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Thursday, August 31, 2006
ADL Headlines: A Bi-Weekly News Bulletin from the Anti-Defamation League
Akhbar Al-Khalij, August 15, 2006 (Bahrain)
JINSA Report #599 "Mexico or Iran?"
August 31, 2006
Number 599
JINSA Report
http://www.jinsa.org
"Mexico or Iran?"
The radio host asked, "Which is a greater national security threat to
the United States, the insecurity of America's southern border or Iran's
nuclear ambition?" It wasn't a trick question. True, Iran poses an
international apocalyptic sort of threat; one JINSA takes most
seriously. But at the end of the diplomatic day, we - and even our
reticent allies - will know what to do with a country threatening us
with nuclear weapons.
Mexico, our friend and neighbor, poses a different kind of problem.
Mexico has been roiled by strikes and protests since July, when Andres
Manuel Lopez Obrador claimed fraud in the presidential election he
appears to have lost to Felipe Calderon. Several challenges to the
process have been reviewed and denied, and by next week, Mexico's top
electoral court must either declare the winner or annul the election.
Assuming Calderon will win, Lopez Obrador has vowed to create a
"parallel government." He will not recognize Calderon's administration
and his legislators will not cooperate in Parliament. He urged his
supporters to stay in the streets to protest and strike against Calderon
and pay taxes to his movement. He is planning a "parallel inauguration"
and, according to The Washington Post, "People close to Lopez Obrador
say he is assuming the role of his hero, 18th century President Benito
Juarez, who led a roving, 'unofficial' presidency from 1863 to 1867
during the French invasion, before driving out the invaders and
executing the French-installed Emperor Maximilian."
Lopez Obrador doesn't have to do much to make Mexico ungovernable.
Calderon will have few palatable choices for exerting control and the
protest movement could turn violent - there have already been clashes
with police. The Mexican economy will go south and our neighbors will
come north in vastly increased numbers.
In the meantime, in an odd accident of timing (?), proponents of illegal
immigration and easy access to American citizenship are planning a march
on Washington that will coincide with the declaration by the Mexican
court of a winner in the election. They expect, they say, a million
people. On the other hand, Members of Congress report that their
constituencies at home demand stronger border controls.
It is not apocalyptic the way Iran is apocalyptic. But it is immediate,
real and could create a flood of political and economic refugees and the
possibility that political violence will come accompany them. It has the
potential for a different kind of violence if the U.S. tries to secure
the border amid an ever-greater wave of people trying to flee upheaval
at home. It has the potential for a U.S.-Mexican confrontation of the
sort we have not seen in nearly a century. We are not used to thinking
of Mexico this way.
Two other points: Texas law enforcement officers have warned that
Arabic-speaking people are learning Spanish and integrating into Mexican
culture, then paying smugglers to sneak them into the U.S. Yesterday,
Syria and Venezuela signed a "no visa" agreement - how many Syrians will
transit Venezuela on their way north and to what end?
So, Iran or Mexico? Unfortunately, the U.S. is ill-prepared for either.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW * Suite 515 * Washington, DC, 20036
Ph (202) 667-3900 * F (202) 667-0601
Comments? Send an email to feedback@jinsa.org <mailto:feedback@jinsa.org>
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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
AJC News Update
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Atlanta Chapter President Kent Alexander and Past President Steve Selig met with Ambassador Andrew Young at a meeting at the chapter's office to discuss his recent controversial comments about Jewish and Korean storeowners. Members of the AJC Atlanta Chapter, the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition and the Korean American Coalition attended. Ambassador Young reiterated his apology and discussed with the Jewish, Korean and African American leaders ways that all of the communities can move forward together.Remove yourself from all mailings from American Jewish Committee.
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JINSA Report Notice "Suicide Killers"
August 30, 2006
Notice
JINSA Report
http://www.jinsa.org
"Suicide Killers"
For our New York readers - please go to the movies today!
