S. is not in the pocket of Israel even when they act together, even when they have similar interests. Both have a real interest in peace in the Middle East, but this does not mean they agree on the way of pursuing that peace.
Israel was forced to withdraw from the Sinai in 1956 by President Eisenhower. Israel was not helped by President Johnson in 1967 when it demanded that International committments be honored to keep open the Straits of Tiran. The Nixon Administration under Kissinger had a 'reconsideration' of its relations with Israel which forced it to greater compromise after the Yom Kippur War. The first Bush Administration was cold to Israel, kept it out of the anti- Saddam alliance. Even today when both sides feel the strong need to prevent a nuclear Iran from coming into being, the U.S. and Israel have differences on how that can be done.
Ignorance and bad- faith are behind the charge that Presidents and Secretaries of State are controlled by a 'lobby' and not by the interests of the United States.
There are other major errors and misimpressions created by this book. Support for Israel is bipartisan and is also overwhelmingly popular. The support for Israel among the American public is ten times that for the Arabs. One major source of support for Israel is Christian Evangelicals who have far more political clout than any Jewish group does. The support for Israel is not a 'Jewish thing ' only or even primarily.
This book exaggerates the power and communal strength of the Jews in America. It distorts the processes of decision- making in American foreign policy. It is simplistic, stupid, and in its clear dislike of Jews, perhaps even anti- Semitic.

It is surprising that Petras's argument that the US empire is steered, if not controlled, by the 'Jewish Lobby' is still being questioned. Vast historical evidence confirms that it is so. Logic and clear eyed analysis of the facts can lead to no other conclusion. That this Jewish Lobby is just a small clique, and is as contemptuous of their own people as Gentile leaders are of their public, will not stop the inevitable smears charging Petras with anti-semitism. Petras's argument covers much of the conveniently forgotten ground missing from compelling political arguments advanced by Noam Chomsky, Alexander Cockburn, and others. Petras adds the other half of their argument as to why progressives ought to oppose the entire Zionist project as an offshoot of imperialism.

Petras's argument that the US empire is being controlled by the "Jewish Lobby" defies all historical evidence, logic and analysis of the facts and is the equivalent of arguing that the tail wags the dog. He has reduced the drive for the American Empire to control oil and extend its power throughout the Middle East via its watchdog to the machinations of a cabal of rich and powerful Jews. This anti-Semitic sounding argument (this book goes on and on about wealthy Jews, "the most influential ethnic group"??!!) dangerously undermines the compelling political arguments advanced by Noam Chomsky and many others about why progressives ought to oppose the entire Zionist project as an offshoot of imperialism. It also lets the capitalist system off the hook. Sure the Israel Lobby exerts influence, but is it driving US policy in Iraq and elsewhere? No way! Read Chomsky, Alexander Cockburn and Joseph Massad on this question for much more reasonable explanations of the U.S/Israel relationship instead.

This book by a left-of-center author analyzes and documents of the power of Israel via the Israeli, Jewish and Pro-Zionist Lobbies on US Middle East policy. It questions the primary beneficiary of US policy, and its destructive results for the United States. It explores the extraordinary extent of US political, economic, military and diplomatic support for the state of Israel, along with the means whereby such support is generated and consolidated. Zionist power in America ensures unconditional US backing for Israeli colonization of Palestine and its massive uprooting of Palestinians. It contends that the interests of Israel rather than those of Big Oil are the primary cause of the disastrous US wars against Iraq and threats of war against Iran and Syria. It also explores the AIPAC spying scandal and other Israeli espionage against America. It questions the inability in America to sustain or even formulate a discourse related to the subject of Israeli influence on the United States. Finally, it calls for a review of American Mid East policy with a view to reclaiming US independence of action based upon enlightened self-interest and progressive principles.

It would appear that Mr Petras has decided to create his own campaign. As a well educated individual and academic, I would argue he has broken the cardinal rule of quaified research on political issues, that being that he has only referred to one side of an extremely sensitive debate. Mr Petras doesnt just espouse statistics (with one dimensional leanings), he uses these statistics as a political tool to chastise Israel beyond the proposed influence into spheres that do not relate to his main point, more to belittle a nation, perhaps to prop up another. One cannot get away with intellectually presiding over a complex and multi-faceted problem by suggesting that only one side causes problems and the other is virtually as white as white. On the subject of the middle east conflict, which Mr Petras also focuses on, people interested in the subject should look for more balanced offerings. It's a shame and an opportunity lost. On the subject of influence alone, America has been a serious victim in the war on terror. It may be a little less surprising in light of this matter that the US looks to one of its closest allies in the region that most would say contains other countries and peoples that bear most of the responsibility for this tragic terror.

Petras sets the table in his introduction for what's to come in the later chapters. He notes what author JJ Goldberg reported in his book Jewish Power: Inside the Jewish Establishment. Goldberg wrote in the early 1990s that 45% of the Democrat Party's fundraising and 25% of that for the Republicans came from Jewish-funded Political Action Committees (PACS). Petras then updates the numbers using the ones Richard Cohen published in the Washington Post showing them now at 60% and 35% respectively, and that this funding relates to a single core issue -- unconditional US support for Israel's agenda including those parts of it human rights activists and observers of conscience judge most egregious and illegal. Petras stresses that no other single US lobby including Big Pharma, Big Oil, agribusiness, or any other one has this kind of dominant influence over the political process here. He refers to "Zioncon" ideologues and policymakers whose main goal is to make the Middle East into a "US-Israeli Co-Prosperity Sphere" under the fraudulent cover of promoting democracy in the region - but doing it through the barrel of a gun.

Petras explains the root of the Lobby's power lies in the high proportion of Jewish families who are among the wealthiest and most influential ones in the country. He cites Forbes magazine that reported 25-30% of the wealthiest families here are Jewish despite the small percentage of Jews in the population overall. They include billionaires with enormous influence, and along with all others comprising the Jewish Lobby, have created a "tyranny of Israel over the US" with consequences grave enough to threaten world peace and stability, the global economy, and the very future of democracy in this country.

Petras ends his book with one final impassioned call to arms: "Let's move ahead and de-colonize our country, our minds and politics as a first step in reconstituting a democratic republic, free of entangling colonial and neo-imperial alliances."

* Wise thoughts from a wise and courageous man.

We can't ignore them lest we pay the supreme price of the loss of our freedom (and maybe our lives) because we didn't know it was being taken from us until it was too late to act to save it.