* will be playing to a very friendly crowd tomorrow at GWU. FDD is a who's who of neocons and DLC fellow-travelers. Just once I would like * to appear outside his bubble and speak to a cross-section of real Americans. If anyone reading this gets through to C-SPAN Journal tomorrow morning (or submits a message by their website tonight), expose FDD for what it is, a neocon/AIPAC front.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=62205 President George W. Bush to Address the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Monday, March 13
3/11/2006 11:22:00 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Bill McCarthy of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, 202-207-0183
News Advisory:
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is pleased to host President George W. Bush for a speech on the Global War on Terror.
The President will speak to FDD at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, March 13. The event will take place at the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre at George Washington University. FDD President Clifford May will provide introductory remarks. The event is open to the media.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies was formed shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks and is dedicated to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism. FDD combines policy research, democracy training, strategic communications, and investigative journalism in support of these goals.
FDD is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute. For more information on FDD's programs and activities, please visit
http://www.defenddemocracy.org .
WHEN: Monday, March 13, 2006 at 1:15 p.m.
WHERE: George Washington University, Dorothy Betts Marvin Theater, 800 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC
Press pre-set time: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Doors open: 11 a.m.
Doors close: 12:30 p.m.
Media covering the event must bring their press Ids
http://www.usnewswire.com /
-0-
What is the FDD, you may ask?
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1475Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) was founded two days after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Although FDD is nominally bipartisan, right-wing Republicans direct the policy institute, which focuses on “terrorism, the ideologies that drive terrorism, and the policies that can most effectively eradicate terrorism.” In its view, the "major ideological threat to democracies comes from Islamic extremism and rogue states," which are the "leading supporters of terrorism and totalitarianism." In keeping with its neoconservative ideology, FDD advocates that the "United States should lead the war of ideas in the battle between freedom and totalitarianism." (1)
Republican Party insiders dominate FDD's board and staff. FDD's three board members are Steve Forbes, Jack Kemp, and Jeane Kirkpatrick. Its two “distinguished advisers” are Newt Gingrich and James Woolsey, while other advisers include Gary Bauer, Richard Perle, William Kristol, Walid Phares, Charles Krauthammer, and Frank Gaffney—all prominent neoconservative figures with multiple links to the Defense Policy Board, Center for Security Policy, American Enterprise Institute, Weekly Standard, and Project for the New American Century. Among FDD's advisers are also several prominent Democrats associated with the Democratic Leadership Council and the Progressive Policy Institute, including Donna Brazzile, a close associate of Sen. Joseph Lieberman; and Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA).(2)
FDD is best known through the frequent media interviews and news analysis by FDD's Clifford May, who before joining FDD was director of communications (1997-2001) for the Republican National Committee. May's other institutional affiliations include being vice-chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition. A veteran journalist, May continues to contribute regularly to National Review.
The well-funded, well-connected FDD has quickly become one of the leading institutions in necon's web of think tanks and policy institutes. Like all neocon institutes, FDD embraces a militarist pro-Likud position with respect to Israel and Middle East political affairs. Although FDD's mission statement makes no mention of Israel, FDD's public statements and operations mostly concern Israel. FDD associates and staff are outspoken proponents of the hard-liners in Israel. These include such Jewish FDD members as May, Perle, and Kristol as well Christian associates. FDD adviser Charles Jacob, for example, has been a prominent spokesperson for the National Unity Coalition for Israel (NUCI), a group he told the New York Times gives “voice to evangelical Christians who are ardent Zionists.” (5)
more...
...and who are the FDD directors and advisors? (see
http://www.sourcewatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Foundation_for_the_Defense_of_Democracies for full list).
