1000 баксов за месяц: MEF Dispatch: In-Depth on USAID $$$ to Terrorist-Supporting Organizations, and Decoding Developments in Syria

воскресенье, 16 марта 2025 г.

More on USAID $$$ to Terrorist-Supporting Organizations, Time to Deal with Iran, and Decoding Developments in Syria

By Winfield Myers ● Mar 16, 2025

Smart Brevity^® count: 6.5 mins...1747 words

Gregg Roman's new Commentary article on how USAID supported terrorist-abetting organizations—and what should be done to ensure it never happens again—leads this issue. We next delve into the declaration of a ceasefire by the PKK's leader, imprisoned in Turkey since 1999. In an article from the new Middle East Quarterly, we argue that it's time for a joint U.S.-Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear assets. Analyses of recent developments in Syria occupy most of the rest of the issue, as the new rulers in Damascus try to solidify their control—a tall order given their shortcomings—and show themselves to be Islamists to the core.

ICYMI: March 12, 2025 - Israel Insider with Ashley Perry

Will the Trump Administration's attempts at negotiation with Iran and Hamas hamper Israel's potential military actions against these enemies?

Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum's Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Ministers of Intelligence, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy, Water and Infrastructure, Defense, Tourism, Internal Security, and Immigrant Absorption and as an advisor to The Negev Forum. Originally from the U.K., he moved to Israel in 2001. He holds a B.A. from University College London and an M.A. from Reichman University (IDC Herzliya).

To watch the full podcast, click here.

How American Aid Has Subsidized Terror

The Middle East Forum's research has identified approximately $164 million in USAID and State Department grants flowing to organizations with extremist ties, with at least $122 million directly benefi...

By: Gregg Roman

America's foreign aid—meant to uplift those in need overseas—has instead empowered extremists who despise the U.S.

Why it matters: Over the years, taxpayer dollars have reportedly funded groups that praise, coordinate with, or even serve as adjuncts to Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda offshoots. That is not rumor.

The Middle East Forum's research has identified approximately $164 million in USAID and State Department grants flowing to organizations with extremist ties, with at least $122 million directly benefiting groups aligned with designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Driving the news: Evidence brought by MEF before the House Oversight Subcommittee reveals how USAID has been misused to finance anti-American militancy.

Entrenched bureaucrats within USAID and prior administrations have created a labyrinth of sub-grants and sub-sub-grants through which money flows nearly unchecked.

The stakes: If private citizens or organizations knowingly funded terror groups, they would face prosecution. However, bureaucrats or NGO executives evade accountability by invoking humanitarian intentions.

Our nation's credibility and the safety of its citizens are at stake. This is a clarion call for systemic overhaul and accountability.

Next steps: Implementing stringent audits and creating a "Do Not Fund" list of extremist-linked organizations can re-route aid to its rightful purpose: fostering global peace and stability.

To read the full article, click here.

NEWS: South Africa's Terror-Linked Ambassador Booted from Washington Following MEF Report

Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's ambassador to the United States, has been declared persona non grata and expelled by Secretary of State Marco Rubio following warnings from the Middle East Forum (MEF) about his ties to extremist groups. Rubio called Rasool a "race-baiting politician" who "hates America and [President Donald Trump]," emphasizing that the U.S. has nothing to discuss with him. Rasool had already faced isolation in Washington, struggling to secure meetings with State Department officials and key Republicans after Trump took office.

MEF first exposed Rasool's extremist ties in December 2024, detailing his connections with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and American Islamist groups under federal investigation. Rasool was accepted as ambassador by President Joe Biden in the final days of his administration and previously played a role in persuading the International Court of Justice to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza. MEF briefed policymakers on his record, prompting Capitol Hill staffers to blacklist him. MEF leaders praised the Trump administration's decision to expel Rasool, stating that the U.S. should not be a "playground for diplomats who cozy up to foreign adversaries."

To read the full press release, click here.

Somaliland's Abaarso Network Should Be the New Model for USAID

Children carry school supplies in Somaliland. Shutterstock

By: Michael Rubin

There is no doubt that waste, fraud, and abuse permeate the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Why it matters: USAID's disbursement of over $100 million to terrorists raises issues of criminal negligence, jeopardizing U.S. national security.

Such reckless oversight can have dire consequences, potentially funding groups hostile to American interests.

Driving the news: Former USAID Administrator Samantha Power began her career writing about the unwillingness of U.S. officials to tackle genocide.

Yet under her tenure, USAID provided moral cover for questionable initiatives, enabling funding to entities with extremist ties.

The bottom line: As to whether it is possible for USAID to give grants where benefits to peace, security, and U.S. national interest are clear and quantifiable, Somaliland's Abaarso Network may be a marquee example.

Every dollar USAID spent in Somaliland obviated the need for security assistance, let alone intervention.
What works in Somaliland does not need to stay in Somaliland.

