to your attention some recent activities and attendees of the most recent Hagee/CUFI event in DC, and how political this really is:
What a ‘Night to Honor Israel! The beginning of this week’s CUFI Washington/Israel summit.
There were more 3,400 charismatic Christians and Baptists, dancing in the aisles, cheering all the speakers, singing both the US National anthem and Hatikva in Hebrew with the Cornerstone Church singers and orchestra playing stirring Israeli songs, waving Jerusalem, Israeli and American flags. It was stupendous...The CUFI gathering was an amazing organizational effort and tribute to Pastor John Hagee, his wife Diana and Pastor Matthew Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio Texas, Jim Hutchens, Gary Bauer, Stephen Borg, executive director, a Jew and many others.
~snip~
Hagee and more than 400 Christian leaders had gathered in Washington on February 7, 2006 to announce what many call the ‘Christian AIPAC’ ...
~snip~
Hagee read greetings from President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert. Bush commented: “G_d bless and stand by the people of Israel and G_d bless the United States.”
Olmert’s letter referred to the CUFI groups “bold stand at this crisis time,” and the group’s acknowledgement of Israel’s biblical ‘birthright’.
The brilliant array of speakers at the CUFI dinner cut a board ecumenical swath across the political landscape in Washington. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon –a former IDF armored force Captain and diplomat spoke and brought greetings and recognition of friendship to the assembled CUFI delegates. Later former IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe ‘Bogie Ya’alon would speak of Israel’s abiding friendship with America and the Christian community support for its defense and positions against disengagement.
U.S. Senators, Sam Brownback, Rick Santorum and Bronx Congressman Elliot Engel, author of the Syrian Accountability Act presented brief but telling remarks, as did Gary Bauer. Bauer in particular is so passionate that it radiates throughout the entire vast room. I had written of hearing him speak at another impressive occasion, the awards dinner of the International Federation of Christian and Jews last September that Brigitte Gabriel and I had also attended.
More at link:
http://www.israpundit.com/2006/?p=1892Also, Barbara Ledeen, Michael Ledeen's wife, works for Rick Santorum. See some details on this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1716530#1718718Of interest in that post, to, is the article written back in the 80's by Michael and Barbara Ledeen, about the Christian and Israeli extremists on both sides. Here's an excerpt:
A CASUAL OBSERVER might be excused for believing that nearly all of the recent violence in Israel has been part of the usual cycle of Arab-Israeli conflict. The observer would be wrong. Though some of the recent acts ... seem to be the work of extremist Israeli nationalists, much of the destructive intent is fueled by a mixture of nationalist politics, messianic longing, and the search for roots. In fact, some of the current extremism is a direct outgrowth of the ancient forecast of the Apocalypse... The targets of the most spectacular incidents over the past months have been Muslim authorities and the area they control in Jerusalem, but for the most part the people who planned or participated in the attacks are the violent fringe of an informal movement that stretches from the United States to the Middle East, and encompasses millions of evangelical Christians as well as some Israeli Jews. This unlikely coalition rests upon a common belief that the Final Days are upon us. For the Christians, this means that the Second Coming of Christ is imminent; for the Jews, the Messiah is about to arrive. Both believe that the crucial spot for the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, because that is where the Temple of Solomon is to be rebuilt. According to the fundamentalist understanding of Christian prophecy, three great events are required for the Second Coming: Israel must be a Jewish nation; Jerusalem must be a Jewish city; and the Temple must be rebuilt. Today only the third condition remains to be met. Though most Jews believe that the building of the Temple will occur after the arrival of the Messiah, a growing number of deeply religious Jews believe that efforts to rebuild the Temple, and other steps for its proper functioning, should be made before the Messianic Age.
~snip~
Historically, messianic movements tend to be strongest in periods of intense internal turmoil and external threat. Both of these elements are present in contemporary Israel, and the Israelis' anxieties are largely shared by the American "Christian Zionists." All we know about the Temple Mount suggests that it will grow in interest and become a source of conflict, with international consequences that are hard to predict. Up until the arrests of the twenty-five extremists, the Israeli government either ignored the Temple Mount movement or attempted to co-opt it, but neither approach was successful. It remains to be seen whether the arrests will dampen the ardor of the zealots. With the redemption of mankind and the fulfillment of prophecy at stake, arrests are transformed into temporary setbacks, extremism becomes righteous action, and political considerations pale into such insignificance that even conservative Christians and radical Jewish nationalists can become allies.
