We’ve heard it all before and so many times over and over… “we’re with the government and we are here to help.” Or instead “YOU can be such a great help to us, fostering and promoting greater understanding and tolerance.” Or perhaps “This is a friendly visit. It is your choice whether you cooperate or talk to us. No hard feelings if you do not choose to cooperate but yes, we can make life difficult for you in America if we wish too.” Or maybe even “well, you are a Saudi married to an American and not a citizen…you might wish to cooperate with us in case you’d like to stay in America or be able to come back for visits as you wish.”
Oh yes, the above are all tactics the FBI have used towards trying to get Saudis (and other Arabs and muslims) to basically spy for them. Spy as in responding to FBI questions as to who fellow Saudi, Arab and muslim friends are, what they think, what they do, where they go. But of course, this will all be labeled on fostering better understanding.
And sadly, too many Saudis, Arabs and muslims will believe it is their duty to respond and cooperate with the FBI. It is not because they really want to but they fear if they do not they or others in their family may face deportation or worse. What could be worse than deportation you may ask? How about FBI officials who may choose to abuse their authority and power and if one gets on their wrong side, may have a Saudi, Arab or Muslim placed on the terrorist watchlist – without due cause or evidence? Never say never.
Now I’m not saying that one should never cooperate or want to help but if the type of help being asked for does not sound right, does not feel right and makes you feel that you are compromising your rights, ethics and values, do not let them coerce you. Go and seek advice from your embassy (if you are a non-American and approached by the FBI in the United States) or a reputable institution such as the U.S. Muslim Coalition or others.
The following release further reinforces my strong feelings on this issue:
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:21:20 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: U.S. Muslim Coalition Considers Suspending Relations with FBI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Muslim Coalition Considers Suspending Relations with FBI
Move comes following incidents of FBI targeting mosques, Muslim groups
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/17/2009) – A coalition* of major national Islamic
organizations today announced that it is considering suspending
outreach relations with the FBI, citing recent incidents in which
American mosques and Muslim groups have been targeted.
In a statement, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and
Elections (AMT), said:
Muslim communities throughout the United States have made significant
advances in promoting and contributing to a fair, free and pluralistic
society.
Through civil rights advocacy, civic and political engagement, and the
promotion of dialogue with interfaith leaders and law enforcement
agencies, Muslim Americans continue to be a positive and stabilizing
force in keeping our nation safe and secure from acts of violence and
foreign threats.
Despite fear-mongering by a vocal minority, Muslim Americans are
natural allies of law enforcement agencies in ensuring the wellbeing
of our nation. Muslims are law-abiding and productive citizens who
uphold the democratic principles of freedom, equality and justice.
Yet recent incidents targeting American Muslims lead us to consider
suspending ongoing outreach efforts with the FBI.
In California, the FBI sent a convicted criminal to pose as an agent
provocateur in several of that state’s mosques. An FBI agent allegedly
told one of the mosque attendees that the agency would make his life a
“living hell” if he did not become an informant.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) wrote in a recent statement,
headlined “FBI Losing Partnership with American Muslim Community” -
“Trust is the cornerstone of any partnership between law enforcement
and communities. It can only be established and maintained through
clear and open communication. Without this, trust is eroded and
suspicions arise on all sides. This clearly does not serve anyone’s
interests…It is now up to the FBI and law enforcement agencies to
re-engage with the Muslim American community, and re-build trust and
respect.”
Early last fall, the FBI began a disengagement campaign in its
relations with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest and most respected Muslim civil rights
organization.The FBI suspended contacts with CAIR pending the
resolution of unspecified “issues.”
In response, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, an
umbrella organization of many Muslim groups, suspended outreach to the
FBI in February. The council’s letter to the FBI stated in part:
“Our commitment to ensuring the rights, interests, and prosperity of
American Muslims and all Americans is unconditional. We hope the FBI
will have the foresight to restore its relationship with such a vital
link to the American Muslim community.”
We believe the FBI’s unjustified actions are based on the May 2007
designation of some 300 groups and individuals, including several
major American Muslim groups such as CAIR, the Islamic society of
North America (ISNA) and the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), as
“unindicted co-conspirators” (UCC) in conjunction with the Holy Land
Foundation trial in Dallas, Texas.
