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Jewish War Veterans Protest the Honoring of Saudi Arabians by U.S.

October 5, 1961
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The United States Army has honored the Saudi Arabian Commander of the Dhahran airbase and the Saudi Judge Advocate General who enforce the barring of American military personnel of Jewish faith from airfield facilities leased by the United States, it was disclosed today in a protest lodged with Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara by the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.

National Commander Theodore Brooks of the JWV wrote Secretary McNamara regarding special tribute accorded by the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Ga., in September, honoring Saudi Colonel Mohammed Al-Mutlek, director of the Dhahran airfield; General Taher Youssef, of Saudi Judge Advocate General section, and a number of other Saudi officers.

Mr. Brooks asked Mr. McNamara: “Why should the U.S. Army honor the military representative of a foreign country which bars U.S. military personnel of Jewish faith from the facilities at Dhahran airfield leased by the United States?” The JWV commander cited anti-Christian as well as anti-Jewish discrimination enforced by the Saudi Arabian Army.

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