Jacob Weisberg on the US and the Middle East

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Jacob Weisberg on the US and the Middle East

24 Mar 2010

Speakers: Jacob Weisberg

Jacob Weisberg discusses his reactions to US action in the Middle East, the relationship between Israel and Palestine, Obama’s healthcare bill, and the implications of personality based politics.

Weisberg identifies a real need for the US military to depose the Taliban in Afghanistan, but also acknowledges that it became sidetracked in Iraq. Rather than taking advantage of the sympathy generated by the 9/11 attacks, American action in the Middle East exacerbated the situation and led to increased anti-American feeling in the Muslim world, though the election to the Presidency of Barack Obama has gone some way to repairing this.

Turning to the American perception of Israel, Weisberg notes a significant shift in sympathy away from Netanyahu’s regime among Republicans and Jewish liberals. Americans have lost patience with Israel especially when it comes to the issue of Israeli settlements. Closer to home, Weisberg predicts that Obama will be considered a consequential President, if nothing else.

Continuing on the theme of reactionary politics Weisberg talks about the appeal of Sarah Palin among popularist America and identifies the increasing importance of personality in politics, especially when it comes to Britain’s own impending election.