An Update from CUFI Action Fund
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This week, the United States lost an American patriot who devoted his
life to the service of his nation. Further down, we discuss certain
policy items we feel our readers should be aware of, but first, let us
take a moment to honor the late General Colin Powell.

An American Patriot

On Monday, Gen. Powell passed away at age 84. From the moment he entered
his college's ROTC, Gen. Powell served his country with distinction
and honor. He was a Vietnam veteran, twice wounded in that conflict. He
served as the National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and Secretary of State. As a result of his guidance, the US was
successful in liberating Kuwait from Iraq during the first Gulf War.

Gen. Powell was well liked in Israel. He spoke Yiddish, which his Jewish
audiences always appreciated. And he never hid his respect and affinity
for the IDF, once noting, "I came to know and admire fellow soldiers
in the Israel Defense Forces. I came to understand the commitment of
blood we had with Israel.... I marvel at the professionalism and
successes of the Israel Defense Forces."

Lebanon on the Brink (Again)

Last week, Hezbollah rallied its members to march in the streets calling
for the judge investigating the Beirut port blast to be removed. The
Iran-backed terrorist army does not want the people of Lebanon to know
the truth behind that tragedy. Reports indicate Christians began to feel
threatened by the protestors, shots were fired, and six people were
killed. Calm has been restored for the moment, but another skirmish
could flare up at any time.

The CUFI Action Fund has warned repeatedly of the importance of
leveraging US aid to the Lebanese to ensure that Hezbollah is weakened.
Yet the US refuses to do so and as a result the terrorists grow
stronger. Hezbollah is the most powerful military force in Lebanon, and
as such, one of three things will now happen.

The first scenario is one in which the Lebanese Christians and Sunni
leaders stand up to Hezbollah and move the investigation forward, in
which case an even more significant conflict could break out. Second,
the Lebanese leaders will capitulate to Hezbollah's demands, likely
resulting in street protests, in which case more violence is also
likely. Finally, the Lebanese leaders could bow to Hezbollah's
demands, things calm down for the moment, and Hezbollah is emboldened,
in which case much more significant violence will take place down the
road.

The US has a vital role to play here. The Biden administration must
insist that the investigation move forward unfettered, or the US will
pull its aid - all of it. Short term stability that enables
Hezbollah's ever-increasing stranglehold on Lebanon and ensures even
more significant violence tomorrow can no longer be the policy of the
United States.

Iran Buying Time (Again)

For a while now, diplomacy with Iran has gone something like this: Iran
has moved its nuclear program forward, the US and EU-3 issue strong
statements and demand a return to the negotiating table. Iran then
demands preconditions to negotiations, the West largely balks, but they
all agree to meet down the line. Either those negotiations go nowhere,
or they don't happen. And then Iran starts the charade all over again
by announcing/getting caught advancing its nuclear weapons program.
Rinse, repeat.

Occasionally, someone tries to make something of an upcoming meeting or
announcement implying that somehow the above cycle will be broken. This
week, it's the announcement that the head of the IAEA is headed to
Washington. It won't make a difference. The administration either
takes the Iranian threat seriously enough to change Iran's view that
the US is a paper tiger or we continue along the current trajectory.
It's that simple.

As always, we are grateful to each-and-every one of you for taking the
time to review our weekly Update, and we'll be back next week to
ensure all of our readers have access to the most up-to-date analysis on
issues relevant to the Middle East and the US-Israel relationship.

Sincerely,

CUFI Action Fund Team

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