A fatal helicopter crash on Alaska’s remote North Slope claimed the lives of two men who were experts in their fields: Shiloh Schulte, 46, a shorebird biologist from Maine, and Jonathan Guibas, 54, an experienced helicopter pilot recently hired by a Wasilla-based aviation company.
The crash occurred on June 4 about 25 to 30 miles southwest of Deadhorse, near Kuparuk. The Robinson R66 helicopter, operated by Pollux Aviation, departed from Prudhoe Bay around 10:40 am under special visual flight rules clearance, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The aircraft was supporting a wildlife research mission when it went down.
Schulte, a senior scientist at Manomet Conservation Sciences based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had traveled to Alaska for fieldwork. According to the organization, he was en route to deploy recording devices on shorebirds as part of an ongoing research effort. Schulte was known nationally for restoring populations of the American oystercatcher and for his broader work in shorebird conservation. He lived in Kennebunk, Maine, where he had previously served on the town’s Select Board, and was the father of two daughters.
“Shiloh was a deeply respected member of the Manomet Conservation Sciences team, whose passion for shorebird conservation and unwavering commitment to protecting our planet inspired everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him,” the nonprofit said in a statement.
Also killed in the crash was pilot Jonathan Guibas, who had recently joined Pollux Aviation. Guibas had a long and accomplished career in rotorcraft aviation, with prior experience as chief helicopter pilot and operations officer at Protocom Aviation, and leadership roles at Skyland Aviation Services and Hampton Roads Helicopters in Virginia. Before relocating to Alaska, he had lived in California, Guam, and Virginia. His mother told Alaska Public Media that he had only recently moved to Wasilla to begin work with Pollux.
The wreckage was located by North Slope Borough Search and Rescue teams, and recovery operations began on June 6. The helicopter is being transported to Deadhorse as part of the ongoing NTSB investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
President Trump officially ordered deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after violent protests broke out in the city over the weekend following a series of high-profile US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that swept through commercial areas of the city on June 6.
ICE agents arrested 121 individuals during operations targeting locations such as a Home Depot in the Westlake District, a fashion retailer in the Downtown Fashion District, and a clothing warehouse in South LA.
The agency said the arrests included immigrants with prior criminal convictions, including charges related to drug trafficking and assault. However, the enforcement actions provoked a wave of unrest, with demonstrators gathering in major intersections by Friday evening and continuing through Saturday.
What's happening in Los Angeles tonight is a billion times worse than January 6th. Call in the National Guard, make thousands of arrests, and hold them all with no bail until the next election. The January 6th detainees set the precedent. pic.twitter.com/O3wipqRT93
Protests intensified in areas like downtown Los Angeles and the Paramount area, where crowds threw concrete chunks, eggs, and fireworks at law enforcement. Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, flash-bang grenades, and pepper spray. The Los Angeles Police Department declared multiple unlawful assemblies, and the County Sheriff’s Department deployed less-lethal munitions to disperse demonstrators.
At one flashpoint, more than 1,000 protesters surrounded a federal building, violently clashing with ICE officers and damaging property.
A statement from the White House characterized the deployment of he National Guard as a response to “violent mobs threatening federal officers and facilities.”
“The President will not tolerate insurrection in our streets,” said White House senior advisor Stephen Miller in a press briefing. “We are restoring law and order.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who would normally be in charge of the California National Guard unless the president takes over that role, criticized the move as “purposefully inflammatory,” asserting that the National Guard presence would escalate tensions rather than quell them. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also condemned the raids.
“These actions sow terror in our neighborhoods,” Bass posted on social media. “They do not make us safer. We will not stand for this.” She added that her office was working with immigrant rights nonprofits to respond. Importantly, she did not say she would work with law enforcement to stop the riots.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security and Trump administration officials have defended the crackdown. Border Enforcement Czar Tom Homan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Democratic leadership for “emboldening resistance to lawful enforcement” and insisted the operations would continue. In an appearance on Fox News, Homan confirmed that the National Guard would “support ICE and federal authorities in maintaining public order and conducting future operations.”
While the national spotlight is fixed on Los Angeles, sources say ICE has also increased its presence in Anchorage. Over the past two weeks, agents have reportedly conducted spot checks at local construction sites and plant nurseries — industries where the use of illegal immigrant labor is common.