To read the full article, click here.

What Does the PKK Ceasefire Declaration Mean for Turkey, Syria, and the Kurds?

The declaration last week by imprisoned PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) leader Abdullah Ocalan of a ceasefire in his movement's long insurgency against Turkey is a significant moment. Flags with Ocalan on...

By: Jonathan Spyer

The declaration by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan of a ceasefire against Turkey marks a significant moment in the region's strategic landscape.

Why it matters: Nevertheless, this move doesn't signal the end of the PKK-Turkey conflict but opens the door to renewed diplomacy.

The ceasefire was declared amid Turkey's effective drone warfare, which has limited PKK's military capabilities.

The regional angle: The ceasefire is seen as a strategic maneuver by Turkey to link the PKK's fate with the SDF in Syria.

Gen. Mazloum Abdi emphasized the ceasefire's irrelevance to the SDF, highlighting the ongoing U.S. alliance with Kurdish forces in Syria.

What's next: Turkey may use this ceasefire to isolate the SDF and push for disarmament, potentially destabilizing the region further.

A Kurdish analyst says that "Syrian Kurds are not going to lay down their arms and surrender to Turkey. The goal of Turkey is the destruction of the Syrian Kurdish region."
The diplomatic process could be a part of a larger strategy to weaken Kurdish resistance, posing risks to regional stability.

To read the full article, click here.

Time to Take the Iranian Nuclear Bull by the Horns

By: Colin M. Winston

Iran's nuclear program is on the brink, with Tehran nearing the capability to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for multiple nuclear bombs.

Why it matters: This development poses a significant threat to regional stability and international security, pressing Jerusalem and Washington to consider decisive military action.

The urgency to act arises from Iran's increased uranium enrichment and the possibility of a "breakout" that intelligence may not catch in time.

The big picture: Iran's "axis of resistance" has crumbled, leaving Tehran desperate to bolster its deterrence capabilities through nuclear advancement.

Proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas are weakened, its missile capabilities have been largely diminished, and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria further isolates Iran, pushing it towards nuclear armament as a means of deterrence.

What's next: The U.S. and Israel face a critical decision to neutralize Iran's nuclear threat through coordinated military action.

The potential for a joint strike is bolstered by the recent dismantling of Iran's air defenses, enhancing the prospects of successful intervention.
A collaborative military effort could effectively target underground facilities, crippling Iran's nuclear aspirations.

Final thoughts: The window to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is closing fast. The strategic environment is ripe for action, but delays could empower Tehran's nuclear ambitions, altering the balance of power in the region.

To read the full essay in the Spring 2025 issue of Middle East Quarterly, click here.

Syria's Temporary Constitution Ensures an Islamist Sunni State

Thousands of Syrians celebrated their liberation from Bashar al-Assad's government in January 2025. Shutterstock

By: Loqman Radpey

Three months after toppling Assad, Syria's Islamist interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that marginalizes minorities.

Why it matters: The new constitution mirrors the old regime's policies, risking further chaos and undermining Syria's territorial integrity.

It enforces Islamic jurisprudence as the main legislative source, contradicting principles of democracy and pluralism.

What they're saying: The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council calls it a "direct threat" to Syria's future and a return to authoritarianism.

The constitution disregards minority rights, reinforcing sectarian rule and sidelining non-Arab identities.

The bottom line: Al-Sharaa's regime, while rebranded for international optics, remains unchanged at its core, drawing skepticism from Europe and Israel.

Syria risks becoming a Sunni version of Iran's Islamic Republic or Turkey's ethnocentric and increasingly theocratic model, albeit with a Western-friendly facade.
Israel will likely not tolerate the emergence of a Sunni Islamist regime —particularly one with ideological roots in Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State— on its doorstep.

To read the full article, click here.

Islamic State Editorial on Syria's Minorities and the Coastal Events

The Islamic State has seized on recent media coverage to comment on events along Syria's coast, the status of Syria's minorities in general, and the new government's position towards them. ISIS flag ...

By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

In response to recent media coverage of Syria focusing on attacks by Alawite insurgents on the new Syrian government and the mobilization of forces towards the Syrian coast, Islamic State (IS) has issued an editorial, translated by MEF fellow Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.

Why it matters: In summary, the IS editorial emphasizes that Islam does not divide people into majorities and minorities, but rather according to whether they are disbelievers or believers.

The interim constitution marginalizes minorities, favoring a Sunni Islamist agenda.

The Islamic State's perspective: Islamic State condemns the new regime's approach to Alawites, viewing them as an "apostate" sect and criticizes the conciliatory approach.

They argue that the new government continues to obstruct the rule of Islam, favoring nationalism instead.

The bottom line: The editorial also attacks the supposed inconsistency of the new government and its supporters in concluding an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) when the SDF was previously attacked as being a proxy for America.