By Marc Tracy
February 16, 2011 10:00 AM
According to a classified cable from U.S. Ambassador John Beyrle, (click here) which was sent in late 2009 but released yesterday by WikiLeaks, Russia has shown “clear signs of throwing off its long and tragic history of anti-Semitism.” The government’s policy “has involved an aggressive campaign against anti-Semitism, coupled with positive official statements towards the Jewish community,” Beyrle reports. “Societal attitudes have also improved.” Warmer ties with Israel have helped as well, he says. The cable’s title is “Anti-Semitism on the Wane in Russia,” and it agrees with the Russian government’s contention that the Soviet-era Jackson-Vanik amendment, which linked trade status to Soviet Jews’ freedom of emigration, is “an anachronism.”...
I am sure everyone recognizes this man. He is Sergey Brin. He was born in Russia and emigrated with his parents at the age of six to the USA. He is the co-founder of Google. I am quite sure Russia regrets his emigration.
The Russian Jew was a victim no different than many minorities are in other nations. At the turn of the 1900s there were about 5.2 (not 2.5 - typo) million Hebrews in Russia. By the time the USA finally got around to write a letter to Russia about anti-semitism it was 1999 and there was about one tenth that many; about 500,000 Jewish people. The trend for the previous 100 years was emigration. Some emigrated to Israel, others the USA, others to Europe, etc.. While it was nice for the USA Senate to write a politically popular letter in 1999 to Russia, wasn't it a bit late?
The Soviet Union was primarily responsible for the emigration of its Jewish population. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991.
I suppose it was good for the USA Senate to notice the Jewish population in Russia had fallen by 90% due to emigration, but, in all honesty where were they for the previous 100 years?
Better late than never, I suppose.
Chuck took a different approach and actually thought the Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, should do her job. That approach works for me.
...Hagel said (click here) at the time his policy was to never sign letters to foreign heads of state telling them how to handle affairs in their own countries, as it often served to alienate and embolden them. However, he said he took stronger and more effective action by writing directly to President Clinton, asking him to appeal to Boris Yeltsin to stop anti-Semitic acts in his country.
"My intent is to find the best avenue, the best vehicle to effect change," Hagel said. "I think what I've done is far more effective than a letter that Yeltsin probably will never see."
"Anti-Semitism or any form of religious persecution should never be tolerated," Hagel wrote in his letter to Clinton. "The United States should predicate its support for democratic institutions in Russia upon unwavering opposition to anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and intolerance within that government."
Hagel said signing the Senate's letter would have been "a pretty easy way to get off the hook." He added that "my interest is not in getting some political points. I want to accomplish this in the best and most effective way."...
Senator Hagel didn't put it quite that way. He was more diplomatic than saying the Secretary of State should do her job.
I really get the impression, the Former Senator Hagel was a bit of a maverick and took the path with FUNDING and effectiveness. Why does that seem intelligent?
The new Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel will prove an interesting partner with the military because Russia's Putin supports Israel. But, Russia's role in the region since 1991 has been more complicated than simply Pro-Israel and Anti-Iran.
The Iranian rift with the global community sincerely started with the politician Ahmadinejad and his overt antisemitism. He was elected in 2005 after Bush was reelected. The Russian presence with Iran started long before Ahmadinejad became President. Russia has a precarious position in Iran in that it had to help develop peaceful nuclear technology after the USA lied to Iran and provided faux blueprints. I suppose that was a USA strategy, but, it was a huge failure and only acted to alienate Iran even further.
What I admire about Senator Hagel is his recognition of complex issues and the FACTS. He isn't a 'mind speak' Republican as "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran" has become. Senator Hagel seeks the facts, examines the options and doesn't seek political populous to determine his decisions. He thinks for a living.
I suppose some arrogant politicians would call him 'rough cut.' Not so. He is HONEST and if the truth appears CRUDE and hurts, then so be it.
Have a better day.
