Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Claim: Vermont governor Howard Dean promised "that if he is = elected president, the United States will no longer support Israel the = way it has in the past" and "characterized Hamas terrorists as = 'soldiers.'"=20 Status: Various - see below=20 Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]=20 HOWARD DEAN PROMISED THAT IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, THE = UNITED STATES WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT ISRAEL THE WAY IT HAS IN THE PAST = UNDER BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS. IN HIS OWN WORDS HE = WILL INSIST THAT THE UNITED STATES BE "EVEN HANDED" . THIS IS A TERM = REGULARLY EMPLOYED BY ARAFAT AND HIS COTERIE OF ADHERENTS THAT MEANS TO = BE ANTI-ISRAEL!!=20 GOVERNOR DEAN MADE THESE COMMENTS ON CNN ON SEPTEMBER 10, = 2003 ON THE WOLF BLITZER SHOW. HE HAS REPEATED THOSE WORDS SINCE.=20 IN THIS WERE NOT ENOUGH, GOVERNOR DEAN ON THAT SAME SHOW = CHARACTERIZED THE HAMAS TERRORISTS AS "SOLDIERS". FOR THE FIRST TIME = SINCE 9/11 WE HAVE SOMEONE RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE = UNITED STATES CALLING TERRORISTS SOLDIERS.=20 I URGE YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY LOVE FOR AMERICA AND = ISRAEL YOU SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT VOTE FOR HOWARD DEAN FOR THE OFFICE OF = PRESIDENT.=20 THIS COMING ELECTION MAY VERY WELL BE ONE OF THE MOST = IMPORTANT IN DECADES.=20 PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO AS MANY OF YOUR FAMILY AND = FRIENDS AS YOU CAN.=20 =20 Hi All, I followed Linda's suggestion and found the following (if you = maximize your page, it'll read better)--this is somewhat reassuring but = I'm still a little put off by his naivete in the terms he used and = wonder what this really means about his private views and political = sensitivities. We are seeing a rise in antisemitism (as stated by some = of the watchdog groups) and I think its important to be aware of our = potential leader's abilities and experience in this area. Thanks to all who responded, Cheryl Origins: Former Vermont=20 =20 governor Howard Dean, who is seeking the Democratic Party's = nomination as its 2004 presidential candidate, touched off controversy = in September 2003 while speaking about the Middle East peace process for = saying that he didn't "believe stopping the terror has to be a = prerequisite for talking," that "it's not our place to take sides" on = the issue, that an "enormous number" of Israeli settlements in = Palestinian territories would have to be dismantled, and that "the = United States needs an even-handed approach in the conflict." Dean was = criticized for his remarks, particularly by presidential rival Senator = Joseph Lieberman, in part because (as noted above) the term = "even-handed," when used in reference to the Israeli-Palestinian = situation in the Middle East, often indicates a pro-Palestinian (or = anti-Israeli) position. Lieberman responded to Dean's remarks in a = speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York:=20 When you start to say, in very loaded terms - particularly when = Israelis are under assault by terrorists, not unlike the situation we = find ourselves in - that America shouldn't take sides in the = Israeli-Palestinian dispute, that's a break in more than half a century = of the American foreign policies carried out by presidents of both = parties, and it's very harmful.=20 I bet the Palestinians are more surprised than anyone else when = they heard Howard Dean say this.=20 Dean admitted that he was unaware of the significance of the term = "even-handed" and should have employed different terminology, while = reasserting that the U.S. does "have a special relationship with Israel" = and "would defend Israel if necessary":=20 I've since learned that that is a very sensitive word to use in = certain communities, so perhaps I could have used a different euphemism. = But the fact of the matter is, at the negotiating table, we have to have = the trust of both sides. When you're at the negotiating table, you don't = sit down and blame people when you're negotiating. There's a difference = between our policy in Israel - which has always been supportive, = including the willingness to defend Israel - and what you do at the = negotiating table, which clearly has to have the trust of both sides. We = do have a special relationship with Israel. We would defend Israel if = necessary. I think that is well-known. However, we are also the only = country capable of bringing peace to the Middle East, and when we sit at = the negotiating table, we do have to have the trust of both sides or we = will never succeed.=20 Dean explicated that by "even-handed" he meant that the United = States should pursue a policy of serving as an "impartial broker" = between the two sides in order to reach a peace deal, and asserted that = "the American policy is and will continue to be based on Israel's right = to exist" and that the U.S. "must condemn all civilian killings, = including any terrorist attacks."=20 Dean drew another round of criticism when he was asked during a = CNN interview whether he felt Israel had the right to target and = assassinate Hamas leaders, and answered:=20 I think no one likes to see violence of any kind, [but] there is = a war going on in the Middle East, and members of Hamas are soldiers in = that war, and therefore it seems to me they are going to be casualties = if they are going to make war.=20 Some listeners interpreted this as a logical response meaning that = Israel is at war with Hamas, and therefore as long as Hamas continues = suicide bombings against Israelis, Israel has the right to attack Hamas = leaders. Other listeners took umbrage at the remark, feeling that Dean = was injudiciously equating terrorists with legitimate defense forces.=20 What policies Howard Dean would likely pursue in the Middle East = should he become president is an issue voters will have to determine for = themselves. Summaries of his statements and positions regarding Israel = (as well as those of other presidential candidates) can be found at = JSOURCE (the Jewish Virtual Library) and the web site of the Arab = American Institute.=20 Additional information: Dean Defends Middle East Remarks=20 (CNN.com) =20 Last updated: 8 December 2003 =20 The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/israel/dean.asp=20 Click here to e-mail this page to a friend=20 Urban Legends Reference Pages =A9 1995-2003=20 by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson=20 This material may not be reproduced without permission -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- Sources:=20 Kurtz, Howard. "Why Dean Got Hit on Israel."=20 The Washington Post. 10 September 2003.=20 Nagourney, Adam and Jodi Wilgoren. "At Debate, Democrats Clash = Over Mideast."=20 The New York Times. 10 September 2003 (p. A22).=20 CNN.com. "Dean Defends Middle East Remarks."=20 10 September 2003.=20 Cheryl B. Levine, Psy.D. Clinical and Consulting Psychologist Positive Perspectives, Inc. 1030 Vester Ave, Suite C Springfield, OH 45505 (937) 390-3800 - office (937) 390-3804 - fax Behavioral Science Consultant "Mad River Family Practice: Ohio State University Rural Program" 4879 US Route 68 South West Liberty, OH 43311 (937) 599-1411 - office, TH only (937) 465-9945 - fax -- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis -- -- Type: application/octet-stream -- File: sz=120x600A|160x600A/ -- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis -- -- Type: image/jpeg -- File: dean.jpg -- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis -- -- Type: image/gif -- File: page.gif -- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis -- -- Type: image/gif -- File: referenc.gif