Washington Watch Articles From 1999
MILLENNIAL MADNESS
I have not been impressed with the millennial hype that we have been forced to endure during the past few years. Since President Clinton campaigned on the theme of “building a bridge to the 21st century” and then, in victory, termed his presidency as the “first of the next millenium”—we have been subjected to an excessive abuse of the “new era” notion.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM SHARA’A’s SPEECH
At the opening of the Israeli-Syrian peace talks in Washington, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara’a delivered a most interesting set of remarks.
1999-YEAR END LOOK AT 2000 RACES
As we approach the end of 1999, the presidential contests have become far more intriguing affairs then they appeared to be just a few months ago.
THE GOP CANDIDATES: FOREIGN POLICY AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Three events occurred during the past two weeks that we had hoped might give some shape and generate some new foreign policy ideas in the race for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.
GORE AND MCCAIN SPEAK TO ARAB AMERICANS
Both Democratic Vice President Al Gore and Republican Senator John McCain addressed our Arab American National Leadership Conference earlier this month.
INCITEMENT AGAINST TWO FIRST LADIES
The New York tabloid press and a handful of pro-Likud hawks had a field day attacking First Lady Hillary Clinton last week.
CANDIDATES AND PARTIES AGREE: ARAB AMERICANS ARE COURTED
The newspaper headlines reporting on this year’s Arab American National Leadership Conference said it best.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY STATES
With 10 weeks remaining before the first presidential primary elections of 2000, the Republican and Democratic contests have become quite interesting.
SECRET EVIDENCE, PEACE PROCESS AND IRAQ—ISSUES IN 2000
When a federal judge ruled, last week, that the use of secret evidence in deportation cases represented an unconstitutional violation of due process, the Arab American political agenda for 2000 received an important boost.
CONGRESS BATTLES THE PEACE PROCESS
It is still possible that this session of Congress will end without serious damage being done to the Middle East peace process and U.S. foreign policy in the region.
THE CTBT DEBACLE IN WASHINGTON
It is quite normal that in a presidential election year, partisan politicking replaces legislating in Washington.
ARAB AMERICANS: CRITICAL CHALLENGES IN 2000
The 2000 elections are shaping up to be the most hotly contested and most interesting races in many years. They will provide Arab Americans a significant opportunity to reestablish the political role of the community.
BUCHANAN AT WAR
The political antics of TV commentator Pat Buchanan are threatening, once again, to create upheaval in U.S. presidential politics.
ISRAEL’S INCITEMENT AT DISNEY: WHAT ARABS MUST DO
When Walt Disney World’s Millenium Celebration opens this week in Florida it will include a controversial Israeli exhibit that focuses on the city of Jerusalem.
BAD NEWS FOR BUSH AND GORE
The political big news this week is potentially bad news for both the Democratic and Republican frontrunners in the 2000 presidential contest.
THE U.S. ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS
With the signing of the Wye implementation agreement at Sharm el-Sheikh, the Clinton Administration now faces a rather demanding agenda.
U.S.-LEBANON RELATIONSHIP: THE REBUILDING THAT MUST BE DONE
In an October 1996 speech marking Lebanese Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri’s visit to Washington, then Secretary of State Warren Christopher spoke eloquently of the U.S.- Lebanese relationship and of Lebanon’s effort to rebuild after 15 years of devastating war.
BURGER KING’S WAY: CORPORATE INTEGRITY
In the end, Burger King did the right thing. BK, as it is known in the United States, is a multinational corporation famous for its “charbroiled” hamburgers.
THE POWER OF PERCEPTIONS AND THE IOWA STRAW POLL
Last week’s Iowa straw poll and this week’s press fixation on unsubstantiated rumors about Texas Governor George W. Bush’s alleged drug use provide further evidence of the disturbing relationship that exists between media and politics.
THE ATTACK ON SUDAN: ONE YEAR LATER
One year ago, the Clinton Administration appeared to be floundering. Monica Lewinsky had just given testimony in which she contradicted the President and criticized his behavior.