“America is a nation of laws,” the White House said in a statement on Saturday. “We will enforce our immigration laws and protect our communities—regardless of political grandstanding.”
Given the increasingly chummy relationship between the Eklutna Tribe, its casino operation, the Assembly and the Suzanne LaFrance administration, my interest was piqued by an announcement out of the Muni earlier this week of a casino-themed Annual Employee Incentive Awards Night, Nov 1 at the Dena’ina Center. The announcement was sent out to all Muni employees via e-mail.
The thing that makes you go “Hmmm” was the note that “Guest must be 18+.”
There are a few things that would limit attendance to those of legal age (over 18). These include most adult pastimes, some would refer to as vices, most legal, some not, starting the old standby of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Gambling would be on that list, as would adult beverages and tobacco.
The theme of the get together is Casino Royale at a time when the LaFrance Administration and the Assembly are up to their armpits in greasing the skids for the new casino operation by the Eklutna tribe, so the question is obvious.
I asked it in the following e-mail to the HR Director on June 4 at 1323:
Howdy –
Probably ought to log this as an official press inquiry.
I am looking into your announcement of the Annual Employee Incentives Awards Night scheduled Nov 1. The announcement lists the event as an 18+ event, meaning no families with youngsters can attend. What is the reason for this?
The only two things I can think of are either gambling or alcohol, as the Muni doesn’t typically traffic in sex. If it is gambling, is the Eklutna Casino or people involved with it involved in any way? If so, how? If not, precisely what is going on that requires such a prohibition?
I am preparing a piece in Must Read Alaska for the weekend on the event. Your additional information would go a long way to making sure I am accurate in what I am attempting to report. That being said, I need a response by COB Friday.
Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to hearing fr pm from you. Cheers – AG
I received the following from the Human Resources director on June 5:
Thank you for your question regarding the Municipality’s employee awards ceremony and event.
The Annual Employee Incentives Awards is planned and organized by a committee of municipal employees, and the theme, style, and location changes year-to-year. Results of an employee survey last spring indicated that many staff members would like this year’s event to be a more formal-style occasion held at the Dena’ina Center.
The annual event is held to celebrate our municipal employees and is a way to strengthen our team and bring staff together for a fun social event. Fostering a positive and supportive work environment at the Municipality is essential for promoting employee retention and delivering the best possible services to our community.
This event will be a plated dinner and is scheduled to run into the late evening at the Dena’ina Center. The cost to attend is $50 per person, and it is an optional event for municipal employees. There will be a no-host bar on site serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, with bartenders performing I.D. checks.
The event is casino-themed, with tokens and games, and there will be no gambling of actual money. The gaming theme offers a way to hold a fun and engaging event in a lighthearted and interactive atmosphere. This event aims to promote team building and camaraderie among our different departments. The Native Village of Eklutna is not involved.
I certainly appreciate the quick response which seems to answer all my questions. Should be an interesting event especially if entertainment changes a bit over the course of the next four months. I look forward to hearing what goes on afterwards.
One of the lessons learned over the last decade dealing with the Assembly and those connected closely to them (Mayor LaFrance, for instance), is trust but verify.
We are well into the verify part of the discussion today.
Alex Gimarc lives in Anchorage since retiring from the military in 1997. His interests include science and technology, environment, energy, economics, military affairs, fishing and disabilities policies. His weekly column “Interesting Items” is a summary of news stories with substantive Alaska-themed topics. He was a small business owner and Information Technology professional.
There was a time when federal programs had clear, limited objectives — programs like the Job Corps, designed to offer young Americans vocational training and a path to employment. But over the years, the original mission was quietly stretched by deep state bureaucrats with a liberal agenda.
Today, Job Corps includes housing support, counseling services, and wraparound programs that were never in the original blueprint. This is not an isolated example. It’s part of a larger trend known as “mission creep,” and it is costing the American taxpayer dearly.
Federal bureaucrats, often insulated from elections and accountability, have enormous discretion in how these programs evolve. They can add services (and forced education like DEI), expand eligibility, and reinterpret mandates, all without a vote in Congress. It is no surprise that programs grow beyond their scope. Bureaucrats do not spend their own money; they spend ours. And with little oversight from Congress, expansion becomes the default.
