Leaders Lead, President Bush!

Leaders lead, President Bush.

You stand stage center, you can not help but be planning how you will be remembered, how you will be rated. Will you stand among the demi-G-ds of history, the great leaders who dealt with their times with foresight?



Some would say that you are handicapped by being a lame duck President with no future capital to expend. I would say that in ways of greatness, term limits have freed you absolutely from the necessity of playing the political game.



President Bush, are you with Israel and the Jewish people, or are you not with us? You can make a clear statement independent of the State Department, independent of anyone or anything by simply telling the truth. Israel is a nation among the nations of the world.



Israel made an immediate response in the immediate aftermath of Katrina’s devastating impact. Israel offered to send a plane loaded with food, baby formula and perhaps most precious, technical help. Israel made this offer with compassion, as one sister nation to another.



Now two weeks later, the Department of State in its official releases detailing offers of aid, fails to mention Israel as it lists donors of aid to the victims of Katrina’s rage.



President Bush, by pandering to the urging of the Department of State to omit the name of Israel when acknowledging aid from Arab States, lest they be offended by the coupling of their names with that of Israel, you further the process of dhiminization in the United States, you diminish youself.



President Bush, you are slipping backwards on the ladder of great leaders, but you are still in control. Exercise that control by instructing your minions at the State Department that Israel is always to be accorded full respect; and while we are at it authorize the building in Jerusalem of the US Embassy in Israel – Congress passes the appropriation every single year.

Janet Lehr

Israel Lives

janetlehr@mindspring.com



State Dept. drops Israel from Hurricane relief credits

WORLD TRIBUNE.COM



The United States has avoided any mention of Israeli participation in

the international aid effort for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.



In a briefing on Sept. 6, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack focused on Arab offers of assistance to the United States. [...]



[..]Officials acknowledged that Israel was one of the first countries

to offer to send military and civilian teams to New Orleans. But they

said the administration, which has highlighted offers of aid from

Islamic governments as well as American Arab and Muslim groups, asked Israel to postpone sending aid until a later stage.



The new Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes has been tasked with the presenting an image of a benign America

sensitive to the Arab and Muslim world, U.S. officials said.



[..]In three briefings over the last four days, senior State Department officials made no mention of Israel's offer to help Katrina victims. The last briefing was on Wednesday by State Department executive secretary Harry Thomas, who reported offers from Britain, Germany and Russia.



But on late Wednesday, the State Department issued a report that

cited Israeli aid to Katrina victims. The report said Israel has sent

tents, first aid kits and baby formula to the United States.



"Russia, China, Spain and Israel sent planes loaded with MREs

[meals-ready-to-eat], relief supplies, tents, water purification units, kitchen units and medical supplies," the report said.



The administration's response was said to have alarmed Israeli

diplomats, concerned that their country was being marginalized in

U.S. foreign policy. Officials said the Bush administration, preoccupied by Katrina, has delayed meetings to discuss Israel's request for $2.2 billion in military and civilian assistance in connection with the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. The administration has asked Congress for another $51.8 billion for recovery efforts.



"The Secretary [of State Condoleezza Rice] has instructed ambassadors and chiefs of mission to speak to the foreign governments at the highest level," Thomas said, "to go back in to them, thank them for their offers, tell them yes, we want your offer today or [b] we're still evaluating your offer and [c] yes, we may take your offer later as these needs become greater but we want other things."



An Israeli military delegation has postponed its departure to the

United States until Thursday. A military statement said the delegation, carrying humanitarian and medical aid from Israel to New Orleans, would also include Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry.



"The delegation will transport aid equipment including 80 tons of

food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional

equipment which were donated from different governmental

institutions, civilian institutions and the IDF," the statement said.

"The contents of the shipment were chosen in accordance with the U.S. government."



Officials said the Bush administration delayed accepting Israel's immediate offer to help the hurricane victims. They said the administration was concerned that such a move would deter Arab and Islamic countries from offering assistance.



"At one point, the administration signaled that it would accept Israeli help, but preferred that it be as part of a mission organized by the American Jewish community," an official said. "There appeared to a problem with having the Israeli flag in a foreign rescue mission in the United States."



Janet Lehr

IsraelLives

janetlehr@mindspring.com