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The National Security Angle On The CAIR Interns.
Tim has already dealt ably with the intolerance being displayed by Republican congresspeople who are freaking out that Muslims have advocacy groups that represent them on the Hill. Marc Lynch and Spencer Ackerman make a separate but still important point that this kind of anti-Muslim bigotry undermines national security by sending the message that Muslims aren't actually welcome in American society -- not just in the Democratic process, but period. Lynch points out that Muslim nations will be less likely to cooperate with a U.S. that seeks to treat all of its Muslim citizens as potential fifth columnists, and Ackerman wrote back in 2005 about how the combination of American pluralism and openness was preventing American Muslims from being radicalized.
I want to briefly make another point. One of the advantages America has in the war on terrorism is that our law enforcement and intelligence agencies can potentially draw on the talents and experiences of Americans who are Muslim or whose families have cultural or ethnic origins in Muslim countries, who have the kind of linguistic and cultural backgrounds that are all too scarce in U.S. agencies at the moment. Political stunts alienate the very communities whose help the government needs in order to effectively protect national security.
-- A. Serwer
COMMENTS (1)
It's a bit more than just silliness on the part of some very ignorant GOP representatives. Islamophobia is being used in exactly the way anti-Semitism was used by nationalist and rightwing parties a hundred years ago. This is, sadly, a very organized thing that is being promoted by the ten big neo-con foundations in WDC; the hundred or so AM Hate Radio talk show "hosts"; and pundits like Glenn Beck and Michelle Malkin, both of whom support internment of Muslims.
If there is another attack on American soil, these groups will engage in a major campaign of demonization of Muslims in the US. Even without such a trauma, they will try to mainstream the argument for internment--that is why Malkin has gone to such lengths to make her revisionist case for internment of the Japanese-Americans.
For their part, the neo-cons often think that they can use Islamophobia to build support for Israel. Sadly, however, such appeals to bigotry discredit the cause of Israel.
The other big irony here is that Muslim operatives (Arabic-speaking and/or Pashtuns) are on the front line of defense for America. You are safer tonight because of their professionalism and courage.
When will we learn that religious bigotry is un-American? Guilt by association cannot and should not be a part of the American worldview. Religious liberty is the heart and soul of our country.
Religious bigotry should be opposed before it has a chance to put down roots. Let's pray that more Democrats--and perhaps a decent Republican or two--will denounce this latest example of hate and ignorance in the nation's capital.
Lawrence Swaim, Interfaith
Freedom Foundation
Posted by: Interfaith Freedom Foundation | October 16, 2009 4:07 AM