I received this letter from Lt Col Howard who used to be a frequent contributor to Israpundit and subsequently kept in touch with me.
He arranged for this letter to be sent to each rabbi by Dr Laitin. He also wrote, “Ted your contributions are very important for the survival of Israel. I am glad to be able to play a small roll in your efforts.
Rabbis
I have been deeply involved in the Islamic world for more than 30 years. I have taught, advised and mentored more than 1,000 Muslim graduate students in public health, engineering, and economics. I have advised the militaries of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. I was vice chief of the Lebanon desk. My specialty was Beirut. Several of my former students run the largest newsgathering/news reporting organization in the Islamic world.
One of my close associates, very anti-Israel, was just appointed by Pres. Obama as his special representative and chief advisor for Afghanistan and Pakistan and to advise him on negotiations with Iran. From the inside of the administration I observed the very anti-Israel orientation of the president’s principal advisors. My Palestinian authority prime security contact just publicly called for the nuclear annihilation of Israel. One of my senior associates (a retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen.) is also a Holocaust survivor from Lithuania. He emphasizes that when they say they’re going to kill you…. believe them. And I believe that my Palestinian associate who has a position of power within the Fatah government and is well-connected with Hamas believes fully in the annihilation of every Jew on earth.
I support Pamela Geller. I agree with the letter written to you [by Gary Gerofsky.]
Dr. Howard Laitin Torrance : California : United States
5-20% definitely would welcome and/or assist in its destruction.
Five percent is an awful lot of savages.
My concern is that all these important pieces of information,does not reach the general Jewish public I have written you our local Jewish pub
Ovation to no avail.I also note that the Jewish Press is c
Oping down. we need a more efficient and aggressive vehicle!
From Danial Pipes Blog:
[Outstanding Comment] “under the right circumstances”
Reader comment on item: Accepting Israel as the Jewish State
Submitted by Howard Laitin (United States), Jun 3, 2010 at 00:31
Having taught nearly 1000 Arab graduate engineering students and having served on US military advisory groups to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, I find that 5-20% of Arabs probably would accept Israel “under the right circumstances” and 5-20% definitely would welcome and/or assist in its destruction.
Their list of the right circumstances includes (but is not limited to): settlement to the satisfaction of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egpyt and the Palestinians of all boundary and water issues; removal of the separation barrier; removal of all Jewish presence from the West Bank, Golan Heights, etc.; East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capitol; right of return for the “Palestinian refugees” and their descendants. “When all parties are satisfied, we will be satisfied.” Since a significant number regard Tel Aviv, Haifa, and the rest of Israel as “occupied territory” I don’t see any basis for peace.