The Arabists and the Anti-"Zionist" (Diplomats Open Letter to President Bush)

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 5/05/04 | Joel Mowbray

[kattracks]

Reflecting the perverse logic that has guided the U.S. State Department for decades, sixty former diplomats have written an open letter to President Bush denouncing the currentadministration’s “unabashed support” for the sole democracy in the Middle East: Israel.

The hyperbolic screed, released this week, is chock-full of gross overstatements and pure myth. 

 

Yet far more important – and what the media will almost surely overlook – is the stench of bias emanating from almost all of the signers, particularly from the man who organized the effort, former Ambassador Andrew Killgore, who served in Qatar from 1977-1980.

 

The two-page letter follows the same basic script that has been used by the U.S. Foreign Service more or less since Israel achieved its independence in 1948: “the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the core of the problems in the Middle East.”

 

Blame for the trouble in the entire region – of which Israel holds less than one percent of the territory and less than two percent of the population – is pinned on “Sharon’s extra-judicial assassinations, Israel’s Berlin Wall-like barrier, (and) its harsh military measures in occupied territories.”

 

Never mind that the “extra-judicial assassinations” are of terrorist masterminds responsible for the mass slaughter of both innocent Israelis and brainwashed young Palestinians. Or that Israel’s security fence is the furthest thing from a “Berlin Wall-like barrier.”

 

The letter also dabbles in fiction, stating, “By closing the door to negotiations with Palestinians and the possibility of a Palestinian state, you have proved that the U.S. is not an evenhanded peace partner.”

 

George W. Bush was the first U.S. president to endorse formally the goal of a Palestinian state, albeit one with leaders free from terrorist ties. Standing firm with Sharon’s plan to combat terrorist leaders in no way conflicts with his explicit desire for a Palestinian state.

 

Israel is obviously imperfect and hardly beyond reproach, but the moral compass of these statesmen is seriously skewed. 

 

Almost none has ever given more than lip service to the idea of condemning suicide bombings, and many of them have made their golden years truly “golden” indeed, courtesy of the deep pockets of the Arab nations in which they formerly were stationed.

 

As noxious as the track records of many of the former diplomats may be, perhaps none is as toxic as that of the man who spearheaded the whole effort, former Ambassador Andrew Killgore. A quick inspection of his history shows that he should be the last person giving lessons on “evenhandedness.”

 

Killgore may or may not be an anti-Semite, but he certainly could be mistaken for one. That is a strong statement, to be sure, but it seems a fair assessment after spending some time at the website for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, of which he is the co-founder and publisher.

 

The site’s front page keeps a counter only of foreign aid money given to Israel. It calls for ending all military aid to Israel, though there is no similar call for ending the exact same level of aid given each year to Egypt for the same purpose, an arrangement that has existed since the Camp David Accords in 1978.

 

Killgore’s website also has a “Neocon Corner,” where he and others castigate one Jew or another for their sinister loyalties to Israel. (One execption was a hit piece on Dick Cheney.) Typical is a recent column on Richard Perle, former head of the Defense Policy Board. In the course of 800 words, Killgore refers to Perle as: a “fervent Zionist,” a “dyed-in-the-wool Israel-Firster,” part of the “Zionist lobby,” “always active in Zionist organizations,” the “Prince of Darkness,” and a “Zionist ideologue.”

 

On its webpage listing 27 “charitable organizations” are several with which no reasonable group would affiliate. Many are well-known for their radical Islamist agendas, and two in particular should have raised red flags: the United Palestinian Appeal and the Kinder USA, both “charitable” organizations who share leadership with the Holy Land Foundation, which was closed in December 2001 for allegedly funneling money to Hamas.

 Given Killgore’s clear biases, it is tempting to use the old line about the kettle and the pot. More apt, however, would be the analogy, “Said the desert to the grain of sand.”

[swilhelm73]

Killgore's history merits some serious scrutiny, not that I expect the mainstream press will do so.

Let's start with the fact that the AET, Killgore's organization, and the motive force behind this effort, is funded by the Saudis, much like Joe Wilson's MEI.

Killgore and Curtiss, another AET founder, are infamous for speaking at the rabidly anti-semitic Liberty Lobby in 1986.

Further, the AET has no problem printing borderline Holocaust denial in its magazine the Washington Report - from the May/June 1998 issue:

--
Meanwhile, the Washington Times revealed in a shocking article (07/17/90), that only one million Jews had died at Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp situated in Poland, and not the four million as originally claimed by the Zionists. Three hundred thousand non-Jews also perished there. Researchers at Israel's Yad Vashem memorial admitted the new Polish figures were correct. This new evidence would cut in half the Zionist's original claim that six million Jews had died under the Nazi regime. It would also raise the question, "Why did the Zionists grossly exaggerate the original numbers of Jewish victims?"
--

And let's not overlook the fact that the Editorial Assistant of the Washington Report is Laila Al-Arian. Yes, the daughter of indicted terrorist Sami Al-Arian.

[goldstategop]

Yep, scratch deep enough and you'll find an anti-Semite and Islamofascist cuddled up in bed together. Like that's a complete surprise. <Yawn

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[TrueBeliever9]

The US Third World Department of State is really dreading Bush being re-elected so they are going to do everything they can to help the democrats!

