Israeli Leader Promises to Use ‘Iron Fist’ to Stop Terrorism
JERUSALEM, March 2 — Israel’s acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, warned Palestinians today that Israel would use "far-reaching measures" and "an iron fist against any attempt to resume terrorist activity," whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Olmert spoke as a new opinion poll showed his Kadima party continuing to slip a month before March 28 elections, but it was still comfortably on course to form a new Israeli government. The Haaretz-Channel 10 poll shows Kadima winning 37 of the parliament’s 120 seats, down two seats from last month and down seven seats from a similar poll taken at the end of January.
Mr. Olmert said at a news conference that he has personally ordered airstrikes against Palestinians involved in firing Qassam rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip. "There are no longer any restrictions on the security establishment regarding counterterrorism actions anywhere," he said. "Not a few times terrorists who were about to fire rockets were liquidated before they could fire them and it was based on my orders, sometimes my personal orders."
In another indication of tough responses in the face of the victory of the militant Islamic group Hamas in the Jan. 25 Palestinian elections, the Israeli defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, ordered the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel to remain closed, bringing charges from Israeli fruit growers that the closure is political. Mr. Mofaz said there continues to be a direct threat of a terrorist attack against the crossing, through which most agricultural and manufactured goods enter and exit Gaza.
Officials had said Wednesday that Karni would be reopened today so food and aid could be brought in to Gaza after international agencies warned that some food supplies were dwindling. Israel closed Karni for 21 days from Jan. 15 to Feb. 5, and closed it again on Feb. 21 after a mysterious explosion; it has remained closed since. Israelis say the Palestinians have stubbornly refused to use alternate crossings at Kerem Shalom and Sufa; a Palestinian spokesman, Saeb Erekat, said the Palestinians rejected the other crossings because they believe Israel wants to shut down Karni completely.
While Mr. Olmert, at his news conference, said that Israel "respects" Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, "we are nevertheless disappointed by the fact that instead of fighting terrorism, he has appointed the leader of terrorism as the candidate for prime minister," a reference to Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader who is trying to form a new government.
Mr. Olmert said that Hamas has become "the relevant factor regarding the determination of our position and attitude toward future negotiations," rejecting Mr. Abbas’s call for peace talks with him.
Mr. Olmert’s foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has argued that after the Hamas legislative victory, Mr. Abbas "is no longer relevant" for negotiations since he no longer controls the government.
But the leader of the Labor Party, Amir Peretz, has argued that Mr. Abbas and other Palestinian "moderates" must be supported, and Mr. Peretz met Mr. Abbas today at the Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan in what he called a "message that we do not lose hope."
Mr. Peretz praised Mr. Abbas and said in their meeting that "he perceives terrorism as the enemy of both nations." Mr. Peretz, whose Labor Party has been stagnant in the polls at 19 seats, said he asked Mr. Abbas "to do everything in his power to diminish, stop and uproot terror attacks" and said that two "explored the ways in which we can continue to strengthen the moderate elements on both sides."
The right-wing Likud Party is polling at 15 seats.
Mr. Abbas stepped back from earlier comments made to the London-based Al Hayat newspaper, which quoted him as saying that Al Qaida is already present in Palestinian areas. But today, he said: "We have information, yet to be confirmed, that Al Qaida, just as it sends it operatives to Jordan and other countries like Saudi Arabia and others, also might send us operatives for sabotage."
In an earlier interview with Al Jazeera television, Mr. Abbas said he intends to transfer broad security powers to the future Hamas-led government, including the national defense branch, preventive security, the civilian police and civil defense. He said the general intelligence branch, headed by Tawfik al-Tirawi, would remain subject to the presidency.
"We’ll grant Hamas authority over the Palestinians’ national security because we need to have one body controlling the situation to ensure security," he said. "I don’t intend to deprive Hamas of what I demanded in the past from Yasir Arafat," when Mr. Abbas was prime minister. Mr. Arafat, however, refused to hand over that control.
According to the Palestinian news agency Sama, the European Union and the United States have urged Mr. Abbas to keep control of the police and security forces.
