The Middle East

Following Up

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Middle East, Uncategorized , , , ,

In my last post, I condemned the president of my alma Mater, Northwestern, as a dishonorable Jew for giving perks to the pro-Hamas demonstrators while doing nothing to make Jewish students and others feel safe on campus. Shortly after, I received an email from President Michael H. Schill, linking to His OP-ED in the Chicago Tribune, explaining his actions. Eagerly, I clicked to see if his assurance that Jewish students were still welcome and safe at N.U. is clearly stated. I’d rather be wrong about him if the campus were welcoming and safe for all. 

It’s sad to say that Schill is even worse than I thought. Even though Jews are the ones most threatened, he only mentions them obliquely, “First and foremost, we needed to protect the health and safety of our entire community, including our Jewish students.” The protestors are pro-Hamas. The group that just murdered and savaged the most significant number of Jews since the Holocaust and still holds hostages. Even with the “settlement, “keffiyeh-wearing demonstrators remain on Deering Meadow for another month. Wearing the headscarves shows solidarity with those desiring to dispose of all the Jews between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea.

In the 1930s, Germans wore brown shirts to show their hatred of Jews. Now, the protestors wear keffiyehs to convey the same sentiment. How does this deliver any feeling of welcome or safety to Jews on campus?

Understandably, Schill’s “settlement” and actions have drawn Jewish wrath. Rather than fighting the clear and present antisemitism, he equates it with virtually non-existent anti-muslin acts. “Second, we believe in free expression, but that most assuredly does not include antisemitic or anti-Muslim harassment or intimidation.” 

While Schill rolled over and placated the demonstrators, Ben Sasse, the University of Florida President, faithfully adhered to his school’s rules. Those rules allowed free speech, but if you broke them, you faced immediate suspension. As a result, students, including Jews, went about the business of learning without disturbance. 

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Juden Betreten Verboten

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Middle East, Uncategorized , , , ,

With all the turmoil on campus across the nation, I thought a reminder of the tough Arab neighborhood Israel exists in with a map of the Arab League:

How many of the protestors can even find Israel on the Map? Anyway, on to my post.

It’s as if a sign declaring Juden Betreten Verboten, Jews, entry forbidden, is hanging on Deering Library on the Northwestern University (N.U.) campus. My alma mater has informed the world Jews are no longer welcome. I never thought I’d ever see this day. To placate Hamas supporters that occupied Deering Meadow, the ample open space in front of the library with tents and ant-israel paraphernalia, the university showered the protestors with goodies if they would leave—scholarships and professorships, along with special accommodations. 

Why would a University reward those siding with Hamas, a terrorist organization dedicated to destroying millions of Jews? The truth is the school has a long history of anti-semitism. Only a few years before I enrolled in 1955, Jews were subject to a hard quota. During the time I attended N.U., it started to ease its policies not only toward Jews but Blacks and others. For instance, removing the required photos on entrance applications increased black admissions in the ’60s. Still, quotas lasted until 1964. Integrating fraternities, sororities, and housing brought people of different backgrounds together, which was a subject we worked on. I was proud of the direction and progress.

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Three Story Lines Revisited

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, The Middle East, Uncategorized , , , ,

It was a busy week with significant developments. Three of them fall in areas I’ve commented on in the past. It’s crucial to compare where we are with what I wrote on the third parties, the Gaza war, and abortion, as these past commentaries hold significant relevance to our current situation.

In my series, ‘The Future Party” (On this Site), I stressed the pressing need for a more competitive political landscape. We must enhance our choices at all levels. Recent presidential elections have presented us with candidates most Americans didn’t want to vote for. The current election, featuring two widely unpopular candidates, is a stark reminder of this issue. The ‘No Labels Party,’ which pledged to offer more options, should’ve thrived in this climate. While it has made progress in securing spots on state ballots, they’re facing a lot of work getting candidates. 

