An Arab journalist, who has worked for various Middle East newspapers for over 25 years from the US, has pointed out the likely pitfalls of the National Security Agency (NSA) using its new powers to monitor overseas communications without any approval from a judge.Mohammad Ali Salih writes in the Washington Times that he has 12 brothers and sisters, more than 30 cousins, about 50 nieces and nephews and many friends scattered in seven Muslim countries. There are also tens of readers who respond to his writings, in Arabic and English, in print and on the Internet. If the NSA, using its new powers to monitor overseas communications, electronically looks into his communications for catch words like "Allahu Akbar" and "Kafir" it will find them in there. "If the NSA is looking for certain names of terrorists, their supporters, helpers and financiers among my family members, it will not find them. If the NSA is looking for Muslims who are very critical of US policies towards Muslims, especially in the aftermath of September 11, may Allah help all of us," he writes.
Salih, who is from Sudan, writes that his brother begged him to return home during a recent phone conversation, and cursed "Bush and the rest of the 'Kafirs' who are killing Muslims all over the world". Another brother talked about the village's madrassa and said that some Arab businessmen from the Gulf had helped rebuild it. A sister, also on her cell phone, sang a popular local song about Condoleezza Rice that went, "Rice, the best of all prides. If my father agrees, I will marry you. And I'll keep you at home." His father said a prayer for him, "May Allah guide you. May Allah protect you from evil. May Allah defeat your enemies."
Salih points out that his relatives and friends are not exceptional. In Egypt, 92 percent believe that the US intends to "weaken and divide" Muslims. Ninety-one percent support "attacking US forces in Iraq". Another recent poll by Gallup, conducted in 10 Muslim countries, found that an "overwhelming majority...strongly doubted the US is trying to establish democracy in the ME". And an earlier poll by CNN found that people in nine Muslim countries called the US "ruthless and arrogant," with most describing themselves as "resentful" of this. He adds, "But, in spite of its faults, I believe America is God's heaven on earth. Never before in the history of mankind has a nation been so free, strong, advanced, diverse, proud and built on faith. According to many polls, most Muslims, like others, would love to come to America. That includes my relatives and friends, the young among them usually ask me to find a way for them to come to study."