For our other readers - please try to bring this film to your city.
"Suicide Killers"
Aug. 25-31
25 Times Square (234 W. 42nd St.)
For information call (212) 398-3939
Filmmaker Pierre Rehov went to Israel intending to have a vacation. Life
intervened.
I had the opportunity, at the last minute, to get the exclusive
interview of this candidate to suicide bombing. No television in the
world ever got that! This is the real scoop of the film, and the
scariest part is that it was shot a week ago, meaning that the
terrorist is still on the loose, waiting for an order. It was like
having access to a serial killer ready to kill his 20th victim, and
not being able to do anything about it. I believed that exposing him
was much more moral and ethical than refusing to doing it. So I sent
a team. They were taken to the terrorist with [blindfolds] on the
eyes, in very uncomfortable conditions. This terrorist is still on
the run, waiting for orders. He lives in Gaza.
In an e-mail interview with The New York Jewish Week, Rehov acknowledged
an ethical dilemma. But Israeli authorities know who the bomber was and
have him under surveillance. Production executive Lisa Magnas told
TNYJW, "He's not a randomly chosen person. He is at the top of Israel's
security list and there's no way he can cross the border into Israel
without being known."
To our benefit, Rehov came down on the side of educating the rest of us
about the life and psychology of a person we hope we will never meet.
Parts of the thesis will surprise you as Rehov deals with the societal
pressures that culminate in the willingness of a person to stand among
others and pull the cord.
This is a "small film," not distributed through a major chain. The only
theater showing it is in New York, and only for a limited time. It is
crucial for those in New York to prove that there is an audience for
such a movie in order to ensure that it be shown elsewhere.
You have nothing better to do than go to the movies.
Really.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW * Suite 515 * Washington, DC, 20036
Ph (202) 667-3900 * F (202) 667-0601
Comments? Send an email to feedback@jinsa.org <mailto:feedback@jinsa.org>
___________________________________________________
Have a comment on this JINSA Report? Send an email to feedback@jinsa.org to let us know.
Access past JINSA Reports at: http://www.jinsa.org/
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Free Israel's Kidnapped Soldiers
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Cpl. Gilad Shalit was kidnapped two months ago in Gaza. Monday marked his 65th day in captivity and also his 20th birthday. Reservist soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were kidnapped by Hezbollah in a cross-border assault July 12th. Join ADL in demanding the release of the three kidnapped soldiers.
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Tuesday, August 29, 2006
JINSA Report #598 Russia's Terrorist Road Map
JINSA
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Suite 515
Washington, DC 20036
202-667-3900
202-667-0601 Fax
August 29, 2006
JINSA Report #598
Russia's Terrorist Road Map
Westerners, Americans in particular, often ask what we did to engender
the violent hatred of Islamic terrorists. [Not us, by the way. Well
aware of Western shortcomings and always interested in national
self-improvement, we nevertheless believe nothing we have done or are
likely to do justifies 9-11, the Sbarro pizzeria bombing in Jerusalem,
or the perversion of Muslim children to believe that their lives are
best spent preparing for a violent death.] Others wonder why, even
though the USSR invaded and decimated Afghanistan, the particular fury
of Islamists is directed at the U.S. and Israel.
Regnar Rasmussen, a former military interpreter and interrogation
specialist trained at the Danish Armed Forces' Specialist School, worked
as a Farsi translator in the immigration department of Danish Central
Police. In the mid-1980s, he interviewed Iranians fleeing the Islamic
Revolution and discovered that many had been communists in the time of
the Shah and received guerrilla/explosives/terrorism training in the
USSR. In an interview with Insight Magazine, Rasmussen described them:
After I had been face to face with a number of these, it dawned upon me
that the step from being a glowing red communist to becoming a
bloodthirsty Muslim fundamentalist is actually a distance equal to zero.