Making this unjust designation public violates the Justice
Department’s own guidelines and wrongly implies that those listed are
somehow involved in criminal activity.
Bias and faulty premises dominated post-9/11 law enforcement analysis
of the Muslim community and the threat assessment to national
security.The waning days of the previous administration witnessed a
flourishing of anti-Muslim activity.
There is even inter-agency information being disseminated that claims
civil rights advocacy is part of a Muslim conspiracy to implement
Shari’a law in order to destroy the United States.Recent government
actions seemed to be based on this bizarre premise.
These McCarthy-era tactics are detrimental to a free society.
The credibility of all Muslim organizations who maintain ties to the
FBI that do not react decisively is undermined in the eyes of the
community.Our fear is that counter-intelligence programs are quelling
lawful dissent.
What is most frightening is that FBI abuses are no longer covert, and
are slowly being integrated into the already expansive laws regulating
law enforcement activity.
Internationally, in light of President Obama’s initiative of dialogue
with the Muslim world, such actions negatively impact U.S. interests.
If the FBI does not accord fair and equitable treatment to every
American Muslim organization, including CAIR, ISNA and NAIT, then
Muslim organizations, mosques and individuals will have no choice but
to consider suspending all outreach activities with FBI offices,
agents and other personnel. This possible suspension, of course, would
in no way affect our unshakable duty to report crimes or threats of
violence to our nation.
We call on the FBI to reassess its positions on profiling and the use
of informants as agents provocateurs within the Muslim communities.We
further request objective evaluation of the sources of information and
analysis utilized to formulate decisions.
Notwithstanding such requests, we call on Muslim organizations and
individuals to petition their elected representatives to hold hearings
to address these grave matters of concern to the Muslim community.
We fully expect that the President’s calls for inclusion will not be
derailed by irresponsible elements in and outside of government
fomenting anti-Muslim bias in this great nation.
- END -
To add your organization, mosque or Islamic center as a signatory to
this statement, e-mail: bestusa80@hotmail.com
* Signatories to this statement include:
American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Islamic Educational Center of Orange County (IEC)
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA)
Muslim American Society-Freedom Foundation (MAS-FF)
Muslim Student Association-National (MSA-N)
Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA)
United Muslims of America (UMA)
Filed under: America, culture, politics, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, terrorism Tagged: | America, customs, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, terrorism
Something like that happened here. They trapped a Somali guy into a bad situation and then told him to work undercover or get kicked out of the country.
It is bad when you dont even know if you can trust the people from your own government. I guess you cannot know who the good guys are and who the badn guys are.
I consider these warnings about the FBI a public service message, so I’d like to do my part for those north of the US border.
CSIS (Canada’s FBI/CIA) is not your friend either. The Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) has published online a what to do (and not do) if CSIS wants to talk to you. In short: be polite, don’t talk, don’t go with them, stall, don’t let them in, contact CAF, get a lawyer.
http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMBEDDEDFILE&DataObjectID=701&ColumnID=3581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID=613
CSIS helped the CIA get innocent Maher Arar disappeared to a Syrian black site for 2 years of torture, during which he and other innocents named any names they thought would stop the pain.
CSIS used an imam and another Muslim as plants to entrap Toronto youths into a “terrorist cell” with a “terrorist plot” and then arrested them with immense fanfare and photo ops of sharpshooters on roofs. Google “Toronto 18″.
CSIS and the RCMP have intimidated lawyers, RCMP, and former RCMP witnesses who might exonerate the Muslims currently detained in Canada under our version of the “Homeland Security Act” and “Patriot Act”
CSIS is not your friend.
PS the 2 muslims doing the entrapping were paid mega-bucks (even for CDN$).
How can they not be your friends? They have cute kitties working for them. They can’t be bad!
:(
AmerBedu: Being a Black American and the mother of a Black Son…I know all too well about the government and their profiling (whether it be racial, nationality, or whatever). And, believe me…I’m no friend of the FBI. HOWEVER, considering that most of the hijackers attached to the 9/11 attacks were Saudi; would they be doing their job if they weren’t trying to get intelligence? I think you putting this out there so people will know their rights should they be approached is a good thing. But…
BCIS,
I get your point, but then why is the US still SO close to the Saudi government itself? Elements of that government have played roles,. over the years, in promoting extemism.
If we are going to profile and go after Saudi men, wouldnt it be logical as well not to trust and be so close to the Saudi government?
