October 17, 2000

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: WILLIAM KRISTOL

SUBJECT: State Department

We have obtained a copy of an internal State Department memorandum blocking a proposed Voice of America editorial on the recent attack on the USS Cole.

The editorial itself should be utterly unobjectionable. It condemns the attack, reiterates U.S. policy not to make concessions to terrorism, and cites President Clinton’s vow to “find out who was responsible and hold them accountable.”

What is remarkable is the State Department rationale for “not clear[ing]” the draft editorial. According to the department, the “editorial will reach an audience that is caught up in the violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The 17 or so dead sailors does not compare to the 100 + Palestinians who died in recent weeks where we have remained silent.” The memorandum concludes by demanding that the editorial either be softened “to take the edge off” by mentioning the Palestinians or that it be killed.

At what level was this extraordinary decision made? Do Secretary Albright, Vice President Gore and President Clinton agree with the action taken by their own State Department?

A copy of the State Department memorandum is attached.