AJC's Blaustein Institute provides briefing on
Sudanese refugees trying to enter Israel from Egypt
NEW YORK (Press
Release)—The growing crisis in Israel caused by an
influx of Sudanese refugees entering from Egypt is
assessed by the American Jewish Committee's Jacob
Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights
(JBI) in a new
briefing paper.
The Blaustein Institute is
calling on Israeli officials to act promptly to
determine who among the Sudanese are legitimate refugees
entitled to international protection and not to be
returned to Egypt. JBI also is urging Egyptian
authorities to take immediate steps to prevent further
killing and ill treatment of persons seeking to cross
into Israel, and to investigate and hold accountable
anyone responsible for using excessive force against the
refugees.
"Our central concern is
that international obligations continue to be respected
in Israel and that Egypt takes further measures to
ensure refugee rights," said JBI Chairman E. Robert
Goodkind.
The JBI briefing paper, Sudanese
in Israel: The Current Situation, is available
at
www.ajc.org.
At least 1,200 Sudanese
refugees, including 300 from Darfur, are now in Israel.
The JBI report discusses what is needed to determine if
they qualify as refugees under the 1951 Convention to
which Israel is a party, and other measures to help
Israel cope with this challenge.
While most are employed,
more than 100 are reportedly detained in prison or
prison-like facilities, frequently with criminal
offenders, and often separated from their families.
Sudanese are considered "enemy infiltrators" in Israel
because Sudan is currently in a formal state of war with
Israel.
The report reviews current
developments and cites recent incidents of members of
Egypt's border control killing refugees attempting to
cross into Israel.
AJC's Jacob Blaustein
Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, founded
in 1971, strives to narrow the gap between the promise
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other
international human rights agreements and the
realization of those rights in practice. Felice D. Gaer
is the Director and the briefing paper was prepared by
JBI's Goldman Fellow, Gabrielle Thal-Pruzan.
The preceding story was provided by the
American Jewish Committee
|
 |
The Peres Diary |
 |
GREETINGS—Shimon Peres
greets Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress
Peres urges terrorism be added to EJC
agenda
JERUSALEM (Press Release)—The President of the European Jewish
Congress, Mr. Moshe Kantor, came to the Residence of the
President, Mr. Shimon Peres, Sunday, August 12, at
the head of a large delegation of well-wishers, which included
heads of Jewish communities, members of the Congress and leaders
of the European Jewish community. Kantor congratulated the
President on the assumption of his position and requested that
the President be involved and play a dominant role in the
European Jewish communities. He invited the President to be the
guest of honour in a central event, which the Congress wishes to
hold in his honour.
The President requested an extensive survey on the numbers of
European Jews in the 42 Jewish communities represented by the
Congress and also wished to know what the main activities of the
Congress are. According to Kantor, the Jewish Congress focuses
on fighting anti-Semitism, supporting Israel and is active in
fighting against the nuclear armament program of Iran. He noted
that the most effective way of dealing with anti-Semitism is the
holding of large events and ceremonies to commemorate the
Holocaust and central landmarks, such as 60 years of the
liberation of Auschwitz. Kantor added that the Congress is now
busy planning an event commemorating 70 years of Crystal Night,
which raises a strong connection between commemorating the
Holocaust and its lessons and the armament of Iran.
The President greeted the members of the delegation and said
that parallel to the fight against anti-Semitism and Iran’s
armament, it is necessary to fight against terrorism, which is
aimed not only against Israel but also against central cities in
Europe. In addition, said President Peres, the positive things
taking place in Israel and among the Jewish people must be shown
and one should avoid presenting a negative and dark picture when
providing information to European countries.
At the end of the meeting the President of the Congress
presented the “Jerusalem Compass” to President Peres and said
that this gift is meant to remind the President of Israel, at
all times, that the most important direction of the Jewish
people is that of Jerusalem.
The preceding story was provided
by the office of Israel's President Shimon Peres
(Return to top).
Wiesenthal renews call to prosecute
those who abet
suicide bombings for 'crimes against humanity'
LOS ANGELES (Press Release) —In wake of the latest suicide bombing attacks today
that killed at least 175 and wounded hundreds more in Qahataniya, in northern
Iraq, the Simon Wiesenthal Center renewed its call to the international
community to declare all suicide terror as crimes against humanity.
