CRmonthly

: summer editionthe CI

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE REPUBLICANS NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the Nation’s Capitol, Class of 2015!

Conservative Perspective:

Russian Republican

Something Happens Here

The Best Party In Town

A Case For Moderation In An Increasingly Far Right Party

Say No To Pre-’67 Borders

Messages From The 2011/2012 Executive Board

2011/2012EXECUTIVE BOARD

KAITLYN MARTINChairwoman

CHRIS OMANVice Chairman

VICTOR BOGACHEVDirector of

Political Affairs

TED DOOLEYDirector of

Public Relations

AMANDA GALONEKDirector of

Membership

ANNMARIE NOLANSecretary

ELIE LITVINTreasurer

JILL REAVISDirector of Publications

SINEAD CASEYExecutive Director

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in this issue...Your 2011/2012 Executive Board

Letters From The Board

Kaitlyn Martin

Amanda Galonek

Elie Litvin

Biographies

What We Do

Conservative Perspective Victor Bogachev

Amelia Wolf

Sinead Casey

Tyler McDonald

Ben Kline

Interested in Writing?

Chairwoman Kaitlyn Martin

and other fellow conservatives

after the announcement of Osama Bin Laden’s death this past May.

CI 2011

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Letters From The E-Board

CHAIRWOMAN: Kaitlyn MartinI want to take a moment to introduce myself and thank you for expressing an interest in what I believe is the premier organization on this campus, the GW College Republicans. Long before I even stepped foot in DC, I knew I wanted to become a part of the College Republicans. In high school, I would check updates

from the College Republican’s website; exploring the potential internships that awaited me, contemplating the friends and connections I would make, and envisioning a college experience unparalleled to the experi-ences of my friends back home. Three years later, on a big campus in an even bigger city, I can confidently

say I have found my home in this organization, and I hope you will too.

I encourage you to come to some of our events, hear some of our fantastic speakers, and join in on a campaign trip or two. I guarantee you’ll meet some interesting people, engage in stimulating conversa-

tions, and have a blast in the process. In fact, many of my closest friends are people I have met through the College Republicans, and many of my fondest GW memories involve College Republican events and

campaign trips.

There are many ways to get involved, whether you decide to take an active role by running for Freshman Representative or joining a committee, or whether you simply want to pick and choose certain events to attend. As you begin your freshman year and start to navigate your way around campus, I hope you will become involved in whatever capacity you wish.Because at the end of the day, we are more than just a

student organization; we’re a group of strong individuals, young and idealistic, who seek to promote the Conservative message on campus, who work tirelessly during election season to campaign for the best and brightest leaders, and who work yearlong to ensure that our members experience a wide array of

speakers, social events, and networking opportunities. I assure you that this year’s Executive Board are among the most passionate, motivated, and intelligent individuals I have ever met.

We are excited to begin, and are looking forward to meeting each and every one of you.

Sincerely, Kaitlyn Martin

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Contact Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn@gwrepublicans.org

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP: Amanda Galonek

Hello Class of 2015,

Welcome to the GW Community! My name is Amanda Galonek and I am a junior from Sturbridge, Massachusetts majoring in Political Science in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. I am also currently the Membership Director of the College Republicans here at GW. While you may not know what my position truly entails, one of my jobs immediately

concerns you; I want to convince you to get involved in the College Republicans. As one of the largest and most promi-nent student organizations on campus, we are the main membership group for students who share the same conservative

beliefs and values. At a school with such strong political activism, we want you to !nd your niche. From events this past year such as the Congressional Dinner Series, and speakers such as potential Presidential candidate Mitch Daniels and

"Republican Revolution" leader Newt Gringrich, we have truly set ourselves apart from many other student organizations on campus. When you come to GW this summer for CI, you will have your !rst opportunity to meet our Chairwoman,

Kaitlyn Martin, Vice Chairman, Chris Oman, myself, and many other members of College Republicans Executive Board who will be participating in your CI experience with you.