We see the same pattern in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC. What began as a basic nutritional aid program has expanded into a sprawling system that includes everything from breastfeeding peer counselors to state-specific initiatives with little measurable return on investment. Each well-intentioned layer adds cost and complexity, yet oversight remains minimal.
Then there’s USAID, the United States Agency for International Development. It is one of the worst offenders. Originally meant to support nations in crisis, USAID has become a bureaucratic behemoth spending billions on long-term development projects such as DEI education and LGBTQ support in foreign countries, many of which yield questionable results. From failed agricultural projects in sub-Saharan Africa to redundant health initiatives in Central America, USAID operates with virtually no accountability. Add to the billions in foreign aid funneled into unstable regions, and we find ourselves bankrolling inefficiency on a global scale while our own infrastructure and veterans go underfunded.
Bureaucratic expansion happens for a few simple reasons. First, there is a built-in incentive for bureaucrats to grow their agencies. Bigger budgets mean more influence and more job security. The National Taxpayers Union has documented how agencies justify budget increases by adding responsibilities and staff, often duplicating existing efforts. Second, political pressure from advocacy groups and elected officials often encourages expansion. Programs get loaded, often with no clear program association, with extras to appease interest groups and constituents. Finally, there is the, often times genuine, perception that new or emergent challenges must be addressed, even if they fall outside a program’s original scope (again, DEI).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is another example. Originally established to combat communicable diseases, the CDC has taken on workplace safety, obesity, and even gun violence research. These might be serious issues, but they are not within the CDC’s founding mission. Meanwhile, the agency was an utter failure, during COVID-19, performing its core function of disease control. By broadening its scope, the CDC diluted its focus and weakened its performance, even as its budget ballooned to nearly $12 billion.
The Federal Reserve has also wandered far from its lane. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed has engaged in direct credit allocation, studied inequality, and ventured into climate change policy. These are not monetary policy. When the Fed speaks on social issues, DEI, and ESG, it raises questions about its neutrality and credibility, all while expanding its power without direct accountability to the American people.
Mission creep is not always easy to see. It often unfolds slowly, behind closed doors, under the radar of the average taxpayer. But its effects are real. Budgets swell, programs become unfocused, and the cost of government rises. Worse, it erodes public trust. When agencies do too much and achieve too little, Americans rightly wonder whether their money is being used wisely. And then there are those who complain when a service they have come to expect is cut.
Oversight is supposed to be Congress’s job. We have committees for that very purpose. But the reality is far less reassuring. Congressional oversight suffers from resource constraints, limited expertise, and shifting political priorities. Committees are often understaffed and overwhelmed. Complex programs require specialized knowledge that few lawmakers possess. Oversight rarely wins headlines or re-election campaigns.
Meanwhile, federal spending surges. In 2025, the federal budget will top $6 trillion. A significant portion of that goes to programs that have strayed far from their original missions. Add the $34 trillion national debt and interest payments that will burden our children, and it becomes clear that mission creep is not just a bureaucratic problem. It is a taxpayer problem. And It’s a national problem and a national disgrace.
We cannot afford to ignore this any longer. Reform starts with reclaiming congressional authority. Agencies must be held to their statutory mandates. If expansion is necessary, it should go through Congress, not through regulation. Second, we need transparency. Every federal program should be subject to routine performance audits and cost-benefit analyses – programs and projects must have a discernible Return on Investment. And third, we must demand that spending reflects American priorities. Before sending billions overseas or funding redundant federal programs, let’s take care of our own.
This is not about gutting government. It is about restoring focus and discipline. Programs should do what they were designed to do — no more, no less. When unelected bureaucrats chart their own course, the American people lose control of their government. And when Congress fails to hold them accountable, it fails in its duty to the taxpayers.
Mission creep might be gradual, but its impact is enormous. The time to push back is now. Demand an ROI!
Kevin McCabe serves in the Alaska Legislature on behalf of Big Lake.
The National Park Service officially opened the Richard Proenneke cabin for the summer season last week, welcoming the first visitors of the year to one of Alaska’s most iconic and remote historic sites.
A group of military veterans joined park rangers in a ceremonial raising of the American flag beside the hand-built log structure on the shores of Upper Twin Lake, marking the start of the 2025 season.
