Such characterizations echo how some Americans in uniform during the Vietnam War—no doubt including some who participated in the My Lai massacre—disdained Vietnamese as “gooks.” The American nation, which now enjoys cordial relations with Vietnam, has overcome that foul attitude.

Anyone arguing that the U.S.-Israeli relationship is based on “common values” needs to take such differences into account.

Upon a closer look, there are some similarities between relevant attitudes in Israel and those in significant political segments in the United States, including xenophobia on the American Right. The spectacle of someone in power encouraging a riot and attack on a government installation in defiance of the rule of law took place in Washington just four years ago. The president who instigated the riot promised to pardon the rioters if he returned to power.

Perhaps it is most accurate to say that there are similarities in ethos and character between one segment of the American polity and the dominant political strain in Israel. Still, these similarities do not involve any values about which either nation ought to be proud.

Paul R. Pillar retired in 2005 from a twenty-eight-year career in the U.S. intelligence community, in which his last position was as the National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia. Earlier, he served in a variety of analytical and managerial positions, including as chief of analytic units at the CIA, covering portions of the Near East, the Persian Gulf, and South Asia. His most recent book is Beyond the Water’s Edge: How Partisanship Corrupts U.S. Foreign Policy. He is also a contributing editor for this publication.

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