A great way to get involved with the College Republicans is by applying to become a Freshman Representative. During the !rst weeks of school, Freshman Representative elections will take place. Freshman Representatives will be responsible for

representing freshman interests within the College republicans. If selected, you will be a contributing member of the College Republicans Executive Board and have the opportunity to meet the prominent political !gures brought in by the College Republicans in the upcoming year. You will be the voice of freshman Republicans, and experience student leader-ship at GW !rst hand. Further information on the Freshman Representative election will be presented to you at the begin-

ning of the school year.

In addition to the Freshman Representative position, there are also many other ways to get involved in the CRs. Positions are available for freshman to serve as assistants to the director positions and special committees. All of these positions

o"er more ways for you to get involved with the CRs here at GW. If you are interested in receiving information about information sessions and other ways you can get involved or have any questions, please do not hesitate to send an email

with your name and preferred email address at Amanda@gwrepublicans.org, look me up on Facebook, check out the website at GWrepublicans.org, or !nd me at CI. I am always happy to help. It was only a few years ago that I was in your

shoes. I know it all may seem a little overwhelming, but getting involved with the CRs during your freshman year is extremely rewarding. Again, welcome to the GW Community, I look forward to seeing you at CI!

Regards,

Amanda Galonek

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Contact Amanda: Amanda@gwrepublicans.org

TREASURER:Elie LitvinMy conservative political identity was shaped from an early age, growing up in a heavily liberal suburb just outside of

Boston, where a 25% showing for the Republican candidate is considered respectable. In many ways, having this experi-ence inspired in me that initial passion for the thrill of engaging in insurgent underdog politics. It was only natural, there-

fore, that one of the !rst things on my mind as an excited freshman was joining the GW College Republicans.

My vision in having !rst decided to run for a position on the Executive Board came from the perspective of being a “next level Republican.” This approach emphasizes inclusivity, organizational creativity, and an outside the box mentality. There is

no such thing as a stereotypical College Republican at GW, and one of the best aspects of your involvement in this great organization is that it really is what you make of it. No matter where you may !nd your calling, there are limitless opportuni-

ties awaiting you in the CR’s this fall. I am hoping to get many of you on board through the new Fundraising Committee, which will be overseeing prospective donor outreach, as well as planning for special events, such as our planned series of ‘mix and mingle’ networking galas. As the recently appointed Chairman of DC Students for Mitt Romney, I would also love your help in organizing campus support in preparation for an exciting season ahead of campaign trips to pivotal primary

states, and being the boots on the ground for the Governor in the DC area.

Most importantly, however, I can’t wait to welcome you all personally to the best party on campus! I promise that you will have a blast, and meet some amazing people when you become a card-carrying CR. And remember, the GOP at GW stands

for ‘growing our party.’

Contact Elie: Elie@gwrepublicans.org

biographiesVICE CHAIRMAN: Chris OmanChristopher Oman was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa where he attended Theodore Roosevelt High School and Central Academy. Republican politics was in his blood from the moment he was born. He grew up watching his dad as a prominent leader in the Republican Party of Iowa, including following his dad on the campaign trail when he ran for governor.

Being from the Midwest, Christopher knows the meaning of grassroots politics and hopes to use his knowledge and experience to spread the Republican message on campus. He believes the GW College Republicans can help play a decisive role in the 2011 and 2012 elections and hopes that everyone does their part to re-establish Republican control.

Christopher is a junior in the School of Business majoring in Business Economics and Public Policy. He has previously served on the Executive Board as a Freshmen Representative and Political Affairs Director. Christopher enjoys traveling, golfing, watching the Iowa Hawks and smoking cigars. 6

biographies continuedDIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ted DooleyI am from Holliston, MA, a suburb outside of Boston. My path to Conservatism is a unique one: I am a newfound Republican, and former “Kennedy” democrat. This is going to be my second year involved with the College Republicans. I love being from New England and have a deep passion for local & state politics. My hobbies include sailing, campaign-ing, and fine tobacco and cigars. In the recent past, I have worked as a Senior Strategist and Social Media Director on a Lt. Governor’s campaign in Massachusetts, and as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts State House. I am looking forward to getting involved in the few, but important state campaigns this year, and gearing up to take back both the Senate & White House in 2012!