Even after 9/11 we didnt learn this lesson. It is said that the Saudi Ambassador to the USA, Prince Bandr, knew of the US decision to invade Iraqi before many senior members of the US government did.
I had a friend how were studying in the United State, according to him, the FBI were visiting them ( he and his Saudi roommates ) suddenly and sometime on a regular bases and kept asking them about united state and why they came, and what is jehad……etc, as well as, my friend and his friend were aware of the spycam and it is recording sound also which has been installed in the air condition holes on the wall however it can be seen from the red light. They cooperate with them to avoid studying visa to be canceled which it happened to many Saudi students and one has been put on guantanamo bay I don’t remember his name.
This is so sad. I wonder when exactly the U.S.gov’t grows up and realizes people are people? Every place has it’s nuts and fanatics.Remember Timothy McVeigh? Maybe the FBI should be interviewing Midwestern students for subversive tendencies. Lord only knows what kind of radical ideas are brewing on the nations farms.
I’m sorry but I feel disappointed at the lack of foresight that I’m seeing in this post and its related comments.
What do you think your country would do to protect its citizens after a bunch of fundamentalist religious zealots flew planes into your business buildings? While I don’t feel infringement on personal privacy is something to be championed, I also think it’s reasonable to watch the muslim community a little more closely post 9-11. After all, no one can deny that the nutjobs that flew those planes were muslim, even if it was a vastly distorted polluted version of a beautiful religion.
I also think that the middle east is harsher on your own population than you are willing to admit in this context. As a citizen whose country sentences lashes to 75 year old women who are receiving nephews for bread……what do you think your country would do if they heard there were some muslim youths joking about bombing an embassy? Sit them down for tea?
And when you talk about the state of religious plurality in the States, I have to state the obvious and ask what kind of rights foreigners have in Saudi to practice their religion freely? Where are the Bibles in all the hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia?
Well said, BCIS. I have chosen to be a little more pointed and un-diplomatic about this, which maybe is a little un-Canadian of me!
Whether or not to cooperate with the FBI is one issue but the press release you quotes is all about CAIR’s problematic relations with the authorities. I don’t know the law so I cannot comment on whether CAIR should have been named a co-conspirator in a plot to fund Hamas, but if one looks at existing sources one will see that CAIR is an outgrowth of Palestinian activism.
CAIR tries to portray itself as a mainstream American organization but it acts as an Arab lobby (or Arab American lobby if you wish). It is doing its best to help make Islam in America Wahabi light.
Didn’t they initially blame the McVeigh bombings on Al Qeada?
My main issue with the FBI are the strong arm techniques they are using against totally innocent individuals. And, YES, they have abused their power and authority when some have the courage to stand up to them and say not only NO but hell NO when they ask totally inappropriate questions. If one (Saudi) chooses not to respond to their queries then the FBI has no right to hold a grudge and take actions that can be detrimental to that Saudi. Instead of taking pursuit and vengeance against those who fully within their rights have chosen not to respond to their queries, the FBI should be expending their time, resources and monies and going after the “real terrorists” instead. In fact, given what I am aware of in some cases of actions taken, I’m not surprised that more of the “real” terrorists or extremists have not been apprehended yet.
I used to have the highest respect for the Bureau and their work but after knowing of enough incidents which I am not at liberty to go into details about, I have lost my respect and admiration.
And don’t start mixing apples and oranges about how the Bureau works in the US as compared to actions elsewhere by other foreign agencies and other countries. This topic is too important to get sidetracked on some tangent.
I’ve been reading “Shadow Warriors” and have been shocked at some of the stories shared concerning our CIA and other agencies I normally would have trusted. So when you, American Bedu, say “after knowing of enough incidents…”, I think I can understand better where you are coming from. Also in regards to this post, I fear America is becoming more of a police state than we realize at times.
I’m sure these people can make life hell for you if they want to. Thank God the Bush era is over and we have a very intelligent president leading the way now.
It’s funny you mention that Susanne… a friend and I wrote a book “Patriots for Hire” about those who choose to take jobs as defense contractors in Iraq. The entire book was a work of non-fiction and did include some eye-opener stories on irregularities and discrepancies which took place over there. Unfortunately after being accepted by a prominent publisher who also provided a nice advance to me and my partner, it was ultimately rejected after a legal review fearing that some of the stories were too controversial! Oh well… that is water under the bridge but in relation to this post, it does emphasize the need to apply caution and remember that not everything is as it seems or sounds.