The cabin, in the heart of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, is open for self-guided tours daily from 10 am. to 4 pm through the summer. Park rangers are on site to offer historical context and answer questions about the life and legacy of Richard Proenneke, the man who constructed the cabin and lived there alone for nearly three decades before he died of a stroke at age 86 on April 20, 2003.
Dick Proenneke was a Navy veteran, naturalist, and master craftsman who became a symbol of self-reliance and wilderness stewardship. In 1968, at age 51, he arrived at Twin Lakes with the goal of living simply and more closely with nature. Over the course of that first summer, he built the now-famous log cabin, using only hand tools and local materials. He documented his efforts in detailed journals and 16mm film, which later formed the basis for the PBS documentary Alone in the Wilderness.
Proenneke, born in Iowa in 1916 and never married, lived in the cabin year-round, recording daily weather patterns, wildlife behavior, and natural changes in the landscape. He left his cabin in 1999, and spent the last four years of his life living with a brother in California but his detailed writings and films became important cultural and ecological records, and his lifestyle has inspired many others.
The cabin was designated a National Historic Site in 2007, and it remains a testament to craftsmanship, endurance, and harmony with nature. Visitors to the site can view Proenneke’s tools, furnishings, and original construction features, all preserved just as he left them.
Lake Clark National Park is accessible only by boat or small aircraft, and the journey to Upper Twin Lake is a pilgrimage for many seeking to walk in Proenneke’s footsteps.
This year, the presence of military veterans during the opening added a layer of reflection and honor to the occasion, underscoring the enduring respect for Proenneke’s life of service, solitude, and stewardship.
For more information about visiting the Richard Proenneke cabin or planning a trip to Lake Clark National Park, visitors can contact the National Park Service or visit nps.gov/lacl.
In what has become an annual tradition, and a practical opportunity for Alaskans looking to put down roots or invest in remote real estate, the State of Alaska has opened its annual Land Auction to resident bidders.
The auction, managed by the Alaska Division of Mining, Land, and Water, features a wide range of state-owned parcels that have been surveyed and appraised prior to listing. Bidding remains open until Oct. 1, at 4 pm, and is open exclusively to Alaska residents, in accordance with state eligibility rules for non-commercial land sales.
Among the parcels in this year’s auction are nine road-accessible lots in the Copper River Valley, within the One Thousand Skies–Sunrise Subdivision. These parcels begin at approximately 10 acres, with starting bids at $63,000. Accessibility is a key feature, with gravel road access improving the attractiveness of these rural properties for year-round or seasonal use.
One Thousand Skies-Sunrise is located between milepost 136 and milepost 137 of the Glenn Hwy, approximately 48 miles west of Glennallen. Access is from the Glenn Hwy to S. Millennium Loop, a gravel road which runs south through the subdivision. Parcel 1068, for example, is accessed from E. Sunup Dr, a gravel road. Parcels 1075 and 1076 are accessed via an undeveloped public access easement.
There is no municipal water supply or sewer system to the parcels. See plat notes and the Sewer and Water section of the land brochure for details. There are also no other utilities (electric, phone, or internet, etc.) in this area.
This area is within the boundary of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and is subject to applicable platting authority, local ordinances, and property assessments. Local ordinances may impose setbacks, easements, or restrictions in addition to those mentioned in the land auction. Check with the borough for details. There is currently no zoning for the subdivision.
The auction parcels may contain wetlands. Also, purchasers must obtain permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers before developing any wetland areas. Floatplane access is not a viable option to some of the unnamed lakes in the area, as they either are too small or too shallow.
Lot 1 of Block 2 is temporarily reserved as parking until subdivision roads are upgraded and accepted for maintenance.
Easements affecting these parcels, as depicted on the plat, may include, but are not limited to, utility easements. Information on restrictions, easements, reservations, and setbacks may be depicted on the plat, contained in the plat notes, or recorded separately. There is a 75ft building setback from all bodies of water and apparent wetlands, and a 50ft public access easement along water bodies. Legal access to all lots is via interior rights-of-way. No direct access to Glenn Hwy is allowed. Parcel 1070 has a 20-foot drainage easement.
