White House omits Jews as ISIS targets in war proposal

[George II]

Source: CNN

By Dana Bash, CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent

Updated 8:06 PM ET, Wed February 11, 2015

Washington (CNN)—Bipartisan criticism of President Barack Obama's proposed authorization of force against ISIS mostly has to do with the use of U.S. troops and limits on the commander-in-chief. But one Republican lawmaker noticed something else that he calls quite troubling - omission of the word "Jews."

Freshman Lee Zeldin is the only Republican Jewish member of Congress, and says it immediately leapt off the page that the President's proposed resolution specifically singles out several ethnic groups threatened by ISIS: Iraqi Christians, Yezidis and Turkmens, but says nothing about Jews.

"I see an understanding, a recognition in the resolution with regards to ISIS attacks on Muslims, on Christians and others, and I didn't see a reference to Jews," Zeldin told CNN in an interview. "And one of the efforts I've been involved in is trying to raise awareness for the rising tide of anti-semitism."

The New York Republican questioned whether the White House deliberately left out Jews as an ethnic group that ISIS has threatened.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/politics/white-house-isis-jewish/index.html

---

Is this guy for real?

[Fred Sanders]

1. As real as CNN is real news.

[brendan120678]

2. So why didn't the resolution include Jews?

I realize that the White House resolution is copied almost word-for-word from the resolution Senator Mendez drafted last year, but they seem like an obvious group to add in.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Because ISIS hasn't attacked Jews?

[brendan120678]

5. Amedy Coulibaly, the shooter at the Kosher deli in Paris...

Had ISIS ties.
I think the shooter at the Jewish museum in Brussels also did.

[George II]

8. His proposal isn't to send troops or weapons to Paris or Brussels

[JonLP24]

9. The list includes groups obviously local to the conflict

Certainly could have included Iraqi or Syrian Jews as well as Madaeans & other minorities but it is clear the purpose of the listing. Notice it doesn't include Americans.

[Comrade Grumpy]

16. That's right. Thank you.

But those are, like, ISIS-inspired attacks, as opposed to ISIS itself laying waste to Shiite or Yazidi villages in territory where it operates.

[aquart]

63. Is this nonsense the latest rightwing talking point?

Muslims are biggest targets. Local religious minorities are in grave danger. Jews not so much. I hear they may have caught one.

The US can't do a damn thing about anything in France.

[ReRe]

4. Has ISIS specifically threatened Israel in some way?

Did they execute an Israeli? Are they holding Israeli prisoners?

[George II]

6. Thank you.

"ISIS" is the Islamic State of IRAQ and SYRIA.

At this time there are estimated to be approximately 200 Jews in those two countries.

[ReRe]

15. If they live in those countries...

... (and I'm sure you are correct), aren't they "Iraqis" and "Syrians?"

[coffeenap]

7. Jew does not equal Israel.

Sometimes I just sigh....

[Behind the Aegis]

26. To many it does.

The only time it is ever "wrong" is when a Jew conflates the two.

[coffeenap]

53. I hear you. nt

[King_David]

17. Actually Stephen Sotloff

Was dual USA / Israeli citizen and Jewish and murdered by ISIS.

[ReRe]

18. Was he the former cab driver?

Or the younger man, an American?

[George II]

57. I don't believe he was kidnapped and killed because he was Jewish, but because he was American.

[King_David]

59. That wasn't the question though,

The question was:

4. Has ISIS specifically threatened Israel in some way?
Did they execute an Israeli? Are they holding Israeli prisoners?


And the answer is yes yes yes...

[George II]

60. Well, with those narrow questions you got the answers you wanted.

[Takashi Zara]

25. Not directly, and barely at all

In fact, many factions of the Syrian militants have collaborated with Israel on numerous occasions, even al-Nusrah. I am not aware of ISIS ever doing so, however--but they have certainly not tangibly threatened Israel with more than a few words. They are not too terribly active on the "southern front" yet and haven't used activity in the Golan to bait Syrian and Israeli confrontations like al-Nusrah, Jaish al-Islam, and the FSA have. A couple hostages were sort of tenuously tied to Israel by their birth ethnicity, but I believe in the case of one, that was something of a secret(?) until after it happened.

