Jewish Public Affairs Arm Hails President Bush For Bold, Principled Attacks on Terrorists

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2001— Leonard Cole, the chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, today released the following statement praising President Bush and the United States military for its decisive action against terrorism.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs commends President Bush for taking a courageous stand against terrorism. The entire American Jewish community stands in solidarity with the President, the United States military and the global coalition that is being formed to fight and end terrorism. While we are still grieving for the lost lives of the innocent victims of the September 11^th attacks, we thank and pray for those who are being sent to protect America, democracy and the entire free world.

We also endorse the humanitarian effort underway to aid the Afghani people. This is a clear expression that this is not a war against the people of Afghanistan or followers of Islam, but rather against perpetrators of terror and those who have vowed that their goal is the end of Western democracy, values and our way of life. We are confident that all of America will be strong in fighting a just war for freedom and in ensuring that the victims did not die in vain.

JCPA is the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community that serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 123 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.

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