“The international community must apply the full weight of international law to
hold accountable all those who promote, validate and abet suicide terror,” said
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Center. “Today's mass murder is
appalling, but we can only expect the casualty rate among targeted innocent
civilians to exponentially increase as terrorists increase their access to
better technology and weaponry,” he added.
Since 2003, the Simon Wiesenthal Center
has led a campaign to have suicide bombings declared a ‘Crime Against Humanity’.
The goal of the campaign is to create a legal tool for victims to go after
sponsors and those who inspire this deadly culture of mass murder worldwide.
Since the campaign’s launch, Center officials have sifted through the bombed-out
remains of synagogues with Turkey's Chief Rabbi in Istanbul, conferred with His
Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, lobbied the European Union and
Foreign Ministers from Madrid, to Ottawa, to Buenos Aires.
“So long as religious figures can promote
such behavior with impunity, innocent people of all faiths will continue to pay
the price of the scourge of our time,” Cooper concluded.
The preceding story was provided by the Simon Wiesenthal Center
Commentary
Time to install a benevolent dictator in Iraq
By Isaac Yetiv
In ancient Rome, during difficult and dangerous times, the Senate appointed, for
a designated period, a "dictator" with plenipotentiary powers to restore order
and save the Republic. Closer to us in our modern era, the elected President of
France, Rene Coty, facing a chaotic situation after the rebellion of four
generals in Algeria in 1958, called
on General De Gaulle to return to power and save the Republic "a second time."
Today, there is no more chaotic and fraughtwith-danger place than Iraq which
seems ripe for the emergence of a strong man. The question is , shall we wait
for things to go from bad to worse and result ina viciously anti-American
dictator (Senator Dianne Feinsteineven named Muqtada El-Sadr as a
potentialcandidate because he commands the 60,000 men Mahdiarmy, more powerful
and disciplined than the government's still-in- progress military), or shall we
preempt that catastrophic eventuality by grooming a strong man of our
liking, who will put an end to the massacre of innocents and hold together
the pieces of Iraq as, for example, Tito held Yugoslavia. We may hope that he
will re-establish a semblance of democracy whenhis time is up and civil order
restored, as it happened in Turkey for example. But even if he tarries, Iraq
will not be in worse shape than Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or Jordan, our "moderate
allies."
This may seem as a far-fetched and unrealistic proposition, veiled in the
secrecy of CIA antics.Nothing of the sort. It may even be done with the
tacitcooperation of the Iraqi parliament and government to ensure the security
and safety of the people which they, and the Americans, were unable to provide.
It may be too soon to implement such a proposition but never too soon to think
about it and prepare for "Plan B" as a last resort if --I amtempted to say
'when'--exasperated by the mounting casualties, the Congress decides to cut off
the fundsand bring the troops back home.
The Iraqi people , who are dying at a ghastly rate of 100 a day, which probably
will increasesubstantially to counter the effects of the planned "surge,"
have been clamoring for a strong man whowill rule with an iron fist and stop
the killing. For them, stability and civil order trump democracy. Today, after
three elections, a constitution, three
governments, at a heavy cost in blood and treasure, and no light at the end of
the tunnel, the generalconsensus among the American people is for "a graceful
exit" BUT only after a stability of sorts could be achieved.
The Iraqi parliament is barely functioning, in constant search for a quorum to
transact business.Absenteeism is endemic. Many of its members live abroad.
Former PM Allawi lives in London; Adnan Pachachi, in Dubai. All absentees
continue to draw their salaries ($120,000! Are we paying?). Already 1.9 million
of vital middle-class people have left the country, followed by thousands every
week. No military efforts by Americans, except a total war that requires
half-a-million troops and thousands of casualties on
all sides for which America is not ready and willing, and no diplomatic schemes
can vanquish the hatred and vengeance and fear and quest for power of the
multitude of groups with their own armadas that the tribal system has engendered
and which foreign countries ,especially Iran, have supported, trained, and
financedfor their own benefit. No Iraqi will shed tears overthe "suspension" for
a time of an almost non-existent, useless, and very expensive parliament.
