PMWATCH - September 14, 2003 -- Democratic presidential hopeful

Howard Dean of Vermont is under heavy assault from his own party for

daring to slightly deviate from the unthinking line of

unconditional "bi-partisan" rubber stamping support for Israel and

for stating some basic facts.

In reaction to Mr. Dean's modest proposal that the United States

adopt an "evenhanded policy" towards the conflict, that "it's not our

place to take sides," and in pointing out that an "enormous number"

of Israeli settlements must be dismantled, members of the House

leadership and many of his Democratic rivals for the presidential

nomination in 2004 have signed a letter saying in part, "It is

unacceptable for the U.S. to be `evenhanded'". Presidential rival,

senator Joseph Lieberman, hoping to make the most out of Howard

Dean's remarks, is accusing the governor of "turning his back on

Israel".

Howard Dean, who has so far been the most successful in channeling

popular frustration with the obviously failed policies of the Bush

administration, from healthcare to Iraq, is threatening a sacred cow

by openly stating what is on the mind of many Americans: you cannot

pretend that you are an honest broker and yet at the same time insist

that "it is unacceptable for the U.S. to be `evenhanded'".

It is important to note that Mr. Dean is not suggesting a radical

shift in US policy, or even a shift at that. In his Statement of

Principles on the Middle East Process, Mr. Dean says, "the United

States will maintain its historic special relationship with the state

of Israel, providing a guarantee of its long-term defense and

security. And the United States will have to take responsibility with

its international partners for helping the Palestinians establish a

middle-class democratic society in which women fully participate in

economic and political decision-making.

" See:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?

pagename=policy_policy_foreign_mideast

And yet, there is no doubt that a torrent of mail and telephone calls

will flood newspapers and other media outlets denouncing the governor.

Please do your best to pitch in with a letter or two to your favorite

media outlet, and let them know that the United States should never

unconditionally back any other foreign country and should always put

its own interests and those of international law and human rights

above those of any foreign interest.

Please do your bit to press the media to do it job:

http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/mediocrity/displayCall.asp?essayID=198

Phone numbers of media outlets are at:

http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/contact/media.html

For more on the Dean campaign, please go to:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/

Palestine Media Watch

http://www.pmwatch.org/

(610) 993 - 0608