Americans for Middle East Understanding
Encyclopedia
Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) is a non-profit non-governmental organization that promotes the appreciation of the culture, history and current events in the Middle East among Americans. According to Elizabeth Boosahda, the AMEU "fosters increased understanding in America of the history, goals and values of all the peoples in the Middle-East and broader understanding of their religious beliefs, economic conditions and social customs." AMEU was established in 1967 by a number of American professionals who had experience of the Middle East, and who believe that Americans were receiving biased information about the region. AMEU publishes a 16-page magazine called The Link on a bi-monthly basis, which is now in its 33rd year of publication. It also publishes leaflets about the Middle East, supports educational programs, sells books, donates to libraries, provides a speakers' bureau, subsidizes travel to the Middle East and provides teachers with educational material.
and Tunisia
, served on the board of directors. AMEU's current board of directors includes former American ambassador to Greece, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, Robert V. Keeley
and former representative
Paul Findley
.
(CAMERA), AMEU is referred to as a "pro-Palestinian
group." Laurent Murawiec
in his book, Prince of darkness: the Saudi assault on the West says: "Americans for Middle East Understanding, established in 1969, evolved into a major organization within the Arab lobby." Ed Lasky, writing for the American Thinker has written that "Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) is an innocuous-sounding group that is actually a harshly anti-Israel
, pro-Palestinian organization that has existed for over 30 years," noting that "Edward Peck
, the former Ambassador to Iraq
to whom Wright inaccurately attributes his 'chickens have come home to roost' comment about 9/11, is a member of its [AMEU] Board of Directors." Further coverage of this claim revealed that Edward Peck never used the phrase "chickens have come home to roost" and that his comments related to 9/11 had been misquoted.
Board of directors
The board of directors includes scholars, academics, diplomats, authors, editors, religious representatives and business people including many with direct experience in the Middle East. Talcot Seelye, former American ambassador to SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, served on the board of directors. AMEU's current board of directors includes former American ambassador to Greece, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, Robert V. Keeley
Robert V. Keeley
Ambassador Robert Vossler Keeley had a 34-year career in the Foreign Service of the United States, from 1956 to 1989. He served three times as Ambassador: to Greece , Zimbabwe , and Mauritius...
and former representative
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Paul Findley
Paul Findley
Paul Findley is a former United States Representative from Illinois, representing its 20th District. A Republican, he was first elected in 1961. Findley lost his seat in 1982 to current United States Senator Dick Durbin. Findley attended Illinois College and is a member of Phi Alpha Literary Society...
.
Palestinian advocacy
A 2004 article by Chana Shavelson on the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in AmericaCommittee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is an American non-profit pro-Israel media watchdog group. The group says it was founded in 1982 "to respond to the Washington Post's coverage of Israel's Lebanon incursion", and to respond to what it considers the media's "general...
(CAMERA), AMEU is referred to as a "pro-Palestinian
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
group." Laurent Murawiec
Laurent Murawiec
Laurent Murawiec was a French neoconservative figure, member of the Hudson Institute and of the Committee on the Present Danger, and formerly defence analyst at the RAND corporation. Murawiec was an associate of Lyndon LaRouche from 1973–1986, and wrote for Larouche's Executive Intelligence Review...
in his book, Prince of darkness: the Saudi assault on the West says: "Americans for Middle East Understanding, established in 1969, evolved into a major organization within the Arab lobby." Ed Lasky, writing for the American Thinker has written that "Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) is an innocuous-sounding group that is actually a harshly anti-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, pro-Palestinian organization that has existed for over 30 years," noting that "Edward Peck
Edward Peck
Edward L. Peck is a retired career United States diplomat who served thirty-two-years in the U.S. Foreign Service .-Early life and career:...
, the former Ambassador to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to whom Wright inaccurately attributes his 'chickens have come home to roost' comment about 9/11, is a member of its [AMEU] Board of Directors." Further coverage of this claim revealed that Edward Peck never used the phrase "chickens have come home to roost" and that his comments related to 9/11 had been misquoted.