ORIT SKLAR
Special to the Jewish Times
Published: Friday, October 31, 2008

As the first of a series of events inspired by the 2008 presidential election, ACCESS, the young adult division of the American Jewish Committee, brought together 240 young professionals with Ken Stein, professor of contemporary Middle Eastern History at Emory University, for a briefing about what the next administration should expect and suggested strategies for an effective foreign policy.

"It was important to hold this event because it is a mission of ACCESS to provide opportunities for young professionals to learn about Israel as well as engage them in the current issues of the day," remarked ACCESS Public Policy/Israel chair Beth Brown. "We felt that he [Ken Stein] could offer an accurate picture of affairs in the region today and the potential future impact on the U.S. and Israel."

In a presentation titled, "Advice to the Next President about the Middle East," Stein set the stage by reminding the audience about a significant turning point in U.S. foreign policy 60 years ago. In March 1947, President Harry S. Truman embarked on a relatively simple $400 million commitment to the Eastern Mediterranean. Since then, everything has grown more complicated and far-reaching in a region not characterized by its patience or hospitality.

The region's issues are vast and will not wait for the next president. "This is the first time in recent American history when the U.S. has been physically in the region when an election took place, and America's presence diplomatically as well has become a central election issue for the American people," said Stein. The discussion centered around 13 axioms intended to help conduct a successful foreign policy in the region.

Among Stein's many suggestions was the insistence that the next administration use every political tool available; prepare to use anything that will work - unilateralism and collectivism. There is a chance that regional stability will have more to do with commodity prices than conventional thinking.

Peace with Israel is not an Arab state priority. Historically, when it has been in the Arab states' national interest - Egypt and Jordan - agreements have been reached. However, negotiations come to fruition for two reasons: There is desperation on both sides or it serves national interest. And, it is not necessarily the case that negotiations are instilled to reach an agreement, but rather to cunningly buy time. Stein pointed out that Israel cannot change Arab attitudes and will continue to protect its interests independent of foreign opinions, including those of the United States.

Questions from the audience ranged from the Iranian threat to the cause of Islamic extremism. In Stein's opinion, Iran's insecurity is only augmented or catalyzed by the U.S. presence in the region, but also noted that Iran will continue to carry out an aggressive foreign policy regardless of other factors. There are many people in Iran that think Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an idiot. However, until the United States can commit to a policy - uprooting Saddam Hussein scared Middle East leaders - the situation will remain difficult and unresolved.

U.S. foreign policy is not the cause of Islamic extremism, according to Stein, and to believe so is naïve. Muslim-Arab frustration grows out of their inability to express themselves freely in their own societies. In addition, issues such as oil, differences between Sunni and Shiite, Arab state insufficiencies, and Muslims killing Christians in Darfur have nothing to do with Israel. It is convenient to blame the United States, but a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not change the U.S. approval rating in the Arab street.

"President Carter believes that those who support Israel do it blindly, and their support, while legitimate, should be curbed or restrained. The purpose of Zionism and Israel is to provide Jews an opportunity to speak for themselves and not be restrained by others," Stein stated as part of his explanation for resigning from the Carter Center. "Carter's passionate criticism of Jewish and Christian American support for Israel is meant to curb or restrain political engagement, which is precisely contrary to Zionist aspirations and Israeli practices."

"I found the speech very informative because it discussed the overall landscape of the Middle East right now and the types of decisions the next president will have to make regarding the region," said attendee and federal judicial clerk Matthew Weiss. "However, I was somewhat disappointed that Stein did not go into greater detail on the actual policy proposals and policy differences between McCain and Obama relating to the Middle East."

Stein shared his tips on civic engagement with the audience. In order to influence public policy, he suggested identifying the most significant issues, contacting public officials at all levels, and finding leverage points to take advantage of. He also stressed the importance of staying engaged, putting money and reputation on the line, and educating others.

"His presentation was exactly the kind of thought-provoking program that shows ACCESS's depth and why it is the top young adult group for Jews in Atlanta," said ACCESS co-chair Jonathan Ganz.

When asked about his thoughts on presenting to young professionals, Stein said, "A presentation is only valuable if audiences hear and act; encouraging any audience to know the details of an issue and to voice their opinions is what politics is about. It is more than an election; it is engagement after the election to demonstrate to those who represent us that there is a viewpoint that is held."

"We want prospective members to understand and appreciate the opportunities that ACCESS will give them to both meet new people and stretch their minds," remarked ACCESS co-chair Avery Kastin. "Why shouldn't you be able to do social networking while engaging in topics of interest to the Jewish community and beyond?"

Look out for the upcoming presidential election-related events, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Entrepreneur's Night, and service-focused trips. The easiest way to get involved and to learn more is to go to the ACCESS Web site (www.ajcatlanta.org), join the Facebook group, or contact Dov Wilker in the Atlanta AJC office at (404) 233-5501 or wilkerd@ajc.com.