January 2019
We started the year off on a sad note. AMCD founding board member, David Lazar passed away. We continue to miss his wise counsel. No doubt he would not have approved of how Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s intemperate words and actions.
AMCD supported President Trump’s goals in Syria, and opposed the move to replace the House subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade with one devoted to full-time investigation of the President. We now know how that has worked out.
AMCD co-chair, Tom Harb, debated illegal immigration on France 24 and AMCD board member Ashley Ansara defended the President’s Syria policy on al-Hadath.
AMCD advisor Dr. Walid Phares unveiled his peace plan for northern Syria.
AMCD published an open letter urging a pivot on Sudan to foster freedom, justice and democracy.
AMCD advisor, Dr. Walid Phares met with a Polish delegation led by Minister Beata Kempa and Ambassador Piotr Wilczek. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss US and European policies that support and protect persecuted Christians and other minorities in the Greater Middle East.
AMCD advisor Kenneth Timmerman wrote an article decrying the Islamic Republic of Iran’s assassination squads which have murdered more than 200 dissidents in Europe and we published a request from the United Action Group for the inclusion of the Iranian secular democratic oppositional forces in the Warsaw Global Conference on Middle East.
Also beginning in January, AMCD lobbied very hard to have a Nowruz celebration at the White House.
February 2019
AMCD began the month urging support for a free and democratic Venezuela. Then we condemned Lebanese PM Saad al-Hariri for loading his cabinet with Hezbollah allies.
Dr. Walid Phares critiqued the conference in Warsaw on the Middle East, then he met with a Swedish delegation and the head of the Apostolic Nunciature, Monsignor Walter Erbi, for the National Prayer Breakfast. After Nikki Haley resigned as UN Ambassador, Dr. Phares’ name was put forward and AMCD endorsed him for the appointment.
AMCD condemned Ilhan Omar’s continued display of antisemitism.
AMCD in partnership with the World Council of the Cedars Revolution condemned the leaders in Venezuela who are linked to Hezbollah and we called on the Middle Eastern community throughout the hemisphere to support Juan Guaidó.
March 2019
AMCD advisor Dr. Walid Phares met with a delegation from Poland to discuss the Warsaw Conference.
Happy Nowruz! We celebrated at the State Department.
Back to fighting CAIR – AMCD defended two young professionals from smear attacks by this front group for the Muslim Brotherhood.
AMCD advisor Dr. Walid Phares presented his assessment and strategy for Lebanon and AMCD praised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his strong speech in Beirut and we urged him to engage more with the Lebanese ex-pat community here in the USA.