Kicking the Vietnam Syndrome: the USA in the Middle East 1967-2006 - part II

But first the news (and some new online course materials):

Two years ago:

A look at the Pentagon: Video 2 of the Power Game cont'd

This video was mainly concerned with the politics of weapons development and how the arms industry contractors work with key congressional committees and the Pentagon in an "iron triangle" that commands huge amounts of money. Remember the "home porking" discussed in the video? The iron triangle is opposed by a "dissident triangle" consisting of some members of Congress, "moles" within the Pentagon, and the media. One legacy of Vietnam and a more activist Congress is the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, whereby the two houses of Congress may exercise a "legislative veto" over sales of arms in excess of $25 million to a foreign country.

Try to check out the list of congressional cttees relevant to foreign policy and definitely include the Senate's Armed Services Committee, which includes a number of high profile senators such as John McCain, who does not serve on the Foreign Relations Committee but who is an important player in US foreign policy. And don't forget the House of Representative's Committee on Armed Services. You may want to check out some of these people and see how they stand on the policy issue or set of issues you are studying.

Toward next week's study of the Israel Lobby

Here is a brief chronology of US-Israeli relations, partly reviewing material already covered under the Truman and Eisenhower Administrations.

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Feb 18, 2009
Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin.
Questions, Comments, and Suggestions to chenry@mail.utexas.edu