They believe in attacking the "nearer enemy" as a strategic objective, which means overthrowing the Arab dictators, fighting the "Safavids and Rafidah" (Iranians and Shiites), and taking territory, rather than exploiting secret connections with the Arab dictators to attack the "far enemy" (i.e., US & Israel) at this time. It is primarily on this point of strategic contention (--that, and pure ego--) that they break with Sheikh Zawahiri, Taliban Amir Omar, and the rest of al-Qai'dah's core ideologists like Abu Qatada al-Filastini, Tariq Haleem, Hani as-Sibai, and Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi.

There are some deviations from this formula, particularly with respect to their connections with the hyper-aggressive AQAP, but then the latter are something of an anamoly in the jihadi camp as being willing to "triangulate" between erstwhile arch-enemies al-Qa'idah and ISIS on certain tactical matters. And with the near-total defeat of al-Qa'idah and the Sunnis in Yemen to Ansarallah (Huthis), I'm not sure AQAP really has a grand design aside from making colossal gestures and hoping something sticks on the wall.

[on point]

10. Probably easier to say everyone but ISIS

[Agnosticsherbet]

11. In September last year, ISIS spokesman sepecifically called for the death of Jews

ISIS Spokesman Blames Jews For Conflict & Calls For Lone-Wolf Attacks
“The jews! (sic) The jews! Save the jews! This is the rea­son they [the U.S.] came.” Adnani also calls Pres­i­dent Obama a “mule of the Jews,” a state­ment that was fur­ther pop­u­lar­ized by ISIS sup­port­ers on Twit­ter using the hash­tag #Obamamulejews.

According to what I could find, in December of 2014, there were only 14 elderly Jews in Syria. All others had left. After the Iraq war, there were few if any Jews left in Iraq, so their populations have not been much affected by ISIS.

It is possible that Jews aren't mentioned because the reaction by our Middle Eastern allies would not be positive.

[George II]

12. Obama's AUMF isn't to prevent lone wolf attacks

[Agnosticsherbet]

14. You are correct. That was why I mentioned that there is no real Jewish population in Syria

or Iraq.
For that reason, the haven't rounded Jews up and murdered them with others. ISIS can not kill Jews if they don't live in the ISIS killing ground.

[Anansi1171]

13. Kurds weren't mentioned either, at least according to this article....

...the Kurds have arguably lost more than any other group to ISIS AND are allied with us as well.

[atreides1]

50. The Kurds are considered to be citizens of the countries mentioned

N/T

[Enrique]

19. no of course he's not for real

it didn't "leap off the page" for this asshole. What happened is that some GOP operative was tasked with coming up with some bullshit criticism of the authorization, and he came up with this, and they said "let's get our Jew to put out this bullshit" and this Zeldin clown went on CNN and did it.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Even if an "oversight," I am glad it was left out.

One less thing for bigots to lay at our feet if this all goes south. I can already hear the screeching..."The (Jews) dragged us into another ME war."

[NaturalHigh]

47. I hadn't thought about that, but you're probably right.

[leftynyc]

48. Y'know

I think you're absolutely right. Right here on liberal DU, just in the past week, I saw posters claiming the Iraq was fought for Israel - just as my father predicted before we even got there. I saw another poster mention in this thread that the Kurds also were not mentioned. They have surely borne the brunt of isis madness so there must be some reason for this.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Iraqi Christians, Yezidis and Turkmens--small, very vulnerable

populations that were specifically targeted by ISIS for elimination within Iraq. Of course ISIS would target Jews as well, but the list seems to be about those groups whom we stepped in to save early on (seems to be retroactive cover for our military actions up to this point). Some GOPer is looking for an outrage where there isn't any.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. ISIS doesn't have much of a target in regards to Jews in Syria.

As of May 2012 only 22 Jews are left in Syria. Perhaps they will expand their efforts, that will certainly delight some.

[Iliyah]

23. Its about GOPers and corporate media claiming that Pres O

does not respect the Jewish people. Which is false but alas

BiBi needs that. .

I'm tired of corporate media lying.

[Behind the Aegis]

24. This isn't about "Bibi".

[busterbrown]

28. It isn’t? It includes anything which Obama says or does

which the right wingers can attack.. Freaking anything..
Even though his plan back fired on his ass.. Bibi’s intention is to make Obama look like a threat to Israel’s safety..and solely for his own political gain..

[Behind the Aegis]

30. No, it isn't.

The "complaint" was about Jews, not Israelis.

[busterbrown]

31. Yea I get what your saying but...

reply #23 completes the circle for me..