The only plan in town, let us call it "Plan A" is the "surge" of 21,500, now
augmented to 32,000, more troops which has already generated a virulent and
vociferous opposition in Congress that culminated in a nonsensical non-binding
resolution that "it is not in the national interest." The enemy is listening,
laughing, and rubbing his hands in the expectation of the Great Satan's defeat,
thanks to Allahu Akbar. I cannot comprehend this Congress’ irresponsible
action which has no operational effect, just to embarrass an embattled president
and weaken his hand in what he believes is the best way to
avoid a debacle whose consequences are horrible to contemplate: a safe haven for
Al-Qaeda and other agents of terror in Iraq; a bloodbath of gigantic
proportions; an elevation of fanatic and nuclear-armed Iran to the position of
hegemon in the Gulf and the whole Middle-East; the crumbling of our
"moderate Arab allies" who will scramble to make deals with the "winner" behind
our backs just to survive; the triumph of Hizballah in Lebanon and of Hamas in
Gaza and the West Bank, who, with the Iranian bomb, will put Israel in a very
dangerous situation that might require a preemptive strike; the strangulation of
oil supplies and their sky-rocketing price; the strengthening of the Taliban
insurgency in Afghanistan, and more than anything—absent in the
Vietnam debacle—the certainty of spectacular attacks on American soil.
Even if Congress doesn't believe in the success of the "surge," once the
Commander-in-Chief has made his decision and began to implement it, the only
acceptable position is to strengthen his hand or, alternatively, to cut off the
funds , or even impeach
him, two prerogatives prescribed by the Constitution which are "binding." The
Congress may also amend the Constitution and change our political system from
"presidential " to "parliamentary,” which will allow it to topple the Executive
leader with a vote of no-confidence rather than get stuck for four years.
The "surge" plan contains the same flaw as the Iraq Study Group recommendations
: they both rely on the good will , capacity, and loyalty of others. There is
no certainty it will work. But a new commander, General David Petraeus, with new
rules of engagement and strong determination may reduce the violence
substantially and allow for a political solution that will make our exit safe
and honorable. How can the
Senate Committee approve Petraeus unanimously and then oppose vehemently the
"surge" which he was promoted to carry out? Whether we believe or not, we
must root for our side and support our troops rather than demoralize them .
There is a danger that
the loud detractors of the plan will, consciously or subconsciously, root for
its defeat in order to claim " I told you so!" And what if it succeeds? How
would
they feel about it?
If we fail in this last attempt because of lack of cooperation, incapacity, or
disloyalty of Al-Maliki government, we should resort to Plan B without delay:
a strong man — call him a "temporary benevolent despot" with plenipotentiary
powers who will declare a state of emergency and/or martial law and, with a
mixture of sticks and carrots, disarm all militias, announce an equal
distribution of oil money for all Iraqis, and a work
program that will employ the idle masses both in the army and civil life,
coupled with amnesty and reconstruction programs. This will preempt the
cutting of funds and, God forbid, the panicky flight we witnessed in Saigon in
1975.
In his bid for re-election , De Gaulle declared "Moi ou le chaos!" (Me or
chaos). We may still face in Iraq the unenviable choice of "lui" (he, the
providential strong man) or Chaos. And Chaos is not an option.
U.N.
official decries political stalemate in Lebanon
UNITED NATIONS (Press Release)—Lebanon’s
people cannot afford the “fractious political atmosphere” that has emerged
during the past year to continue, a senior United Nations official warned
today, urging the country’s leaders to prove that they can overcome their
differences and serve national interests rather than the agenda of the
parties.
Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Coordinator for
Lebanon, used the first anniversary of the end of the war between Hizbollah and
the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to caution that the country’s future economic
and social progress was being jeopardized by the political deadlock.
In a statement which appeared in several Lebanese
papers, Mr. Pedersen said “this stalemate has given rise to new dangers. The
atmosphere of political division quickly gave way to clashes in January of this
year, which turned deadly. More worrying has been the resurgence of sectarian
language in many circles.”
A new president will have to be elected in the
coming weeks and Mr. Pedersen said “this event represents an opportunity” for
the leaders of the country’s ruling majority and opposition to rise above their
recent disputes.
“It is high time that discussions focus on
programmes and ideas that address issues of national interest, rather than
narrow party agendas,” he said.
The Special Coordinator stressed that the
responsibility lies with the Lebanese themselves to sort out their differences
and determine the path ahead.
“There are a number of initiatives to assist the
various parties to come together in dialogue and reach mutually acceptable
solutions, both on the presidency and the composition of the government.
“These efforts will continue, and will be
supported to the utmost extent possible by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations. In all cases, the emergence of two competing governments must be
avoided.”
