Record Editor-in-Chief Andrew L. Kalloch corresponded with Record writer Joel Pollak '09 during his recent book launch in South Africa. Pollak's book, titled The Kasrils Affair: Jews and Minority Politics in Post-Apartheid South Africa, will be available on Amazon.com shortly.
ALK: What is the Kasrils Affair?
JP: The Kasrils affair was a controversy in 2001-02 in which the sole Jewish member of South Africa's post-apartheid Cabinet, Ronnie Kasrils, challenged the South African Jewish community to oppose Israel. Gradually the affair became a lens through which I came to understand politics among minority groups and interest groups in South Africa in general in the post-apartheid era.
How did you get interested in the subject?
I was living in South Africa at the time and working as a freelance journalist. You have been described as one of the foremost critics of the "South African Jewish Board of Deputies"-what role does that body play in South African politics? The Board is the central umbrella organization of the South African Jewish community, and it is the community's official voice. It has no formal political role but has, at various times, played an "advocacy" or "lobbying" role. In fact, my book is about how the Board shifted from tactics of open "advocacy" to methods of back-room "lobbying" after the government applied pressure to the community's leadership.
Do you see any potential alliances between South Africa and the State of Israel in coming years? What areas of common ground do the two nations have that could lead to a symbiotic relationship?
There are potential alliances in certain economic and environmental endeavors, such as water management and minerals development. However, the most important area of cooperation-an area in which, sadly, the two countries are currently at odds-is the fight against nuclear proliferation, and of Iran in particular.
What are your post-grad plans?
At the moment I'm planning to open my own practice, specializing in political law.
Can we expect any more books from you in the years to come?
Yes - I'm working on a second book, this time about the 2008 elections. It's still in the early stages, though.
My wife's father is hessaby as in www.hessaby.com (they stole his cash and put it there) and my mother-in-law family is related by marriage tot the Pakravans., who headed the SAVAKPan Am was nicknamed PanIran as the Shah's family was the largest shareholder. I have extreme amount of details of exactly was going on
from the Iranians wanting him to return their assets to other coup attempts to 6 months before the Shah son pretended he was bankrupt in a public trial, to my wifes relative coming to our house talking about the coup and we did not know they were in Washington DC, to the Iran Contra hearings trial that was going to start Feb 20 th, 1989 to the tipping of the coup to the Iranian govt, ,to something in writing I can prove the coup to the Salamon Rushtie Feb 14th insult to islam to get the people on the street to avoid the coup to the Iranian govt announcement of a coup by 'dissent mullahs' announced at the time to the negiotations between the Bush people involved pretending they were going to make a deal to the 'nice' stories plant in US newspapers at the time (including the Post) as part of the negotation to the fact the bomb had to placed out of London based on the flight path as I worked at USAir at the time creating the flight plans for the 'planes to fly themselves' to overt CIA agents around me at the time to the fact that Bollier, the guy who made the timer for the bomb's wide was IRANIAN and the Libyans told me and said they were not allowed to say... there were 3 witness only.. the main one was trashed.. Bollier and a guy whom said he soldm the Libyan a suitcase in Malta.. hence, one the suitcase guy would be left.. the Libyans did not put up a defence in exchange for evidence to trash the main witness on the stand to what an overt CIA agent told me in the US 4 years later.. etc. etc and the details of several coups to the new World bank (my wie's cousin involved who used to work at the work bank)and US loans starting May 1990 to Iran to the fact that PANAm was shut down 18 months later as they thought it would be targeted again because of the Shah connection (the US airlines go in and out of bankruptcy all the time - this was the one of the first US airlines - an ICON) etc
I also know where the Iranian govt officials have money in the US, Canada and UK; the back door dealing etccall me for details.. Barry Lanza 00 44 1786831554.. My father-in-law was a convicted spy given amnesty