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August 29, 2003/Elul 1 5763, Vol. 55, No. 53
Pipes appointed to panel
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Jewish and Arab leaders say the appointment of Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes to a federal think tank - despite the objections of Arab groups and some congressional Democrats - offers a window into White House policy on Middle East issues.
President Bush's Aug. 22 appointment of Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, to the board of directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace comes after Arab American and Muslim groups waged a strong battle against his Senate confirmation. They called Pipes an "Islamaphobe" who made bigoted comments against Arabs and Muslims.
The USIP was founded by Congress in 1984 to create programs and fellowships that foster peace and non-violent conflict resolution. The organization frequently sponsors lectures in Washington on international conflicts. Its board is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Jewish groups were gearing up to back Pipes in the Senate, saying they rely on his insight and scholarship on militant Islam. In the end, however, no heavy lifting was required.
Instead, Bush placed Pipes on the board through a recess appointment, allowing him to serve without confirmation until the end of the congressional term in January 2005.
Jewish leaders say the move shows the White House's commitment to combating the threat radical Islam poses to the United States and its allies. Pipes had warned of the danger of militant Islam long before Sept. 11, and criticized many scholars in his field who he said had become apologists for Islamic militancy.
Arab leaders, however, say the appointment shows that some White House officials hold the same "right wing" views on Middle East issues as Pipes.
Pipes was nominated for the post in April but his confirmation was postponed last month by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee after several lawmakers, including Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), voiced opposition to it.
Pipes said he was told the White House decided to use a recess appointment because of its eagerness to fill the institute's board, not because of concerns over Pipes' ultimate confirmation.
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