Source Citation: Ledeen, Michael, and Barbara Ledeen. "The Temple Mount plot: what do Christian and Jewish fundamentalists have in common?." The New Republic 190 (June 18, 1984): 20(4). It is from Lexis-Nexis so I have no link.
Being a Machiavellian neoconservative extraordinaire, it is of interest to me that Ledeen has written on this subject. He knows how using religiosity can stir and move the masses.
And finally, some more details on CUFI, Hagee's 'new' group. The first CUFI was formed in the 70's by this guy, David A. Lewis:
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:8aq4XdrSJacJ:www.davidallenlewis.com/CUFI%2520FAQ.htm+david+allen+lewis+hagee&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3He's given permission to Hagee to use the same name, but their organizations are not the same, although they have similar purposes and goals.
Lewis' CUFI requirements for membership hold that:
Members of C.U.F.I. must agree on the seven statements which follow:
1. The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:16)
2. God owns the whole world (Psalm 24:1; 50:12; 1 Corinthians 10:26).
3. God can give any portion of the world to whomever He desires (Deuteronomy 32:8 and Acts 17:26)
4. God has given the land of Israel to the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-7; 15:18; Deuteronomy 1:8)
5. Christians should cooperate with the plan of God.
A. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122)
B. Actively participate in the plan of God (James 1:22)
6. Christians should combat anti-Semitism (Genesis 27:29)
7. To be pro-Israel is NOT to be anti-Arabic. We must show compassion and concern to all men everywhere (Acts 10:34-35)
Hagee requirements are less clear, but he did say this:
Hagee said his group would be a Christian - and more powerful - version of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a large pro-Israel lobby, and would target senators and congressmen on Capitol Hill. A quarter of congressmen are evangelicals, and many American legislators represent regions that include a large evangelical population, he said.
Hagee - the founder and senior pastor of the evangelical Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, that claims an active membership of more than 18,000 - said the lobby's activities would be a "political earthquake."
In his meeting with Mekel, Hagee said he planned to establish an effective network of key activists across the United States who can be reached within 24 hours if necessary for emergency lobbying efforts. He said he has already appointed 12 regional directors who are to be responsible for lobby activities in their areas and that he plans to appoint representatives in every state and major city.
Hagee also said he would head a delegation of 500 evangelicals slated to visit Israel this summer.
"The evangelical population's support of Israel is very important," said Mekel yesterday.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, responded in a similar fashion while discussing the new lobby in February.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/701583.html More here on who is involved:
The Hagee/DeLay/Netanyahu connection
Hagee's political druthers and religious vision were on full display at the 2002 edition of "A Night to Honor Israel." The keynote speaker at the event was Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, the then majority leader of the House of Representatives. In full pre- indictment swagger, DeLay praised "President Bush's moral clarity," and reiterated his opposition to giving up land to the Palestinians.
"I've stood on the Golan," DeLay said. "When I looked to the southwest, I don't see occupied territory. I see Israel. I've walked on the streets of Jerusalem. I've been to Judea and Samaria."
The Texas Observer reported that "At the climax of the evening, Hagee presented a giant cardboard check for $1.5 million to the President and CEO of the United Jewish Communities," to be used for Russian Jews to Israel. Hagee believes that bringing Jews to Israel will help to fulfill the biblical prophecy of 'the beginning of the end.'"
Instead of the Book of Revelations, talk of statecraft -- radical Christian Republican-style -- dominated. Together Hagee, DeLay, and Netanyahu hit similar points: Jerusalem belongs to Israel; the west bank belongs to Israel; the Temple Mount belongs to Israel; the U.S. Embassy should be in Jerusalem not Tel Aviv; Yasser Arafat is a terrorist with whom one cannot negotiate; and unconditional support for Israel is the only option. As Hagee repeatedly noted, "Israel is the only nation on earth created by a sovereign act of God."
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:AaVN-dz1ed0J:www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0604/S00212.htm+john+hagee+george+bush&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1Lastly, TheocracyWatch.org keeps an eye on what representatives have connections to various religious organizations, and has a wealth of information:
http://www.theocracywatch.org/govern.htmhttp://www.theocracywatch.org/introduction2.htmhttp://www.theocracywatch.org/taking_over.htm
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