Editor's Letter AIPAC's Edgy Imprint W e live in a moment of time that is dangerous because too few people see the political and mili- tary urgency confronting not only Israel, but also the West. That is why last week's policy conference hosted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was timely. It provided a setting to highlight the texture of the threat as del- egates marshaled their forces on the banks of the Potomac. The delegation was 7,000 strong and included 165 Detroiters. Iran and its 15-year pursuit of nuclear arms proved a white-hot con- ference topic. In his keynote address during the May 3-5 conference in Washington, David Victor, the Bloomfield Hills-based national president of AIPAC, described the extremist theocracy, formally the Islamic Republic of Iran, as "a regime with global ambitions in one of the world's least stable regions, a regime that publicly doubts that the historical fact of the Holocaust exists and yet is certain Israel should not, a regime that is the largest state sponsor of ter- rorism on the globe and trumpets its antipathy for the West" Victor spoke before AIPAC delegates blanketed Capitol Hill via 500 separate congressional meetings. "We must help our lead- ers feel the urgency of this moment:' he said, "and we must help them understand that they still have the power to ensure that Iran does not get the bomb:' Iran, Iran Victor acknowledged the gravity of the U.S. economy as well as the Iraq and Afghanistan warfronts. But he felt a singular voice pitched to the Iranian problem would resonate. While President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his rancor toward Zionism and the West spur headlines, it's the Islamic clerics who control Iran and its potent Revolutionary Guard. These ruling clerics are committed to enriched ura- nium and warhead advances, both forerunners to an atomic bomb. David Victor AIPAC's congressional message was three- pronged: help avert a nuclear Iran, help President Obama solve the Middle East crises through diplomacy, help Israel defend itself through security support. There's debate about when Iran might produce a bomb. But no one questions its desire. A nuclear Iran indeed would threat- en global stability. Victor reminded conference-goers that during the presiden- tial campaign, Obama pledged to diplomatically solve Iran's nuclear pursuit. In my estimation, Obama also should speak more boldly about why America would never tolerate a bomb- wielding Iran, even for a moment. Hard Sanctions Victor hit on Iranian sanctions, which I've hammered on for at least a year. The civilized world must zero in on Iran's refining capabilities and its banking system. Iran imports refined petro- leum products to meet 40 percent of its demand for gasoline and diesel. "Hinder Iran's domestic refining capacity;' Victor said, "and you threaten the shutdown of Iran's economy:' Surely, tough economic sanctions on businesses that essen- tially underwrite Iran's energy and military sectors, along with tougher travel and trade sanctions, would hurt. The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, pending in Congress, seems solid. It targets foreign companies that provide refined petroleum products to Iran. It also targets companies that ship these products or ensure their delivery, or provide machinery to Iran's refining industry. Under the act, companies would have to choose to do business with Iran or America. The act would expose Iran's banking vulnerability. Sanction the Central Bank of Iran and you potentially cripple Iran's financial network and its principal tie-in to the international banking system. It's because of advocacy by powerhouse lobbyists like AIPAC as well as U.S.-supported sanctions that Iran's road "has been made much longer and much rougher," as Victor said. take your eyewear to new hei FREUDENHAUS Two-State Solution I liked Victor's simple, yet constructive call for Israeli- Palestinian peace. He endorsed two congressional letters that spell out the conditions: The involved parties would negotiate a peace agreement, with America serving only as an Israeli advis- er; America would insist the Palestinians stop violence, terror and incitement; the Palestinians would build the infrastructure "necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side by side with the Jewish State of Israel." AIPAC further challenged "the Arab states to do far more to normalize relations with Israel and support moderate Palestinians." Let's be blunt: Without authentic Arab rec- onciliation and a sea change in Palestinian leadership, peace will remain elusive. That's why President Obama ultimately must defer to Israel's expertise even as he strives for renewed talks. If he believes a two-state solution is pos- sible with the terrorists, apologists and deniers who lead the Palestinians today, he's wrong. Roz Rothstein, national president of Los Angeles-based StandWithUs, a pro-Israel group, put it well. She praised AIPAC, but offered this prudent advice to the Obama administration: "All supporters of Israel should work together to ensure that the administration does not pressure Israel into premature, dangerous concessions, but treats it as an equal — a sovereign, successful state that desperately wants peace but that knows from bitter experience what will and will not bring peace closer." As I reflect on the 2009 policy conference, I applaud David Victor. Midway through his two-year presidency of AIPAC, he has proven to be dogged, thoughtful and articulate. He grabbed the AIPAC reins with the blessing of his wife, Kelly. They have four kids. In his acceptance speech last year, Victor declared: "With the lessons learned from my parents, Kelly and I decided now was the time for us, and for our generation, to stand up, speak up and lead." It was the right message then. It echoes still. E Should Iran command AIPAC's uppermost attention? I Hp 0 z o Will the Arab states ever collectively validate Israel? yofiviqikeift, LAFONT LUNOR* BEAUSOLEIL ORIGINAL VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY EYEWEAR AND ACCESSORIES FEATURING CHARLEY HARPER PRINTS, AN[) RARE, VINTAGE AWE! WV FROM THE COLLECTION OF JQANN GOLDBERG EYE EXAMS BY DR. JOE ALES 245 WEST MAPLE JUST EAST OF BATES, DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM 248-64676699, www.optikbirmingham.com MOST MAJOR OPTICAL INSURANCE ACCEPTED, INCLUDING VSP 1' 'EXCLUSIVELY IN {MICHIGAN AT OPTIK BIRMINGHAM May 14 2009 A5