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| —Voices from the Sensible Center— Interpreting the Middle
East for North Americans— Current Affairs 2 The Syrians in Lebanon—Being objective about a country's policy on a specific issue does not come easy if you don't like other things the country has done. Our friend Humphrey, like so many Americans, has hangups about Syria—so it was not easy to explain to him that he should nonetheless give some credit where credit is due. 3 U.S. Tightens Screws on Libya—The Reagan Administration's campaign to cut down Libya's leader Muammar Qadhafi continues relentlessly on the economic front—as it prepares to put even more restrictions on U.S. exports to that country. 4 Lobby Activities—Exempt status of six Jewish American organizations could, if successful, halt hundreds of millions of tax-free dollars to Israel each year. We thought you might be interested in a progress report. Some pro-Israel groups, on the other hand, have been concerned over what they see as a recent "outpouring of media good will" toward Syrian President al-Assad and other Arab leaders. The groups have been launching a counter attack. Regular Features 2 Editorial—How is it that the U.S. government can have so much institutional expertise on the Middle East, and yet not use it to make good policy? It's certainly worth thinking about. 6 Facts For Your Files—A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations 7 Book Review—Stephen Green's Taking Sides: America's Secret Relations with a Militant Israel, just published, is a blockbuster of a book. After much digging into U.S. archives, the author has come up with information which, according to our reviewer, effectively shatters "some of the greater myths surrounding Israel." For some examples see inside. 8 Personality—In Washington's Arab American circles, the name Kamal Boulfata is ubiquitous—showing up on everything from the concert programs to the political posters which he has designed. But there's much more to this talented and politically activist artist and writer than meets the eye. |