February 25, 2004

NAME THEM! SHAME THEM!

Anti-globalisation, anti-advertising, and anti-capitalism activist Kalle Lasn investigates those scheming neocons:

Drawing attention to the Jewishness of the neocons is a tricky game. Anyone who does so can count on automatically being smeared as an anti-Semite.

Which is pretty easy in Lasn’s case, given the title of this column: “Why won't anyone say they are Jewish?” Which, incidentally, plenty of idiots do. Lasn decides to join them:

Here at Adbusters, we decided to tackle the issue head on and came up with a carefully researched list of who appear to be the 50 most influential neocons in the US. Deciding exactly who is a neocon is difficult since some neocons reject the term while others embrace it. Some shape policy from within the White House, while others are more peripheral, exacting influence indirectly as journalists, academics and think tank policy wonks. What they all share is the view that the US is a benevolent hyper power that must protect itself by reshaping the rest of the world into its morally superior image. And half of the them are Jewish.

That, believe it or not, is his conclusion.

(Via Michael Totten, who notes that Lasn adds a little dot to the Jewish names on his neocon list: “At least he didn’t use a yellow star.”)

UPDATE. Robert Corr has bought his last copy of Adbusters.

Posted by Tim Blair at February 25, 2004 12:25 PM
Comments

"Carefully researched" eh? Let's let David Bernstein summarise the precise amount of influence the pernicious Jewish cabal has had within the Bush administration:

"Bush receives less than 20% of the Jewish vote. There is not a single Jewish cabinet official. Most of the leading Jewish "neocons" supported McCain and are not especially welcome in the White House. The two highest ranking Jews near the president, Ari Fleischer and David Frum, both leave after short stints in the administration. Direct Jewish influence on the administration is as low as its been in any administration for as far back as my memory reaches; perhaps Eisenhower's is the last administration with as few Jews in high-level positions."

Frogshit, thy name is Lasn.

Posted by: fidens at February 25, 2004 at 12:37 PM

Get Drago to put a little red dot on the centre of Lasn's chest...Pause breathing...gently squeeze..follow-through...

Posted by: Razor at February 25, 2004 at 01:01 PM

Lasn erroneously lists Francis Fukuyama as a non-Jew. It is well known that Fukuyama was born to Japanese-Jewish parents in Chicago (a huge special interest group - they hoard money and use it to buy sushi) but was stolen by gypsies at birth and raised as a Japanese-American gentile.

Posted by: Alex Robson at February 25, 2004 at 01:05 PM

`Drawing attention to....smeared as anti-Semite', but let's proceed to smear Jews.

Semites, a weasel word, Jews aren't the only Semites, they are just the only semitic people villified by the likes of Lasn.
Semite is a weasel word because of the entailed generalisation, true enough - who is anti-Semite. Not the same as who villifies jews, who hates Jews, who murders Jews - given, these days, an awful lot of the murderers are semitic.

Posted by: d at February 25, 2004 at 01:18 PM

Reminds me of the frequent references in the media to a so-called resurgence of "anti-semitism" in France and other European countries. Few such articles point out that most of the attacks on Jews and synagogues in Europe these days are committed by Arab immigrants, and thus do not reflect any "resurgence" of traditional European anti-semitism at all.

Posted by: jean-luc bidet at February 25, 2004 at 01:33 PM

But she's right, isn't she. Name-calling won't alter that fact.

Posted by: Adam at February 25, 2004 at 02:11 PM

And there's not a trace of anti-semitism in the European response to such attacks. "Well, we can't guarantee your safety." "Try not to look so Jewish."

Posted by: scott h. at February 25, 2004 at 02:14 PM

Good point Scott.

Posted by: jean-luc bidet at February 25, 2004 at 02:21 PM

Adam, it's a he, and he may be technically correct, some of those (very arbitrary) choices are Jewish. But why bring it up, if not to smear? Race doesn't determine political beliefs. All he's doing is basically pointing at them saying, "Look! Jews!" Why?

Posted by: scott h. at February 25, 2004 at 02:25 PM

'Twas an andrgenous name, my apologies. I couldn't tell.

