Washington Watch Articles From 1997
A DARK MOOD
The mood in the Arab world and among many in the Arab American community is bleak. There is confusion, alienation and , at times, anger.
NETANYAHU: ISOLATED BUT STILL DANGEROUS
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu is an increasingly isolated figure. Fury in the Arab world over his policies is being echoed within Israel as well.
A BRUTAL CASE OF CHUTZPAH
A brutal case of murder in a Washington, DC suburb has developed into an international incident that is causing new strains in the U.S.-Israel relationship.
MY SPEECH AT THE STATE DEPRTMENT
The peace process is in a state of collapse. This poses a danger not only to the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. U.S. interests in a stable and secure Middle East will also be negatively impacted.
A BIGOTED CAMPAIGN
By now the world knows of Roger Tamraz, a Lebanese American, and of his appearance before the U.S. Senate Committee investigating campaign finance irregularities in 1996.
ALBRIGHT’S FIRST MIDDLE EAST TRIP
On Tuesday night, in the midst of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s visit to the Middle East, I had the opportunity to speak to President Bill Clinton about her trip and its chance for success.
ACCESS:MEETING ARAB IMMIGRANT NEEDS
This is not a story in the headlines. Nor is it one of the usual stories about problems facing the Arab American community.
REPUBLICANS CONTINUE RIGHTWARD DRIFT
In the midst of a summer recess, Washington is fairly quiet. But politics continues in the rest of the country with politicians travelling domestically and internationally and launching initiatives that they hope will set the tone and agenda for the fall and winter policy debates.
CONGRESS PROVIDES EXTRA BENEFITS FOR ISRAEL
Congress, reflecting the mood of U.S. public opinion, is usually not inclined to grant foreign aid. To secure foreign aid requests for new recipients, the Administration must usually wage an intense campaign to convince Members of Congress of their value to U.S. interests and foreign policy objectives.
CONGRESS FIGHTS U.S. MIDDLE EAST PEACE EFFORTS
As the Clinton Administration struggles to develop new initiatives to restore trust and confidence in the peace process, recent actions by the U.S. Congress have not contributed either to building that trust or to projecting and protecting the role of the U.S. as an even-handed honest broker.