Unifying Issue?
Pho to by AP/Eric Gay
George W Bush may have to play the Middle East
card in order to bring the country together.
W ww.detrottiewish
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Texas Gov. George W Bush, followed by a Secret Service agent,
waves to supporters as he leaves the governor's mansion in Austin.
MATTHEW E. BERGER and
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washin on
hen George W. Bush
moves into the White
House next month, his
most difficult task will be
to rally a fractured electorate and
Congress around his presidency and
his agenda.
Even though domestic issues domi-
nated his campaign, the 43rd presi-
dent may find more consensus on for-
eign policy issues, including the
Middle East, an area he may have no
choice but to confront.
"When presidents needs to look
presidential, they turn to foreign poli-
cy, because it is where they can act
unilaterally," said Lester Munson,
spokesman for the House
International Relations Committee.
Bush may want to leave foreign poli-
cy to others, but "he may not have the
option in light of the tumultuous
events in the Middle East," said
Howard Kohr, executive director of the
pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Kohr recalled the elections of former
President George Bush (George W's
father) and of President Clinton, when
people speculated that neither one would
become very involved in foreign affairs.
But reacting to events in the Middle
East, both ultimately became key for-
eign policy players. Bush led the coun-
try in the Gulf War in 1991, and
Clinton became a major figure in the
Middle East peace process.
George W. Bush, too, may be forced
to take a proactive role, given the cur-
rent situation in the region — an all-
but failed peace process and a mounting
death toll from the Palestinian uprising.
For Jewish groups focused on Israel
and the Middle East, such as AIPAC,
that focus would be welcome.
Others more involved with domestic
concerns are strategizing how to get
their issues on the agenda as Bush and
a new, deeply divided Congress figure
out a way to work together.
A new administration "doesn't change
our agenda; it might change our strate-
gy," said Reva Price, Washington repre-
sentative for the Jewish Council of
Public Affairs UCPA).
Officials of the umbrella organiza-
tion huddled Tuesday to debate which
parts of their agenda could make it to
the floor of the U.S. Congress, given
the anticipated congressional gridlock.
Busi-i on page 25
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