My name is Ann Marie Nolan and I am a sophomore here at GW, as well as your College Republican E-board Secretary. I came to school in DC to pursue my long-time interest in politics, and of course joining the CRs followed shortly after. My identification with the Republican Party stems from a few simple concepts: I dislike big government policies, advocate fiscal responsibility, and emphasize the role of the free market and individual achievement.

I ran for secretary of the College Republicans for the 2011-2012 school year because I wanted to bring something new to the E-board this year. Our school has one of the best College Republican groups in the country and I wanted to help make sure that we maintain our reputation. This year I will ensure the group stays organized and transparent, as well as work with the rest of the E-board to expand on campus and keep students active. It is my goal to continue to promote the conservative message at GW.

SECRETARY: Ann Marie Nolan

WHAT WE DO

campaign trips attend local galas bring in guest speakers (Karl Rove pictured)

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the conservative perspective

Friends, for those of you wondering why I am Republican I wanted to share an article I wrote explaining that. If you have any more specific questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.

I am a Russian citizen and I am a Republican. Take a moment to soak that in. There have been very few

instances when I did not see a flare of surprise in a new acquaintance’s eyes upon revealing this information to them. I would agree that the concept of a passionate Republican from a state that only 30 years ago was

dubbed “The Empire of Evil” by one of the most influential Republican Presidents of the 20th century is almost incomprehensive.

My path to the ranks of the Grand Old Party was gradual, but linear. I came to the United States in 2002 with a belief, popular amongst the Russian population, that President George W. Bush was a warmonger, that Republi-cans were evil, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a democrat. In my nine years living in the United

States, these views have changed entirely.

At age 11, when I first stepped foot on the campus of a prestigious boarding school in Massachusetts, I was very fond of newly elected Russian President Putin and the centralized state of government that he was running in Russia. Strong central government appeared to me as a source of stability and security necessary to rule a state. Unfortunately, my views did not change voluntarily. In 2003, my family experienced first-hand the perils

of concentrated power when my father, an independent businessman, was forced to sell his company, viewed as a threat to a state-owned monopoly Gazprom.

Perplexed at the ease with which the state maneuvered the hostile takeover and the lack of checks and balances

to protect the individual rights and liberties, I found myself needing to reevaluate my political standing. At thirteen years of age, I slaved over reading and understanding the literary works that shaped today’s world, in hope that they will help me find my political ground. Wealth of Nations, On Liberty, Das Capital, Second Trea-

tise of Government, Leviathan, Prince, and countless other works suggested to me by the faculty whose advice I sought out began to shape the political views that I hold today.

I will admit, my venture into understanding political ideologies was biased. After the horrors that my family had gone through, I lost trust in the strong central government and required a more compelling argument than that of Hobbes or Machiavelli to convince me otherwise. To this day I have not found one. In my conversations with a

handful of liberal-minded friends, whose opinion I greatly respect, I have always been told, “people are incapable of making the right decisions for themselves. The influence of the press, politicians, and religion

cloud the minds of the population.” Unfortunately, they fail to realize that the only reason this country is the pinnacle of freedom and democracy in the world is precisely that it is the choice of individuals to make it so. To

quote the late President Dwight Eisenhower “ The history of free men is never really written by chance but choice; their choice!”

Ground set, the rest of my ideology began to fall into place like dominoes. The economy, one of the most

important factors of political alliance for any citizen, cannot survive with government intervention. The supply and demand of the market is precisely the freedom of choice that I began to believe was the most treasured

aspect of democracy. Any time a government chooses to arm-wrestle the invisible hand of the economy with the iron fist of federal intervention, only tragedy prevails.

