The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) has condemned comments made on social media by Matthew Brodsky, a former Trump White House advisor and current Senior Fellow at the Washington-based think tank the Gold Institute for International Strategy.
"I hope every one of those useless POS Irishmen are blasted to bits," Brodsky said on social media platform X on Saturday, October 5.
"Israel should carpet bomb the Irish area [in Lebanon] and then drop napalm over it," Brodsky posted the following day.
These posts come a few months after Brodsky posted in May: "I think the mass rape of Ireland, Spain, and Norway would clarify things for them and their populace."
Brodsky's X account - @MattRJBrodsky - was suspended this week, though screenshots of his posts are still being shared, and criticized, via other accounts.
According to his website - which does not appear to have been updated since 2021 - Brodsky "has briefed members of Congress, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council on Iran, Syria, and Palestinian-Israeli issues.
"Brodsky assists the National Security Council and the State Department on policy and communications strategy to promote the Trump administration's foreign policy agenda.
"He's also advised the White House's Palestinian-Israeli peace team on political aspects of the peace process, created core final status issue papers as requested, and has augmented the communications rollout strategy and served as a surrogate in media."
Brodsky is not a part of the Biden administration.
"There is no place in our society for such visceral hatred and bigotry, whether it targets the Jewish, Islamic, Irish, or any other community," the AOH said in its statement issued on Friday, October 11.
"The fact that these irresponsible and bigoted statements come from someone who presents himself as an expert in international strategy and global peace should alarm everyone, regardless of their heritage.
"The Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) are acting to preserve peace in a conflict that neither they nor their nation had a role in creating. Their mission is to protect both Israeli and Lebanese civilians.
"By calling for direct attacks on these peacekeepers, Mr. Brodsky advocates for violations of international humanitarian law.
"The world cannot ignore the gravity of the situation in Lebanon, nor can it tolerate the violent and reckless comments made by Mr. Brodsky as brave Irish soldiers find themselves in what could become a second siege of Jadotville."
The AOH then addressed the Gold Institute, where Brodsky is a Senior Fellow, noting that it is of concern that the "Gold Institute continues to allow individuals to sponsor Mr. Brodsky's prejudiced and irresponsible comments through soliciting direct contributions through their website."
The AOH is calling for the Gold Institute to "immediately cease soliciting funds to support Mr. Brodsky's hateful rhetoric.
"We urge them to reconsider whether Brodsky's statements align with the 'Western values' they claim to promote and to issue a clear statement regarding their stance on their Senior Fellow’s remarks.
"We also ask representatives from all political parties and media entities to reevaluate any advisory relationships they may have with Mr. Brodsky and determine whether his comments reflect their values."
In its own statement on Friday afternoon, issued around the same time the AOH circulated its statement, the Gold Institute said on X: "The words uttered by any person, affiliated with the institute or not, in a private capacity, whether in a public or private forum, DO NOT REPRESENT THE POSITIONS OF THE INSTITUTE."
It added: "We vigorously defend the right of every individual, associated with the Institute or not, to freely express those ideas or thoughts in a civilized and dignified manner without fear of censorship or punishment as an indispensable requirement for vigorous debate and discussion so necessary in this troubled world."
The Gold Institute, which made no mention of Brodsky specifically in its post, added that when a complaint is brought to its attention, it will conduct an internal review.
Over the last few days, we have been inundated by requests from mostly anonymous individuals to take action against a Fellow at the Institute, often misquoting and always demanding that he be silenced and that we clarify our position.
We would like now to do so.
1.The words…
— Gold Institute for International Strategy (@GoldInstituteIS) October 11, 2024
Meanwhile, Dalia al-Aqidi, a Republican candidate for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, said on Wednesday that she and her campaign had "requested and accepted Matthew Brodsky’s resignation as campaign manager."
After expressing her condemnation of Brodsky's comments, al-Aqidi said on X: "I personally extend my sincerest apologies to the people of Ireland and anyone affected by the actions of a member of my campaign team."
My campaign has requested and accepted Matthew Brodsky’s resignation as campaign manager. Mr. Brodsky recognized that stepping down was necessary following recent statements on X that do not reflect my values or the principles of my campaign.
I unequivocally condemn his… pic.twitter.com/lDOZbPUz1D
— Dalia al-Aqidi (@Dalia4Congress) October 9, 2024
The AOH concluded their statement on Friday by urging all people, regardless of heritage of faith, "to keep the Irish and all peacekeepers in Lebanon in their thoughts and prayers.
"These brave men and women risk their lives daily to secure peace—not merely advise on it from the safety of a conference room."
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