RE TODAY'S LUNCHEON/ADDRESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01117R001004110005-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: May 15, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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15 May 1986
NOTE FOR: DCI
Re Today's Luncheon/Address
At lunch today Rabbi Tannenbaum may
ask your reaction to his proposal for convening
of a White House conference on combatting
terrorism. He has alluded to this idea
on several occasions in your recent
correspondence. Attached is the proposal
itself, which came in last week.
23!~n'~!`~'-:`FZ~:ij~.:r~f6~~~:.;h~-'std'
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Howard I hiedman
David M Gordts
:.c~..?.e ...~ ~~es.:....
Theodore Ellenott
Robert S Jacoos
Edward E Elson
?ees.~t
Shirley M. Szabad
Secretary
David H. Peirez
Assouate Treasurer
Rita E. Hauser
Cna~r, E^ecunve Carnm~rtec
Norman E. Alexander
Westc nester
Howard A. Gilbert
Cn~ugc
Alan C. Greenberg
nEV. ~C't
Robert H. Haines
Aeh to .
Charlotte G. Holstein
Syracuse
Ann P. Kaufman
Hcus:o~
Robert L. Pelz
westcnester
Idelle Rabin
Dallas
Bruce M. Ramer
los Angeles
David F. Squire
Boston
Richard L. Weiss
los Angeles
Honorary Pres~Cents
Morris B. Abram
Arthur J. Goldberg
Philip E. Hoffman
Richard Maass
Elmer L. Winter
Maynard I. Wishner
Honorary Vrce-Presidents
Nathan Appleman
Martin Gang
Rutfi R. Goddard
Andrew Goodman
Raymond F. Kravis
James Marshall
William Rosenwald
Max M. fisher
Honorary Chart,
Nanonai E.ecuUve Counc~
John Slewson
Bertram H Gold
April 2&, 1986
The American Jewish
Committee
The Honorable William 7. Casev
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Bill,
?~:~ii''i't FrT"dry-----~ f
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Pursuant to our recent exchange of correspondence, I take the
liberty of enclosing a draft proposal for convening of a White
House Conference on Combatting International Terrorism.
This is submitted in general outline form in order to ascertain
your interest in the validity of the idea. If it makes sense to
you, I would be glad to develop a more detailed proposal based on
my experiences as Vice-Chairman of the White House Conference on
Children and Youth, on Aging, on Foreign Aid and Trade, on World
Hunger and Refugees.
Those conferences generally contributed to a fundamental positive
change in the attitudes of American leadership, and resulted in a
number of cases in the adoption of new, far-reaching legislation
supported by a broad American constituency.
My hope is that a White House Conference on Combatting Inter-
national Terrorism might have similar constructive results,
especially since this area is so critical to the future well-
being of American and Western democracy as well as to inter-
national peace and civility.
I look forward to your early response.
With warmest good wishes, I am,
'ncerely,
Dr. Marc H. Tanenbaum
Director, International Relations
MHT:og
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Proposal for the Convening of a White House Conference
on Combatting International Terrorism
"Terrorism deeply troubles the American people. A Roper Poll conducted
before the TWA 847 hijacking showed that 78 percent of all Americans
consider terrorism to be one of the most serious problems facing the
U.S. Government today, along with the deficit, strategic arms control
and unemployment..."
That statement depicting the feelings of the American people toward the
growing menace of international terrorism emerges as one of the conclu-
sions of the "Public Report of the Vice President's Task Force on
Combatting Terrorism" issued in February 1986 (p. 17). The report then
adds:
"Terrorism deeply troubles the American people. They feel angry,
victimized, vulnerable and helpless. At the same time, they want the
United States Government to have a strong and consistent national
anti-terrorist policy. While such a policy exists, the Task Force
believes that better communication is necessary to educate the public to
our policy and to the ramifications of using force during terrorist
attacks." (p. 21)
One of the significant recommendations of the Task force calls for the
launching of a "Public Education Effort" in these words:
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"Because of the lack of understanding and currently available informa-
tion concerning our national program for combatting terrorism, a broad
education effort should be undertaken to infocm the American public
about our policy and proposals as well as the many ramifications of the
use of force against terrorism, including death of innocent people,
destruction of property, alienation of allies and possible terrorist
reprisals. The education effort should take the form of publications,
such as this report, seminars and speaking opportunities by government
officials." (p. 27).