It is imperative to realize that the strong economy of the United States based on the choices of the consumer is the very reason this young country has achieved greatness. The American Dream is impossible without the free

market. Success is unachievable if the government takes the very incentive to work away from the people, resulting in a state of apathy and reliance on the federal government to provide.

Public unions, minimum wages, welfare, financial regulations and central banking (federal reserve) have been the cause of almost every economic recession and depression in the history of this country. Innovation, hard

work, prosperity, and success, the trademarks of America, are the direct result of free market and liberal economics. To quote the 2008 presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, “The invisible hand of the market always

moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government.”

Russian Republican: Victor Bogachev

contd p. 9 8

Although in a perfect world no central government would be necessary, we do not live in a perfect world. Federal government is necessary, but only to protect the democracy and the civil rights and liberties of its citizens. America’s success and protection of its citizens’ economic interests are the cause of the resentment of the United States by many centralized states around the

world.

The foundation of freedom and democracy that exists in the United States is a threat to any state that undermines the rights of its citizens and a sufficient reason, in the mind of the tyrants, to destroy or weaken the United States of America. It is for

this very reason that, in my mind, one of the foremost responsibilities of the federal government is to protect its citizens from the misguided efforts of the rogue states.

My views do not end there, but expand from the beliefs outline above. Always ready to rabble of my stances on all political

issues, domestic and foreign, to do so in this article would be nearly impossible and, in my estimation, painfully boring for the reader. I do hope that you found this article informative and that it helped you understand the mind of one of the few Russian

Republicans you will get to meet in your life.

contd from p. 8

Something Happens Here: Amelia WolfWelcome Class of 2015! The George Washington University’s Chapter of the College Republicans would like to be one of the first to welcome you into the student body. As the Deputy Political Affairs Director for the CRs and a Colonial Inauguration

Staffer, I am looking forward to meeting you all at CI and during the welcome events in the fall.

I’m sure that you have all received the Admission’s Department Welcome Packet, which boasts that “Something Happens Here” at GW. GW offers a fostering environment for students to act as independent and motivated people, allowing you to achieve great things both at the university and in the surrounding DC area. As an incoming freshman, it was the vitality of the student body and their interaction with the surrounding city that attracted me to the university. GW’s location allows students to be fully immersed in DC’s political culture -- something that I experienced by being actively involved in many congressional campaigns last fall. With our proximity to the Capitol, I was able to intern with a Congressman this past

semester, and attend many rallies and political symposiums to learn more about conservatism and the Republican Party.

The most important way that I got involved in politics at GW was with the College Republicans. The GW College Republicans plays a momentous role in the formation of this campus identity by bringing great political events and opportunities to GW

students. From inviting prospective presidential candidates Tim Pawlenty and Herman Cain to speak in an open forum, coordinating the Newt Gingrich and Howard Dean debate with the College Democrats, and hosting a dinner series with

influential Congressman and Senators, the CRs has been in the forefront of the political atmosphere at GW.

Perhaps the most perfect example of student vitality here at GW was the rally outside the White House immediately following President Obama’s announcement that Osama Bin Laden had been assassinated. Hundreds of GW students ran three blocks to the White House and partied into the early hours of the morning the day before finals week began, celebrating the news.

Members of the CRs were featured in every major news source the next morning, most notably our Chairwoman Kaitlyn Martin waving the Bush/Cheney sign.

The September 11 tragedy will live on in the hearts of our generation as a defining moment in our national identity and patriotism. I can still vividly remember sitting in my elementary school classroom when another teacher rushed into the

room, turned on the television, and my class watched in horror as the second plane crashed in the Twin Towers. Our home-land breached, and with our security threatened, the attack shook our nation. The egregious loss of human life and the

threat of continued action catapulted our country into increased security and into the War on Terror.