Mr. Pedersen also said that Lebanon has made
positive but incomplete progress in its reconstruction since the war ended, and
that much more work is needed, as well as to ensure a sustainable ceasefire and
not just a cessation of hostilities.
“Israeli overflights into Lebanese territory will
have to stop and Lebanese borders properly secured to prevent arms smuggling.
The issue of the Shaba’a Farms is under close study and solid progress has been
made towards a provisional determination of the geographical extent of the
area.”
“Similarly, negotiations to bring about the
release of the two Israeli soldiers [captured just before the war began], as
well as of Lebanese prisoners, are ongoing, and will hopefully bear results in
the near future.”
Mr. Pedersen’s comments were echoed by
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who told reporters today at UN Headquarters that
it was vital to restore Lebanon’s political and social stability so that its
people could enjoy greater economic prosperity.
He called on Lebanese political leaders to ensure
that their dialogue with others is as inclusive as possible to promote
reconciliation between the country’s different groups.
The preceding story was provided by the
United Nations
Wiesenthal Center
seeks Belarus action against hate vendors
PARIS (Press Release)—In a letter to Belarus President, Mr Alexander Lukashenko,
the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon
Samuels, noted that, as part of a tour of Former Soviet Union World War Two
extermination sites and memorials, he last week visited the Minsk Museum of the
Great Patriotic War, "which vividly describes the mass murder of Jews and
Belarussians by the Nazis and their collaborators."
He expressed "horror at discovering not far from the Museum, a
distribution centre for the most offensive antisemitic books", adding that "the
address is of even greater concern: 'Pravoslavnaya Kniga', subtitled 'The
Orthodox Initiative', at Ul. Berestyanskaya 17 in Minsk, presented as 'a broad
collection of literature, icons, crosses, rings, candles and Church objects.'"
Samuels purchased the following titles from the shelves marked
"Conspiracies" (see photo):
 -
Oleg Platonov, "Myths and Truth about Pogroms", Rauza Press, Moscow, 2003,
claiming that Judaism is eternally hostile to Russian civilization and
Christianity; Jewish capital controls banking and stock markets; early 20th
century pogroms were a Zionist provocation; how the Jews murdered Russia's
leadership and unleashed terror in Soviet times.
- Oleg Platonov, "The Mystery of the Zion Protocols: A Conspiracy
Against Russia", Algorithm Press, Moscow, 2006, the secret development of Jewish
power in Russia, Spain and reborn Israel; the Talmud, the Russian Church and the
Protocols; the Berne Trial and World Jewish falsification; the Protocols in the
history of Israel; the Holocaust myth; the Hitler - Ben Gurion parallel and
ethnic cleansing by the Jews; 1975 the United Nations recognizes Zionism as
racism.
- Anatoly Utkin, "The Only Super Power State", Algorithm Press,
Moscow, 2003, imperial power and hegemony, Islam's revenge.
- Nikolai Zhevakov, "The Jewish Revolution", Algorithm Press,
Moscow, 2006, the Jews who made Communism and betrayed it in Russia and Ukraine.
- Anonymous, "There Are No Bad People", Orthodox Initiative,
Minsk, 2004 (under the blessing of Archbishop Sergei), ostensibly an interfaith
text that presents Judaism as a religion of money.
The letter continued, "Mr President, you are quoted in The Minsk
Times of 9 August 2007, during your visit last week to the Belarus Press House,
as stating: 'We were advised by foreigners to privatize the state media which
have always helped me to govern the country and preserve social stability - they
are necessary to avoid rumours on burning issues from becoming widespread.'"
Samuels noted that "the Orthodox Initiative advised me that they
were about to open a website. This will amplify their global dissemination, from
Belarus, of incitement to hatred. Interestingly, Mr President, you also
addressed the Internet issue in your speech, declaring that 'we should not allow
this great technical achievement to become an informational dump.'"
The Centre contended that "as a vendor of hate, the Orthodox
Initiative is in contravention of your government's stated policy", insisting
also that "as a State Party to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), Belarus is thereby in violation of its commitments to combat
antisemitism under the 2004 Berlin Declaration, the 2005 Cordoba conference and
this June's Bucharest follow-up meeting."(Copies of the letter were shared with
the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Ambassador Christian
Strohal, Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
of the OSCE in Vienna.)
The Centre urged Lukashenko "to officially condemn antisemitism
and these publications in particular, while also ensuring that the Orthodox
Initiative be disciplined and withdraw all such materials definitively."
