Lauder attacks Christian groups for hosting Ahmadinejad dinner

Before we get into the teeth of this article, I wanted to preface it with the fact that I watched a round table discussion on cable news that included five former secretaries-of-state: Colin Powell, Jim Baker, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher. A great cross section, altogether, of thinkers and diplomats and people that are well versed in international affairs. The essence of the program was picking the brains of these dignitaries as to what advice they would give the next president of the United States on various "hot topics" on the international scene.

It was unanimous, that the U.S. must and should engage its enemies in diplomacy. Whether it be Iran, Syria, North Korea, etc.. whether you consider them "evil" and other epithets that have no room in international affairs. James Baker, who is an ardent Republican, ridiculed George Bush for refusing to talk to Syria. I think I've made my point so we can now move on to Lauder.

Leonard Lauder, you may be a very powerful figure in the Ashkenazic Jewish Community, what with being president of the World Jewish Congress and all, but you are clueless when it comes to effective ways of dealing with your enemies. Give them a platform, and let them say what they will. This in turn, can give you a chance to rebut. Ahmadinejad is not a beloved figure anywhere, but specifically because he has threatened to annihilate Israel, you owe it to the Jewish people to sit across from him and engage in dialogue. Offer carrots is one way to deflect the animosity. If Syria and Israel have been at it for the last few months in peace negotiations, I find it ridiculous that you are chastising US groups for hosting Ahmadinejad. Let us rise above the fray Mr. Lauder. Perhaps you are wearing too much fragrance. You, and people like yourself, are the reason that we are at war or in contention with countries around the globe. For this time, please take a seat in the back of the room.

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, expressed outrage at the decision by five Christian groups to host Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a dinner in New York on Thursday. The Mennonite Central Committee, the Quaker United Nations Office, the World Council of Churches, Religions for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee are sponsoring a dinner on 25 September 2008 with Ahmadinejad as the guest of honor, an event described as "dialogue between religious and political leaders" and a conversation to discuss "building peaceful societies". Ahmadinejad is in New York this week for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Referring to the five Christian groups, Lauder said: "These organizations, who present themselves as altruistic and who have global influence, are promoting the world's foremost supporter of terrorism and an egregious violator of human rights. It was Ahmadinejad who held the first-ever state-sponsored international conference of Holocaust deniers. It is Ahmadinejad who is posing a threat to the United States and to Europe, and who has repeatedly called for the annihilation of Israel. It is Ahmadinejad who is defying the United Nations Charter with his mistreatment of minorities and women, and violates the UN Genocide Convention by threatening the destruction of another member state. It is Ahmadinejad who is steadfastly ignoring UN Security Council resolutions and who continually lies to the International Atomic Energy Agency about the real intentions of his nuclear program, endangering not only his neighbors in the Middle East but the entire world. Such a man cannot be a partner for peace and inter-faith dialogue."
The WJC president added: "These groups, who claim to hold up values such as peace and mutual understanding, make a mockery of themselves by shamelessly providing a cruel dictator and racist with a platform for his invective. There is no purpose in dignifying him. The World Council of Churches, the Quakers and the other sponsors of the event in New York have a long and distressing record of demonizing Israel. With their bow to Ahmadinejad, they have brazenly chosen a racist dictator as their friend."

Lauder also criticized the participation at the dinner of the UN General Assembly's current president, former Nicaraguan foreign minister and Catholic priest Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann. "Instead of showing a united face against Ahmadinejad, Mr. D'Escoto honors a man who does great dishonor to the United Nations. That is shameful and puts the credibility of the UN vis-à-vis Iran in doubt," he pointed out.