Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 2008, pages 5-6

Letters to the Editor

Why Stop With the CIA?

I would like to express my extreme distress at viewing in the March issue of the Washington Report a full-page ad seeking to recruit candidates for the “National Clandestine Service” (the field operations and combat arm of the CIA).

In addition to the wholly obvious fact of the CIA representing just about everything that the Washington Report and its readership oppose, there is my additional concern about the level of deception inherent in any CIA employment advertising. Those naïve enough to seriously consider employment with the CIA (as indeed I once was many years ago) are letting themselves in for a very lengthy, competitive and brutally humiliating evaluation and screening process, with the final odds of actually being offered employment at the CIA very tiny indeed.

Any Washington Report reader who might be tempted to respond to the advertisement in question should be made aware of these less desireable aspects of the process of seeking employment at the CIA.

Perhaps the Washington Report might also want to consider seeking advertising revenue from the Israel Defense Forces or Mossad.

Michael S. Goodman, Madison, WI

As we explained in our March “Publishers’ Page” (we knew readers would be wondering!), when the FBI and CIA, both seeking new Arabic-speaking employees, asked to advertise and actually pay for ads—we literally could not afford to say no. We also firmly believe that when our government, foreign service, armed forces, and media include more Muslim- and Arab-Americans, and others who care about peace, we’ll stop making the stupid errors that are giving us a black eye at home and abroad. As for seeking advertisements from the IDF or Mossad, that’s not an utterly absurd idea. Perhaps if their ranks included Palestinians, Arab Israelis, or more refuseniks, they would not act with such stunning disregard for non-Jewish human life.

That said, in no way will our acceptance of an ad from the CIA affect our editorial policy. We will continue to criticize its role in such blowback-inducing actions as the 1953 overthrow of Iran’s democratically elected prime minister, Mohammed Mossedegh—and will continue as well to bring you the words of former CIA analysts Ray McGovern and Kathleen and Bill Christison, who have our utmost admiration. 

Input Requested

Thank you for your magazine, I will be renewing my subscription. I’m retired and watch my pennies, but I must support your efforts.

I ask you for your input as I want to write a reply to the enclosed ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 by “FLAME.” It is a deceptive ad and needs to be answered. I think this ad is the third or fourth. But such hog-wash. Can you write a reply and I will sign and mail the response? Thank you.

Ray Schmidt, Mt. Lebanon, PA

P.S. I have the July-August 2004 issue that prints the pro-Israel PAC contributions to the 2004 congressional candidates, is there a later issue for PAC contributions? Please send 6 copies and I will distribute them to my library, state representative, and state senator.

We thank you for your support, especially in these parlous economic times. It’s because of readers such as yourself that we can continue to educate our fellow Americans in an effort to make these political times less so. Certainly one of the obstacles to that effort is FLAME—which, being sticklers for accuracy, we maintain  stands for “Fallacies and Lies About the Middle East.” Because of their inaccuracies, FLAME “advertisements” do not appear in the Washington Report. Given the choice between responding to each misleading and innuendo-filled claim and putting out this magazine, however, the latter must be our top priority. In our pages and on our Web site, <www.wrmea.com> you’ll find the facts about Barak’s so-called generous offer and other contemporary and historical myths.

Our July 2007 issue contained the complete tally of pro-Israel PAC contributions to 2006 congressional candidates. In our next issue we’ll begin compiling the contributions for the 2008 congressional and presidential elections. Meanwhile, see our “Election Watch” articles starting on p. 26 of this issue.

Containing the Spread of Misinformation

I just noticed what must have been a typo error and probably should be corrected. In her December 2007 article, “Bush Calls A Peace Conference While Stoking a Wider War” (an obvious fair and balanced report by Rachelle Marshall) on p. 9 the author wrote that, “no one reminded him [an unnamed military spokesman] that al-Qaeda would not be in Iraq if not for the U.S. occupation.”