In my series, ‘The Future Party,” I concluded that you can’t defeat someone without one and must stand for something. I based my brief involvement with the emerging Howard Shultz third-party campaign on crafting a platform for the Starbucks founder to champion. However, no such platform materialized, and Shultz withdrew when it appeared he could potentially harm the Democrats, thereby inadvertently supporting the re-election of the Republican incumbent. This excuse is a stark reminder that new voices must have substance and conviction to make a lasting impact.

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We Deserve A Better Leader

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, The Middle East, Uncategorized , , , ,

Three dead, and dozens hurt, the result of a suicide drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. It was just a matter of time before U.S. troops died, according to Gen. Keith Kellogg on Fox News. After 160+ attacks on U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq, added to assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, the Biden administration had repeatedly told Iran and its surrogates, “Don’t,” but they did. Still, administration spokespeople’s recurrent theme is, “We don’t seek a wider war.” 

Remember, as recently as 9/29/23, the national security advisor Jake Sullivan claimed the Mideast is the quietest in decades. Now, Anthony Blinkin says we face the most significant Mideast problem since 1973. Since the October 7th horrific attack, the hostilities have spread from Israel and Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the Red Sea, Yemen, and now Jordan. A war already rapidly widening. From the quiet of the Abraham Accords and a restrained Iran at the end of the last administration to the present mess, you can’t avoid the conclusion it’s the result of Biden’s policies.

Besides removing sanctions allowing a massive increase in Iran’s oil revenues and unblocking Billions of dollars, which allowed the Mullahs to finance the increase in the terrorist activities of their surrogates, the administration also re-instated aid to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). Years ago, I pointed out in posts on the Middle East that this agency was far from being a force for good. It served only to prolong and deepen problems. 

Instead of facilitating Palestinian resettlement in the Arab world, it kept them in camps, with only their hatred and families increasing. UNWRA schools taught hostility to Jews. President Trump’s U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, aware of its failings, successfully pushed the U.S. to defund the wayward agency. However, Biden restored funding and added even more discretionary funds.

Now we find UNWRA employees took part in Hamas’ ghastly attack on Israel. Evidence shows at least one in ten of its staffers have ties to the terrorist group. Believe it or not, the U.S. Taxpayers supported the terrorists. Even with UNWRA’s widely known flaws, Biden gave them funds, much of it ending up with Hamas financing its horrors.

I can’t prove my earlier idea that a quiet but robust alliance between Israel, the U.S., and the Kurds would’ve kept a lid on the Mideast caldron, allowing the area to evolve into modernity. Still, it couldn’t have worse results than we have now. Even in a limited form under Trump, maintaining the Harir airbase in Kurdistan and solid support of Israel allowed some Arab nations to join in the Abraham Accords, with others likely to follow. Wouldn’t it be better to have our own strategically placed proxies?

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Friends

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Middle East, Uncategorized

Thanksgiving is a time for friends and families to be happy to be with some and reflect on those unable to be with us. We value the people we can depend on and hope they find us dependable. This interaction forms much of our human relationships. This fact got me thinking about the relationships between nations. How good a friend are we at a national level? Could we be better?

The record is decidedly mixed. The Marshall Plan revived Europe. We befriended our enemies Germany and Japan with excellent results. The Anglosphere resembles a family. On the other hand, our efforts in Latin America have yet to do as well.

Since our fleeing Saigon Saigon, our loyalty and support for comrades in arms may give our friend pause. Many of those banking on our presence to ease the arduous progress to a modern democratic state in Afghanistan were left watching the last planes take off without them. 

Ukraine only started to receive military aid after Russia invaded. If delivered in a timely fashion, advanced armaments could’ve rocked the Russians.,but it’s only delivered late. F16 fighters are just now on the schedule. Abrams tanks have yet to see the battlefield. We’ve been acting slowly from day one. This reluctance leaves us to wonder if the U.S. wants victory for Ukraine. A long war favors the larger Russia.

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