Terror-Free Oil Initiative
Terror-Free Oil Initiative is a Coral Springs, Florida-based pro-Israel lobby group that claims to have established gasoline filling stations in several US cities, that do not sell oil originating "from countries that do not export or finance terrorism." It states, "We educate the public by promoting those companies that acquire their crude oil supply from nations outside the Middle East and by exposing those companies that do not."
The organization shares its address with Americans Against Hate, an organization primarily dedicated to supporting the extreme right in Israel.
Modus Operandi
The organization's modus operandi is crude, in your face propaganda: the logo includes the pentagon and twin towers with the flight numbers of the 9/11 planes inscribed on them; an image with Osama bin Laden's face crossed out; the banners alternate between "God Bless America", "We Stand With Israel", "[UK] You are in our prayers", "Support Denmark"; its spokesman appears on TV with an American flag for a tie.
The organization is pushing a variety of the Clash of Civilization theory which identifies Israel with a West at war with the Arab-Islamic world.
Anti-Arab Racism
The organization's website includes slogans that gas station owners are encouraged to display, such as "Our oil does not come from the Middle East, Your dollars do NOT finance terrorism." Another, demonstrating the indiscriminate and racially-based nature of the campaign, states "This Gas Station is part of Terror Free Oil Initiative - We do not purchase our oil from countries whose regimes or populations are hostile to the United States." The racism of the organization is confirmed by the fact that countries outside the Middle East whose "regimes or populations" are putatively just as hostile, such as Venezuela, are not targeted by it.
Personnel
- Joe Kaufman - Spokesman
According to Ali Abunimah:
- In a January 4 article on the extreme right-wing website Frontpagemag.com, Kaufman claimed that newly elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison "carried much radical Islamist baggage," and he refers to American Muslim groups as "America's live-in enemies." Last December, Kaufman called California Senator Barbara Boxer a "senator for terror" because she bestowed a public service award on a Muslim American community activist who had previously criticized Israeli human rights abuses. Under pressure from Kaufman's organization, Boxer, a staunch supporter of Israel, withdrew the award. ("Sen. Boxer rescinds award to Islamic activist," Los Angeles Times, 6 January 2007).
Media Exposure
Not surprisingly, Kaufman has made frequent appearances on Fox News and other American right wing media, however, despite its dubious provenance, National Public Radio and the BBC -- which claims to rely only on credible sources -- also chose to run stories on the initiative.
Contact
- Website: http://www.terrorfreeoil.org
Articles
- Ali Abunimah, Media fall for pro-Israel hate group's "Terror Free Oil", The Electronic Intifada, February 13, 2007
- BBC, Firm offers 'terror-free' petrol, BBC Online, 2 Feb. 2007.