And I also have Shadow Warriors in my reading library.
Yes Miriam…they can make life pure hell if they so choose or at least that certainly happened under the Bush Administration. Now the Obama Administration is stuck with cleaning up and clearing up that mess!
I think comparitive politics is completely relevent if you’re going to single out one country’s protectionist practices. Especially if there is an obvious case of pot-calling-the-kettle-black going on. If you don’t like the way America functions, what are you doing there?
I never said I do not like the way America functions. I am against the procedures and tactics used by the FBI. It is not relevant to comparitive politics. I do not see the Saudi equivalent to the FBI going around approaching Americans or Canadians as the FBI routinely does in the United States.
As a Canadian I wholeheartedly agree with you about CSIS. Have you heard about Abousfian Abdelrazik, a Canadian Sudanese who is living in the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum because of CSIS via the American no-fly list and a whole circus of stupidness performed by the Canadian government? If you’re interested look up his story because its a sad and stupid one.
My Sudanese-Canadian husband will not fly to/through/via/over the USA because of his concerns over USA paranoia. We do fly often to Sudan and the Middle East so it’s not that he’s on a no-fly list but still ….
Mohamed S–there was some initial tentative speculation about the McVeigh bombings being by “Arab terrorists” (I don’t think al-Qaeda came trippingly off the tongue then). President Clinton put a rapid end (within 24hrs I believe) to the speculation, and it was quickly discovered the terrorists were home grown.
I don’t think warning people about government missteps and oversteps is condemning appropriate policies following a security threat. Given the impact 9/11 and Bush’s policies had on Canadian law, security services, and Muslim men it is important to recognize just being north of the border doesn’t make you safe. If the blunders hadn’t been so crude, rampant, with serious backlash consequences against the US it would be easier to argue the justification of measures taken.
The CAIR-US problems with the FBI ring true as an attempt to stifle an important defense group for Arab Americans and parallel current attempts to discredit and control the Canadian Arab Federation. This secular group also took a leading role in trying to help officials improve their profile by teaching cultural norms.
Canadian in Riyadh–One would think that the arrest of ~17 South Asian -Toronto youths immediately post 9/11 under new anti-terrorism laws, and then having to release all without charges, would have taught CSIS (with FBI/CIA guidance) to be more cautious–it only taught them pseudo-legalese and fanfare, that has resulted in similar release rates. US blunders are even more notorious.
American Bedu–impressive! Fictionalize and publish!
Saudi Bedu–thanks for sharing your friends’ personal experiences.
Wendy–yes I have heard, and he is part of a list of Canadians allowed to “rot” elsewhere (Omar Khadr being the other current most famous one) by a government overly subservient to Bush style policies. Your husband is wise.
If you dont like it then go home…such an inspired answer and solution to every anti this or that comment that comes up….
Carol…Im with Chiara…standing back and very impressed!!!
Some videos worth watching:
also worth watching….
Good videos!
)
I understand that there are key words that are scanned for on the net in the US and ditto phone calls. Whether true or not I don’t know. My husband and I have been together for only three years now and when he first came to my town and was calling his family is Sudan and Saudi I heard audible clicks as in ‘listen in’ during the calls. They did stop but I’m sure that when a flurry of calls to these places started showing up we were tapped.
I’m sad that our current government decided it must obey the US in these matters. I suppose they had no choice but I don’t like it. Having said that it is still easier living in Canada and we citizens do not have fear of Muslims pushed down our throats as has happened in the US. Hopefully that will stop now Insha’alla!
Jerry M,, Jerry there is nothing called Wahhabi or wahhabism , what a stereotype you are
Okay, now I’m confused with your answer to Jerry M. Did I misread something?
Wahhabi (Arabic: Al-Wahhābīyya الوهابية) or Wahhabism is a conservative form of Sunni Islam attributed to Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, an 18th century scholar from what is today known as Saudi Arabia, who advocated a return to the practices of the first three generations of Islamic history.