The sealed-bid auction allows eligible participants to submit bids through three channels:
Online, via the DNR’s Land Sales portal
In person, at designated offices
By postal mail, using forms provided in the auction materials
Bids must meet or exceed the minimum bid listed for each parcel. Following the close of the bidding period, the official bid opening will occur on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 10 am where the highest qualified bidders will be awarded parcels.
The Department of Natural Resources offers land through three programs:
Land Auctions (like Offering #497)
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Program – unsold parcels from previous auctions available at fixed prices
Remote Recreational Cabin Sites (RRCS) Program – offering unique cabin site staking opportunities in remote areas
Each program caters to different buyer preferences, from competitive bidding to pre-priced purchases, and from road-accessible lots to wilderness cabin sites. There is also an agricultural land program.
A free auction brochure with detailed maps, parcel descriptions, and bidding instructions is available on the DNR Land Sales website. Interested Alaskans may also request printed materials or accessible formats by calling the Anchorage Public Information Center at (907) 269-8400.
With competitive pricing, scenic locations, and a uniquely Alaskan process, Auction #497 is more than just a land sale—it’s a chance for residents to stake a personal claim in the Last Frontier.
For more information or to explore available parcels, visit: landsales.alaska.gov.
The conservative movement prides itself on being the standard-bearer of life, liberty, and traditional values. We rally under the banner of “pro-life,” championing the sanctity of the unborn and the preservation of moral foundations.
Yet, when it comes to our political battles, we often turn our fiercest weapons not on our ideological opponents but on each other. The left may throw punches, but it’s conservatives who deliver the knockout blows; to ourselves.
The infighting within the conservative ranks is more than just a distraction; it’s a self-inflicted wound that cripples our ability to advance our principles. While the left maintains a disciplined front, coalescing around shared goals despite internal disagreements, conservatives splinter into factions; each claiming to be the “true” champion of the movement. From primary purges to social media slandering, we’ve become experts at devouring our own.
I will admit, it’s quite disheartening watching the onslaught of accusations from fellow Republicans shouting out “RINOS” any time a vote isn’t taken in a lockstep binding caucus fashion (because a binding caucus isn’t an ideal Republicans hold to). There is an old Ronald Reagan quote that “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” Do we believe that?
Contrast this with the left’s approach. Progressives, even with their own flaws, know how to close ranks. When one of their own strays; like a senator or representative voting against a party-line bill; they don’t unleash a public execution. Instead, they negotiate, regroup, and redirect their energy toward their common political enemy; us. Their ability to maintain unity, even when fractured, gives them a strategic edge we squander through our relentless infighting over ideological purity.
Oh the irony. We call ourselves pro-life, yet we’re quick to politically abort anyone who doesn’t perfectly align with our ever-shifting litmus tests. This isn’t principle; it’s cannibalism. Every time we ostracize a conservative for a single disagreement, we shrink our coalition and hand the left a gift-wrapped victory.
The pro-life conviction should transcend legislation, promoting unity and collaboration with partners instead of constant discord.
If we want to win, we need to stop eating our own. That means embracing spirited debate without resorting to excommunication; recognizing that a conservative who disagrees on tactics or tone isn’t a traitor but a potential ally; directing our criticism toward the left’s policies we deeply oppose, rather than fixating on our own small differences; and sometimes picking up the phone and calling to ask questions instead of reading clickbait and becoming a Facebook ninja warrior.
The left doesn’t beat us because they’re stronger; they beat us because we’re too busy beating ourselves. If we truly believe in the principles we so proudly stand upon, we’ll stop the fratricide and start fighting as one. Only then can we live up to the pro-life label we claim; and turn our values into victories.
Before my dad passed, his last corporate message he gave to a group of leaders was charging them to lay down differences and unify for the sake of one cause (which was to be a light in this dark world and to leave people better than they were when you met them).
It is a message I will continue to build my own life upon and I charge others to do the same; especially in the realm of politics.
Jubilee Underwood is a representative for House District 27, Wasilla.
A Wasilla physician has been arrested following a federal grand jury indictment alleging possession of child sexual abuse materials, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
Dr. Jeffery Sponsler, 67, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Sponsler is a practicing doctor at the Alaska Brain Center and is also the owner of Alaska Music and Arts, a studio offering music, dance, and karate classes to children.
