Viewpoint with James Zogby
Today on “Viewpoint with James Zogby”- Dr. Zogby and guests will discuss the U.S. Presidential policy toward Israeli settlements, the continuing crisis in Iran, as well as the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention.
Joining Dr. Zogby will be Philip Wilcox, former Ambassador and current President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace; Afshin Molavi, Fellow of the New America Foundation, and author of Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran; and Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America.
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Obama and Iran, Considered
During the 2008 election there was a television ad featuring a late night phone call on the White House hot line. “It’s 3:00 am,” the narrator said, “there’s a phone in the White House and it’s ringing, something is happening in the world…who do you want answering the phone?”
During the closing weeks of the election while campaigning for Barack Obama, I would refer to this ad, noting “I know who I want to answer the phone at 3:00 am, the one who will think before he speaks and who has the judgment to weigh consequences before he acts.” I would also add that when Air Force One landed for the first time in the heart of the Arab world at 10:00 pm, I knew who I wanted to disembark from the plane. “Barack Obama. Not only because of what he would say, but because of the message his election would send to the Arab and Muslim worlds.”
During the past few weeks, I was reminded of these observations both by President Obama’s remarkable Cairo address, which no other President could have, or would have, given, and by his thoughtful response to the crisis in Iran.
Click below to read the rest of this week’s Washington Watch…
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Summer travel plans? Read this!
If you plan to travel to Israel or the Occupied Territories this summer, please report any instance of denied entry to the Department of State. The Arab American Institute maintains contact with State and senior officials in the office of American Citizens Services about this and other, relevant issues. ACS continues to encourage U.S. citizens to report instances of denied entry.
At an April 24th meeting held by the White House for Arab American leaders, Michele Bond reiterated her desire to hear about any difficulties American citizens face when traveling to the Occupied Territories. During a May 28th conference call with several organizations, including the AAI, Michele Bond again reiterated the need for American citizens travelling to the Occupied Territories to notify the Bureau of Consular Affairs of any problems they face, be it denial of entry or unnecessary delays and harassment at the border crossings.
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