Wahhabism is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia.[1] It is often referred to as a “sect”[1] or “branch”[2] of Islam, though both its supporters and its opponents[3] reject such designations. It has developed considerable influence in the Muslim world through the funding of mosques, schools and other means from Persian Gulf oil wealth.[4]
The primary doctrine of Wahhabi is Tawhid, or the uniqueness and unity of God.[5] Ibn Abdul Wahhab was influenced by the writings of Ibn Taymiyya and questioned medieval interpretations of Islam, claiming to rely on the Qur’an and the Hadith.[5] He preached against a “perceived moral decline and political weakness” in the Arabian Peninsula and condemned idolatry, the popular cult of saints, and shrine and tomb visitation.[5]
The term “Wahhabi” (Wahhābīya) was first used by opponents of ibn Abdul Wahhab.[2] It is considered derogatory by the people it is used to describe, who prefer to be called “unitarians” (Muwahiddun).[6][7]
The terms “Wahhabi”, “Salafi” and the Ahle Hadith are often used interchangeably, but Wahhabi has also been called “a particular orientation within Salafism”,[2] an orientation some consider ultra-conservative.[8][9]
We don’t call us Wahabeez
Mohammad ibn abdulwahab is just someone who fought Ignorance and help reviving the Real Islamic practice PEOPLE!
I hate the people who call us Wahhabez, I feel to strangle him to death because he created something will confuses the other Muslims and will make them – with Ignorance- start to call us Wahabeez
You didn’t studied in our schools nor you don’t know what we studied about mohammad ib abdulwahab, So If iam what you call “wahabi” don’t believe in something called Wahhabi.
In the last that the white devil legacy “the British….Kidding ” , It is the British who labeled that movement of uniting the tribes.
CORRECTION “So If iam what you call “wahabi” don’t believe in something called Wahhabi why do you insist in calling us wahabeez”
Oh boy, I’m even more confused than ever. Well, never mind. It is not a matter of life or death to me and I hope it’s not for you either.
well it is little things annoy me and I don’t focus on it, but it keep expanding and spreading until it became a fact.
Interestingly, while I am a citizen (American born and raised), my mother is Arab (her father was Saudi), and my father south asian. One morning (2 years ago), I woke up to answer the door, and found myself greeted by two homeland security officials. While they were not there (at least primarily), for me, they came back 5 more times, once searching my apartment (including emptying out my underwear drawers…). They tapped my phone, my parents phone, interviewed neighbors about us, and likely did far more that I’m unaware of.
I haven’t been visited in a while, but I’m uncertain if it’s actually stopped. The one thing I do have to say though, is that they were as polite and respectful as you can get while invading someone’s privacy and exercising extreme authority over them.
In watching the videos you linked, one man said “I operate under the assumption that someone is listening,” and this couldn’t be more true. If you look a certain way, if you have specific names, even if you change your name.. they’ll find out, and they may find interest in you. This ethnic/racial/religious profiling is really, really unfortunate in all regards.
Canadianinriyadh,
In America (pre-Patriot Act), we have the right to dissent. If we don’t like something, we have the right and indeed the OBLIGATION to speak out and voice such dissent.
SaudiBedu,
Many people would disgaree that wahabbism is the real Islam. People call it such because it is yet one more form of practice of Islam, but it is not Islam in itself (especially in any academic sense).
And wanting to strangle someone because you don’t like what they say.. is very concerning. You need to check the violent attitude, dude. It’s unhealthy.
MayaNoor, There is no Wahhabism, end of story
that why I want to strangle somebody
They may be polite (as can be under the circumstances) while violating ones privacy but then when it is a voluntary request on whether or not to speak, they have proven they can be very vindictive to those who have chosen not to play their game. Now to me, that is a clear abuse of authority and US taxpayer dollars at waste. And to make it worse, to target and/or approach individuals who are solid individuals with good character and not involved, engaged in or have knowledge of any wrong-doing but want to approach such individuals because they are the right nationality, have the right language, the right appearance, the right color but if these same individuals choose (as is their right) to not wish to be a collaborator, the Bureau has been known in too many cases to get that individual blacklisted such as on do not fly lists or even placed on terror watchlists. You can only imagine the repercussions such acts have on an individuals life and how long it takes to correct the FBI’s abuse of authority and errors in this matter.
Not to stir up the pot but I asked my husband when he came home from work what Muslims are in Saudi and he said Wahabi. He was born and grew up in Saudi so…….
