Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 2003, page 98

American Educational Trust

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Holding Our Breaths as We Hurtle...

Into the abyss of a possible war on Iraq, we find ourselves paralyzed between faith in the rational (“the president finally will realize that this is a disaster in the making”) and fear of the unreasoning (“he’s made up his mind and nothing will change it”). How is the rush to war not in America’s interest?

Let Us Count the Ways.

In order to appease the administration’s Israel-first cabal, Washington has jeopardized the NATO alliance, antagonized many of its post-World War II allies (the “old” Europe), seen its standing in world opinion plummet, risked its economic well-being—and is preparing to risk American lives as well. We can only hope that George W. Bush will heed the advice of Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, who told the president that “we need a lot of [Secretary of State Colin] Powell.” With regard to America’s combative secretary of defense, Bush’s Spanish ally suggested that he…

Rein in Rumsy.

Recent polls show that 36 percent of Canadians, our closest trading partners and allies, believe that the United States represents the greatest threat to world peace—more so than Iraq, al-Qaeda or North Korea. At a Feb. 26 news conference in Parliament, Canadian MP Carolyn Parrish was caught on microphone saying what other world leaders are too polite to say about President Bush: “That man’s ready to go. He doesn’t care. He’s gunning for a fight. Damn Americans...

“I Hate Those Bastards.”

Not only foreigners object to Bush’s warpath, however. Career U.S. diplomat John Brady Kiesling, diplomatic counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, resigned in February to protest his government’s policies on Iraq. In his resignation letter to Secretary of State Powell, Kiesling, a 20-year diplomat, wrote, “Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has become America’s most potent weapon of both offense and defense since the days of Woodrow Wilson...We should ask ourselves why we have failed to persuade more of the world that a war with Iraq is necessary.”

Only One Country Is Eager for War…

And that country is Israel. After Iraq, according to Israeli National Security Adviser Efraim Halevy, the Sharon government will push Washington to gun for Tehran, Damascus and Ramallah. Then, the Feb. 27 New York Times quoted him as saying, “the dominoes will start to tumble.” Not only will America fight Israel’s wars—and apparently pay it for the privilege—but Israel seeks to benefit from strained U.S. relations with Europe, the Middle East and beyond. As former Qatari ambassador to the U.S. Hamad Abdel-Aziz Kawari told The Washington Post, “Nobody hates America. America used to be a great example, it was not a colonial power in the region.…I am very sorry that American policy is threatening the human relations between the nations.

“The Americans are Antagonizing Their Friends.”

Eventually, Israel hopes, it will be a case of the U.S. and Israel against the world. If all goes as planned, the Quartet—comprising the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia—with its road map for peace will be the first casualty. Israel is seeking more than 100 changes in the seven-page document designed to culminate in the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005. Meanwhile, the government of Ariel Sharon is prepared to take advantage of the “fog of war” to complete its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza—and perhaps within Israel as well.

Cost Estimates for a War…

Have been less than forthcoming, and vary depending on variables such as how long U.S. troops will remain in the region. The Pentagon now says that $60 billion may tide it over until fall. Assuming that war costs are capped at $100 billion this year (which may be a low estimate), the Defense Department will need...

$800 From Every American Taxpayer.

Nor does that include the billions more promised to Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and other countries. The 1991 Gulf war cost $61 billion, nearly 80 percent of which was borne by U.S. allies. That won’t happen this time. Moreover, the president’s budget for this fiscal year, which already projects deficits of over $300 billion, does not include costs for a second Gulf war. But there is…

A Face- and Life-Saving Solution.

The U.S. could commit itself once again to work as a partner rather than a bully, a consensus-builder instead of a divisive force. America could work to strengthen the U.N. and its power to unite the world to do good and protect others from rogue nations. President Bush could heed the advice of his secretary of state, seek out and value the advice of other nations in the world, and allow the inspection process to succeed. By proving that diplomacy is more powerful than weapons, the U.S. could embark on a new path for this new century, one where wisdom and justice carry more weight than wealth and brute power. Such a path not only would pave the way to a more peaceful future, but would prevent the death of thousands of Iraqis and Americans in the months immediately ahead. At this crucial moment in history…

Americans Must Make Their Voices Heard.

We’ve Made a Start…

By increasing the frequency and firepower in our own war—of words—in the magazine itself and on our Web site, <http://www.wrmea.com>. Adding an extra free issue in 2003 is playing havoc with our circulation program, however, as well as with our budget—and this at a time when many of our advertisers are having budget problems of their own, resulting in diminished ad revenue for the Washington Report. Perhaps to protest its extra workload, our circulation computer has brought some of its gift and gratis subscription records to…

An Abrupt Halt.

Have you received a notice reminding you to renew your gift subscription to a library, friend, or opinion maker? If not, check to see that it is still current. Consider donating a library subscription if you don’t already, and please renew your own subscription as soon as you receive your renewal letter. That saves us postage on follow-up reminders. You can also check the number on your address label (to the right of the subscription number above your name) to determine the date your subscription expires. We know you won’t want to miss even one issue in these fast-moving and perilous times.

We Need Angels and Friends!

We’re already concerned about paying for our extra issue this year, and for additional staff and equipment needed to get the word out in print and on the Internet. Rising postage costs are making it expensive to send complimentary issues to conferences around the country, and especially to Canada. To expand our readership at a time when more and more Americans will need to know the truth about what’s happening in the Middle East and who is behind the push to war, we need to purchase lists of names so we can mail introductory copies of the magazine to possible new readers. We can’t afford this without your help. More importantly, however, we cannot allow the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs to become…

Another Casualty of a Second Gulf War.

And, needless to say, there are powerful forces in this country who would like to see nothing better. So, please, dig as deeply into your pockets as you can, add your name to the 2003 Choir of Angels and...