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            The New Year has come; and now we have some realities of our own to deal with.  Many of you have contacted us during 1997 telling us how unique and valuable you have found MID-EAST REALITIES to be.  The "Reader's Comments" section now available on our Web site contains many of the messages that we have been receiving in growing numbers every month.

            It is precisely because we are completely independent; precisely because we have people working with MER of all backgrounds -- Muslim, Jewish, and Christian; precisely because we are free to call it like it really is; that we are so unique and that our information and analysis is so insightful, so multi-faced, and covers such a wide range of countries and issues so honestly and so forthrightly.

            In 1997 we made a solid beginning using the new outreach of the Internet to help correct the distortions, misrepresentations, and outright lies so prevalent when dealing with Middle Eastern matters.
We have also been able to help with the initial organization of the Committee On The Middle East (COME) -- a uniquely new association with very clear principles and an unprecedented international
Advisory Committee from all over the world (for details just email to INFOCOME@MiddleEast.Org or visit the COME section at our Website). Whereas MER provides hard-hitting analysis and insights not easily available anywhere else, through COME our goal is to provide a new vehicle allowing us to speak up about the issues we are all so concerned about and to finally be able to advocate policy alternatives that are so desperately needed.

            But now it truly is up to you.  Only with your serious help and support can we build MER and try to begin having worthwhile impact beyond our own circles. We've taken these initial steps during the year just ended; and we've begun to seriously organize in a way that can give us a growing following as well as a rarely heard voice.  And it's worth repeating...it is precisely because we are totally independent of all
governments and all their associated interest groups and supported organizations that we are free to speak up and to advocate as no other organization is able or willing to do.

            But of course this also means that we have to turn to serious and concerned people like you for the support we need to continue and to try to become more effective.  Also, by the very nature of what we are doing, the more effective and outspoken we are, the more opposition and disinformation against us and our efforts engender.

            Even though most of us are aware of these realities, sometimes it is necessary to step back for a moment from our everyday concerns and realize the magnitude of the struggles underway.  For the various governments involved (and this includes not only the U.S. and Israel but also many of the key Arab "client-regimes") -- as well as their associated public relations firms and interest groups -- what we are doing is threatening because they all try very hard to control and manipulate all the sources of information and advocacy.  From the notorious Israeli/Jewish lobby to some of the misleading Arab
organizations which so often function as appendages of various Arab regimes, co-optation, disinformation and pressure to conform or remain silent are the name of the game.

            Consequently, Middle Eastern affairs have become something of a foggy swamp very difficult to see through and even more difficult to maneuver within.  Hence there is so much confusion, demoralization, and outright depression often from the very people who are the most knowledgeable and the most committed.  And hence the special importance of promoting MER much more this year than last at this very critical time in history.

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            Having taken all of these unique steps in 1997, it's now up to all of us in 1998.  One of the major reasons there are so few independent and worthwhile organizations when it comes to the Middle East is because without an independent source of funds it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to do things in a useful way.  We are not asking for a lot; but we must have your support to cover our basic expenses and to make promoting our efforts much more possible this year than last.

            In this new year just beginning we want to make it possible for you to read the transcripts and listen to our half-hour TV program that shows weekly on a number of cable channels -- and, if your computer is capable, see short video clips from the program.  Last year Free Speech TV was so impressed with our efforts that it asked us exclusively if it could show 3 of our programs on its network of channels all around the country.

            Also in this new year we want to begin distributing MER editorials and press releases to the media, especially in Washington where the policy-makers and the international press are focused.

            And of course in this new year we want to further improve on providing the hard-hitting and no-nonsense information and perspectives you are already familiar with as MER on the Internet.

            To do all this we simply must have your help.  We have to immediately raise a minimum monthly budget of just $2500. Yes, this is a very small amount, less than the cost of one employee in other far less useful organizations -- but it is also absolutely crucial to our efforts at this time.  And the only way we have to support MER is by turning to you and asking you to become our contributors and sponsors. Maybe you are in a position to help in a big way -- and if so we would be able to do a lot more including a campaign to start appearances on Radio and TV TalkShows as well as on the Editorial pages of major
newspapers.  Or maybe you can only afford to help us this year with $50 or $100 monthly.

            Whatever you can do we need to hear from you now at this crucial time. Clearly the next few years in the Middle East, as we approach the new millennium, are going to be very critical years.  And now is the time for those of us who are among the most knowledgeable and most concerned about the Middle East to speak up much more loudly and to try to have a growing impact to counter those groups and those governments whose policies we so much oppose.

            Please message us today, let us know you are willing to help, and share with us any specific suggestions you might have.  Just use the REPLY command and your message will come right to us, or email directly to MER@MIDDLEEAST.ORG.  We will then get in touch and also give you a special phone number and time to call if you want to discuss anything specific or have any questions.

            Mark Bruzonsky for MID-EAST REALITIES

P.S.  And if you haven't recently been to the MER website, please visit it as a great deal of information is now easily available, including most of what we have published since we began in 1996. It's only a start really because we don't even have a part-time web person yet and have had to rely on student volunteers.  But with your help we will be making great improvements this year.  We already have the unique content and analysis; and that's by far the most difficult part.  But now we know we need to work
on presentation and promotion if we are to be able to reach more and more people and to do so in a more effective way.

Email:   MER@MiddleEast.Org
Web:   http://WWW.MiddleEast.Org
24-hour Phone:   202 362-5266
Fax:    202 362-6965