Americans need to have their eyes and hears opened to see that the State Department does not in any manner or method represent the interests or ideals of the American people.

[ChevyZ28]

I honestly don't know why, but I continue to be surprised at the level of criticism for Israel, in comparrison to the almost non-existant criticism for Arraft and his cronies among world leadership. Why haven't we or Israel blown Arraft to kingdon come? He is a terrorist, furthermore, he makes no apology and no attempt what so ever of any kind to try to hide this blaringly obvious fact!!!! Arrafat should be facing the same fate as Hussein and Bin Laden when he is captured!!!

[Alouette]

Jew-hating Washington Report is funded by the Robber Gang of Saud.

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[veronica]

Killgore may or may not be an anti-Semite, but he certainly could be mistaken for one. That is a strong statement, to be sure, but it seems a fair assessment after spending some time at the website for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, of which he is the co-founder and publisher.

Anyone associated with that Saudi-funded rag is an anti-semite. Period.

Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism with lipstick on to make it appear more presentable.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Killgore’s website also has a “Neocon Corner,” where he and others castigate one Jew or another for their sinister loyalties to Israel. (One execption was a hit piece on Dick Cheney.) Typical is a recent column on Richard Perle, former head of the Defense Policy Board. In the course of 800 words, Killgore refers to Perle as: a “fervent Zionist,” a “dyed-in-the-wool Israel-Firster,” part of the “Zionist lobby,” “always active in Zionist organizations,” the “Prince of Darkness,” and a “Zionist ideologue.”

Hmmm. Are Joe Sobran and Charley Reese working for the State Department now?

Maybe they should consider moving to Spain and joining its Socialist Party.

[Valin]

The letter in question.
Note: you might want to have a heaftybag handy.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President:

We former U.S. diplomats applaud our 52 British counterparts who recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair criticizing his Middle East policy and calling on Britain to exert more influence over the United States. As retired foreign service officers we care deeply about our nation's foreign policy and U.S. credibility in the world. At the request of our government and military colleagues, we have added their names as well.

We also are deeply concerned by your April 14 endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral plan to reject the rights of three million Palestinians, to deny the right of refugees to return to their homeland, and to retain five large illegal settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank. This plan defies U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for Israel's return of occupied territories. It ignores international laws declaring Israeli settlements illegal. It flouts U.N. Resolution 194, passed in 1948, which affirms the right of refugees to return to their homes or receive compensation for the loss of their property and assistance in resettling in a host country should they choose to do so. And it undermines the Road Map for peace drawn up by the Quartet, including the U.S. Finally, it reverses longstanding American policy in the Middle East.

Your meeting with Sharon followed a series of intensive negotiating sessions between Israelis and Americans, but which left out Palestinians. In fact, you and Prime Minister Sharon consistently have excluded Palestinians from peace negotiations. Former Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo voiced the overwhelming reaction of people around the world when he said, "I believe President Bush declared the death of the peace process today."

By closing the door to negotiations with Palestinians and the possibility of a Palestinian state, you have proved that the United States is not an even-handed peace partner. You have placed U.S. diplomats, civilians and military doing their jobs overseas in an untenable and even dangerous position.

Your unqualified support of Sharon's extra-judicial assassinations, Israel's Berlin Wall-like barrier, its harsh military measures in occupied territories, and now your endorsement of Sharon’s unilateral plan are costing our country its credibility, prestige and friends. Nor is this endorsement even in the best interests of the State of Israel.

It is not too late to reassert American principles of justice and fairness in our relations with all the peoples of the Middle East. Support negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, with the United States serving as a truly honest broker. A return to the time-honored American tradition of fairness will reverse the present tide of ill will in Europe and the Middle East—even in Iraq. Because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the core of the problems in the Middle East, the entire region—and the world—will rejoice along with Israelis and Palestinians when the killing stops and peace is attained.