"Their presence and distribution throughout and by way of your
country desecrates the memory of both the Jewish and Belarussian victims of
World War Two," concluded Samuels.
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Anti-Semitic incidents increase 40% in Argentina
NEW YORK (Press Release)—In a
briefing to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York City, Jewish
community leaders from Argentina told of a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic
attacks and other incidents against the Argentinean Jewish community, with a
reported increase of more than 40 percent in 2006.
The leaders, representing the
Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Argentina (DAIA), presented the
findings of their Report on Anti-Semitism in Argentina 2006 at a briefing at
ADL National Headquarters last week. The report documented 586 anti-Semitic
incidents in 2006 – up from 373 in 2005. The majority of the incidents
involved anti-Semitic graffiti and other acts of vandalism.
The report also cited among the
incidents an attack by a group of skinheads against Orthodox Jews walking in
the street to synagogue, death threats against a Jewish journalist, bomb
threats against Jewish institutions, and the desecration of Jewish graves in
the Entre Rios province. It noted that the number of incidents spiked in
July 2006 during the period of Israel's war with Hezbollah in southern
Lebanon.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National
Director, said: "We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of
the Argentine Jewish community as they grapple with many challenges,"
including the unsolved investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA-DAIA
building, whose perpetrators have not been brought to justice. "In standing
with you we are sending a message that we are one. In the fight against
anti-Semitism and prejudice, we stand up for each other and together."
Attending the presentation were
representatives of several major American Jewish organizations, the
Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, and diplomatic
representatives from a number of other Latin American countries.
The DAIA, the leading defense agency
of the Argentine Jewish community, represents 140 social, educational,
cultural, religious and professional organizations throughout Argentina.
Presenting their report was Angel Schindel, DAIA First Vice President,
Claudio Avruj Executive Director of the DAIA and Marisa Braylan, Director of
the Center for Social Studies.
The full DAIA report, which also
documents prejudice against other minorities in Argentina including,
Chinese, Koreans, Gypsies, Muslims, homosexuals, Afro-descendants and
others, is available on the League's
Web site.
The preceding story was provided by the Anti-Defamation League
Man who attacked Elie Wiesel apologizes in
court
SAN FRANCISCO
(Press Release)—A man who dragged Holocaust scholar Elie Wiesel from a hotel
elevator has apologized in court. Eric Hunt, 22, has pleaded not guilty to
charges of attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery, stalking, elder
abuse and hate crimes following the February 2007 incident at San Francisco's
Argent Hotel.
The apology came in the midst of a hearing to determine whether Hunt, who
originally pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but later changed his plea,
should stand trial. Hunt said "Mr. Wiesel, I'm sorry for scaring you and I'm
sorry you experienced the Holocaust. My grandfather fought the Nazis and I'm
sorry about what happened." Wiesel did not respond but went on to describe how
Hunt grabbed him from the elevator and demanded that the 78-year-old professor
come to his room for an interview.
Hunt, from New
Jersey, has been in a San Francisco jail psychiatric ward since May. His defense
lawyer maintains that Hunt is not an anti-Semitic stalker, but a man suffering
from mental illness, and that when he confronted Wiesel, he was in the grip of a
"manic episode" triggered by his grandfather's death.
The preceding story was provided by
the World Jewish Congress
|
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Adventures in Cruising—Royal
Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas
SUSHI—Enjoying the onboard
sushi bar are from front Tyler Ford, Sara Oades, Shea Oades, Ashlee Ford
and Caren Ford
Thanks to the Ford
family of Agoura, California, for sharing their photos of
their family reunion weekend cruise
|
ADL
questions legitimacy of 'Hungry for Justice' coalition defending accused Holy
Land Foundation
NEW YORK (Press Release)— A coalition organized to support the embattled Holy
Land Foundation (HLF) against federal charges of funding terrorism is "tainted"
by the involvement of three organizations with a history of sympathizing with
terrorist groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
"Hungry for Justice," a coalition established to
speak out in support of the HLF through a Web site and a series of planned
public events, claims the federal charges and ongoing trial in Dallas are part
of a "politically driven" anti-Muslim witch-hunt and an attempt to single out
Muslim charitable organizations in this country. The coalition includes the
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim American Society (MAS)
and the ANSWER Coalition.
"If you look at these three groups and their
histories, it is ironic, but not surprising that they would come to the aid and
defense of a charity accused of funneling funds to Hamas," said Abraham H.