Perhaps it was brought up to highlight the disproportionate influence held by the pro-Israel lobby? You'd be hard pressed to find - even amongst lefties - people who don't fully agree that Israel has both the inherent right to exist and protect its population from fanatical murderers. However, the last few years have seen the oppression of Palestinians, that vast majority of whom have never taken up arms, increase markedly, which is solely dependant on US support. Take away US support and you'd likely find Israel taking a more moderate, long-term approach to things. Like the Wall - fantastic idea which even the Israeli far-left support, but its path (land-thieving as it is)will be the catalyst for more problems. If the US was more insistent on this, the Israeli Gov't would likely take notice. But it's not. And a lot of people suspect that this is due to the influence of hard-line Israeli-right influence. Hence the analysis/investigation. Unless the mere mention of Israeli/Jewish influence and political aims can be described as racist (or anti-semitic), which it really should not be, then this article was merely providing information to better describe the processes behind these seemingly short-sighted and one-sided positions.

Posted by: Adam at February 25, 2004 at 03:01 PM

It's a damned shame for a fine, upstanding gentlemen to get tarred with the "anti-semite" brush for merely having an obvious and abiding pathological hatred for all things and persons of a Jewish persuasion. Is that really so wrong? Or so uncommon? I mean really, who among us has not once stubbed their toe in the dark and uttered "DAMN JEWS!"? There but for the grace of god, et cetera.

Posted by: Robin Goodfellow at February 25, 2004 at 03:09 PM

Some investigation. "I have the names... of 50 Joos... who influence American foreign policy." He mentions "neocon hawks who control Rumsfeld’s Defense Department" but declines to name them specifically. Likewise with the "individuals – labeled ‘Likudniks’ for their links to Israel’s right wing Likud party", which he fails to describe in any further detail besides their Jewishness. Instead he lists 50 random people, over half of whom are Jews. Doesn't bother with any context, like their occupation, position in government, but does manage to point out which ones are Jews.

"...this article was merely providing information to better describe the processes behind these seemingly short-sighted and one-sided positions."
The only info it provides is a list of Jews. And the conclusory sentence is "And over half of them are Jews". Yeah, from a list Lasn chose for arbitrary reasons of 50 people. It's possible to discuss American support for Israel without being anti-semitic, but Adam, this ain't it.

Posted by: scott h. at February 25, 2004 at 03:37 PM

...Take away US support and suddenly Israel doesn't have any allies. I don't see how making their situation even more desparate would encourage them to pursue "moderate" "long-term" plans.

Posted by: Sortelli at February 25, 2004 at 03:59 PM

Adam wrote: 'Twas an andrgenous name, my apologies. I couldn't tell.

Kalle (or Calle) is the Swedish diminutive of Karl (or Carl). Karl=Charles and Kalle=Charlie.

My son is named Calle and he is not androgenous. He is a very tough ice hockey player and could kick your ass. His namesake Calle Johansson captained Sweden's National team and played for the Washington Capitals (NHL) for over a decade. Not androgenous either.

On the other hand, Karl was Marx' first name so maybe my kid is a neocon commie Jew!

Who knew?

Posted by: JDB at February 25, 2004 at 04:21 PM

Sorry Adam; meant to include the female Kallie or Callie is, as you can see, spelled with an 'i' between the 'l' and 'e'.

Calle in Spanish means 'street'. When my wife took our then-newborn son to the pediatrician in Chicago, the Mexican-born receptionist looked at his name and asked, "'Street'? You named your son 'Street'?"

Posted by: JDB at February 25, 2004 at 04:26 PM

Look behind your statement Adam - why would Israel take a more 'moderate' approach if you withdrew US support? Because it would leave them in an even more embattled position. How many anti-semetic UN resolutions have only been blocked because of the US veto?
People like to claim that the US only supports Israel because of the 'jewish lobby'. Whilst i dont deny that they are a very well organised lobby group, i wonder if it has occured to some that the US might support Israel because it is the only democracy in that whole stinking pit of an area? Does the US support Taiwan because of some huge Taiwanese conspiracy controlling the US government? No, they do it for strategic reason (to keep the commies in check) and because it is fundamentally the right thing to do.

Posted by: Paul Dub at February 25, 2004 at 04:30 PM

wtf? I just had my post rejected because of 'questionable content' - namely the phrase 'h@s it'. Is this another symptom of the neocon's octopus-like reach?

Posted by: Paul Dub at February 25, 2004 at 04:32 PM

You have to check out another article written by this same halfwit on that site:

http://adbusters.org/magazine/52/articles/jamming.html

hilarious. The mention of him getting the shit kicked out of him in miami brought a smile to my face.
How people can spout this stuff is beyond me. I could only manage it if i though i could pull a bunch of anti-globalisation chicks (provided they shaved under their arms first..

Posted by: Paul Dub at February 25, 2004 at 04:41 PM

Hey lets give Ariel a call. Tell him to disregard everything we say or do for a week. Then Go to the UN and denounce Israel breaking all ties with Jews . After the Arabs invade we can take over Arabia with a clear conscience.

