Washington Watch Articles From 1998
ARAB AMERICANSCHALLENGEOFFICIAL VIOLATIONSOF RIGHTS
Arab Americans have made significant progress in all areas of American life.
ARAB AMERICANSIN THE1998 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
This November, a record number of Arab Americans will be running for the U.S. Congress. In all, there are 12 Arab American candidates campaigning for federal posts in 10 states.
THE WORLDCREATED BYNENTANYAHU
Twenty-one months ago, fresh on the heels of an electoral victory, the Netanyahu government embarked on an ambitious program to undo the Middle East peace process and reshape Middle East politics.
THEUNFINISHEDBUSINESS
In the end, President Clinton did the right thing and deferred to the United Nations Security Council in an effort to diffuse a dangerous standoff with Iraq.
EXPERTSWHOAREN’T
There are several flaws that can be noted in the current U.S. policy debate on Iraq. The most serious problem is the failure of most U.S. policy makers to understand Iraq (or any other Arab country, for that matter) in the context of the broader Arab world.
SURRENDERANDDECLARE VICTORY
The U.S. Senate adjourned last week without passing a resolution in support of a military strike against Iraq. Since the Senate will not reconvene until February 23, the Congress can take no action for at least one week.
THE U.S. DEBATESTHE CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ
For several weeks now, the drums of war have been beating in the United States. It appeared inevitable that if the Iraqi government continued to refuse unconditional and unrestricted UNSCOM inspections, that country would be subjected to “massive and sustained” bombardment.
THE SCANDAL ANDTHE CONSPIRACY
The scandal that has been consuming Washington during the past ten days may well have been fed by a conspiracy. However, it is not the conspiracy widely believed by many in the Arab world and in parts of the Arab American community.
A DIFFICULT AND DISTURBING WEEK
It was a difficult and disturbing week. What was promoted as a week of meetings crucial to the future of the Middle East peace process turned instead into a series of sideshows.
MCCARTHYISM TRIES AGAIN
In a tough-worded editorial entitled “The New McCarthyism”, The New York Times’ Anthony Lewis decried the decision of Washington’s Smithsonian Institution to bend to pressure from right-wing Jewish groups and change their planned lecture series on Israel’s 50-year anniversary.
MCCARTHYISM TRIES AGAIN
In a tough-worded editorial entitled “The New McCarthyism”, The New York Times’ Anthony Lewis decried the decision of Washington’s Smithsonian Institution to bend to pressure from right-wing Jewish groups and change their planned lecture series on Israel’s 50-year anniversary.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN LEBANON AND SYRIA
Our just completed, week-long, Congressional visit to Lebanon and Syria was significant for a number of reasons.
THE TOP STORIES OF 1997 AND THE STRUGGLE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE IN 1998
The United States remains the world’s only superpower with responsibilities and interests from south Asia to the Middle East, from Russia to Bosnia and from Africa to Central and South America.