In Ramallah, a dozen gunmen stormed the main building of the legislature, fired weapons and demanded to speak to the newly elected Hamas speaker about the dismissal of some employees two weeks ago. In Gaza, three masked gunmen held the director of the Palestinian Lands Authority for two hours as they demanded a plot of land along Gaza’s beach, but later released him. The director, Atef al-Khudari, said he was roughed up; there were no arrests.
Separately, Rafi Eitan, the former Mossad handler of convicted Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard, said that Mr. Pollard never exposed American agents in the Soviet Union or elsewhere. He said in a newspaper interview that Mr. Pollard provided such good information that "I couldn’t resist the temptation and order a stop to the operation," even though it was aimed at Israel’s closest ally, the United States.
Mr. Eitan spoke about the Pollard case for the first time to Ronen Bergman of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, which is publishing his comments in its Friday issue.
Mr. Eitan said he believed that the American double-agent Aldrich Ames, who was spying for the Soviet Union, tried to blame Mr. Pollard for exposing the Soviet agents to clear himself of suspicion. "I have no doubt that had Pollard been tried today, in light of what is known about Ames and other agents who were exposed, he would have received a much lighter sentence," Mr. Eitan told the newspaper.
Mr. Pollard, who worked for the United States Navy as an intelligence officer, approached an Israeli officer in 1984. Mr. Eitan said Mr. Pollard provided "information of such high quality and accuracy, so good and so important to the country’s security that I couldn’t resist the temptation and order a stop to the operation," he said. "My desire, my appetite to get more and more material overcame me." In the event of another war with Arab states, Mr. Eitan said, Mr. Pollard’s information would have made a great difference.
He called Mr. Pollard, who came to Israel twice to meet him, a man "with high intelligence, a phenomenal memory and broad education, but also with an extreme and unstable personality that brought him even as a teenager to declare that he ‘worked for the Mossad,’ " Mr. Eitan said.
Mr. Pollard was sentenced to life in jail and American presidents have refused Israeli requests to commute his sentence.
…….some of the world foundations includes the following organizations to stop terrorism ……………………
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New Poll of Pakistan before June 2008 By-Elections Pakistanis strongly favor their own government not fighting against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, but negotiating with them instead. Public support for Al Qaeda is also gaining ground since earlier this year. Important Parliamentary by-elections are scheduled in Pakistan for June 26th. In the only poll before the elections, our survey shows that Nawaz Sharif is now the most popular political leader in Pakistan. Mr. Sharif’s party, the PML-N, would emerge as the clear winner in any national contest, far eclipsing the current largest party in Parliament, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Rockefeller Brothers Fund 2007 Annual Report Iran: New 2008 Survey before Elections Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Islam, home to its holiest places, and also home country of Osama Bin Laden and 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists. Yet, Bin Laden’s fellow countrymen have dramatically turned against him, his organization of Al Qaeda, Saudi fighters in Iraq, and terrorism itself. And they have also equally dramatically turned in favor of Bin Laden’s chief enemy: The United States of America. The people of Saudi Arabia are now among the most pro-American and anti-terrorist of any in the entire Muslim world. Congressional Hearing featuring Terror Free Tomorrow’s Iran Survey, House National Security Subcommittee (10/30/07) TFT President Ken Ballen was the lead witness and Terror Free Tomorrow’s recent survey of Iran was featured in a hearing on the views of the Iranian public. For more information about the hearing, Benazir Bhutto Reconciliation (2008) The Audacity of Hope by Senator Barack Obama Senator Barack Obama relies on Terror Free Tomorrow’s work for the conclusion to his foreign policy chapter. “Perhaps the world’s fate depends not just on the events of its battlefields,” Senator Obama writes, “perhaps it depends just as much on the work we do in those quiet places that require a helping hand.” Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s findings, Senator Obama concludes that U.S. assistance to Indonesia after the tsunami is an example of the kind of policies that the United States should pursue: “65 percent of Indonesians surveyed said that this assistance had given them a more favorable view of the United States. I am not naïve enough to believe that one episode in the wake of catastrophe can erase decades of mistrust. But it’s a start.” Hearing on Al Qaeda, House Intelligence Committee (4/9/08) Terror Free Tomorrow’s recent surveys of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were featured: “Ten percent of Saudis have a favorable view of the al Qaeda terrorist network, according to a survey released in December 2007 by Terror Free Tomorrow, an international public opinion research group based in Washington. Recent events in Pakistan may also be the best potential positive development in the fight against al Qaeda in years. Support for suicide operations, according to Terror Free Tomorrow, have precipitously dropped in the past five years among Pakistanis from 33% to 9%. Similarly, favorable views of bin Laden have plummeted from 70% to 4% in the past nine months in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, where US officials have long believed bin Laden to be hiding. This may finally create the political will among the Pakistani establishment and military to do what is necessary to eliminate al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan” A new nationwide survey of Pakistan by Terror Free Tomorrow may help explain why Osama bin Laden remains at large in Pakistan and why both al Qaeda and the Taliban have regrouped there. Nearly three quarters of Pakistanis oppose American military action to pursue Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters based inside Pakistan. Moreover, a third or more of Pakistanis have a favorable view of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and bin Laden. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is also the least popular political leader in Pakistan today—falling considerably behind bin Laden. CNN released Terror Free Tomorrow’s new poll of Pakistan in an exclusive, feature news story on Anderson Cooper 360. In reporting by Peter Bergen, CNN’s Terrorism Analyst, TFT President Ken Ballen was interviewed, and the survey findings were widely displayed. CNN also ran a feature story onCNN.com, the most trafficked news website in the world. Terror Free Tomorrow’s recent survey of Iran was cited: “In a poll conducted in the summer 2007 by the bipartisan group Terror Free Tomorrow, 80 percent of Iranians said they favored Iran offering full international nuclear inspections and a guarantee not to develop or possess nuclear weapons in return for outside aid.” Heritage Event: Terror Free Tomorrow Discussion of Iran Survey (10/23/07) Ken Ballen, Terror Free Tomorrow President, presented the findings of TFT’s recent Iran, Syria and Pakistan polls at the Heritage Foundation. CSIS Event: Terror Free Tomorrow Discussion of Pakistan Survey (10/17/07) Ken Ballen, Terror Free Tomorrow President, presented the findings of TFT’s recent Pakistan poll at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Ken was joined in an analysis of the poll’s critical importance to American foreign policy by noted national security expert from CSIS, Anthony Cordesman and Teresita Schaffer, NBC News: The Today Show (9/13/07) Reporting from Tehran, Matt Lauer prominently featured Terror Free Tomorrow’s recent survey in examining the views of Iranians. Citing the work of “Terror Free Tomorrow, a Washington based non-profit”, NBC News highlighted in charts TFT’s findings, including that “almost 70% of Iranians favor normal relations and trade with the United States, and only 29% consider nuclear weapons to be an important priority for their government”, among others. Despite powerful anti-American feelings and support for Iraqi fighters, 63% of Syrians still favor Syria working with the United States to help resolve the Iraq war. In another important finding, Syrians also favor peace with Israel. Yet, in marked contrast to Terror Free Tomorrow’s recent survey of Iran, which had similar methodology, questions and timing, Syrians—unlike Iranians—oppose closer relations with the United States, while expressing satisfaction with their current system of government. In a lead commentary, Ken Ballen reports on Terror Free Tomorrow’s unprecedented surveys of Syria and Iran, concluding: “The U.S. should lead a broad-based international coalition, and not give the Iranian and Syrian regimes a free hand in portraying the U.S. as the mortal enemy of their people.