As longtime readers of the Action Update know, there's so much going
in Washington during any given week that we generally avoid devoting an
Update to one singular subject, let alone one singular individual. But
this week, we're deviating from our traditional approach and devoting
the entire Update to the nomination of Colin Kahl to serve as President
Biden's nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the
Department of Defense. Below we offer a non-comprehensive overview of
Kahl's positions on issues of import to the CUFI Action Fund. Though
it would take thousands of words to fully address Kahl's track record,
just the elements included below should make clear that Colin Kahl's
nomination should be withdrawn or defeated.

**Colin Kahl is Anti-Israel**

In 2012, Kahl led the charge to try and remove recognition of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel from the Democratic Party platform. Four years
later, he was instrumental in the Obama administration's break from
seven decades of US policy when the President allowed a vehemently
anti-Israel UN Security Council resolution to pass without American
objection. Though the US abstained from the vote on the resolution,
Kahl's efforts went so far as to include lobbying Ukraine to support
the anti-Israel resolution.

Kahl's anti-Israel animus is deep. He is very close to the anti-Israel
Ploughshares Fund which consistently supports organizations who seek to
demonize Israel and whitewash the Iranian regime. In fact, for Kahl,
Israel can do no right. For example, he has even gone so far as to
express his view opposing Israel's strike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear
reactor in 1981 - a view so illogical and so far outside the
mainstream that in-and-of-itself should be disqualifying. 

**Colin Kahl is Pro-Ayatollah**

Predictably, Kahl supported and worked to advance the disastrous 2015
Iran nuclear agreement, but his support for the Islamic Republic
doesn't end there. Kahl is close to the National Iranian American
Council, which for all intents and purposes is Tehran's mouthpiece in
Washington. Kahl believes that Iran has a right to enrich uranium and
has defended his Iran appeasement by claiming - without any evidence
- that even if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon the radical
Islamist regime would not use such a weapon nor provide it to terrorist
organizations like Hezbollah.

During his time with the Obama administration, Kahl advocated in support
of a meeting between the President of the United States and the
President of Iran. All the while Iran held American hostages and was
responsible for the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq. He also praised
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his "heroic
flexibility." Apparently, appeasement is not enough for Mr. Kahl; he
is committed to legitimizing the world's leading sponsor of terrorism
and one of the most brutal regimes on the planet.

**Colin Kahl Should Not Be Confirmed by the Senate**

Christians United for Israel has made clear that any agreement with Iran
must have the strength and duration to have a real impact and must
address not only Iran's nuclear program but it's missile program,
support for terror, and human rights abuses. Mr. Kahl seems unbothered
by all of the above. He places far more emphasis on supporting the
tyrants of Tehran than America's closest ally in the Middle East:
Israel.

We oppose those who want an agreement with Iran for an agreement's
sake - particularly when such an agreement would lead to a legitimized
Iranian nuclear program. We feel they are misguided. But Mr. Kahl's
approach goes beyond simple appeasement. He seems perfectly comfortable
with a nuclear armed Iran. He is perfectly comfortable making common
cause with dictators and anti-Semites. And placing him in charge of
policy for the Department of Defense will make our country and our
allies considerably less safe.

We have commended President Biden for his calls to unify the country. We
welcome his stated position that an agreement with Iran should be longer
and stronger than the 2015 deal. And we are not afraid of spirited, good
faith policy debates. But Colin Kahl's record is beyond the pale. His
positions contradict Biden's own statements. His attitude towards
Israel indicates a complete disdain for the Jewish state. And his
attitude towards Iran shows that he lacks the judgement necessary to
hold any position of influence in Washington.

The CUFI Action Fund will oppose Kahl's nomination. And every Senator
concerned with America's standing in the world, our national security
interests in the Middle East, and Israel's safety and security should
do so as well.

Sincerely,

CUFI Action Fund Team

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