American Jewish Committee Commends National Commission on Terrorism

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 5 June 2000

American Jewish Committee President Bruce M. Ramer today commended the National Commission on Terrorism for "presenting a broad and multifaceted response to the global and domestic threats of terrorism" in its final report.

Mr. Ramer praised the Commission for its identification of priorities in developing an effective counterterrorism policy, and in singling out the danger posed by Iran to the United States and other nations.

The full text of Mr. Ramer's statement follows:

"The American Jewish Committee commends the National Commission on Terrorism on its final report. The Commission examined a vast body of information and presented a broad and multifaceted response to the global and domestic threats of terrorism, an approach the American Jewish Committee has consistently advocated.

"In responding to the complex challenges posed in developing an effective counterterrorism policy, the Commission properly addressed the tension between the enforcement of effective counterterrorism measures and the protection of essential civil liberties. Indeed, this aspect of the Commission's work is likely to be among the more controversial; fundamental American values of due process must be preserved even as we institute vigorous measures against terrorism.

"We agree with the Commission's identification of priorities: the need to remain steadfast in discouraging all state support of terrorism, to cut off fund-raising within the United States that supports terrorists, to maintain procedures that allow the use of classified information in proceedings to expel alleged terrorists while safeguarding due process, and to adequately prepare for a possible catastrophic terrorist attack.

"Singling out the danger posed by Iran to the United States and other nations is particularly important. Iran's continuing aggressive programs to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them – examined in the recent AJC study Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction – is one aspect of the Commission's report that merits the widest dissemination.

"Given the size of the report and the complex challenges to which it responds, we look forward to further study of the document and to discussing our views with members of Congress and of the Administration."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org