…Public opinion in these countries tells us that it is time for the U.S. and the international community to place the ball squarely in the court of the Iranian and Syrian people — and let their respective governments play defense for a change.” Iran: Unprecedented Nationwide Survey Discontent with the current system of government, the state of Iran’s economy, and isolation from the West is widespread throughout Iran. In this context, nuclear weapons are the lowest priority for the Iranian people. Iranians even overwhelmingly support their government providing full inspections and a guarantee not to develop nuclear weapons in return for trade and assistance from other countries. The popular will to live in a democracy open to the West and the United States, with greater economic opportunity, comes from every region and segment of Iranian society. These are among the significant findings of the first nationwide public opinion survey of Iran on these issues since President Ahmadinejad took office. The Wall Street Journal Commentary (7/11/07) “Keen observers of Iran have insisted for years that the Iranian people are pro-Western, indeed pro-American, while opposed to the largely unelected clerical regime that rules them. For the first time, Terror Free Tomorrow’s unprecedented nationwide poll of Iran offers indisputable empirical proof that these commentators are dead-on in their assessment of the ‘Iranian street.’” For the full editorial by Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen, releasing the survey results in the Journal, CSIS Event: Terror Free Tomorrow Discussion of Iran Survey (7/13/07) US House Bi-Partisan Iran Working Group(7/26/07) Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) (May 7, 2007) introduced new legislation to strengthen America’s public diplomacy and humanitarian efforts. The Senators rely on Terror Free Tomorrow’s surveys as one of the key findings for the legislation: “According to polling from Terror Free Tomorrow, American humanitarian assistance, in places like Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, has a lasting impact that favorably increases public opinion toward the United States.” Terror Free Tomorrow also hosted an event on May 18, 2007 for Congressional staff in the House Rayburn Building, where Ken Ballen presented TFT’s latest survey in Turkey (see below). “Perhaps the most tangible application of Navy’s global reach and persistent presence in building partner capacity was last year’s five month deployment of the hospital ship MERCY in the summer of 2006 to the tsunami-affected areas in South and Southeast Asia. In an August 2006 public opinion survey, conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow, Indonesians and Bangladeshis overwhelmingly indicated their support of this humanitarian mission. In Indonesia, 85% of those aware of MERCY’s visit had a favorable opinion, and in Bangladesh this figure was 95%. Further, 87% of those polled in Bangladesh stated that MERCY’s activities made their overall view of the United States more positive. These polling results provide real indication of the power of partnerships.” J. Michael Waller, The Public Diplomacy Reader(2007); Tony Smith, Washington’s Bid (2007); Dana Dillon, The China Challenge (2007); Carnes Lord,Losing Hearts and Minds (2007); Dick Martin,Rebuilding Brand America (2007). “In a world transformed by globalization and challenged by terrorism, foreign aid deserves attention as a critical instrument of American soft power. With hard power assets stretched thin and facing 21st century threats from global poverty, pandemics, and terrorism, the U.S. must deploy its soft power more effectively. Recent polls underscore the importance of getting this right. Abroad, Terror Free Tomorrow found that foreign aid dramatically improved public perceptions of the United States in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, for a sustained period following U.S. generosity in the wake of the tsunami and the Pakistan earthquake.” New Public Opinion Survey of Turkey Terror Free Tomorrow’s latest Turkish survey is the first on an issue of vital importance to both Turkey and the United States. The U.S. Congress is considering a resolution formally recognizing as organized genocide the mass killings of Armenians from 1915-23 in Turkey’s predecessor state of the Ottoman Empire. Our unprecedented survey shows that the resolution would actually set back the cause it purports to achieve: namely, Turkey’s recognition of its own past and reconciliation with Armenia today. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the ARI Movement of Turkey and its affiliate in the United States, the ARI Foundation. For the full joint poll report, In another lead commentary, Ken Ballen analyzes how Terror Free Tomorrow’s survey data has led to successful American actions in Muslim countries, including the recent mission of the U.S. Navy ship Mercy: “By demonstrating our common humanity and a benevolent side to American power, these missions have proved to be America’s most successful weapon against extremism in the Muslim world.” For the full op-ed, President Clinton Cites Terror Free Tomorrow President Clinton continues to regularly cite Terror Free Tomorrow’s work. On April 18, 2007, in a speech before the Mid-Year Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, President Clinton said: “After the tsunami in Indonesia, the approval rating of the United States soared because of the U.S. military just helping ordinary Indonesians.” New Nationwide Public Opinion Survey of Nigeria Lee