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Are
Jews Behind the War on Iraq? |
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A
Case of Classical Anti-Semitism
Moran's Moronic Comments
A U.S. lawmaker
told his constituents that the Jewish community is behind the Bush administration’s
push for war against Iraq.
On March 3, 2003 Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) said,
“If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war
with Iraq, we would not be doing this,” according to the Virginia-area Connection
newspaper.
Moran, whose daughter is converting to Judaism before an August
wedding, has a history of comments and actions against Israel and the Jewish community.
Thus, Moran's comment itself is not alarming. Rather, the lack of a serious counter
to Moran's comment by American leaders, journalists and citizens is cause for
serious concern.On the eve of the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, Patrick Buchanan
said the war was being touted by “the Israeli Defense Ministry and its amen corner
in the United States.” This comment was met with widespread condemnation and derision.
In
contrast, Moran's comment linking of US-Iraqi strife to a Jewish or Israeli conspiracy
to dominate US foreign policy has reverberated.
The Lie - Classical
Anti-Semitism
The echo, from the New
York Times to the Chicago
Tribune to the Los
Angeles Times, of Moran's suggestion that the Jewish community is responsible
for the U.S. military buildup against Saddam Hussein shows that anti-Semitism
is alive and well in America.
Three classical anti-Semitic themes underly Moran's
comment:
- Jews
Have Excessive Power
Anti-Semites have long spoken of a Jewish conspiracy
controlling the U.S. government. This was apparent in a May 2002 Survey of Anti-Semitism
in America, which also found that 20 percent of the American public agrees that,
"Jews have too much power in the U.S. today."
-
Jews Are Not Loyal
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL),
one-third of Americans still accept the notion that Jews have "dual loyalties."
Such charges of disloyalty were the fuel behind anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia
and the Holocaust in Europe.
-
Jews Act Not As Individuals but in Conspiracy
Moran’s comments
portrayed the Jewish community as monolithic.
The Lie - Blatant Anti-Semitism in the Muslim Press
The Anti-Semitism
being veiled in the American press is being more openly expressed the Muslim Press.
Newspapers in the Muslim and Arab world have turned to classic anti-Semitic conspiracy
theories, suggesting that Israel and the Jews are the "invisible hand" behind
America’s foreign policy toward Iraq. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has collected
a sampling
of cartoons showing how anti-Semitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories are
being used to blame Jews for the war in Iraq.
The Truth -
America Acts in America's Interests
American leaders, right or wrong, are
determined to dethrone Saddam Hussein because they believe it is in America's
and the world's best interests to get rid of a brutal dictator who is trying to
develop weapons of mass destruction.
Members of Congress are virtually
united behind President Bush and his administration’s campaign to oust Saddam
Hussein. While there are U.S. officials of Jewish origin within the Administration
who advocate military action, other strong advocates of war against Iraq within
the Bush administration include President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary
of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Powell and National Security Advisor Rice
on this issue.
It is true that Iraq poses a threat to Israel and removal
of Saddam's tyrannical regime would be beneficial to Israel. It is also true that
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries would benefit from new leadership
in Iraq. It is the hope of everyone that the Iraqi people will themselves be the
beneficiaries of a more humanitariam leadership.
Americans opposed to war
have every right to question their government's motivations for war. However,
scapegoating minorities, whether Jewish or Muslim, is inappropriate and misleading.
sources:
JTA: http://www.jta.org
ADL:
http://www.adl.org
~ Lisa
Katz
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