Instead of being content to merely express tolerance for the religious beliefs of others, our official spokesmen feel constrained to go overboard in lauding a religion, which, in the twenty-first century, is replete with fatwas, floggings, amputations, and decapitations. Even the question whether we should continue our war against terrorism during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, has been raised seriously by our State Department.

In place of outright lying, we have developed the art of "spin."

If disregard for the truth is a major problem in dealing with the Arab world, in Washington denial of some realities is a much more subtle art as practiced by some of our policymakers. In place of outright lying, we have developed the art of "spin." This is increasingly obvious as the Administration prefers not to have to confront Iraq, or face the sad fact that our "moderate" Arab allies--Saudi Arabia and Egypt--are major sources of our current problems. Fearful that Saddam's Iraq was the source of "the weapons grade" anthrax that has created such grave concern here, the Administration has consistently played down any Iraqi connection. Because if such a connection were made, the United States would have to actually do something about it. We might have to give real assistance to Iraqi opposition groups, and take other more direct action to affect regime change in Baghdad.

Similarly, instead of admitting that our Saudi friends have basically stiffed us, by refusing the use of bases there for military operations against the Taliban, we have Secretary Powell deftly sidestepping the issue by declaring, "Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia have responded to every request we have made of them." This statement is sophistry at its finest. Powell didn't say how they responded, or what we asked of them. Knowing in advance that these two "allies" would turn us down flat if we asked them for more meaningful assistance, we dared not ask. Prince Sultan, reputedly the most pro-American of the ruling hierarchy in Riyadh, stated Saudi policy quite plainly: "We do not accept the presence in our country of a single soldier at war with Muslims or Arabs." Now, one side or the other here is stretching the truth--or, in this case, both!

Yet, when an Israeli Prime Minister states what should be so apparent, namely that the U.S. is appeasing terror-sponsoring states at Israel's expense, his statement is declared "unacceptable" by the administration. No beating around the bush here by administration spokesmen. Unfortunately, it is the truth that has become "unacceptable" for the Administration. Because dealing with the real dangers we face would mean having to take decisive action against countries like Iraq, Syria, Iran, and treating the Palestinian Authority as a state sponsor of terrorism. By now it should be clear: You don't wage war against terrorism, an abstraction, but against terrorists. And by now we should know who they are by their very words and deeds.

With its multi-billion dollar budget for electronic eavesdropping, and the millions paid to informers, US intelligence has the same evidence obtained by our Israeli friends that proves that Arafat is behind the continuing terrorism directed against Israel. The disconnect between this reality and our "even-handed" policies leading to increased pressure on Israel is intentional, political, and ultimately, self-defeating. It is based on the flawed premise that greater concessions by Israel will score points for us in the Arab world, thereby postponing the inevitable day of reckoning when we will have to respond massively to new and more terrible terrorist attacks. While there have been some hints of stages yet to come, after Afghanistan, so far it looks like more of the same Clintonian foreign policy of "kicking the can down the road." This is policy comprised of false hopes, self-delusion, and wishful thinking. This way you avoid the ugly reality that not only are there "evildoers" (to borrow the President's description) out there, but these evildoers are in the process of acquiring the very means to accomplish their goal--our destruction.

It is sad to say that the only remaining superpower in the world has been reduced to hiding behind "coalition building" as our strategic response to growing mortal threats to our country, and substituting spin for action.

Actually, the situation is more than sad--it's tragic. And the tragedy is that we will all have to pay the price for the folly of being incapable of dealing with the truth.

Morris J. Amitay, an attorney and political consultant, was formerly executive director of AIPAC.

Outpost               - 10 -               November 2001