Free Iraq

The obvious racism, xenophobia and leveraging of the ignorance and prejudice of the Average American, while they should be taken for granted in stories of this type Her Dream, Branded as a Threat, (NYT April 28, 2008) are really not what's interesting about this typical American story (and note that New York City is one of the most well-informed, tolerant, "progressive" places in the U.S.). What I found interesting about it is the following two facts:

(1.) Note how the fanatically right-wing, Likud (settler) supporting Jewish pressure groups here (e.g. Mr. Pipes' little gang of Jewish John Birchers) are trying to expand the definition of "terrorist" -- according to them, it no longer means just "Islamicists who actually want to commit acts of violence", but instead, it means "any Muslim who in any way opposes any aspect of conservative, mainstream U.S. policy" (such as, for example, "opposing torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib"). This tactic, if successful (and the evidence is that it is highly so), is in effect going to brand each and every American Muslim as a "Fifth Columnist" in exactly the way in which Japanese-Americans were ostracized and punished merely for their ethnicity, in the Second World War.

The domestic concentration camps can't be far behind, can they? After all, they're already set up and running in Iraq and Guantanamo.

(2.) Note how, after the peace-loving, well-meaning liberal Arab-American woman who set up this non-denominational school to educate children of all faith backgrounds, in Islamic and Arabic culture, language and religion, was hounded out of office by lies published by Pipes and the right-wing NY Post, she was immediately replaced by a Jewish principal who speaks no Arabic at all.

Let me ask you: If, for some reason, a controversy forced the resignation of a Jewish principal from, say, a Hebrew scheul, what do you think the chances would be of him or her being replaced by a Muslim who spoke no Yiddish or Hebrew? Not a hard one to answer, is it? Ah, I guess "All Americans are equal, but some are more equal than others." Osama is telling Arabs around the world that "America hates you and is out to get you, just for worshipping Allah"; with stories like this, how can you honestly dispute him?

America, America, home of the frighted, the stupid and the bigoted. Let them keep Mr. Pipes and his settler friends. We'll take the rest of the world, and shut America and its puppets out of it.
 

Constant Shouts of 'Liar!' Overwhelm Truth

Democrats Are Still Weak on Security
By KARL ROVE
 

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Look forward to reading more.