Absurd Quote by Bernard Lewis
“Blaming the imperialists nowadays is obviously absurd, as is blaming the Americans, who obviously don't have the slightest desire to control anything in the Middle East. The American desire is to get out as quickly as possible and the general view is that now that the Cold War is over and the Soviets are no longer a problem, we have no reason to stay there, let's get out. They will have to confront their own problems. Israel provides a useful scapegoat but it's a limited one.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on Middle East policy, 1990s
Blaming a single power for Middle East conflicts oversimplifies; the US seeks withdrawal, while Israel serves as a convenient but limited scapegoat.
In simple terms: Complex geopolitics can't be reduced to one blame.
Key Takeaway
Recognize multiple factors in conflict.
Themes
politics
history
foreign policy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- media analysis
- policy making
- academic study
Key Concepts
realism
blame culture
strategic retreat
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the underlying causes beyond scapegoating?
- How can policy address root problems?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on scapegoats can ignore deeper systemic issues.
![“Different groups in the [Middle East] drew two lessons from [return of the shah in Iran] - one, that Americans were willing to use both force and intrigue to install or restore their puppet rulers in Middle Eastern countries; the other, that they were not reliable patrons when these puppets were…” quote by Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89b/bernard-lewis-11653_middle-east_different-groups-in-the-middle-east-drew_37501.jpg)