A decade later, the assassination of Bin Laden begins to close a small chapter in America’s efforts to make the world a safer place for its citizens. It brings closure to the families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attack, and is a morale booster for

national confidence. The response of our generation here at GW and around the country is a testament to our allegiance to our country and continued interest and support of national and international politics.

As a student led event, the White House rally was just one of the many ways that GW students make things happen at GW. I encourage each and every one of you to get involved here at GW to make something happen for yourselves, and truly make GW your own. The CRs have many opportunities for all conservatives to join in the greater political conversation here at GW. Make sure to check out the College Republicans table at the Student Organization Fair on Day 2 of CI, and join in the best

party on campus.

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The Best Party In Town: Sinead CaseyI decided to go to The George Washington University for three reasons: (1) Location, it put me in the perfect position to study politics hands on, (2) SMPA is a phenomenal program. And (3) I was told it was the only

school in the country where you can sit around a keg and talk politics all night.

The above expectations manifested into a fantastic first year experience that in my opinion, was far superior than the experiences of any of my friends from back home in terms of opportunities and experiences.

Freshman year, I campaigned for Bob McDonnell throughout the fall and ended the 96-hour push at Barbra Comstock’s victory party at the home of a big Republican fundraiser with Scooter Libby, and with Mitt Romney on speakerphone. Not only did I watch Virginia and New Jersey swing, and Ted Kennedy’s seat turn red, but I was at the heart of it, on the campaign trail and making phone calls. I worked in congress. Had dinner with

congressmen Joe Wilson and Tom Price at the Congressional Dinner Series. I saw Jeb Bush, Bob Gates, Dana Perino, Mike Pence, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney and Anne Coluter speak, along with so many others that I can’t rattle them off anymore. Cocktail parties on Capital Hill became a common occurrence for me. I met Tucker

Carlson as he was leaving an event and he gave me his personal email, when I asked about the Daily Caller. Only at GW! (And ONLY when you’re a GW College Republican, the Democrats don’t do nearly as much!).

As Director of Public Relations, last year I was able to apply what I was learning in the classroom to improve the organization I fell in love with the previous year. Congressional Quarterly, CNN, The Washington Post,

CSPAN, ABC News, and the National Review covered our events and asked for our organizations opinions on pressing national issues. The team GW CRs sent to Florida to campaign for Governor Rick Scott was responsible for executing the victory in Lee County and we celebrated with the entire Rick Scott Team at the official Victory

party as the House took back America.

I met Karl Rove, Pat Buchanan, Bob McDonnell and Newt Gingrich, but more importantly I met really awesome fellow Republicans who I know will be the ones standing by my side as we lead the Republican Party into its next

phase. The GW Conservative community is diverse, ambitious, and proud. You can’t put the GW Conservative into a neat little box. Get to know our members and your stereotypical preconceptions will probably be shat-

tered.

Some members of the College Republicans wear vineyard vines others get their noses pierced. Most are Ameri-can but some hail from Russia, Britain, Bosnia, Qutar, and France. Some are Army brats. Some are gay. Some have trust funds others have scholarships. There are members who are pro-life & pro-choice. There are Jews,

Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics.

But no matter where you come from, how you dress, how much your parents make, or how you identify yourself, College Republicans at GW come together around the core values of limited government, strong national

defense and fiscal responsibility.

If you’re looking for the (future) party of old white men, you won’t find it with GW’s CRs.

If you’re looking for the “party of no,” you won’t find it here either.

The College Republicans at GW offer real solutions to the greatest problems facing our county and global community today, routed in the core values that built an exceptional America.

While some of us want to change the world, be elected President or be the next Karl Rove, many of us just love America and stand by the principals that made her great.

You may not be into this whole politics thing just yet, just because you chose GW doesn’t make you one of those ambitious-know-it-all-polisci majors (I say this with much love, being that I am one of those poli-sci

majors), you may have no idea what cap-and-trade is let alone where you stand on it, so I invite you to come to our debates with the CDs, hear what our speakers have to say, and be open to our Conservative message.