Since then, I have seen these two categories as the two sides of the
same coin. Communism and Islamic fundamentalism have more in common than
what meets the eye. They share the same fundamental hatred against
individualism and against individuals who wish to be happy and just
enjoy life.
Romanian Ion Mihai Pacepa, the highest-ranking intelligence officer to
have defected from the Soviet bloc, provided details in a recent article
in the National Review.
In 1972, the Kremlin decided to turn the whole Islamic world against
Israel and the U.S. ... Andropov told me ...The Islamic world was a
waiting petri dish in which we could nurture a virulent strain of
America-hatred, grown from the bacterium of Marxist-Leninist thought.
Islamic anti-Semitism ran deep... Terrorism and violence against Israel
and her master, American Zionism, would flow naturally from the Muslims'
religious fervor, Andropov sermonized. We had only to keep repeating our
themes - that the United States and Israel were "fascist,
imperial-Zionist countries" bankrolled by rich Jews. Islam was obsessed
with preventing the infidels' occupation of its territory."
What to do with the information? Ramussen notes:
The Soviet system had a solid tradition of registering everything. We
saw all the details meticulously noted down in every STASI report that
came out after the fall of communism in 1989. I know that all the files
of each and every single foreign student ever trained in the Soviet
Union are still intact... If the new Russia wants to show her good
intentions in the war against terror she should brush the dust off these
old archives. If you trace down each and every single graduate you will
also be able to see who in turn became his students or followers. The
entire network that was set up by that generation in those days would
become clearly visible.
It is crucial for the West to sever the relationship between terrorists
and the states that harbor and support them. A road map provided by the
Russian government would make it a lot easier.
To view this JINSA Report online click on the link below.
http://www.jinsa.org/JINSAReports/3522
___________________________________________________
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Friday, August 25, 2006
AJC Mideast Briefing
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AJC OPED IN JPOST
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The Jerusalem Post August 25, 2006 David A. Harris In the wake of the recent war with Hizbullah, Israel is going through a difficult but necessary process of self-examination. The questions are many, as are the lessons to be learned. But if American Jews do nothing more than follow the process in Israel with interest, they are losing an essential opportunity to learn a lesson of their own. The role of the United States was critical during this past month, as it has been for most of Israel's life. It's a lesson we need to take to heart. Nowhere in the United States Constitution is it written that the special US-Israel relationship is part and parcel of America's foundational principles. That's why I have never, not for a single moment, taken for granted America's unique ties with Israel, and why I have spent a good part of my professional life urging fellow American Jews never to succumb to complacency or the mistaken notion that the link is on automatic pilot. Nations have been known to reassess their geopolitical interests and do turnarounds. The best such example is France, which played a critical role in Israel's life in the 1950s and early 1960s and then concluded that its long-term objectives were best served by distancing itself from Israel and cozying up to the Arab world. That decision cost Israel dearly, but Israel was lucky. The United States stepped into the breach and has, particularly over the past four decades, played a unique, indeed indispensable, role in the life of Israel. But imagine that the US had instead chosen to pursue an "evenhanded" approach to the region or, worse, followed France's example, arguing that the realpolitik of sheer Arab numbers, energy resources and export markets dictated such a turn. What would have been the impact on Israel? To be sure, Israel enjoys friendly relations with a number of countries, and, it should be added, a special link with Germany. But, truth be told, no nation could - or can - substitute for the US role. No other nation has been prepared to define such an intimate relationship with Israel in all bilateral spheres - from arms sales, foreign aid, and intelligence-sharing to a free-trade zone, scientific cooperation and diplomatic support. No other nation has the capacity, by dint of its size and stature, to help ensure Israel's quest for a secure and lasting peace and normalization in the community of nations. Has there been another permanent member of the UN Security Council prepared to exercise its right of veto, even if it stands alone, to ensure that Israel is not singled out unfairly by the one UN body that has legally enforceable powers? Was there another nation prepared to stand with Israel - and then walk out with Israel - when the UN Conference