[Behind the Aegis]

32. No surprise.

[busterbrown]

33. How can you not be concerned with Netenyaho’s

horrible intentions..

[Behind the Aegis]

34. It doesn't factor into this situation.

Not all things "Jew" lead back to Bibi or Israel, despite the beliefs of some.

[busterbrown]

36. But for this Jew the pathetic attempt to

diss our President by claiming he is threat to the security of Israel is extremely disconcerting..

[Behind the Aegis]

38. Which has nothing to do with the OP.

[busterbrown]

39. The only Jewish Republican in the House?

Decides to question Obama’s intent....Yea, I think it was..
part of a political ploy..which can be tied directly to Bibi..

[Behind the Aegis]

40. Then show the tie.

[busterbrown]

41. Concerted effort by Republican's

to do anything possible in order to undermine our President’s foreign policy..Anything, Anywhere, Any Time.
This time it’s Israel’s Security..

[Behind the Aegis]

42. Speculation. Which, of course, has NOTHING to do with the actual OP.

But it does relate back to something I posted earlier.

[busterbrown]

43. If you Deny that Congressman Zeldin ...

Isn’t a part of the continuing Republican attempt to undermine Obama’s Military Strategy in the Middle East, then I’m confused by your logic..Wether the accusations are true or not is part of the story of course, but hell I am concerned more for their attempt at undermining our Pres..

[Behind the Aegis]

44. You have information you aren't sharing?

[Pooka Fey]

45. +1

You have amazing fortitude.

[George II]

51. Or the big bad "corporate media"! Funny how that gets dragged into just about EVERY...

...discussion these days!

[LeftishBrit]

27. Because there are very few Jews left in Iraq and Syria!

Of course, ISIS could target Jews in external terror attacks; but the White House was clearly referring to their immediate local targets.

This gratuitous remark is just giving ammunition to anti-Semitic nutcases: 'Waah, waah, any war that we're in must be all the fault of the jooooooooooos!'

[Behind the Aegis]

29. Less than 10 Jews are in Iraq.

[JI7]

35. they left out japanese also , and jordanian

republicans being stupid again.

this is mostly about the syria/iraq area where isis has control and the threat they are to people who live there. and there aren't many jews left in those places .

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Yup.

Less than 30 in both countries. Talk about 'needle in a haystack.' But it plays well among the right, and some other elements.

[blackspade]

49. What a fucking idiot.

[Sunlei]

52. omg the white house failed to mention Hindus, satanists, Mormons & vegans :(

this republican noob is a savior for us all

[George II]

54. ....or Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Buddhists, etc.

I personally am offended that Obama didn't mention bald senior citizens, either.

[azurnoir]

55. Lee Zeldin and Ted Cruz have demanded the State Depart be investigated for

interfering with Israel's upcoming elections

There appears to be a danger that U.S. taxpayer funds are being used to directly shape the outcome of the upcoming Israeli election — and specifically to campaign against Prime Minister Netanyahu — something all would agree would be highly inappropriate,” a letter by Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Lee Zeldin said.

The letter, dated Jan. 29, was sent to Secretary of State John Kerry and demanded details of U.S. funding of the group OneVoice, which acknowledged joining a U.S.-financed campaign to elect a “prime minister and a government who will be responsive to the people.” The letter gave Kerry a 15-day deadline.

The Israeli daily Haaretz, regarded as a supporter of Obama, reported that OneVoice joined a campaign operation called V-15, with an office in Tel Aviv. The newspaper said the operation included Jeremy Bird, Obama’s field director for his campaign in 2012.

The State Department has confirmed that OneVoice, a tax-exempt organization, received federal grants until December 2014. The department said the grant to the organization was to promote a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

“No payment was made to OneVoice after November 2014,” State Department spokewoman Jen Psaki said on Jan. 29. “The project was to support efforts to support a two-state solution.”

http://www.worldtribune.com/2015/02/02/letter-congress-calls-probe-obamas-intervention-israels-election/

[George II]

56. They're just delusional and should be ignored. Since the letter is 2 weeks old.....

....that appears to be what's happening. They're being ignored.

[azurnoir]

58. The dead line isn't quite up, but this is part of a larger anti-Obama and anti-Democratic party

campaign that has chosen Israel as its issue. IMO it really about what happens in 2016

[6000eliot]

61. Oh, good. Time for another moronic non-controversy.

[George II]

62. No doubt there will be several congressional hearings about this.