Pletka lobbied for establishing "Watch", which monitors all NGOs allegedly opposed to Israel's interests in the US and across the world.

By Adam Wild Aba, IOL Correspondent

WASHINTGON, November 18 (IslamOnline.net) – Nominated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is likely to pick a neo-conservative known for hatred of Arabs to be her deputy for Middle East affairs, a Congress source told IslamOnline.net.

Danielle Pletka, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute – a major neo-conservatives’ think tank in Washington – is the favorite choice for the post, currently occupied by William Burns.

The post holder is the main reference for the US foreign policy on Arab and Mideast countries.

The name of David Welch, current Ambassador to Egypt, is also being mentioned in Washington’s circles as a possible Burns successor.

Asked on Welch’s chances, a high-profile State Department source told IOL the seasoned diplomat would be a far better choice than Pletka, an expert on the Middle East, South Asia, terrorism, and weapons proliferation.

Pro-Israel

Pletka is known for her staunch support to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud government and rooted hatred of Arabs and Muslims as manifested in her speeches and seminars.

She repeatedly defended the US justifications for the invasion-turned-occupation of Iraq as well as the so-called pre-emptive wars on other Islamic countries.

Pletka supported the Project for the New American Century, which was conceived by neo-conservatives and international Zionism.

The PNAC is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is good both for America and for the world; that such leadership requires military strength and diplomatic energy; and that too few political leaders today are making the case for global leadership.

Pletka, a Jew, has lobbied for establishing "Watch", a project meant to watch all non-governmental organizations opposed to Israel's interests in the US and across the world.

She was also a senior professional staff member for Near East and South Asia with the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, 1992-2002.

Mass Resignations

Despite that record, the State Department source expect Pletka to win the prestigious post.

He said a wave of mass resignations in the State Department's Near East Office is the expected reaction to Pletka’s appointment.

She is an extremist, given her positions on Arabs and Muslims, and would fan anti-American sentiments in the Arab region, the source added.

Rice has shown no opposition while holding the national security advisor title to the rising influence of neo-conservatives in the Bush administration, although Powell repeated complained about it.

Rice’s personal advisor is also known for his close ties with neo-conservatives in general and Pletka in particular – much to boost the latter's chances for being the new undersecretary of state for Middle East affairs.

Tightened Grip

US President George W. Bush tapped Tuesday, November 16, Rice, known for hawkish views on the Iraq invasion, to replace Powell.

Powell, a highly-decorated veteran, had engaged in fierce battles with hawks over the Iraq invasion and other sticky foreign policy issues.

The appointment of Pletka is expected to be followed by picking others of the same mindset for new posts in Bush's second term.

Bush had also appointed Rice’s deputy Stephen J. Hadley as the new national security adviser.

Hadley is also a supporter of pre-emptive strikes and developing small nuclear weapons.

American press expected after the appointments that the policy toward Iran and North Korea may take a new turn, with a bigger push for sanctions rather than the diplomacy adopted by Powell.

It was unclear what new jobs might be offered to Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, a neo-conservative and a main architect of the Iraq war, and John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control and non-proliferation affairs.

In the run-up to the election, political sources saw Wolfowitz as a potential candidate for most of the top foreign policy jobs, but now say because of the controversy over Iraq, he would be unable to win Senate confirmation, said Reuters.

"Paul is likely to stay in his current job or leave," one Republican source said.

Bolton is a favorite of conservatives for his tough views on North Korea.