Against Racism, held in Durban on the eve of 9/11, turned into an anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist hatefest? Was there another nation ready to resupply the Israeli military during the Yom Kippur War, at a moment when Israel's fate hung in the balance? In the recent conflict with Hizbullah, once again the United States demonstrated its willingness to stand by Israel, provide vital support, and withstand the pressure of many US allies who would have wished for an earlier end to the fighting, even if it meant keeping Hizbullah largely intact and in place. There has long been a debate about the reasons for America's unique relationship with Israel and the strong support Israel enjoys in American public opinion. Some suggest that the primary explanation lies in the role of the American Jewish community; others believe that Israel's impressive record as a democratic nation and dependable US ally spells the difference; still others contend that it is primarily America's religiosity and link to the birthplace of the Judeo-Christian heritage; and still others insist that it largely derives from the personal chemistry between, say, a Lyndon Johnson and a Levi Eshkol or a George W. Bush and an Ariel Sharon. Whatever the primary factor, there can be no doubt that American Jewry is an essential element of the equation. This is all the more reason why American Jews need to work day in and day out to ensure that the mutually beneficial link goes from strength to strength. Could the bilateral relationship suffer the French fate? Not anytime soon, but it is obvious that there are those Arab and Muslim groups in the US who believe in the possibility of long-term change in America's Middle East orientation. That's why they are working so energetically in universities, for example, hoping to shape the outlook of future generations of American leaders. And in this, they're helped by the largesse of Saudi benefactors only too happy to establish footholds on elite campuses. And that's why they are trying to build links with labor unions, minority communities, the anti-war movement, former State Department Arabists and academics, believing that one day these efforts will create a new critical mass able to shift US foreign policy away from its special ties with Israel - and thereby undercut America's commitment to the only true democracy in the region. Friends of Israel in the US, including Jewish organizations, must remain alert to these efforts and mindful of their potential consequences. Let's face facts. Any major wedge driven between the US and Israel could have fateful consequences for Israel. A.B. Yehoshua, speaking at the American Jewish Committee 100th anniversary celebration earlier this year, famously dismissed the relevance of American Jews to Israel's life and the Jewish people's future. He could not have been more wrong. The writer is executive director of the American Jewish Committee. |
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AJC NYTimes Letter
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The Jerusalem Post August 25, 2006 David A. Harris In the wake of the recent war with Hizbullah, Israel is going through a difficult but necessary process of self-examination. The questions are many, as are the lessons to be learned. But if American Jews do nothing more than follow the process in Israel with interest, they are losing an essential opportunity to learn a lesson of their own. The role of the United States was critical during this past month, as it has been for most of Israel's life. It's a lesson we need to take to heart. Nowhere in the United States Constitution is it written that the special US-Israel relationship is part and parcel of America's foundational principles. That's why I have never, not for a single moment, taken for granted America's unique ties with Israel, and why I have spent a good part of my professional life urging fellow American Jews never to succumb to complacency or the mistaken notion that the link is on automatic pilot. Nations have been known to reassess their geopolitical interests and do turnarounds. The best such example is France, which played a critical role in Israel's life in the 1950s and early 1960s and then concluded that its long-term objectives were best served by distancing itself from Israel and cozying up to the Arab world. That decision cost Israel dearly, but Israel was lucky. The United States stepped into the breach and has, particularly over the past four decades, played a unique, indeed indispensable, role in the life of Israel. But imagine that the US had instead chosen to pursue an "evenhanded" approach to the region or, worse, followed France's example, arguing that the realpolitik of sheer Arab numbers, energy resources and export markets dictated such a turn. What would have been the impact on Israel? To be sure, Israel enjoys friendly relations with a number of countries, and, it should be added, a special link with Germany. But, truth be told, no nation could - or can - substitute for the US role. No other nation has been prepared to define such an intimate relationship with Israel