Hamilton, Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group commented on Terror Free Tomorrow’s latest survey: "Terror Free Tomorrow’s new survey of Nigerian opinion reinforces a lesson that America has learned in places as diverse as Pakistan and Indonesia: in the struggle against extremism, the effective and targeted use of U.S. assistance can be as effective – if not more effective – than the deployment of bombs and guns. To win the war of ideas and to combat the swelling turmoil around the world, the United States must use all aspects of American power – including the power of American generosity." For the full poll report Unprecedented Polls: World’s Largest Muslim Countries Welcome U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen at the National Press Club The Navy’s top officer, Admiral Michael Mullen announced on November 16, 2006 that the favorable change in public opinion documented by Terror Free Tomorrow after American tsunami relief was a “critical factor” in launching the 2006 mission of the Navy hospital ship Mercy. Mercy is a fully equipped, 1,000-bed hospital, which from May to August offered free medical services and training to the people of Indonesia and Bangladesh, including care to 61,000 needy patients. According to Admiral Mullen, overwhelming favorable opinions of the mission by both Indonesians and Bangladeshis, as documented by Terror Free Tomorrow, will lead to future missions by the Mercy and other naval hospital ships. The Washington Post (1/7/07) From the Brookings Institution for the Washington Post’s Think Tank Town:“The effects of the power of service can also be seen in the results of a recent Terror Free Tomorrow poll, which showed a markedly positive change in major Muslim nation perceptions of the United States in response to humanitarian relief and service initiatives. Polling data indicated that nearly 60 percent of Indonesians and 75 percent of Pakistanis held more favorable views of the United States following humanitarian assistance after their tsunami and earthquake tragedies. Importantly, this change in perception lasted beyond the initial aid and service, underscoring that America’s actions can have lasting impact.” From the editor of the influential Turkish Policy Quarterly:“More than ever, civil society needs to play a role in overcoming biases and building bridges. One of the oft heard criticisms of U.S. policy is a disregard of the sensitivities of other cultures and histories. In this context, organizations such as Terror Free Tomorrow are noteworthy, contributing to the understanding among American policymakers of the reasons underlying the fluctuations in anti-American sentiments worldwide.” The Brookings Institution Terror Free Tomorrow Featured as Leading Public Opinion Surveys in Muslim World Terror Free Tomorrow is featured in a UPI story (10/11/06) on the problems and opportunities involved in polling in the Muslim world. The article details the experiences that Terror Free Tomorrow, “an organization which studies attitudes towards terrorism around the world” has encountered in conducting public opinion surveys in Bangladesh and Indonesia. For the full article, Terror Free Tomorrow Participant in Clinton Global Initiative The Audacity of Hope by Senator Barack Obama (Crown Oct 2006) In his new book, Senator Barack Obama relies on Terror Free Tomorrow’s work for the conclusion to his foreign policy chapter. “Perhaps the world’s fate depends not just on the events of its battlefields,” Senator Obama writes, “perhaps it depends just as much on the work we do in those quiet places that require a helping hand.” Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s findings, Senator Obama concludes that U.S. assistance to Indonesia after the tsunami is an example of the kind of policies that the United States should pursue: “65 percent of Indonesians surveyed said that this assistance had given them a more favorable view of the United States. I am not naïve enough to believe that one episode in the wake of catastrophe can erase decades of mistrust. But it’s a start.” President Clinton Cites Terror Free Tomorrow President Clinton continues to regularly cite Terror Free Tomorrow’s work in his speeches. For example, President Clinton cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s public opinion surveys in his speeches on March 28, 2006, April 12, 2006, May 23, 2006, June 5, 2006, June 21, 2006, and November 13, 2006, among others: “There is one, and only one Muslim country where the public opinion of the United States has soared since 2003 and stayed high: Indonesia—the largest Muslim country in the world. When the President asked his father and me to coordinate part of the fundraising effort for tsunami relief, and then we went together to South Asia, we came back to make our report to the White House. When I was on the way in to the meeting with the President, one of the career people from USAID who had worked with us