Sincerely,

Andrew I. Killgore, Ambassador to Qatar, 1977-1980
Richard H. Curtiss, chief inspector, U.S. Information Agency
Colbert C. Held, Middle East Regional Officer
Thomas J. Carolan, Consul General, Turkey, 1988-1992
C. Edward Bernier, Counselor of Embassy for Information and Culture, Pakistan 1995-1996
Donald A. Kruse, American Consul in Jerusalem
Ambassador Edward L. Peck, former Chief of Mission in Iraq and Mauritania
John Powell, Admin Counselor of Embassy in Lebanon, 1975
John Gunther Dean, Ambassador to India
James Akins, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Talcott Seelye, Ambassador to Syria
Eugene Bird, Counselor of Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Richard H. Nolte, Ambassador to Egypt
Ray Close, Chief of Station Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1971-1979
Shirl McArthur, Commercial Attache, Thailand
David Fredrick, Country Director Peace Corps Morocco 1986-1990
Bill Rugh, Ambassador to UAE and Yemen
James Curran, Deputy Chief of Mission Togo 1973-1975
Joseph Cheevers, Office of Inspectors General 1987
Robert L. M. Nevitt, Minister for Press Affairs for the U.N.
John Brady Kiesling, Political Counselor, Greece
E. William Tatge, Counselor for Commercial Affairs, France
Henry Precht, Deputy Chief of Mission, Egypt
John O. Sutter, FSO, The Asia Foundation's Representative for Indonesia, 1982-1984
James J. Halsema, Counselor for Public Affairs, Egypt
Nancy LeRoy, Public Affairs Officer, Mexico
Thomas M. Martin, USIA Congressional Liaison Officer,
Robert C. McLaughlin, USIA Madrid
Edward Alexander, Counselor for Public Affairs, East Berlin, 1976-1979
Roman Lotsberg, Admin Officer, Office of European Affairs
Dr. Shirley Hill Witt, Cultural Affairs Officer, Zambia, 1994-1996
Arthur L. Lowrie, Political Advisor to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command
Carleton Coon, Ambassador to Nepal 1981-1984
Jane Coon, Ambassador to Bangladesh, 1981-1984
George B. Roberts, Ambassador to Guyana, 1979-1981
Robert V. Keeley, Ambassador to Greece
John E. Marsh, First Secretary, Embassy Kuwait, 1971-1973
Thomas W. Fina, Consul General, Milan, 1973-1979
Harland H. Eastman, Consul General, Tangier, Morocco, and Tel Aviv, Israel
Arthur Mudge, Director, USAID Mission to Sudan, 1980-1983
Ronald I. Spiers, Undersecretary of State for Management
Albert L. Seligmann, Director, Office of Japanese Affairs, 1981-1983
Orin D. Parker, President, America-Middle East Educational Services, 1979-1988
Robert C. Amerson, Counselor for Public Affairs, Italy
Christian Freer, Colonel, AUS ret., former chief of CIA stations and War Plans staff
Thomas J. Hirschfeld, Deputy U.S. Rep MBFR Negotiations
Edward R. M. Kane, Deputy Chief of Station, CIA, Iraq
Col. Richard Hobbes, US Army Retired, Politico-Military Adviser to NEA 1974-1977
Col. David Antoon, US Air Force, Retired
Brig. General Augustine A. Verrengia, USAF Ret.
Greg Thielmann, Director, Office for Strategic Proliferation Military Affairs, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Robin Berrington, Cultural Attache, Japan
Gary S. Usrey, Deputy Chief of Mission, Morocco
Owen Roberts, Ambassador to Togo
Chas W. Freeman, Jr. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1993-1994
Edwin Paul Kennedy, Jr., Regional Affairs Officer for N. African, Near Eastern, and S. Asian Affairs, USIA
Thomas J. Scotes, Ambassador to Yemen, 1975-1978
Michael Mennard, Ph.D., Regional Public Affairs Officer, India
Francois M. Dickman, Director Arabian Peninsula Affairs 1972-76, Ambassador to UAE 1976-79 and Kuwait 1979-83
Terrell E. Arnold, Former Deputy Director Office of Counterterrorism and Consul General, Brazil
Others

Edy Korthals Altes, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Madrid 1983-1986
Mr. Gerben Meihuizen (The Hague) former Netherlands Ambassador in Syria, Saudi Arabia and Algeria
Former Congressman Paul Findley (R-IL)
Robert Norberg, Director ARAMCO, ret.
Bishop John William Assemby of Yahweh
William Hughes, WWII veteran, retired engineer
Clyde A. Farris
Mary Ann Schwab, teacher, voter
Rev. J. Martin Bailey, Consultant to the Common Global Ministries Board
Henry E. Kydd, retired Army Sergeant, director of homeless shelter, grandfather
Dr. Edna Homa Hunt
David Wade, Ph.D, Researcher
E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Koen Stork, Netherlands Ambassador in Bucarest
W. Lance Haynes, Professor of Speech and Media Studies, University of Missouri-Rolla
David S. Dodge, President, American University of Beirut, ret.
Mrs. Frederick G. Roberts, widow of Frederick Roberts, CIA, Turkey

[Valin]

Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism with lipstick on to make it appear more presentable.


Very well put!

[veronica]

Gee, how come the nutter ex-Congressman/whiner Paul Findley didn't make it onto the list?

Richard H. Curtiss, chief inspector, U.S. Information Agency

Head Jewhater at Washington Report.

What a sham...

[Valin]

Gee, how come the nutter ex-Congressman/whiner Paul Findley didn't make it onto the list?

Maybe he's late with his dues to the anti-zionists of America.

[happygrl]

Gee, how come the nutter ex-Congressman/whiner Paul Findley didn't make it onto the list?

He's there, right in the middle of some other nutters:

Edy Korthals Altes, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Madrid 1983-1986
Mr. Gerben Meihuizen (The Hague) former Netherlands Ambassador in Syria, Saudi Arabia and Algeria
Former Congressman Paul Findley (R-IL)
Robert Norberg, Director ARAMCO, ret.
Bishop John William Assemby of Yahweh

[Stultis]

We former U.S. diplomats...

So many eager lickers, yet fewer and fewer emboldened thugs to proffer their blood-splattered jackboots. It's all Bush's fault!