NORPAC Presents A Night With Senator Dan Coats: A Determined Supporter Of Israel

Local News

Written by Michele Justic

Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:44

On September 10, 2001, after serving as a Congressman and Senator for almost two decades, Dan Coats took on a new role as U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. As anyone beginning a new job would do, he asked the advice of an expert, Ernst Cramer. Cramer had survived the beginning of the Holocaust, emigrated to the United States, and then volunteered to serve in World War II to liberate the same camps he had originally come from. The Ambassador and his friend had a detailed conversation in which Cramer warned Coats about the most difficult issue of the new millennium: the rise of radical Muslim extremism. When the phone call ended, Coatsâ€™s staff advised him to turn on the news. Coats was stunned to see Cramerâ€™s prediction coming to fruition so quickly and tragically right before his eyes. It made an indelible imprint on him.

Coats worked quickly to engage the German government and successfully got German Chancellor Angela Merkel on board for the United Statesâ€™ retaliatory military plans against Iraq. Clearly, Coats can be seen as a model for tough, determined, intelligent diplomacy. He feels this sort of decisive and effective political maneuvering is lacking in the current government and he is running for the Senate in Indiana in the hopes of saving the United States from falling into an abyss of inaction.

On Wednesday, July 21, NORPAC, the National Organization for Political Action, sponsored an event for Senator Coats (R-IN) at the home of Avram and Tammy Schreiber in Lawrence. NORPAC seeks to help educate and elect members of Congress who demonstrate a genuine commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship. All in attendance could feel Coatsâ€™s passion as he referred to Israel as a â€œsoulmateâ€ of the United States whose relations should be â€œbeyond politics.â€

Coats goes beyond political lines himself. While considered a highly respected member of the Republican Party, Coats works closely with Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman since the two formed a tight friendship travelling to Iraq and Kuwait together as part of the Armed Services Committee. Coats described sitting next to Lieberman on this long, arduous flight and feeling camaraderie towards him as both woke early, lifted the shades to the plane, and said â€œtheir morning devotions.â€ In the Senate, Coats joined with Senator Lieberman (a Democrat at the time) in advocating and authorizing a number of defense reform and transformation initiatives. He co-chaired the Center for Jewish and Christian Values, with Senator Lieberman, as well.

Regarding the most pressing issue of our timesâ€”battling Islamic fundamentalism, most particularly in increasingly militarized Iranâ€”Coats has been working with Chuck Robb, a former Democratic senator from Virginia, and Chuck Wald, a retired general and air commander in Operation Enduring Freedom, to author bipartisan reports on Iran, including, â€œMeeting the Challenge: Time is Running Out.â€ The reports detail how the world must stop accepting â€œthe unacceptable.â€ The situation has deteriorated to a point of mutually assured destruction with Iran continuing to advance its nuclear technology as well as sending weapons to terrorist groups.

Coats feels he is being drawn back into the political arena to fight the good fight and prevent a nuclear war with the whole world serving as the battlefield. This sort of passion doesnâ€™t come from a teleprompter. It comes from the heart.

Of course, the Iranian issue is also representative of the U.S. relationship to Israel which is what brought Coats to speak at the NORPAC delegation of 1,100 members as well as at the packed audience last Wednesday. Senator Coats noted the deteriorating relationship with Israel as witnessed through the various miscommunications and retractions and even by the stiff body language of the two heads of state. He understands the underlying goal of Palestinians is our destruction, and that they use the political system to achieve that. He notes that the dangers of extremist Muslim activism are greater than ever since what was once in their minds is now in their capabilities. He wrote in his position paper, â€œThe United States has no better friend at a time of crisis, at a time of pressure, at a time of need than the nation of Israel.â€

As Dr. Ben Chouake, President of NORPAC, pointed out, â€œIt isnâ€™t easy leaving your family to fly from Indiana to New York to make these sort of appearances. Yet, Senator Coats does it because of his deep commitment.â€ Dr. Chouakeâ€™s commitment can also be witnessed in countless ways, most recently by personally picking up Senator Coats from the airport and taking him out for a kosher dinner before the event. The event chairs, Avram and Tammy Schreiber and Stanley and Trudy Stern, all worked hard to ensure an informative and successful night. The eventâ€™s cochairs included Dr. Ben Chouake, Murray and Frimit Forman, Mark Hastin, Ben and Beth Heller, Jason and Jessica Muss, and Joshua and Harriet Muss.

To contribute to Senator Coatsâ€™ campaign, or get more involved in NORPAC, please contact Karen Pichkhadze, Executive Director, at karen@norpac.net or 201-788-5133 or Trudy Stern at 516-361-3615.