According to the Department of Justice, federal authorities allege that on March 17, Sponsler possessed and accessed a computer containing images of child sexual abuse. The material reportedly included depictions of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office began investigating Sponsler after receiving a tip regarding his alleged possession of child pornography. A search of Sponsler’s residence led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices, including desktop and laptop computers, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs, and VHS tapes.
The initial forensic review of these items revealed videos and images described in court documents as “nude beauty contests” involving both minors and adults, DOJ said. Prosecutors allege that Sponsler edited and enhanced the material to focus on the genitalia of girls believed to be between the ages of 5 and 12, creating slideshows from the images.
According to his biography at Alaska Brain Center, he sees patients with disorders such as epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, neuropathy, stroke, headaches and migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, myasthenia gravis, spinal cord disorders, dysequilibrium, balance, dizziness, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Sponsler has admitting and consulting privileges at Matsu Regional Medical Center in Palmer, where he manages a two-bed epilepsy monitoring unit with full time EEG technician monitoring.
“Dr. Sponsler enjoys backpacking, running, exploring Alaska and Shotokan Karate. He also knows 10 computer programming languages and plays 5 musical instruments. He plays piano and saxophone in the worship band of Wasilla Community Church and is an instructor of Shotokan Karate at Alaska Music and Arts,” his biography states.
Sponsler is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on June 9, before US. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon in Anchorage. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing, if applicable, would be determined by a U.S. district judge in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.
The FBI and Alaska State Troopers are leading the investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or submit tips anonymously attips.fbi.gov.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers.
People can peacefully protest to express dissatisfaction with policies or actions, to raise awareness about a cause, to connect with like-minded individuals, and to push for negotiation, compromise and policy changes.
Terrorism, however, is the unlawful use of protest, force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce governments, civilian populations, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. This includes actions that cause death, serious bodily injury, or hostage-taking, with the intent to provoke a state of terror in the public or to intimidate a population or compel a government. Indeed, Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, was an act of genocidal terrorism under the slogan of “Free Palestine.”
Historically, Nazi’s propaganda against Jewish people from 1933 to 1945 often used slogans and phrases designed to dehumanize, blame, and incite hatred. These slogans were a core part of the Nazi regime’s efforts to scapegoat Jewish people for Germany’s problems and justify their persecution.
The main purpose of Nazi’s antisemitic slogans was to blame Jewish people for Germany’s socio-economic problems; foster antisemitic sentiment; justify discrimination and persecution; and, ultimately, commit the horrific crimes against Jewish people during the Holocaust, exterminating six million European Jews.
Other forms of Nazi’s propaganda reinforced these ideas, including antisemitic publications; antisemitic public displays and signs; children’s books depicting Jewish people in a negative and hateful light and reinforcing harmful stereotypes. These slogans and other propaganda played a significant role in creating a hostile environment for Jewish people in Nazi Germany and, therefore, contributing to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
The most well-known Nazi term for the extermination of Jews was the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” This was a euphemism used by Nazi leaders to refer to their plan for the systematic and intentional mass murder or genocide of millions of European Jews.
The “Final Solution” represented the central part of the horrifying culmination of Nazi anti-Jewish policies and ideology, which viewed Jews as a dangerous threat to the German “race” and its racial purity. In fact, progression of the Nazi anti-Jewish policies evolved over time, starting with discrimination, exclusion, forced emigration, violent attacks of the civilian population, and culminating in the “Final Solution.”
The decision to systematically murder all European Jews, including my grandfather Roman Umansky and my uncle Shura Dolitsky, was made likely with the invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.
It is well documented that implementation of the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question” was carried out through mass shootings by mobile killing units and in extermination camps with gas chambers in occupied territories. The Nazis used “resettlement” and “special treatment” tactics to hide the truth about their genocidal policies.
The Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee on 20 January 1942 was a meeting of high-ranking Nazi officials to coordinate and formalize the implementation of the “Final Solution.” In summary, while the Nazis used various terms and slogans to promote their antisemitic agenda, the term “Final Solution of the Jewish Question” is the most direct and specific reference to their plan for the extermination of the Jews.
Today’s pro-Palestinian antisemitic slogan for freedom from the “Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea” is calling for a complete eradication of Israel and extermination of Jews worldwide.
