America and Israel face real dangers due to the esablishment of a Hamas-governed political entity

A small sample of Hamas policy statements (gathered by the American Jewish Committee):

“Israel is not a legitimate entity, and no amount of pressure can force us to recognize its right to exist.” [Dr. Mahmud al-Zahar, Hamas leader in Gaza, Washington Times, Feb. 4, 2006.]

“Neither the liberation of the Gaza Strip nor the liberation of the West Bank or even Jerusalem will suffice us. Hamas will pursue the armed struggle until the liberation of all our lands. We don’t recognize the state of Israel or its right to hold onto one inch of Palestine. Palestine is an Islamic land belonging to all the Muslims.” [Dr. Mahmud al-Zahar, Jerusalem Post, Aug. 18, 2005.]

“Hamas has never proposed to change or amend its charter [calling for the destruction of Israel]. The platform presents a realistic view that reflects Hamas’s goals for the next four years. Had we spoken of eliminating and eradicating Israel within this period, we would have been deceiving our people and repeating false slogans. But this does not stand in contradiction [to the fact that] we place emphasis on the elimination and non-recognition of Israel.” [Salah al-Bardawil, Hamas candidate for Palestinian Legislative Council, Islam Online, Jan. 14, 2006.]

“Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded. Allah willing, before they die, they will experience humiliation and degradation every day. America will be of no avail to them. The last of their generals has been forgotten. Allah has made him disappear. He’s over. Gone is that Sharon behind whose back they would hide and find shelter, and with whom they would feel relatively secure. Today they have frail leaders, who don’t even know where our Lord placed them. Allah willing, we will make them lose their eyesight, we will make them lose their brains.” [Dr. Mahmud al-Zahar, Washington Times, Feb. 4, 2006.]

Three Excellent Articles in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, March 17, 2006

For Ilan, a Eulogy, by Judea Pearl - a moving discourse on the torture/murder, in France, of Ilan Halimi.

A Question of Fairness, by Michael J. Jordan - a well written series of related articles on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The Leah Doll, by Caroline Cobrin - a heart grabbing account describing the reaction of 81-year-old Aunt Mina upon getting a porcelain doll as a gift. The doll recalled to Aunt Mina her sister, Leah, who had been murdered many years ago in the Holocaust. (This account brought tears to the eyes of several of us hardened veterans and reminded us of the values that we are fighting to defend.)

Darfur, Sudan. An Awakening Of America’s Conscience And An Urgent Plea For Help

They Poured Fire Upon Us From The Sky is the gripping personal account by several victims of the ongoing genocide in Sudan. Alephonsion Deng, as a seven year old, fled his burning village carrying only a torn blanket. For most of his life he was homeless and near death from dehydration, disease and starvation. And he endured the always present threat of violence from government troops and other marauders.

Deng, now a 23 year old college student in San Diego, is speaking out and informing the American public of his experiences to help awaken the American public to the problem and in the hope of generating support for increased American involvement in their solution.

Heartfelt praise and Katherine Graham and Joseph Laitin Heritage commendations are given to:

Alephonsion Deng - for his dedication to saving lives of the unfortunate victims of Darfur;

Kevin Cody (editor and publisher of The Easy Reader, a local newspaper circulated in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, California),

Cynthia Dizikes (news editor of The Easy Reader) and

Colin Holtzinger (president of Mira Costa High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance) -

for their concern and their very worthwhile efforts to bring the horrible story to the attention of students and the general public in Southern California.

Thanks is also given to The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post for their listings of They Poured Fire Upon Us From The Sky.

Letter to MOAA re: "Our Brilliant Bloody Future"

Your article, “Our Brilliant Bloody Future”, (Military Officer, January 2006) is an important contribution to rational political discussion. The author, Col. Ralph Peters, shares the viewpoint presented by Syrian-educated Dr. Wafa Sultan during her February 21, 2006 interview in Arabic on Al Jazeera TV: “The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between to eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and a mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality.” (As translated by the Islamic web site www.annaqed.com and as confirmed by a New York Times translation published on March 11, 2006.)

On the other hand, the response by Lt. Col. George C. Reoh (“Your Views”, Military Officer, March 2006) attributing the cause of Islamic hostility toward the United States to the existence of Israel (and to US support of Israel) is highly inaccurate and very misleading to your readers.

I was a participant in the US Military Assistance Program for Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. There, the US helped Saudi Arabia obtain the most modern airborne command and control system as well as extensive air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. Jordan was given first class, state-of-the-art armor and anti-armor capabilities. Egypt was given vastly improved anti-air, anti-armor and armor capabilities. These were far in excess of anything Egypt needed for defense purposes. The US subsidy to Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority was far greater than the total amounts for both civilian and military assistance that was given to Israel.

It is well documented that Osama bin Laden’s hatred for the United States and his attack(s) on the World Trade Center was caused by the US presence in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War. Bin Laden’s anti-Israel pronouncements are relatively recent. They are viewed by other Islamic extremists as his attempt to preempt their leadership. Currently, bin Laden is in a political struggle with Hamas where bin Laden is trying to establish a foothold in Gaza and the West Bank.

At the time Israel was created, the US State Department and most of the US foreign policy establishment was opposed. The US and England imposed an embargo on all military arms to Israel. In the meantime, the British-officered and British-led Jordanian military was given the arms that Britain had stored in Palestine. The Jordanians then proceeded to occupy the entire West Bank and part of Jerusalem. All of the Jewish residents (many of whose families had lived there for hundreds of years) were murdered, imprisoned or expelled. At that time there was no talk of “brutal occupation” or of the “return of displaced Jews”.

Further, Lt. Col. Reoh’s theory does not explain the murder of hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of Hindus in India, Chinese in Indonesia, Christians in Africa, etc., by Islamic extremists.