handed me a poll just completed in Indonesia. Comparing attitudes on the United States and Osama Bin Laden with a year previous, approval of the United States [because of the tsunami] had gone to 65 percent and approval of Bin Laden had gone from 58 to 23 percent. Mr. Bin Laden had done nothing to the Indonesians after the tsunami, but nothing for them, either. And in a stunning moment—when they saw the military dropping food instead of bombs, when they saw the American civilian aid workers, both from religious and nonreligious groups, in a stunning moment, they saw us as people because we saw them as people. Across all the religious and geographic and political divides, in that terrible moment of tragedy, we were united in our common humanity. A year later, according to another survey [by Terror Free Tomorrow] just released, those gains in public opinion have endured.” Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial The Wall Street Journal Editorial Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s new poll of Indonesia, in a lead editorial, the editors write: “America’s popularity in Indonesia has risen dramatically in the past year — Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Halliburton notwithstanding. That’s the conclusion of a remarkable poll conducted last month for the Washington-based NGO, Terror Free Tomorrow. Since 2003, the number of Indonesians with a favorable view of the U.S. has nearly tripled, to 44% from 15%…. The proximate cause for the changed Indonesian outlook has been U.S. relief efforts following the December 2004 tsunami.” For the full editorial, In the lead commentary, Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen writes that America’s top military leaders, based on Terror Free Tomorrow public opinion surveys over the past year, agree “if American efforts are focused on positive rebuilding and vision for the future, the foot soldiers for bin Laden and radical Islam will desert. Islamist extremism can indeed be effectively defeated in Muslim hearts and minds.” For the full editorial,
Terror Free Tomorrow’s Pakistan poll was cited by the Senate as one of the principal findings in Senate Resolution 356, unanimously passed by the Senate on January 27, 2006. The Senate supported the United States “to take the lead” to encourage and continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in Pakistan, finding that “the results of a poll by the nonprofit organization Terror Free Tomorrow show that, at the end of November 2005, more than 46 percent of Pakistanis had a favorable view of the United States, double the percentage of Pakistanis that held that view in May 2005.” The resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Lugar and Biden (Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee), and introduced by Senator Mikulski, among others. Terror Free Tomorrow on CNN Ken Ballen, Terror Free Tomorrow President, was interviewed on CNN about Terror Free Tomorrow’s work. The interview with anchor Carol Lin focused on the first poll in Pakistan since the earthquake of October 8, 2005, conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow. Mr. Ballen also discussed the poll on the most watched Pakistani news broadcast (GEO TV), as well as numerous radio shows across the United States. For a transcript of the CNN interview, click here. Wall Street Journal Editorial The Wall Street Journal released Terror Free Tomorrow’s poll of Pakistan, the first survey after the October 8th earthquake. Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen and Advisory Board member Husain Haqqani detailed the path breaking poll results in commentary, revealing that Pakistanis now hold a more favorable opinion of the United States than at any time since 9/11, while support for Al Qaeda in its home base has dropped to its lowest level since then. For the full editorial, click here. Miami Herald Editorial Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen discusses the implications of Terror Free Tomorrow’s unprecedented polling: “Results from a recent poll of Pakistanis deliver a stunning new message on the United States’ course for future success. If American efforts are focused on a positive rebuilding and vision for the future, the foot soldiers for bin Laden and radical Islam will desert. Islamist extremism can indeed be effectively defeated in Muslim hearts and minds.” For the full op-ed, Congressional Research Service Report for Congress Commentary by Ken Ballen in the pan-Arab Gulf News
“It is time we heed what America’s military leaders are telling us about the war on terror. Pentagon officials involved in writing the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s recently released counterterrorism strategy have acknowledged that "the American military’s efforts to aid [2004] tsunami victims in Indonesia and to assist victims of Pakistan’s [2005] earthquake did more to counter terrorist ideology than any attack mission".
