Senator Kerry Challenges Bush on Saudi Ties
Listed in: Other Domestic Policy, Other Foreign Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases
Operation Emet-Truth:
Uncovering The Truth, Holding Them Accountable
A project of the National Jewish Democratic Council
April 20, 2004
IN THIS ISSUE:
o Senator Kerry Challenges Bush on Saudi Ties
o GOP Surrogates Again Attacking Senator Kerry on Israel's Security Fence, Ignoring Previous Bush Opposition to Same
o More Unacceptable Holocaust Rhetoric From GOP ... From Colin Powell?
1. Senator Kerry Challenges Bush on Saudi Ties
At a time when Bob Woodward's widely-reported new book, "Plan of Attack," details just how close President Bush and his administration have been to Saudi Arabia's leadership, Democratic Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (MA) has been explaining how things would be markedly different on that front if he is elected: First and foremost, special treatment of Saudi Arabia would end.
CBSNews.com reported on Monday that Senator Kerry "vowed to end a 'sweetheart relationship' that allows money to flow through Arab countries to terrorist groups and criticized President Bush over a report that he had struck a deal with Saudi officials to lower gasoline prices before the election. 'If ... it is true that gas supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, tied to a secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people,' Kerry said during a campaign stop in Florida. 'If this sounds wrong to you, that's because it is fundamentally wrong.' ... 'I have a 100 percent record ... of supporting the special relationship and friendship that we have with Israel,' Kerry said. 'I can guarantee you that as president, I understand not just how we do that but also how we end this sweetheart relationship with a bunch of Arab countries that still allows money to move to Hamas, Hezballah and the Al Aqsa Brigade.'"
Given President Bush's "special relationship" with the Saudis, and Senator Kerry's recent comments, it's a fair bet that the Saudis are hoping for a Bush victory in November.
The full CBSNews.com article can be viewed here.
2. GOP Surrogates Again Attacking Senator Kerry on Israel's Security Fence, Ignoring Previous Bush Opposition to Same
Republican surrogates are at it yet again. Today's Miami Herald reports that Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) is calling reporters to mischaracterize Senator Kerry's position on Israel's security fence -- while completely ignoring the wild flip-flops that President Bush has made on this very issue. Just a few facts to consider when conducting a reality check:
Fact: In a Democratic presidential debate on Sunday, February 29, 2004, when a debate moderator asked Senator Kerry how he would describe the security fence being erected by Israel, Senator Kerry responded that it is "a fence necessary to the security of Israel until they have a partner to be able to negotiate."
Fact: President Bush and his administration were clearly opposed to Israel's security fence until several months ago, when President Bush completely reversed his position. Even as Democratic presidential candidates were reiterating their strong support for the security fence, the Forward reported in an October 10, 2003 story that "the Bush administration ... has been pressuring Israel about its fence because the barrier veers over the 'green line,' the old 1949 armistice line, to encompass at least two large West Bank settlements. The administration has said it may deduct what Israel spends on the fence from loan guarantees. ... 'We have made it clear that the fence... is a problem,' Secretary of State Colin Powell told The Washington Post last week, in language that has been echoed by Bush." More recently, on January 16, 2004, the Forward reported that "Israel is pressuring the Bush administration to omit references to the West Bank security fence from the State Department's annual human rights report. ... The administration is still considering whether it will support Israel's position [on the fence] in front of the [International Court of Justice at the Hague]." A week earlier, the Forward explained, "The Bush administration, which takes a dim view of international tribunals but does not approve of the fence, has not yet decided if it would support such a campaign [against the International Court of Justice], several sources said."
Fact: Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Senator Kerry noted his support for Israel's targeted campaign against the leaders of Hamas, saying: "I believe Israel has every right in the world to respond to any act of terror against it. Hamas is a terrorist, brutal organization. It has had years to make up its mind to take part in a peaceful process; and they refuse to, Arafat refuses to. And I support Israel's efforts to try to separate itself and to try to be secure. The moment Hamas says, 'we've given up violence, we're prepared to negotiate,' I am absolutely confident they will find an Israel that is thirsty to have that negotiation."
Fact: Senator Kerry has a perfect, unblemished, decades-long voting record on Israel -- including some 60 supportive votes and congressional letters.
Just a few hard facts to consider.
3. More Unacceptable Holocaust Rhetoric From GOP ... From Colin Powell?
As we've noted before, there are many past examples of unacceptable GOP use of Holocaust rhetoric. But reports from Bob Woodward's book that Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to a Pentagon office as "the Gestapo" has raised quite a few eyebrows. While today's New York Times reports that Secretary Powell "did not recall" the reference, an item appearing in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today quotes an apologetic-sounding Secretary Powell: "Colin Powell said he regrets reports that he described a Pentagon department as 'the Gestapo.' In a book by Bob Woodward about the lead-up to the Iraq war, the U.S. secretary of state is quoted as resenting the influence of Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy, who was pro-war. In the book, Powell describes Feith, who is Jewish, and his staff as 'the Gestapo.' 'I don't recall saying that, but it is a terrible term to use,' Powell told The Associated Press. 'And it is out of place, completely out of place. I have known Doug Feith for many years. We have agreed on many issues and disagreed on some. And I just regret that that has gotten into the literature and become a fact.'"
The JTA report can be found under "Breaking News" at:
http://www.jta.org/
Operation Emet-Truth -- a project of the NJDC -- believes that all political leaders should be held to the same standard. Operation Emet-Truth appears weekly, focusing on political leaders and nationally-visible conservatives who make unacceptable statements -- and holding them to account. Want to help? Provide tips? Become a member of NJDC's Truth Squad -- e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.
