Iraq and Dreams of Transforming the Middle East

That is the title of chapter 8 of John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's 2007 book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Israel_Lobby_and_U.S._Foreign_Policy?wprov=sfla1 

That chapter spends 34 pages identifying links between the Israel lobby and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It is worth reading even today, in 2026.

This is important because in 2026 some people are trying to downplay, even deny, the connections between the Israel lobby and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

This is part of what seems to be a much larger agenda,

denying the crucial role the Israel lobby has played in setting U.S. foreign policy vis-à-vis the Middle East.

I.e., denying reality.

Many prominent and powerful people in Israel have explicitly stated their desire for regime change in Iran, which would certainly amount to a transformation in the Middle East.

We should not ignore these connections, 

between the desires of some in Israel and the actions of the U.S.

When America time after time uses its military power to get involved in the ME, 

without the slightest justification in terms of the American national interest.

I think the significance of the connection between Zionism and the extent of American involvement in the ME cannot be honestly denied.

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2026-03-24

QUESTION TO GOOGLE:

"did Israel discourage the U.S. from invading Iraq in 2003?"

AI GENERATED ANSWER: 

No, Israel did not discourage the U.S. from invading Iraq in 2003; rather, it strongly encouraged the invasion. Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, urged the U.S. to strike, believing it would eliminate threats from Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and improve regional security. 

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

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Key Details on Israel's Position in 2003:

Active Advocacy: Benjamin Netanyahu, while a private citizen in 2002, lobbied U.S. officials and Congress, asserting that taking out Saddam would have "enormous positive reverberations on the region".

Urging Action: Israeli officials told the U.S. that any postponement of an attack would only give Saddam more time to accelerate his weapons of mass destruction programme.

Intelligence Support: Israel provided military intelligence to the U.S. during the buildup to the war, despite not being part of the official coalition.

Shared Goals: The Israeli government viewed Saddam Hussein's regime as a significant strategic threat, and the invasion was seen as a way to remove that threat. 

Foreign Policy in Focus

Foreign Policy in Focus

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