Foxman, ADL National Director. "These groups are tainted by their own murky
associations with radical organizations and individuals and, in some cases,
expressions of solidarity with terrorist groups targeting Israelis."
The federal government alleges that the HLF
charity served as a front for raising funds in the United States for Hamas, a
Palestinian terrorist group that has carried out hundreds of attacks against
Israeli civilians.
The following are excerpts from ADL's
backgrounders on three of the groups that are part of the "Hungry for Justice"
coalition:
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization founded by leaders of the
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), a Hamas affiliated anti-Semitic
propaganda organization. CAIR has never been willing to unequivocally condemn
Hezbollah and Palestinian terror organizations, which the United States and
international community have condemned and isolated. CAIR has participated in
and endorsed several rallies where support for terrorist groups was undeniable,
including a rally in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2002, in which CAIR's
director spoke from the podium next to a Hezbollah flag.
• The Muslim American Society portrays itself as
a mainstream organization that attempts to serve the social, educational and
religious needs of American Muslims. However, the organization has a troubling
history of associations with radical organizations and individuals that promote
terrorism and anti-Semitism, and reject Israel's right to exist. One MAS leader
said that the group was founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic
extremist movement founded in Egypt that has spawned and inspired global
terrorist groups, including the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
MAS-affiliated Web sites have featured articles advocating Jihad and suicide
martyrdom.
• The ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
Coalition has organized scores of antiwar demonstrations in the U.S. since its
founding by the New York-based International Action Center (IAC) in 2001 and has
played a key role in inserting anti-Israel sentiment into the antiwar movement.
In addition to claims that Israel is guilty of "war crimes" against Palestinians
and that Israel is a "racist state," ANSWER events, which often attract
protestors by the tens of thousands, have openly supported terror groups
targeting Israelis, as well as the "resistance" fighting American forces in
Iraq. This environment has led to displays of anti-Semitic sentiments, such as
signs comparing Israeli leaders to Nazis or equating the Jewish Star of David
with the Nazi swastika.
The preceding
story was provided by the Anti-Defamation League
Holocaust, Wiretapping and anti-Semitism are issues on which our
writing-readers focus
IRAQ IS NEW TOPIC—Isaac
Yetiv, a Tunisian-born writer and commentator, who grew up
in politics in Haifa, before becoming an educator and lecturer
in the San Diego, proposes in the column above a new solution
for Iraq: taking a page from history and installing a dictator.
His column, and Iraq, in general, are now open for your comments
as Forum Topic #7. What should the United States do now in
Iraq?
NEW POSTINGS—Communications
were
received today from
Prof.
Deborah Lipstadt,
Emory University, on Forum Topic #3, concerning Holocaust
history and the Bergson group (see below)...... from
Lowell Fischer,
concerning Topic #1, the battle over campaign rhetoric between
U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (Republican, Illinois) and Democratic
challenger Jay Footlik...
WIRETAPPING,
FORUM ISSUE #6—Shoshana Bryen
of the Jewish Institute for
National Security Affairs filed the second part of her series,
which began on these pages yesterday. It follows:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (JINSA)—
National
Security Agency (NSA) Director McConnell's request for Congress
to pass legislation for surveillance of targets taking into
account improved cable and fiber optic technology was, at first,
non-controversial. The administration sent a bill to Capitol
Hill in April and the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence
Committee pledged to move forward. In exchange for support,
however, Senate Democratic leadership wanted the release of
long-sought documents about previous wiretapping policy. The
administration had previously declined to provide the documents,
but by attaching the request to the administration's request,
Democrats apparently thought they trade. The administration
declined again and the process stalled.
In late July, when McConnell met with leaders of both parties
and asked urgently for approval of a redrafted bill, he brought
evidence of terrorist activity that spurred the Hill to action.
But as they were working on the legislation, there arose three
Democratic hiccups: the difference between surveillance
"directed at" and surveillance "concerning" targets; dealing
with targets outside the U.S. talking to people in the U.S.; and
a provision, according to The Washington Post, that warrantless
wiretapping only be used against foreign suspects "tied to
terrorist groups."
