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September 20, 2002
Back from West Wing
David Frum lauds Bush as Israel's ally at CJA event.
PAT JOHNSON REPORTER
If the United States attacks Iraq and succeeds in establishing
a Western-oriented democracy in that country, other Muslim countries
will see the benefits of democracy and market-driven economies and
demand the same for themselves.
That was one of the messages expressed by David Frum in a lecture
that opened this year's Combined Jewish Appeal campaign. Frum, a
son of the late, iconic Canadian newscaster Barbara Frum, spoke
at Schara Tzedeck synagogue on Sept. 10. A political commentator,
author of a new book and former speechwriter for U.S. President
George W. Bush, Frum focused his presentation largely on international
affairs and the Middle East.
He acknowledged that his theory about a new Iraqi government providing
a domino effect for democracy may be optimistic, but it fits with
some other theories he holds about the region.
Iran, he said, is already on the verge of revolution as a new post-Khomeini
generation is demanding a relaxation of the strict Islamic code
that has governed that country since 1979.
"That country is on the brink of explosion," said Frum.
Despite the historic hostility between Iran and Iraq, a democratic
government in Iraq could very well add pressure for liberalization
in Iran, he said. Though Iran's internal tumult could lead to eventual
revolution, Frum argued that Iraqi reform could take place only
through external force because Saddam Hussein's government is the
most successful totalitarian regime since Stalin's.
Speakers in the question and answer session were generally supportive
of Frum's positions, though one woman with contrary views was booed
by the crowd. The audience member suggested that there was no way
to win in a cycle where violence is constantly met with violence.
Frum's response was to ask how violence should be met. "With
surrender?" he asked.
Frum admits he had doubts about President Bush when he joined his
speechwriting team soon after the inauguration. Those doubts have
been thoroughly put to rest. Bush has exhibited the moral courage
needed to face the challenges of the strongest power on earth, he
said, adding that the war on terror is in good hands.
"I know for a moral certainty that he will see this thing through
to the end," he said.
On the conflict in Israel, Frum expressed some original ideas, including
the proposition that the current Bush is the best friend Israel
has had in the White House since Harry Truman. The true measure
of support for Israel should not be in hollow platitudes, Frum said,
but in being available when a friend needs help and, in that sense,
he argued, Bush has been a great friend of Israel. Specifically,
Frum said, Bush has resisted international and domestic pressures
to twist Israeli arms into making a better deal for the Palestinians.
The argument, as Frum explains, is that Palestinians will stop terror
attacks if they are given what they want. The message that would
send to Palestinian terrorists and others, warned Frum, is that
violence works.
"That's not the way to stop terrorism," Frum said. "That's
the way to start it."
In contrast with who Frum declares to be a great friend of Israel
in the White House, the Toronto-native stated that the current Liberal
regime in Ottawa is the most hostile to Israel since the 1950s.
And he questions why the Liberal party seems to have the overwhelming
support of Canada's Jewish voters.
Frum's experiences in the backrooms of politics have not, as is
so often the case in fiction or historical memoirs, left him disillusioned
about the grubby reality and moral equivocations of politics. Quite
the opposite.
"I met a lot of fine, admirable people," he said.
After the lecture, Frum sold and signed copies of his new book about
the 1970s, How We Got Here.
The opening night event included a motivational video about the
work done worldwide with funds raised by the Combined Jewish Appeal.
This year's co-chairs, Bette-Jane Israels and Mitchell Gropper,
explained that this year's goal has increased by 10 per cent over
last year's, to a total of $4.5 million. In addition to inflation,
there are added needs for the campaign, including the financial
collapse in Argentina.
Dorita Flakser, an immigrant who arrived in Vancouver in December
from Argentina explained how difficult things are for Jews in that
South American country right now. Any wealth has completely evaporated
as the currency has bottomed out.
"I did not expect to find myself in this position," she
said. "I was a woman
with money early in my life, but I lost everything."
After she arrived in Vancouver, she was dependent on the Jewish
Family Service Agency to help her find affordable housing and she
has joined a community kitchen. She is now starting a support group
for people in similar situations.
The CJA campaign comes directly on the heels of the enormously successful
emergency fund-raising campaign Israel Now, which raised $2.2 million
in the last two months to support Israel.
The evening was hosted by Dr. Art Hister and produced by Cindy Charkow.
National anthems were sung by Josh Epstein. Rabbi Avi Baumol led
a prayer for peace on what, several speakers noted, was the eve
the anniversary of last year's terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington.
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