State Department Relies on Terror Free Tomorrow Work
The United States Department of State relied on Terror Free Tomorrow polling as an independent benchmark for evaluating the success of American foreign policy in 2005. In the State Department’s FY 2005 Performance and Accountability Report, Terror Free Tomorrow polling served as the standard for measuring the effectiveness of certain US government policies around the world (See e.g. “Strategic Goal for Public Diplomacy—Performance Results”). Navy’s Top Officer Cites Terror Free Tomorrow
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chief of Operations for the US Navy, wrote that he was “struck by the results” of Terror Free Tomorrow polling, which showed that “as a direct result of American humanitarian assistance,” there was “a stunning turnaround of public opinion” in the Muslim world. Admiral Mullen concluded: “That was, in my view, one of the defining moments of this new century.” "Shame on us," Admiral Mullen wrote, " if, even through benign neglect, we allow those same opinions to turn against our best intentions again.” For Admiral Mullen’s Former Presidents Bush and Clinton Praise Terror Free Tomorrow Poll at White House
At a White House press conference televised on CNN, MSNBCand FOX News, former President Bush discussed Terror Free Tomorrow’s "great poll" showing a dramatic drop in anti-American extremism in Indonesia, and former President Clinton urged people to review the poll results on Terror Free Tomorrow’s website. For their full remarks Former President Clinton Cites the Importance of Terror Free Tomorrow Poll
President Clinton told a distinguished audience in Washington, DC that Terror Free Tomorrow’s groundbreaking poll was "one of the most important items " he could mention to a Washington audience. In the keynote address to the Private Sector Summit on Post-Tsunami Reconstruction, President Clinton said that Terror Free Tomorrow’s poll showed a “total reaffirmation of our common humanity.” World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz agreed with President Clinton on the importance of Terror Free Tomorrow’s poll.
Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick also cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s poll in his remarks.
Lee Hamilton Calls for Implementation of Terror Free Tomorrow’s Framework
Former 9/11 Commission Co Chair Lee Hamilton called for a consistent system of tracking and undermining the support base that empowers global terrorists. In a Christian Science Monitorcommentary, Mr. Hamilton cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s work, writing that: "Its implications are both broad and profound." For his full commentary, Testimony before the U. S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Assistant U.S. AID Administrator James Kunder described Terror Free Tomorrow as an organization represented by “many distinguished professionals.” Kunder cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s work as the evidence behind the fact that: “The compassion of ordinary Americans and the private sector, combined with prompt government action, has significantly changed the way Indonesians view the USA…. This measurable progress on ‘winning hearts and minds’ and gaining allies in the Global War on Terrorism is a major blow to Al Qaeda and other terrorists.” Floor Statement before the U. S. Senate
In a statement on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator Joseph Biden, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, extensively cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s surveys to argue for increased aid to Pakistan “to replicate our success in Indonesia” which resulted in “an incalculable amount of goodwill” among the Muslims in the world’s largest Islamic nation. Washington Post Analysis Relies on Terror Free Tomorrow’s Work
A Washington Post news analysis called the American tsunami relief effort “the model for using a humanitarian disaster to leverage public opinion,” citing Terror Free Tomorrow polling as the evidence. The article said that the Indonesian experience could serve as the predicate for America’s response to the October earthquake in Pakistan. Roll Call Editorial Based on Terror Free Tomorrow’s Findings
In an editorial in the influential Capitol Hill publication, Morton Kondracke, Executive Editor, cited Terror Free Tomorrow’s polls of American public opinion, Indonesia, and Terror Free Tomorrow’s Report on Pakistan and the influence of radical groups in earthquake relief. According to Roll Call: “Terror Free Tomorrow found that 71 percent of Americans believe they’ve heard less about the Pakistan quake than about the tsunami. When informed about the disaster, a majority favors more U.S. aid. A widely publicized poll by TFT, whose advisory board includes Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Reps. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) and Tom Foley (D-Wash.), found that tsunami relief cut Indonesian popular opposition to the U.S. war on terror… TFT’s executive director, Ken Ballen, a former aide to Hamilton, told me: ‘The United States is indeed helping Pakistan, but much more needs to be done, given the scale of the disaster and the strategic importance of the world’s second-largest and only nuclear-armed Muslim nation…. If we are serious about truly confronting what President Bush rightly called ‘the murderous ideology’ of radical Islamists, then we must also take the concrete steps required to weaken support for the radicals among the people themselves.’” To read more, please Ken Ballen Analyzes Pakistani Earthquake Relief in Canada’s Leading Newspaper In an op-ed in the most important Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen and Advisory Board member Husain Ha |