The first had to do with mistrust of the administration;
Democrats said the broader word gave NSA too much leeway. The
second was an administrative nightmare, requiring termination of
surveillance if a suspect abroad talked to someone in the United
States - a terrorist could quickly follow a call to the U.S.
with the call he REALLY wanted to make, hoping we weren't back
on the line. Or a foreign terrorist could give a person in the
U.S. information to pass on to others. The third is silly on its
face - the universe of suspect people not "tied" (whatever that
means) to known terrorist groups (new ones are constantly
emerging from splinters of old ones) must be substantially
larger than the universe of card-carrying terrorists.
All were rejected and the Senate bill passed 60-28 (including 14
Democrats). In the House, 41 Democrats joined the Republicans.
But this is not over.
The measure is temporary - six months, that's all. Only hours
after passage, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denounced parts of the
bill, saying she wouldn't wait six months and plans to bring up
new legislation "as soon as possible," presumably in September.
This reeks of the same strange logic as sending Gen. Petraeus to
Iraq with six months to implement new policies, but not waiting
half that long to demand changes. At some point, the Democrats
should act on the understanding that if NSA fails to protect us,
or Gen. Petraeus fails to stabilize Iraq, our country - not only
the President or his administration - will pay the price.
The surveillance legislation is a window to people who think the
White House is the enemy and appear not to believe terrorists
see no distinction between the White House, the Democratic
leadership and the rest of us.
Holocaust scholar Lipstadt responds to Grobman
Editor, San Diego Jewish
World
In his letter to this paper
regarding the petition presented to the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum regarding the museum's failure to include more
information on the Bergson group in the permanent exhibition,
Alex Grobman criticized my description of the Wyman Institute as
an entity which "sort of straddle[s]
the area between scholarship and activism.” I
was asked by the reporter if the Wyman Institute was a
"scholarly" entity. This was my response. Most academic
institutions with which I am familiar don't engage in the kind
of activism that the Institute does. Similarly, most activist
organizations don't engage in the kind of scholarship in which
the Wyman Institute engages. Why Grobman interprets this a
criticism befuddles me.
More importantly he compared
the petition submitted to the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum with a petition circulated by the Wyman Institute
protesting to C-Span about its refusal to broadcast a speech by
me unless it was "balanced" by a presentation by Holocaust
denier David Irving. Why, he wondered, was the petition to
C-Span acceptable but a petition to the United States Holocaust
Museum about including the Bergsons was not?
These are entirely two
different matters. The Holocaust Museum petition concerned a
museum exhibition which is a scholarly entity. I would hate to
see the Holocaust museum become susceptible to the mode or the
politics of the day through the use of petitions. In contrast,
the C-Span matter concerned a television station which makes no
pretence of being scholarly and which should be responsive to
public pressure.
I am surprised that a scholar
such as Alex Grobman would equate journalistic
entities with historical museums which are built on a scholarly
foundation.
Finally, I reiterate what I
said in the original article. I believe the story of the
Bergson's should be more prominently featured in the museum.
That change should be made on the basis of scholarship not
political pressure.
Deborah
E. Lipstadt, PhD
Dorot
Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies
Director, Tam Institute for Jewish Studies
Emory University
Received 1 p.m. Tuesday,
August 14, 2007
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CYBER-REFERRALS—
Gail Forman
found a learned
essay by
David Kaufmann
in the Daily
Forward on the
question of
whether we
should consider
Bugs Bunny to be
Jewish.
She says this
helps to prove
the motto of San
Diego
JewishWorld that
there is a
Jewish story
everywhere....
Er, if you wanna
know what's up
doc, here's
the link....
Israel's
Consulate
General in
Los Angeles
forwards a YNET
story about
Syria saying it
is not planning
a war with
Israel.
Here is
the link.
... Bruce
Kesler
refers us to a
story in the
California
Catholic Daily
on how Saudi
Arabia is
funding Islamic
programs for
school children,
with either
exclude or
criticize
Christian and
Jewish
viewpoints.
Here is
the link.
...
OUR U-T
TOUR—Here are
the stories in
this morning's
San Diego
Union-Tribune
that were of
specific
interest to the
Jewish
community:
Front
Section—In
the story about
Karl Rove's
resignation from
President George
W. Bush's staff,
mention was made
of the directive
by Chief of
Staff Joshua
Bolten to
White House
staff members
who did not plan
to serve for the
duration of the
President's term
in office to
please submit
their
resignations by
Labor Day... In
another
resignation
story—that of UC
President Robert
C. Dynes—Richard
Blum,
chairman of the
UC Board of
Regents,
commented about
the university's
financial
difficulties:
"It's been a
difficult time
and I think Bob
can be proud of
what he has
accomplished."