Worked for Merryl Streep in River Wild.

Posted by: papertiger at February 25, 2004 at 04:44 PM

Kalle - count me in with the neocons! Since I am of Welch descent, you should add me, a coal-mining, uncouth, mumbling jackass to the list, thereby diluting the influence of the Jews by one person. See? It's really not the Jews. It's the Welch.

[$50 and Miller Hi-Life handed to me personally by Richard Perle]

Thanks for the free beer, Omnipotent Pro-Israel Lobby! Suckers!

Posted by: Dylan at February 25, 2004 at 05:14 PM

"But she's right, isn't she. Name-calling won't alter that fact."

So do think if this wretch came up with his arbitrary list of 50 influential neocons, and there were only a few Jews, he would have written an article stating "No Jews In Power! I Was Totally Wrong!"

This is another case where the 'evidence' was literally gathered after the conclusion was made.

Posted by: MDVega at February 25, 2004 at 05:48 PM

"Welch descent" Dylan? I personally hold you responsible for the poker winnings owed to me by your forebears. Bastard.

Posted by: fidens at February 25, 2004 at 05:53 PM

How about an IOU -- unless maybe you'll take a, um, check?

Posted by: Dylan at February 25, 2004 at 06:01 PM

Jews are for various cultural reasons (disproportionately represented among intellectuals/academics and therefore likely to be disproportionately represented among the leaders of almost all intellectual movements that are not inherently anti-semitic. Thus the disproportionate representation of Jews in the Communist movement, thus the disproportionate representation of Jews in the libertarian movement, in various left of centre movements, thus their representation among neocons. That's all there is to it - no conspiracy to take over the world, and probably far more important than any grasping at straws about the 'Israel lobby'.

Posted by: Jason Soon at February 25, 2004 at 06:27 PM

Yeah Jews cause trouble wherever they go. When the communists in Germany at the end of World War 1 tried to take over the country a large number of the communist leadership was Jewish. Only nuts take this sort of thing onboard right?

Posted by: Simon at February 25, 2004 at 07:32 PM

Jason Soon hit the nail on the head.

Posted by: Quentin George at February 25, 2004 at 07:42 PM

Jason Soon hit the nail on the head.

Posted by: Quentin George at February 25, 2004 at 07:42 PM

And I posted twice! yay!

Posted by: Quentin George at February 25, 2004 at 07:45 PM

Paul Dub: MT-Blacklist is on, which is why the seemingly irrational rejection of your c0mment. (I can't even write "your c0mmment" spelled normally -- the term is rejected.) Unfortunately, spammers have taken over specific words and phrases.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 25, 2004 at 08:07 PM

So does this mean that if I put together a list of the terrorist ring leaders of the Not in my Name crowd, and half of them were Jewish, then I could claim that a grand Jewish conspiracy were taking place to arrest the free world and plunge us back in to caves without heat, light or electricity?

Sounds good. Where do I sign up for a grant?

Posted by: Todd at February 25, 2004 at 08:08 PM

Adam, what about the Americans who support and believe in Australia and Britain as allies? Are there secretive Australian and British cabals sneaking about in Washington, showering koalas and tea biscuits upon the dopey American politicos in return for this support?

Posted by: ushie at February 25, 2004 at 10:05 PM

Jason Soon nailed it.

If you ask Kalle Lasn or the average Adbuster reader who are the 50 most influential leftists in the US, the list would be half Jewish. And you could be sure that Chomsky, who is Jewish, would top that list. But in the limp minds of leftists that is somehow not the same.

Posted by: Reid of America at February 25, 2004 at 10:22 PM

Strewth, Ushie! We don't need you spilling your guts about the secret Aussie cabal. What if the world cottons on to the fact that we secretly run the whole show from down under? Them Jew-boys don't even get a look-in.

The fact is that 98.5% of the world's intellectuals - right, left and centre - are actually Aussies, anyway. "A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he's pissed", in the words of the famous song.

Posted by: Bob Bunnett at February 25, 2004 at 11:49 PM

Adam

If Israel did not have US support, there would be no counter-balance to the onslaught Israel would receive at the hands of the surrounding Arab states.

Most people forget that US support is all Israel has and owes it's existence to the USA. As an Israeli, I thank the Almighty that the USA has been our benefactor.

Political support for the Palestinian position comes from around the world, while support frfom Israel comes from one place... the USA.

Two questiona, and they are rhetorical questions --

If the Arabs dropped their weapons today, what would the israelis do?

If the Israelis dropped their weapons today, what would happen?

You know the answer.