Board of Directors
Steve Forbes, CEO Forbes Magazine - Board Member - site bio (
http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154774)
Dr. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, Fmr. Ambassador to the UN - Board Member- site bio (
http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154775)
Jack Kemp, Fmr. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Chairman- site bio (
http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154708)
Clifford D. May, Frm. Republican National Committee Director of Communications - President
Distinguished Advisors
Judge Louis J. Freeh, Fmr. Director of the FBI- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=307005)
R. James Woolsey, Fmr. Director of the CIA- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154779)
Newt Gingrich, Fmr. Speaker of the House- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154777)
Board of Advisors
Gary Bauer, American Values - President- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154801)
Charles Krauthammer, Syndicated Columnist- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155050)
Donna Brazile, Campaign Manager Gore 2000- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154793)
Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard Editor- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154797)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Task Force on Terrorism Chairman - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154803)
Hon. Richard D. Lamm, Fmr. Colorado Governor- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155051)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155045)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), U.S. Senate- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155223)
Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), U.S. House of Representatives- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155046)
Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA), U.S. House of Representatives- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=222369)
Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy President- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155048)
Sen. Zell Miller, Fmr. US Senator- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155052)
Amb. Marc Ginsberg, Fmr. Ambassador Morroco- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155049)
Richard Perle, Former Chair of the Defense Policy Board and FDD Advisor- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155053)
Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), U.S. House of Representatives- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=178946)
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senate- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=176210)
Charles Jacobs, American Anti-Slavery Group President- site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=155054)
Senior Fellows
Avi Jorisch, Terrorism Expert - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=237072)
Dr. Walid Phares, Florida Atlantic University Professor - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154799)
Andrew C. McCarthy, Legal Commentator, Terrorism Expert - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=239506)
Victoria Toensing, Fmr. Chief Counsel to Sen. Intelligence Committee - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=154798)
Barbara Newman, Investigative Reporter and Author - site bio (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=252125)...and what is its mission?
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/royer1.html'Pro-Democracy' Think Tank is Front for Israeli Lobby
by Ismail Royer
September 26, 2002
A new think tank reports it has "joined forces" with a Saudi dissident (what are they, the Wonder Twins?) in the neocon campaign to smear the Saudi government and Saudi-based Islamic groups. The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) and the so-called "Saudi Institute," a one-man show run by disgruntled Shi'ite Ali Al-Ahmed (above), claim in a new report that Saudi Arabian religious authorities are spreading "hate literature."
The report is totally bogus, rife with mistranslation and selective quoting. For example, the report cites a passage from a book distributed by the Virginia-based Instititute for Islamic and Arabic Sciences, part of the Saudi university system, in which it is written that Muslims should feel hatred toward non-Muslims. He neglects to mention that this refers to what a Muslim's attitude toward the enemy should be during a period of war. He juxtaposes this with a quote 20 pages away that Muslims should not take the Christians and Jews as friends, regardless of whether or not they are combatants. They translate the word "awliyaat" as "friends," when the term actually means patrons or protectors ("isdiqaa" means friends).
He conveniently avoids passages like this from the book: “Treat them with gentleness and in the best manner. You may give charity to the poor among them, give them presents and accept their presents, give them condolences, answer their greetings…and travel to their countries if there is no religious oppression. You may visit them, you may interact with them freely.”
As a long time observer of the neocon anti-Islam industry, a think tank with a name like "Foundation for the Defense of Democracies" just begs me to delve a little deeper. Turns out it was co-founded by neocon godfather Richard Perle, one of "a group of high-ranking hawks in the Pentagon--led by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz--that some DC insiders call the 'Kosher Nostra.'" Perle heads up the quasi-official Defense Policy Board, which sponsored the controversial Pentagon briefing in July that described Saudi Arabia as an enemy of the United States.
Look a little further and we find that the FDD's vice president, Nim Boms, is a former Officer of Public and Academic Affairs for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. Heading up the FDD is Clifford May, currently Vice Chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, a group with a stated goal of “continuing foreign aid to Israel.” Other FDD officials include veteran pro-Israel activists like Charles Jacobs, who has been active with the National Unity Coalition for Israel (NUCI), a group he tells the New York Times (1/21/98) gives “voice to evangelical Christians who are ardent Zionists.”
more......
With fronts like this, who needs a cross-section of real Americans? :shrug:
Cross-post in the DC forum -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=148&topic_id=2111&mesg_id=2111
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