... The
continuing
murder trial of
record producer
Phil Spector
in Los
Angeles brought
testimony from
shooting victim
Lana Clarkson's
mother, Donna,
whose testimony
indicated that
her daughter was
happy, planning
for her future,
and not
despondent.
The defense team
has tried to
prove that
Clarkson was a
suicide victim
rather than a
murder victim...
In San
Francisco, a
defendant
apologized to
Nobel laureate
Elie Wiesel
for a
physical attack
on him (also see
World Jewish
Congress story
above)...A deal
has been struck
between an agent
for the family
of slaying
victim Ron
Goldman and
a publishing
house for O.J.
Simpson's book,
If I Did It.
Goldman and
Simpson's wife,
Nicole, died in
the same attack.
Local
Section—Even
after Aaron
Feldman's
Sunroad
Enterprises
agreed to lower
its
controversial
building to 160
feet, a member
of the mayor's
staff, James
Waring, has been
lobbying City
Council members
to permit a
lesser
reduction. The
story by Jeff
McDonald and
David Hasemyer
was coupled with
an editorial in
the newspaper
questioning why
Sanders hadn't
reprimanded
Waring for his
activities.
Waring announced
his resignation
after City
Attorney Michael
Aguirre
questioned his
activities...Columnist
Diane Bell told
of a sandwich at
film producer
Stu Segall's
Studio Diner
called the "SamSon"
which includes
prime rib,
spinach,
sprouts, garlic
and cheese.
Sounds like a
sandwich you'd
need the
strength of
Samson to eat,
only, of course,
it's not
kosher....Bell
also quoted
Scott Silverman
about how moved
he was to see
the family of
the late
advocate for the
homeless, Dr.
Victor Kops
donating
some of his
clothes, and
"helping them
even in death."
...
Opinion—Former
congressman and
Republican
presidential
candidate Jack
Kemp, in
a column, quoted
Art Laffer
as counseling
"If these
pro-growth
policies that
have led to our
25-year-year
bull market are
reversed, don't
be surprised if
our financial
gains and
competitive edge
disappear....
Another peace by
Leon Hadar,
described as a
research fellow
at the
Independent
Institute in
Oakland,
suggested that
the Middle East
would have
profited by the
United States
exercising
'benign neglect'
rather than
doing anything:
"The fact that
Washington
focuses so much
of its energy
and attention on
the Arab-Israeli
conflict, while
turning a blind
eye elsewhere,
indicates that
U.S. foreign
policy has lost
its focus."
Business—In
the wake of
losing a patent
infringement
case against
Broadcom, seeing
President Bush
let stand a ban
on importing
foreign cell
phones using the
disputed
technology, and
U.S. District
Court Judges
Rudi Brewster
and James Selna
recently ruling
against
Qualcomm, the
beleaguered
company's chief
counsel, Lou
Lupin, has
stepped down.
CEO Paul
Jacobs
commented that
Lupin had
"played a major
role" in
Qualcomm's
technology
licensing
program...
Investors Eli
Broad and
Maurice
Greenberg
(C.V. Starr &
Co) are among a
group putting up
$3 billion to
shore up Goldman
Sachs' Global
Equity
Opportunities
Fund, which lost
30 percent f its
value in a week
in the fallout
over
mortgage-backed
securities
favored by hedge
funds.
Sports—In
the agate
baseball box
scores, one
learned that
Boston Red Sox
first baseman
Kevin Youkilis
went 0-4 in
the Sox 3-0
shutout of the
Tampa Bay Devil
Rays, and that
his batting
average is now
down to .300.
He was once
among the
American
League's top
hittters, but he
is now .13
points off the
pace... Brad
Ausmus
officially went
0-2, but he
walked twice as
his Houston
Astros defeated
the Los Angeles
Dodgers 4-1.
Newspapers don't
regularly print
"on base
percentages,"
tabulating what
percentage of
the time hitters
get on base
either by
hitting or
walking, but
they should.
It's a more
reliable way of
calculating a
player's
offensive
value... Relief
pitcher John
Grabow
needed only nine
pitches to
retire the San
Francisco Giants
in the inning he
pitched, and
that included a
strike out.
His ERA is now
down to 4.21.
The Pirates,
however, lost
that game 10-3.
Currents—In
a feature about
hit programming
on cable,
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