As critical developments unfold moment by moment in the Middle East and South Asia, MEMRI continues to operate around the clock, seven days a week, 365 days a year, monitoring, translating, and analyzing primary source material from the region.
Founded 17 years ago to "Bridge the Language Gap," MEMRI is still the only organization doing this vital work for the security of the U.S. and the West, helping government, militaries, law enforcement, media, and the public at large better grasp the context, scope, and significance of happenings in the region as they occur. This effort is now even more essential, as the situation is today at its most volatile point in decades.
As a nuclear agreement with Iran takes shape, Iran continues to conduct extensive military maneuvers centered on attacking U.S. interests, Iran's Supreme Leader continues to encourage chants of "Death to America," and top Iranian officials continue to foster anti-U.S. hatred; the ongoing Iran-Saudi conflict in Yemen is devolving into open war and the Saudi-led airstrikes could give way to a ground incursion. Our research continues to monitor, focus on, translate, and analyze the most important issues in the region and reactions to them.
Other areas followed by MEMRI include the U.S.-led coalition attacks against ISIS in Iraq, ISIS' and other jihadi groups' recruitment efforts, which are yielding increasing numbers of Western recruits as ISIS continues to spread through North Africa and South Asia; Egypt's efforts to position itself in the Saudi-led fight in Yemen and its preparations to send troops to support the Sunni fight there; developments in the Palestinian arena, most recently the Palestinian membership in the International Criminal Court; and events in Tunisia, as this week thousands marched in the capital to protest against the museum terror attack and support democracy in the country. MEMRI continues to follow these and other developments as they happen.
To date, MEMRI has published over 6,000 print media translations and 1,150 analysis papers, as well as almost 5,000 translated TV clips totaling over 18,500 translated minutes - which have been viewed over 100 million times. MEMRI has accomplished this only because of the generosity of our donors.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT MEMRI
As a MEMRI reader, you are familiar with our continuing efforts to monitor more media sources in more countries, research more subjects, translate into more languages, and expand our reach.
So far in 2015, MEMRI research has already proven instrumental to members of the media, government, and military. MEMRI provided them with reports on, inter alia: Islamic State (ISIS) online activity, including video clips of its brutality; analysis of events and developments in Iran, particularly in the run-up to the nuclear negotiations deadline; the ongoing destabilization of Yemen; and a video clip of a Lebanese TV program hostess who cut short an interview with a well-known London-based Islamist when he showed disrespect and made sexist comments. This clip went viral, with nearly 10 million views, and the program hostess became an international sensation.
You already know that your generous support for MEMRI enables us to continue to assist the U.S. and other Western governments and militaries in the day-to-day fight against extremism, benefiting U.S. and Western troops abroad and policymakers at home, particularly in light of the ongoing grave shortage of translators that impacts the U.S. government and military.
MEMRI staffers across the world translate from hundreds of Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Hindi, Urdu, Pashtu and Turkish newspapers, magazines, television shows and websites. But producing and distributing our research and maintaining our numerous websites is an increasingly costly undertaking.
We thank you for your past contribution to MEMRI and ask if you could kindly renew your support and possibly consider increasing it.
MEMRI's research is more critical and vital than ever. We are constantly monitoring the following issues and developments:
· Iran's sponsorship of the Houthis in Yemen, the Assad regime in Syria, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and much more in its continuing bid for hegemony in the region; its leaders' statements in advance of a possible nuclear agreement with the West and its continued pursuit of its nuclear program
· ISIS's continuing expansion across Syria and Iraq and Al-Qaeda's spread, including to India
· Recent attacks and arrests across the West connected to Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terror groups - particularly homegrown, including lone-wolf attacks
· Hamas and Palestinian Authority incitement to violence and the prospects for peace in the region
· Developments in Egypt - which is currently engaged in counterterror efforts in Gaza, Libya, and Yemen.
· Antisemitic, anti-U.S., and anti-Western sentiment, all on the rise across the region as well as across Europe
· Developments in South Asia following the U.S. troop reduction in Afghanistan, and the continued threat from Pakistan.
THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS NEED FUNDING
· MEMRI TV Project - MEMRI TV monitors and translates nearly 100 Arab and Iranian channels around the clock. This project is a major resource for researchers from government, academia, legislatures, and media, providing a much deeper understanding of complex situations than can be obtained from other sources. This year alone, MEMRI TV clips were viewed over 16 million times.
· The Tom Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial - The Archives focus on antisemitism and Holocaust denial across the Arab and Muslim world; it also hosts a major annual Capitol Hill event marking the release of its annual report. This year's speakers will include, inter alia, Sen. John McCain and Charlie Hebdo contributor Caroline Fourset.
· Iran Studies Project - Monitoring Iran's expanding status in the region, including its recent military maneuvers showcasing new missiles and drilling attacks on U.S. aircraft carriers; its imminent emergence as a nuclear power; its d├®tente with the U.S.; the power struggle within it between the ideological and pragmatic camps; and more.
· Jihad & Terrorism Studies - Examining the growth and emergence of terror tactics, including cyber warfare, as well as methods, including the use of social media, for recruiting, indoctrination, and encouraging lone-wolf attacks.
· The MEMRI Cyber Jihad Lab - The CJL monitors, tracks, translates, and researches cyber jihad originating from the Middle East, Iran, South Asia, and North and West Africa.
· The Reform Project - Continuing to identify voices of reform that question tradition and undermine the status quo throughout the region, and covering the still-reverberating impact of the Arab Spring.
· South Asia Studies Project - As the situation in South Asia devolves towards jihadism, U.S. troops prepare to exit and U.S. strategic interests are continually challenged.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR MEMRI ALLOWS US TO DIRECTLY ASSIST THE FOLLOWING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS:
· The U.S. Armed Forces: Highest echelons of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force.
· The U.S. Congress: MEMRI briefs both sides of the political aisle in Congress, including Majority and Minority staff of numerous influential committees in the Senate and House of Representatives.
· Federal agencies such as the White House, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the TSA, and more.
· State and local law enforcement authorities in all 50 states.
· Western government agencies, which continue to use MEMRI research on a daily basis.
· Academia - over 500 universities, colleges, and other institutes of higher education worldwide.
· Leading media outlets, both print and television - including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN, and others - who request MEMRI research every day.
Please consider making your donation online, as it keeps our administrative costs down. You can also mail a check to MEMRI at P.O. Box 27837; Washington, D.C. 20038-7837.
Sincerely yours,
