U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers wasn’t allowed to enter his office in Washington, so he took Mideast politics to MSU instead on Sunday.
The Brighton Republican spoke to members of the Michigan State Israel Alliance about U.S. military action overseas and the tensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Just weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Rogers spent a week in Israel meeting with leaders on both sides of the conflict.
“You can’t really get a grasp on the intensity and feelings and emotion until you are on the ground,” said Rogers, who spoke to about 15 students in the Union Gold Room. “That trip really gave me the ability to feel that emotion and that tension on the ground.”
And Rogers got a dose of the tension at home last week.
He hasn’t been able to enter his Cannon House Office Building quarters since Wednesday, when Congress was dismissed until Tuesday for anthrax screening. Last week, more than two dozen government employees were exposed to anthrax.
Rogers said the United States needs to work with Israel during trying times.
“Israel has expressed some concern about U.S. policy as this war on terrorism unfolds,” he said. “Israel has been an ally of the United States for quite some time. I’m a little disappointed with some of its actions of late, but it will still be an ally.
“The United States does not easily abandon allies, but we do expect some cooperation.”
Josh Berg, co-president of the Michigan State Israel Alliance, said Rogers’ visit will help supporters understand the U.S. approach to Israel.
“We want to raise the spirits of the Israel Alliance here on campus, and we want to get a better view of how our administration, and leadership in Michigan feels about Israel’s relationship with the United States,” said Berg, a political theory and constitutional democracy and business and marketing junior. “It keeps people aware of what is going on in the political world.”
Marc Weinbaum, vice chairman of Michigan’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee, traveled with Rogers during his trip to Israel and said the experience helps Rogers’ leadership.
“It helps them become better educated about the situation, and understand the viewpoints from people who are involved directly,” Weinbaum said. “They left there with a wealth of knowledge as to the region, the conflict and the various perspectives on the peace process.”
Weinbaum said most members of Congress don’t travel out of the country, and aren’t as informed on foreign policy as they need to be.
“But Mike has been there, he’s seen it, he’s talked to the people that have been affected,” he said. “So he’s better educated to make decisions.”
