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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| FBI Reaches Out to Arab Muslim Americans |
| 2007-06-16 |
| WASHINGTON, 15 June 2007 — The FBI is trying new tactics to win over the opinion of Arab-Americans. In an effort to change perceptions about itself — which were damaged by a wave of arrests and searches since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 — it recently sponsored Arab-American and Muslim-American comedians to perform at the annual convention of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, ADC... WTF? Over 80% of Arab Americans are Christian. Many are refugees from Islamic tyrannies. We should be encouraging them to undermine Islamic jihadism. Cultural sensitivity always means: catering to extremists within non-assimilating ethnic minorities. If Arab Muslims can subvert the FBI, they can subvert America. Gwen Hubbard, chief of the FBI’s National Recruitment and Marketing unit, explained the logic behind the FBI’s support: “We, within the FBI, are trying to break down a lot of barriers and create a different brand about the FBI within the Arab-American and Muslim American community. So, what better way that to allow the attendees to see us as we are? We’re just like them — we like to laugh and have a good time, too.” “Usually when you create a relaxed atmosphere, you can break barriers within the community,” Hubbard told Arab News. “Outreach becomes much more effective. As people become more relaxed and less guarded, and they are more willing to listen and share ideas to help enhance the overall mission.” “Historically, the FBI is viewed as very stuffy and straight-laced organization by certain communities across the US. We wanted to put a human face on the FBI, and you can be just like us, come in a join us — as agents or in any professional staff position.” Hubbard said the gamble paid off. “Several Arab-Americans present at the ADC convention were recruited, and are now undergoing the application process.” She said they hoped to book the comedians for a national conference of FBI recruiters in October. Gamal Abdel-Hafiz, an Egyptian-American and the first Muslim FBI agent, encouraged guests to consider FBI careers, adding, “We will never change what we don’t like unless we take part.” Sounds like destructive-engagement to me. He told reporters that he had asked to speak to the ADC convention because he remained concerned by the lack of Muslims at the agency, which he said still had fewer than 10 Muslim agents out of a total number of over 12,000. |
| Posted by:McZoid |
| #8 I'd like to reach out to them...grab them by the collar and haul them to a waiting deportation plane. Next stop, the Magic Kingdom of Saudiland! AMFs! |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-06-16 19:01 |
| #7 This makes the alliance we made with the Mafia during WWII look like an act of Genius. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2007-06-16 12:41 |
| #6 We wanted to put a human face on the FBI They've already got one, J. Edgar Hoover. Read all about him. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-06-16 11:56 |
| #5 I was unaware of the celebrated FBI agent's past. It is beyond me why rational thought is beyond the capacity of our leaders. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2007-06-16 11:18 |
| #4 Far from being reprimanded, Abdel-Hafiz was promoted to one of the FBI's most important anti-terrorism posts, the American Embassy in Saudi Arabia, to handle investigations for the FBI in that Muslim country. Abdel-Hafiz and everyone who signed off on his promotion need to answer in open court on charges of treason. This is beyond the pale. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-06-16 09:32 |
| #3 Our old friend Agent Gamal Abdel-Hafiz is back. I question just where the FBI leadership is wrt muslim terrorism (e.g. openly islamist spies translating FBI intercepts). Wall Street Journal After al Qaeda blew up two U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998, Wright tells ABC, the agents established a money trail from the attacks to some of the people they'd been investigating in Chicago, and to a Saudi businessman named Yassin al-Kadi. "Yet, even after the bombings, Wright said FBI headquarters wanted no arrests." Prosecutor Mark Flessner "was assigned to the case despite efforts Wright and Vincent say were made by superiors to block the probe." Flessner "said he . . . couldn't figure out why Washington stopped the case--whether it was Saudi influence or bureaucratic ineptitude." There may also have been an element of political correctness, as evidenced by this appalling detail: Perhaps most astounding of the many mistakes, according to Flessner and an affidavit filed by Wright, is how an FBI agent named Gamal Abdel-Hafiz seriously damaged the investigation. Wright says Abdel-Hafiz, who is Muslim, refused to secretly record one of al-Kadi's suspected associates, who was also Muslim. Wright says Abdel-Hafiz told him, Vincent and other agents that "a Muslim doesn't record another Muslim." Uncle Sam may sign his paychecks, but he's on the other side. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-06-16 07:39 |
| #2 The shoe should be on the other foot. American Arabs and Muslims should seek to cleanse the stain of dishonor upon their group by cooperating with the FBI to uncover and arrest potential security threats emanating from within their communities. The FBI should be viewed by them just as the rest of us view the FBI - as one of the bulwarks against extremist plots. |
| Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-06-16 04:45 |
| #1 Gag! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-06-16 02:37 |