Israel’s War, Biden’s War (Robert Wright & Stephen Walt)

This podcast episode explores the implications of the war in Gaza on American interests and the United States' influence in the Middle East. The speakers discuss the distraction caused by the conflict, the damage to America's soft power, and the potential for the war to escalate and benefit China's strategic interests. They also examine the challenges the US faces in maintaining global support, the complexities of the war in Gaza, the Israeli government's approach to the conflict, and the competing narratives surrounding it. The speakers analyze the extent of US leverage over Israel and the Biden administration's response to the conflict. They highlight the domestic and political constraints on Biden's ability to influence Israel's behavior and the influence of the pro-Israel lobby on American foreign policy. Additionally, the speakers address the Biden administration's Middle East policy and the role of the Foundation for Defensive Democracies in shaping public opinion on the conflict.