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contd on p. 11

And for all of you die hard, red blooded, Reagan Conservatives, with your NRA memberships, Romney posters, McCain-Palin t-shirts that your still wear proudly along with your EPIC FAIL bumper stickers, there is a strong and welcoming safe haven for

you on this liberal campus. We have campaign trips, speakers, membership events, and internship opportunities waiting for you in the fall!

This is our join or die moment. We are not the leaders of tomorrow, when we have the opportunity to be the leaders of today and your revolution starts the second you step foot on this campus. You have the chance to change our party and our nation for the better. The 2010 elections meant more then just a transfer of power or a flipping of the house. It was a referendum on the

direction of country, join us and you can be at the heart of counting it in 2012. After all, we are the best party in town.

contd from p. 10

A Case For Moderation In An Increasingly Far Right Party: Tyler McDonald

Where have the moderate republicans gone? The GOP has been moving farther to right as of lately and it has skewed our party’s mindset particularly with the upcoming primaries. While I am a proud conservative, I realize moderation is the key to effective leadership and effective policies. With the party moving away from the center, we are only alienating the more moderate republicans and virtually all of the Independents. The 2012 presidential election is going to be a tough fight for the GOP. While it is winnable, in my opinion, it is only winnable with the right candidate and in 2012 it will need

to be a moderate.

Many people on the right demonize the Democratic Party for becoming too liberal and more extreme, so we cannot expect to combat their extremism with extremism of our own. We need to present a moderate candidate that can stand

up to the Obama administration and counter them with common sense and practical policies/stances. Trying to win with a too conservative platform will only lead to the re-election of Barack Obama.

This is not a new phenomenon that moderation wins general elections. However, the Republican Party’s shift right is making it impossible for us to nominate a quality moderate candidate. Instead, social conservatives and evangelicals control the beginning of the primary season and will make or break the candidates. These hopeful candidates have

realized this fact and have positioned themselves accordingly. The most prominent case is that of, will she or won’t she run, Sarah Palin, who I respect greatly. When she was Governor of Alaska, she ran as and governed as a moderate. She reformed Alaskan politics and took down the good old’ boys. Now, she is perceived as a conservative extremist and has unfortunately damaged her credibility with her new found and often extreme rhetoric. She might be the darling of the

Tea Party, but that will not win the White House in 2012.

Our candidates who have been moderates have been bashed for doing so. Mitt Romney and his healthcare bill is now a liability for him in the primaries, though he is the only one who polls, consistently, within reach of defeating Obama.

Another possible candidate, Jon Huntsman must now convince people he is not “buddies” with Obama due to his role as Ambassador to China during the administration. No one should have to explain why they served our country, especially in one of the most vital positions in foreign policy. But now the question has become, “is he conservative enough?” I find it absurd to question the credentials of a proven leader and Republican who has served as a Governor, two-time Ambassa-dor, China and Singapore, and is the former deputy US Trade Representative. Romney and Huntsman are proven leaders who can take down Obama, but they both face a tough uphill battle just to get through the primary season. They will try to rebrand themselves as more conservative and distance themselves from effective policies they implemented in fear of losing more conservative voters. This rebranding will do harm in the general election and if they go too far they will lose

any chance they have at winning the election.

It is our task to realize the harm we are causing to the future of the Republican Party and correct it before it is too late. Do not misinterpret my stance, I support conservatives and believe we should embrace even the most extreme support-

ers. However, they are not the support or votes we should be concerned with in elections. Our focus should be on the moderates and the Independents. They are the people who decide the elections. The more conservative people will still support us (let’s be honest, the more conservative and more extreme members will not vote for Obama). With this, we

should realize that we need to build solid support in the middle and secure the moderates within our party and to start fighting for the independents, who will be crucial in this certainly tough presidential election.

