NY Jews start counterterror group

NEW YORK (September 28) - Concerned that the public's support for US President George W. Bush may diminish after the shock of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington wears off, a group of young, mostly Jewish New Yorkers is establishing "Americans to Counter Terrorism," known as ACT, to support the US government in its effort against terrorism.

"We spent time mourning and grieving and we felt it was time to rebuild and react," said 31-year old David Borowich, one of the group's founders. "I'm not an engineer and I'm not an architect, but I know there's a need to have a grassroots effort to support the president. We're very united in this country and I want to keep that momentum and unity alive."

Some 40 founders of ACT held their first meeting just before Rosh Hashana, said co-founder Joey Lifschitz, 26. With a Web site currently being set up at www.actworldwide.org, ACT members plan to use mass e-mails to encourage citizens to support the country as it recovers and reacts to the attacks. Lifschitz said he hopes 10 million people will sign an on-line petition supporting the government, which the group plans to deliver to Bush.

Many ACT founders, Lifschitz said, are Democrats who put partisan politics aside to unite in the fight against terror. "It's important to us as citizens to be behind the government at this time," he said. Regarding his own newfound feelings of patriotism, Lifschitz added, "I feel proud to be a New Yorker for the first time in my life."

ACT's objective is twofold. According to a position paper written by the co-founders, its first goal is to "demonstrate to the world that Americans are united in their support of President Bush and the US government in their declaration to combat terrorism and those who harbor terrorists, and to restore security to our country and all democracies."

The second goal is to "educate the American public, elected officials, and media about terrorism and terrorist organizations and their threat to western civilization, freedom, and our society."

Among ACT's actions are an e-mail campaign to enlist citizens from across the country in ACT's message, on-line petitions to support Bush, a speaking network of terrorism experts, and a campaign to place American flags in homes and cars around the country. Additional actions include the establishment of an on-line educational resource on terrorism and links to established Web sites and think tanks.

Any donations made to the group will be passed along to charities set up for the victims and families of the September 11 attacks.

"In order for the government to fulfill its duties to us as citizens it needs our help," read an ACT's email, sent out last week. "It needs to know we are behind them. We need to keep the morale high for this war is against the unknown. The unknown fights a war we have never fought, but together as one people, we will prevail."