God Bless America.

Posted by: AG in Houston at February 26, 2004 at 12:19 AM

Adam:

Like the Wall - fantastic idea which even the Israeli far-left support, but its path (land-thieving as it is)will be the catalyst for more problems.

The only "land-thieving" would be if the wall ran to the East of the Jordan River. According to settled international convention, Israel has the right to annex the entire West Bank and Gaza. According to UNSC 242, it is requested(Section VI) to annex only that portion needed to create "defensible borders".

Posted by: Dean Douthat at February 26, 2004 at 01:11 AM

Y'know what, AG? I think you're misguided.

I think the US holds Israel back. I think that if we'd get the hell out of the way the next Palestinian attack would be the last. And, to be frank, I don't think an unfettered Israel has to much to fear from the medieval nations that surround it.

Posted by: jack at February 26, 2004 at 02:31 AM

AG sez:
"If Israel did not have US support, there would be no counter-balance to the onslaught Israel would receive at the hands of the surrounding Arab states."

Um, I think this is backwards. Israel is _restrained_, not supported, by the US, in its military activities. The 6-Day War ended because the US told Israel to stop before Egypt and Syria were completely crushed.

Today, the IAF flies over Damascus with impunity. Saudi Arabia fields a total of 3 lackluster brigades. Iraq is, well, not about to attack Israel, anyway... Egypt might be a tougher nut, but Israel could take 'em.

Plus, let's not forget Israel's 80-200 radioactive lee'l fren's, eh?

Posted by: buzz harsher at February 26, 2004 at 03:38 AM

Bunnet alludes to something I until now had not suspected, Sir Les Patterson is a Jew : `a lovely little thinker but a bugger when he's pissed', though,more accurate, Sir Les is a great thinker even when h'es pissed. But how the secret cabal has penetrated even the top echelons of Oz govt. -Sir Les, after all, was sent on the most sensitive diplomatic missions around the world.
Well, that explains why cabinets and F.O. are notebale for the dearth of Bruces, they been shunted out of the way, yet by surreptitious ways by The Cabal.

Posted by: d at February 26, 2004 at 08:47 AM

But Tim, in your selective cutting and pasting you left out lots like:

"But the point is not that Jews (who make up less than 2 percent of the American population) have a monolithic perspective. Indeed, American Jews overwhelmingly vote Democrat and many of them disagree strongly with Ariel Sharon’s policies and Bush’s aggression in Iraq. The point is simply that the neocons seem to have a special affinity for Israel that influences their political thinking and consequently American foreign policy in the Middle East."

See? Not a rabid jew hater after all!!!! What game are you playing Bliar? That wouldn't be the race card up your sleeve, would it?

Posted by: Miranda Divide at February 26, 2004 at 12:24 PM

Miranda comments: "The point is simply that the neocons seem to have a special affinity for Israel"

Neocons have a special affinity for Israel because it is a liberal nation in the classical sense. Neocons abandoned the left because the left abandoned classical liberalism. Fact is neocons are classical liberals.

I would go further and say that not only do neocons have a special affinity for Israel but they have a special abhorence for Islam that has nothing to do with the Jewish - Islamic war. It is about Islamic intolerance of all things liberal. All the things that good leftists claim to believe in but deep down really don't.

Posted by: Reid of America at February 26, 2004 at 12:59 PM

Reid, Miranda doesn't care about such things. Miranda only lives to oppose Tim. See this comment -- even a simple call for charity brings out the pus. Miranda is a blog infection, not a person.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 26, 2004 at 01:54 PM

I have a special affinity for Israel, and I'm an Anglo-Irish-Italian-Australian.

Or better yet, I knew this girl who ahd a special affinity for Israel.

And her parents were Lebanese.

Posted by: Quentin George at February 26, 2004 at 05:34 PM

Hey Ried, dill of America, you're quoting the original writer not me!

Again the blogmire ignores the issues. Your bloghead is inciting violence against jews. He's taking a writer completely out of context and claiming she's a jew hater. What's the play when an agitator like Bliar openely tries to misrepresent somone as racist who patently isn't?

I repeat, what's your fearful leader's game here? It can only be to inflame racial hatred.

Posted by: Miranda Divide at February 27, 2004 at 12:06 PM

Kalle is a HE, Miranda. That's been covered in the original post and the comments here.

You can read . . . can't you? I mean, I'm sure you have some rudimentary literacy to go hunting through an article that criticizes a viewpoint by questioning the race of those who hold it looking for the required sop to the "Good" Jews.

Posted by: Sortelli at February 29, 2004 at 03:54 PM