Clearly, the Free Palestine organization and its movement opposes the existence of Israel and its historic connection to the ancient land of Judea. In fact, Israel is the only country in the Middle East that was founded by Jews nearly 3200 years ago, while other countries in the region in close geographic proximity to Israel, except for Egypt, were artificial constructs of British and French mandates of the early 20th century.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formally established in 1932 by King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) after unifying various regions and Bedouin tribes under his rule. Bedouins in Saudi Arabia were traditionally nomadic desert-dwelling tribes; part of a larger group of Bedouins who inhabited the Arabian Peninsula and other nearby regions.
The creation of Jordan as a modern state is a story of evolving borders and political transitions. It began with the formation of the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921 under British mandate. This entity was later transformed into the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in 1946, gaining independence and eventually becoming known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The modern Syrian state was officially created in 1946 after World War II, gaining independence from the French mandate after a long period of Ottoman rule and then French administration. Prior to this, Syria was part of larger empires and regions, including the Ottoman Empire, and was later administered by France under a mandate from the League of Nations.
The creation of Iraq as a modern nation-state followed the end of World War I (1914-1918) and the official collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. Initially, the region, encompassing parts of the Ottoman provinces of Baghdad, Basra and Mosul, was placed under a British mandate by the League of Nations in 1920. This mandate period, lasting until 1932, saw the establishment of a Hashemite monarchy under British protection. In 1932, Iraq achieved independence and became a constitutional monarchy.
The modern State of Lebanon has existed within its current borders since 1920, when Greater Lebanon was created under French and British mandate, resulting from the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.
The murder of Israeli diplomats Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2025, by a pro-Palestinian terrorist, along with the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado on a march in support of hostages held in Gaza (both terrorists were yelling “Free Palestine”) reverberates and resembles a beginning of the Nazi’s-like “Final Solution.”
European Jews and others were silent when antisemitic atrocities emerged in Europe, naively hoping that the “wind of the Final Solution” will eventually stop or change its direction; but it did not, resulting in a massive extermination.
American Jewry and all the civilized world must recognize a danger of the “Free Palestine” terrorist organization and its movement to all humanity and peace-seeking nations; and they must do all possible in preventing its growth, advance and being of existence. Indeed, the slogan “Free Palestine” is a call for the destruction of Israel and extermination of Jews worldwide.
Alexander Dolitsky was born and raised in Kiev in the former Soviet Union. He received an M.A. in history from Kiev Pedagogical Institute, Ukraine in 1976; an M.A. in anthropology and archaeology from Brown University in 1983; and enrolled in the Ph.D. program in anthropology at Bryn Mawr College from 1983 to 1985, where he was also lecturer in the Russian Center. In the USSR, he was a social studies teacher for three years and an archaeologist for five years for the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. In 1978, he settled in the United States. Dolitsky visited Alaska for the first time in 1981, while conducting field research for graduate school at Brown. He then settled first in Sitka in 1985 and then in Juneau in 1986. From 1985 to 1987, he was U.S. Forest Service archaeologist and social scientist. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Russian Studies at the University of Alaska Southeast from 1985 to 1999; Social Studies Instructor at the Alyeska Central School, Alaska Department of Education and Yukon-Koyukuk School District from 1988 to 2006; and Director of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center from 1990 to 2022. From 2006 to 2010, Alexander Dolitsky served as a Delegate of the Russian Federation in the United States for the Russian Compatriots program. He has done 30 field studies in various areas of the former Soviet Union (including Siberia), Central Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and the United States (including Alaska). Dolitsky was a lecturer on the World Discoverer, Spirit of Oceanus, and Clipper Odyssey vessels in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions. He was a Project Manager for the WWII Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Memorial, which was erected in Fairbanks in 2006. Dolitsky has published extensively in the fields of anthropology, history, archaeology and ethnography. His more recent publications include Fairy Tales and Myths of the Bering Strait Chukchi, Ancient Tales of Kamchatka, Tales and Legends of the Yupik Eskimos of Siberia, Old Russia in Modern America: Living Traditions of the Russian Old Believers in Alaska, Allies in Wartime: The Alaska-Siberia Airway During World War II, Spirit of the Siberian Tiger: Folktales of the Russian Far East, Living Wisdom of the Russian Far East: Tales and Legends from Chukotka and Alaska, and Pipeline to Russia: The Alaska-Siberia Air Route in World War II.