In keeping with the objectives of the Task Force recommendations, this
paper proposes that one of the most effective means for achieving
widespread "Public Education" would be the convening of a White House
Conference on Combatting International Terrorism. Based on other
experiences with White House Conferences - on Children and Youth, on
Aging, ion the Family, on Foreign Aid and Trade - this mode (or some
adaptation of it) provides a national mechanism for seeking to realize
the following purposes:
A) A national forum for educating key leadership from mayor segments
of American society about the facts, policies and programs of our
Government in combatting international terrorism. Much of the basic
information contained in the Vice President's Task Force Report on
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Combatting Terrorism is generally not known -- even to informed
Americans. The use of that report, together with the documents issued by
the Director of the Office for Counter-Terrorism and Emergency Planning
of the State Department, the gustice Department, the CIA, the F6I, the
FAA, and other appropriate U.S. agencies, in the preparations for the
White House Conference and for its program discussions, could raise the
consciousness of American public opinion molders and provide them with a
firm grounding in the data that is available about the long-term
problems of international terrorism and the concerted action that is
required to combat it.
B) The national forum of a White House Conference might bring together
key leadership of the ma,for groups that compose American society
-- business, labor, media, education, religious, racial, ethnic, civic,
and other voluntary groups. This cross-sectional and interdisciplinary
forum would be invited to consider and exchange views regarding the key
themes and issues that are outlined in the Task Force Report; namely,
(1) The Growin Threat of Terrorism - the nature of terrorism;
the geographic distribution of international terrorist
incidents; U.S. casualties resulting from international
terrorist incidents; domestic vulnerability; terrorist
incidents in the United States.
(2) U.S. Policy and Response to Terrorists - current policy;
managing terrorist incidents; coping with the threat;
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alleviating causes of terrorism; U.S. resources for combatt-
ing terrorism (law enforcement, prosecution of terrorists;
better security for civil aviation and maritime activities;
increased assistance to other governments; better, more
timely intelligence); personal and physical security;
Federal Agencies' roles in combatting terrorism; inter-
national cooperation; political, economic, and military
considerations in determining responses.
(3) The Role of Congress in Combatting Terrorism - current
legislation; pending legislation; potential legislation.
(4) American public opinion - examining attitudes toward
economic sanctions, military actions; role of U.S. govern-
ment agencies in assuring security of citizens; role of U.S.
citizens in advancing international cooperation with
counterpart voluntary agencies abroad.
(S) Terrorism and the Media - Promoting increased cooperation
between the Government and media in assuring timely, factual
information; examining journalistic guidelines to protect
lives and national security during a terrorist situation.
(6) Task Force Conclusions and Reconu~iendations - national policy
and program recommendations; policy criteria for response to
terrorists; a proposed new National Security Council
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position; American personnel requirements in high-threat
areas; international cooperation through additional inter-
national agreements; close extradition loop-holes; impose
sanctions against Vienna Convention on Violators; evaluate
and strengthen airport and port security; intelligence
recommendations for consolidated intelligence center'of
terrorism; increased collection of human intelligence;
exchange of intelligence between governments; legislative
recommendations; study of the relationship between terrorism
and the domestic and international legal systems; communica-
tions recommendations for support program for hostage
families; launching a public education effort; and working
with the media.
C) A White House Conference will inevitably bring together a diverse
group of citizens of varying political and ideological views, but with
effective, skillful conference leadership that need not preclude the
genuine possibility of developing a national consciousness - and even a
concensus - for support of a strong, reasonable government policy and
program for combatting the epidemic of international terrorism.
This writer's experience with White House Conferences on Children and
Youth, Aging, Foreign Aid and Trade, World Hunger and Refugees demon-
strated that such forums can help forge broad and powerful national
constituencies that back critically-needed legislation, funding,
and public opinion support for necessary political action.
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As was the case with other successful White House Conferences, a
dramatic by-product could be the formation of Governors' and Mayors'
committees. These provide local instrumentalities that enlarge the
involvement of community leadership for implementing on a long-term
basis the findings and recommendations that are crystallized at the
White House Conference and its various workshops.
Civen the magnitude of the threat of international terrorism to American
and Western democratic values and institutions, a White House Conference
on Combatting International Terrorism may well be an idea whose time is
now.