This is obviously a clear misstatement that can be explained only as a typographical error.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know that al-Qaeda quickly realized they would not win the war fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. They needed to find a safe haven from the U.S. military power and also find somewhere they could be re-supplied with military weapons. Saddam’s Iraq was the obvious place. They miscalculated badly, however, President Bush’s resolve to seek them out. When intelligence reported this emigration, and with the fear that Saddam would supply al-Qaeda with what they needed, Bush gave Saddam a deadline to honor his commitment to the U.N. that he would allow U.N. inspections for WMD. When Saddam refused to honor his signed contract then the U.S. entered Iraq (with support from both political parties) to seek and destroy the al-Qaeda foreigners who were hiding there. This has been the U.S. main mission ever since.

Surely Ms. Marshall is aware of this, and it would be nice if she made an editorial correction. We must not allow any more misinformation to be spread about.

D. Holton, Seattle, WA

We wish we could say that we never make typos—but we can say that this isn’t one of them. Along with car bombs, lack of fuel and electricity, walled neighborhoods and ubiquitous killings, not only was al-Qaeda not present in Iraq prior to the U.S. invasion—in fact the secular Saddam Hussain and religious fundamentalist Osama bin Ladan were, if anything, enemies—but the organization known as “al-Qaeda in Iraq” is homegrown rather than imported. (Although it’s certainly the case that would-be fighters are entering Iraq to oppose the U.S. occupation.) As for Saddam violating his agreement to allow U.N. inspectors to search for WMD, chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reported to the U.N. in early 2003 that Saddam was allowing the inspectors free access to possible weapons sites, and that no WMD had been found. Blix asked for a few more months to complete the inspections but Bush ignored his recommendations and, without the approval of the U.N. Security Council, launched the illegal pre-emptive war that neoconservatives had been urging since 1996.

Coverage Requested

I disagree with your never criticizing Arabs or Islamic fundamentalists, and would like more information about Islamic fundamentalism and repression by Middle East governments other than Israel.

Michael Bradley, Scottsdale, AZ

Given our limited resources of both pages and personnel, we’ve had to make some fundamental decisions, the most basic of which is to provide our readers information not available in the mainstream media (which we’re now seeing abbreviated as MSM), which innundates Americans with stories about Islamic fundamentalism and repression by Middle East governments (except Israel). We trust our readers to put the news in the proper perspective. In a perfect world, of course, the Washington Report’s mission would be to expand upon, rather than correct, what’s available in the MSM, and we look forward to that day.

Discovery in a Waiting Room

I was pleased to discover such a publication as this exists while in a doctor’s office here in Canada. I am an Evangelical Christian conservative Canadian and for some 15 years have noted the lack of patriotism and injustice by those using America for the gain of Israel.

You’re strong, fair, building for solutions. I can see this in your presumptions behind your writings and reportings.

This publication is needed to educate and persuade everyone about the need for clarity and, after this, equity and justice in dealing with the Middle East. My fellow evangelicals in America and everyone are making decisions about foreign countries without basis or deeper understanding of facts, motives, and character of the participants. They are unaware of the passion and concentration of pro-Israel rhetoric that is directed at them. This ignorance can change quickly with efforts like yours. Lord bless.

Robert Byers, Toronto, Canada, via e-mail

Information and Hope

You can have no idea how important the Washington Report is to us! As we search for news that may give us hope for the establishment of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the Report is our best source of information that may help us to inform our State Department people of situations involved in relationships between the two camps which our government should use as a basis of involvement in achieving justice!

Keep up the good work! It is a long and difficult road, and we need your work in the right direction!

More Power to You!

Margaret Day Anthon, Washington, DC

Putting Boxes to Good Use

Thanks for continuing to send boxes of Washington Reports and Remember These Children.

I give slide presentations based on the 28 days I spent last summer living with an Arab family near Bethlehem. So far, about 350 people have heard my talks, and they all go home with the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Remember these Children. Our 6-month-old organization, Northfielders for Justice in Palestine/Israel, is growing rapidly due to the events we are sponsoring.

I have subscribed to your great magazine since 2002. I will remain an accompanist in the choir.

Bill McGrath, Northfield, MN

We are proud to accompany you in your important and successful endeavors, and thank you for making it possible for us to do so.