@Saudi Bedu,
“I hate the people who call us Wahhabez, I feel to strangle him to death because he created something will confuses the other Muslims and will make them”
You want to strangle people to death over words and wonder why you are viewed as a radical. Yes the teachings of Mohamad Abdulwahab were different than other scholars of his time. I do not know what is the proper term, but there are many followers of his teachings and it is a more conservative form of Islam than others. I actually do not know why you take offense to be named as a follower of a great Imam as you stated.
Also, your assertion that he fought ignorance and returned the peninsula to the true form of Islam is incorrect. If there was ignorance at the time it was mostly in Najid. The Hijaz region had many institutes and Islamic schools throughout history. These existed until the followers of Abdul Wahhab destroyed them when the Hijaz was finally invaded in the early 20th century.
By the way I studied in Saudi Schools and I know what we were taught in Saudi is different than what other Muslims were taught. Also, I had to study Mohamad Abdulwahab in particular under the curriculum. No other Imam or scholar in the history of Islam was included in our history books (example Sahafa’e, Ahmad Ben Hambel, Bin Malik, etc.). Why do you think that was the case?
“Wahhabi” isnt a proper term. It is a pejorative term used mostly in the West.
The more proper term is “Salafi” even then there are many different distinctions even within that group. I think Tarqi Ramadan listed six different groups within Salafism.
Either way, same difference really. What the media calls “Wahhabi” could just as easily “religious extremist” or “radical Salafi” ect.
@Abu,
Wahhabi is not a new term invented used in the west. Actually it was in use since the 60′s in teh Arabic world. The term Salfi has become more popular of late as an alternative, since Wahhabi has become such a negative term.
@Saudi in USA,
I dont like the term “Wahhabi” but for different reasons than our resident regressive Saudi here. I dont think it is accurate, I dont think it is descriptive, and it is now meant as an insult.
Ibn Taymiyyah played a larger role for those that are called “Wahhabi” today. Like I’ve said before, it is more descriptive and more accurate, but could you imagine Western news sources talking about “Taymiyyaheen”?
@Abusinan,
Agreed Ibn Tymiyyah has more influence on the religious teachings. However, the difference here is Abdulwahab had an alliance with the Saudi’s that spread the word. His descendants continued that alliance until this day. The religious groups in Saudi insisted on teaching everyone about him and his life. Whenever you see a name of a scholar with Al Alshaikh in his name, it is a descendant of Abdulwahab. The name Wahabism did not come from no where. There is a relationship to a family. Just like the Al Saud name.
Great videos! and great examples from MayaNoor and others.
This post as been an eye opener, since despite my awareness of the targettingof Arabs, Muslims, and brown looking men of a certain age, I have heard the Bush propaganda “Iraq, 9/11, Iraq, 9/11…” while watching the hand holding with King Abdullah so often, that I didn’t appreciate how much Saudis were being targetted.
A number of excellent points on the Wahhabi, Salafi, etc issue. My understanding has been that the primary issue is the alliance between the Al Saud family and the followers of Mohamad Abdulwahab (Wahhabis), as a strategy to unify Arabia under their combined power. Post-oil this has led to expansion of their combined influence internationally. Some prefer the term salafi to recognize the broader movement, and some because of negative connotations associated with Wahhabi.
Can the Wahhabi discussion pleased be moved to the debate page as it is not related to this post.
Thanks,
American Bedu
This post reminded me of the movie, “House of Sand and Fog”. It has nothing to do with the FBI, but it deals with abuse of power and prejudice.
LOL – The U.S. Muslim Coalition is tacitly admitting that there are a significant number of Islamist terrorists embedded within the Muslim residents of the US. Otherwise their threat would be meaningless.
Gloria – I’ve not heard of the movie you mention. I’ll have to check it out.
Sidney Lumet’s “Strip Search” a 2004 HBO film is frighteningly on topic, and is a docudrama that leaves a strong impression against the abuses of the Patriot Act.
Jonolan at 3:49–I don’t follow the logic of your statement. No such tacit admission can be deduced from Muslim organizations’ statement that unless they are respected they will cease cooperating with the FBI in outreach activities.
Strip Search was pretty powerful! I’d forgotten about that movie. HBO does such great stuff.
Re: The House of Sand and Fog – it is also a novel. Was an Oprah book club book a few years ago. Very good book and movie!