in all bilateral spheres - from arms sales, foreign aid, and intelligence-sharing to a free-trade zone, scientific cooperation and diplomatic support. No other nation has the capacity, by dint of its size and stature, to help ensure Israel's quest for a secure and lasting peace and normalization in the community of nations. Has there been another permanent member of the UN Security Council prepared to exercise its right of veto, even if it stands alone, to ensure that Israel is not singled out unfairly by the one UN body that has legally enforceable powers? Was there another nation prepared to stand with Israel - and then walk out with Israel - when the UN Conference Against Racism, held in Durban on the eve of 9/11, turned into an anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist hatefest? Was there another nation ready to resupply the Israeli military during the Yom Kippur War, at a moment when Israel's fate hung in the balance? In the recent conflict with Hizbullah, once again the United States demonstrated its willingness to stand by Israel, provide vital support, and withstand the pressure of many US allies who would have wished for an earlier end to the fighting, even if it meant keeping Hizbullah largely intact and in place. There has long been a debate about the reasons for America's unique relationship with Israel and the strong support Israel enjoys in American public opinion. Some suggest that the primary explanation lies in the role of the American Jewish community; others believe that Israel's impressive record as a democratic nation and dependable US ally spells the difference; still others contend that it is primarily America's religiosity and link to the birthplace of the Judeo-Christian heritage; and still others insist that it largely derives from the personal chemistry between, say, a Lyndon Johnson and a Levi Eshkol or a George W. Bush and an Ariel Sharon. Whatever the primary factor, there can be no doubt that American Jewry is an essential element of the equation. This is all the more reason why American Jews need to work day in and day out to ensure that the mutually beneficial link goes from strength to strength. Could the bilateral relationship suffer the French fate? Not anytime soon, but it is obvious that there are those Arab and Muslim groups in the US who believe in the possibility of long-term change in America's Middle East orientation. That's why they are working so energetically in universities, for example, hoping to shape the outlook of future generations of American leaders. And in this, they're helped by the largesse of Saudi benefactors only too happy to establish footholds on elite campuses. And that's why they are trying to build links with labor unions, minority communities, the anti-war movement, former State Department Arabists and academics, believing that one day these efforts will create a new critical mass able to shift US foreign policy away from its special ties with Israel - and thereby undercut America's commitment to the only true democracy in the region. Friends of Israel in the US, including Jewish organizations, must remain alert to these efforts and mindful of their potential consequences. Let's face facts. Any major wedge driven between the US and Israel could have fateful consequences for Israel. A.B. Yehoshua, speaking at the American Jewish Committee 100th anniversary celebration earlier this year, famously dismissed the relevance of American Jews to Israel's life and the Jewish people's future. He could not have been more wrong. The writer is executive director of the American Jewish Committee. |
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JINSA Article Digest for August, 25th
Articles added to JINSA Online from August, 18th to August, 25th.
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#596 Weakening Deterrence
(2006-08-18) The Israeli government under Prime Minister Olmert and the
Kadima/Labor coalition stopped short of achieving Hezbollahrsquo;s defeat
through military operations, and it is very unlikely they will achieve them
by political means. The U.S. government expended much political capital in
terms of time and political support hoping for a decidedly different outcome.
The consequences remain to be seen. Read the analysis in JINSA Report #596.
Read more @ http://www.jinsa.org/articles/view.html?documentid=3519
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#597 They Sold Them WHAT? For WHAT?
(2006-08-23) Western countries have an obligation to manage and direct
licensing for military equipment sold abroad with an eye toward the risks of
meeting ones own or allied technology in the hands of an enemy. British
decision making in the case of the night vision equipment ending up in
Hezbollah's hands should be considered carefully by the Bush Administration.
The implications of their behavior are frightening for all of us. Read the
analysis in JINSA Report #597.
Read more @ http://www.jinsa.org/articles/view.html?documentid=3520
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Wednesday, August 23, 2006
AJC News Update
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