I’m surprised that The Herald printed Shabbir Bala’s trash-filled, vitriolic and fanatical guest commentary on Nov. 7.
The investigation of Larry Franklin supposedly turning over sensitive information to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has been ongoing for more than two years. AIPAC has denied receiving sensitive information from Franklin and has made its people and files open to investigators. (Franklin is not Jewish.) The announcement of the allegations defies ethical and professional standards, particularly since it came out during national political campaigns.
Regarding the $3 billion Israelis receive annually, Bala fails to mention the billions of dollars Muslim countries receive annually and having our armed forces stationed throughout Middle East countries, except Israel. This country has never lost a serviceman or servicewoman in defending Israel. It’s never been necessary. On the other hand, this country lost servicemen and servicewomen defending other Middle East countries. Remember, as an example, when the United States in Desert Storm had to kick Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait? That cost us billions of dollars and what’s worse the loss of lives and the ruined health of many of our people who fought in Kuwait. Also remember the servicemen killed in the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. Our so-called Saudi friends thwarted the FBI investigation of that tragedy. Nor does Bala mention the billions of dollars the Saudis spend in this country to buy favors for themselves. That works.
In comparing the Saudis and AIPAC, I would call the AIPAC people a bunch of pikers in the ways they collect and spend money and for what they get in the way of their influence.
Bala refers to Washington Post reporters Molly Moore and Thomas Edsall for the derogatory articles they have written about AIPAC. He uses them as reliable sources. Well, Molly Moore has been reporting pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel news stories from Jerusalem for years. I believe that most people sympathetic to the terrorist cause are left-wingers. I’ve seen that in a small part of the local Jewish community. I also see that in the actions of the national Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches where they have voted to divest themselves of companies doing business with Israel. These groups ignore human rights and downright genocide in other countries but, due to their left-wing leanings, pick on Israel.
I believe Bala is truly delusionary when he calls Israel a theocracy. In Israel there are eight Israeli Arabs in the Knesset (parliament) and one Israeli Arab on Israel’s Supreme Court. No other country in the Middle East or for that matter any Muslim country has a record approaching Israel’s good record. In fact, with few exceptions, Muslim countries’ records are worse than appalling. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and the only true friend the United States has in that area.
Finally, I’m a native born U.S. citizen and a Jew. I believe in and am proud of both. My record includes being a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving on a destroyer and a destroyer minesweeper where I was on convoy duty in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. We were right at the D-Day Invasion of Normandy and the Invasion of Southern France, the pre-invasion of Okinawa and the invasion of Okinawa.
I resent the peddling of scurrilous information. In that regard, I suggest Bala take the first flight from this country going to Pakistan, where he could urge his countrymen to stop hiding Osama bin Laden.
Kal Leichtman lives in Everett.
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