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Say No To Pre-’67 Borders: Ben KlineRecently, President Barack Obama has suggested that Israel’s quintessential move in working towards a peace-treaty would be to surren-der the territories which were absorbed during the 1967 war between Israel and its neighbors. This war is also known as the Six-Day War. The territories being negotiated are the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The Sinai Peninsula was originally an additional

territory, but Israel withdrew in accord with the 1979 peace-treaty.

In 1967, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan mobilized troops on their respective Israeli boarders. With the help of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, these countries threatened Israel’s prosperity, longevity, and

most importantly, safety. The war ended just six days following its commencement, as Israel prevailed in defending itself. Now, in 2011, the President of the United States asks for Israel to become a smaller country and risk the safety of its boarders and people.

The Golan Heights, to start, is part of a mountain range in northern Israel, southwest Syria. It was used as the base ground for air raids on northern Israel during the Six-Day War. Under Israel’s control, it is used as a bu!er-zone between itself and Syria. Although

beautiful, a portion of the land is restricted due to mine"elds. It has a greater number in tourist visitors than population, as it is simply used as farmland, and as a space between the two countries.

The West Bank, taken from Jordan, has more at stake because of its inclusion of east Jerusalem. Jerusalem, a holy city for Christians, Muslims, and Jews, is divided by the original boarder. Israel once o!ered close to 98% of Jerusalem in a potential peace treaty,

but was told that that was not enough for the Palestinian representatives present. This land holds both Israeli and Palestinian settlements. Israeli settlers are constantly at risk, yet they deem it too important to leave. Families, even as of recent, have been slain and travelers have

been attacked. It is the biggest of the three territories on hand.

The Gaza Strip, a breeding ground for hate, terror, and most infamously, missiles, is the third territory discussed. Israel withdrew from this small portion of land during the summer of 2005, forcefully dragging its own people out of their homes if they did not comply.

Since then, thousands of rockets have been "red, Israeli cities destroyed, and lives lost due to the weaponry generated and launched from its grounds.

Why do we not want to give these lands back? With the current administration of Bashar-al Assad in Syria, Hezbollah rule in the West Bank and connection with Lebanon, and Hamas power in Gaza, Israel will be in grave danger. The surrender of the Sinai Peninsula

lead to peace between Egypt and Israel, and while no troops were allowed in this land, weapons were moved throughout tunnels between Sinai and Gaza, Furthermore, Israel still allowed Egypt to mobilize troops during the recent Egyptian riots, a gesture for the safety

of Egypt. Gaza and the West Bank, on the other hand, have not shown signs of yearning for peace. Israel has su!ered from the violence spawned from these territories, and to give them back to full control by their original owners would only lead to Israel’s demise. The Golan

Heights would allow Syria, and partnering Iran, to "re rockets further into Israel. With rockets that can nearly reach Tel Aviv, one of the densest cities in the country, closer boarders would guarantee the missiles better range, and the Israelis more fear.

These lands would not be harvested. They would not be turned into productive working lands with families and schools and hospitals. They would be used as "ring grounds, as training terrain, and as an attempt to etch away at Israel’s existence. Like we saw in

Gaza, or the West Bank, the violence did not stop when Israel surrendered, it only got worse. The Golan Heights would not be convertible to any more productive than it is today, because of the various mine"elds and rigorous, mountainous landscape. These territories need to

be kept in Israel’s control, as they act as tools to Israel’s resilience.

President Obama, one who refused to photograph with the Israeli Prime Minister, one who would not let the Israeli Prime Minister be treated in the same ceremonial ways as other world leaders have as he visited the White House, is the same one to ask Israel to give up land. If the President only recognized what has happened the previous times Israel decided to lessen their sovereignty and allow

a second party to rule, he would not be asking such a task. He is being ignorant to Israel’s safety needs. President Obama went on to speak at the American Israel Public A!airs Committee Conference just after this initial request. His con"dence is still there, but his

common sense is not.

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Interested in Writing for the CR Monthly? Contact Jill Reavis at Jill@gwrepublicans.org