Submitted by
Or. Marc H. Tanenbaum, Director
of International Relations
American newish Committee
April 28, 1986
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9192-IRD-B
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April 27, 1986
LIBYA'S QADDAFI - THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE
WINS RELIGION COMMENTARY
RABBI MARC H. TANENBAUM* OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
During the Passover seder ritual observed by the Jewish people last week,
there is a moving symbolism recalling the Ten Plagues inflicted on Pharaoh
and his Egyptian followers. As the plagues are recited, each seder par-
ticipant removes ten drops of wine from the cups. Why is that?
The ancient Rabbis explained that we celebrate our ancestors' liberation
from slavery and oppression, but we do not gloat over our enemies, the
Egyptians, who drowned in the Red Sea. They are also God's children,
the Rabbis declared. So we celebrate with less than a full heart, with
less than a full cup of wine.
No American -- Jew or Christian -- will gloat over the death of innocent
people who perished as a result of America's attack on Libya's Qaddafi
and his terrorist bases. But, as all the polls demonstrate, the majority
of the American people are not so soft minded nor morally blind that they
can't make distinctions between aggressors and victims.
Some of the media treatment and several European reactions would suggest
that poor Qaddafi is an innocent victim of unprovoked American aggression.
How quickly have they forgotten the Qaddafi-inspired massacre of innocents
at the Rome and Vienna airports, Lhe Achille Lauro and TWA hijacking.
President Reagan's bold and courageous decision was not aggression. It
was a justified reprisal for years of state-sponsored terrorism and crim-
inal murders by Qaddafi, one of the chief architects of international
terrorism.
America's action isa statement that there is law and there is accountabil-
ity, and no one is exempt, including Qaddafi and his terrorist gangs.
*Rabbi Tanenbaum, who is director of the international relations depart-
ment of the American Jewish Committee, presents a weekly religion commen-
tary over WINS-Westinghouse Broadcasting System.
r~r
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~~~r~5ot~ ~Hcr~l~l-c~rib~iiic
Rabbi Backs
Libya Raid,
Blasts Media
`Overkill'
By JON DIETZ
Suf( Writer
The national news media has made
Libya appear a victim rather than a
perpetrator of terrorism by its recent
coverage of the U.S. air raid on Tripoli
and Benghazi, a nationally known rabbi
said Sunday night.
Marc H. Tanen-
baum, director of
international rela-
tions of the Ameri-
can Jewish Com-
mittee, said:
"Suddenly the vic-
tim has become the
victimizer. Many of
my liberal friends
have asked me,
'Why was there
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1986
According to Tanenbaum, an Ameri-
can diplomat or installation was at-
tacked every 17 days during 1985.
He said the centers of state-sponsored
terrorism are Libya, Syria, Iraq and
Iran. Shiite Moslems pose the greatest
threat to the western democracies, he
added. He said Shiites are intolerant of
Christiana, Jews and even other
Moslems.
And the Shiite religion guarantees a
place in heaven for any believer ~vho dies
m an attack on unbelievers, be said.
With the air raid on Libya. "We are
approaching a period similar to the Mid-
dle Agea, when Crusaders invaded
Islamic lands. This resulted in Moslems
launching Jihada, or holy wars, against
the west," Tanenbaum said.
Tanenbaum praised the raid as a nec-
essary response to Khadafy'a attacks on
airline carriers and Americana on air
bases and in European nightclubs.
such overkill?' The media showed pic-
tures of people in hospital beds and kept
mentioning Rhadafy's child."
Libya's state-controQed media have
reported that Col. Moammar Khadafy's
15-month~id adopted daughter died in
the April 14 U.S. attack.
Tanenbaum spoke to a large_crowd at
Temple Beth Sholom-Conservative in
Sarasota on the subject of international
terrorism. Tanenbaum served as a con-
sultant to the NBC-TV miniseries
"Holocaust" and wsa a consultant for
another television miniaeries,~ "Jesus of
Nazareth."
Tanenbaum said the media, after first
praising the air raid on J..ibya, began
blaming Israel for creating conditions
that fostered international terrorism.
'"the media says the 'root cause' of
terrorism is the Palestinian problem,"
Tanenbaum said. "But in 1985 moat of
the 926 terrorist attacks worldwide o
inated in Latin America against U~
'personnel and businesses
"If Israel were to disappear and be-
come a Palestinian state, Armenians
would still slaughter Turks, Serbs would
kill Croatians, and so on."
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