Hiding in Plain Sight (Al Arian at the White House)

Newsweek ^ | March 3rd, 2003 | Michael Isikoff

[Sabertooth]

For George W. Bush, it was just another campaign stop. But for Sami Al-Arian, a University of South Florida engineering professor, it was a golden opportunity. When Bush appeared at Tampa’s Strawberry Festival in March 2000, Al-Arian sidled up to the candidate and had his picture taken.

< -snip- >

Al-Arian’s politics took on a decidedly darker cast last week when federal agents arrested him at his home in south Florida and charged him with being a top leader of one of the world’s most violent terrorist organizations: Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

< -snip- >

Al-Arian certainly didn’t act like a sponsor of suicide bombings. Far from keeping to the shadows, he repeatedly lobbied Congress on civil-liberties issues, made thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to influential members of Congress and renounced violence during appearances on TV talk shows. In June 2001 Al-Arian was invited to a White House briefing for 150 Muslim American activists, at which political director Karl Rove talked about the Bush administration’s "outreach" efforts. A law-enforcement official told NEWSWEEK the Secret Service had flagged Al-Arian as a potential terrorist prior to the event. But White House aides, apparently reluctant to create an incident, let him through anyway. Such access had its advantages. "He always told me the charges were garbage," said Khaled Saffuri, chairman of the Islamic Institute. "When you hear he’s going to the White House, you figure what he’s saying must be true." In fact, federal prosecutors charged last week, Al-Arian carried out his secret terrorist agenda "under the guise of promoting and protecting Arab rights"—making his public profile a critical part of his MO. "It was the perfect cover," said Steven Emerson, a terrorism analyst who has followed Al-Arian for years.

[ohioWfan]

OK, Sabertooth. I'll let you worry about Grover Norquist, and whoever else may be involved, and trust you to do the detective work necessary to have done to them whatever it is that you want done to them. (I still call this 'old news' and since the President obviously knows about it, I assume he's 'on it' as well...........that's the primary difference between us....I trust his leadership ability, and you don't).

Sorry, but I have other more personal concerns right now to be agitated (by what is most likely being dealt with).........like a son who is going to war. If you ever have kids, you might understand that.

[ohioWfan]

I agree that there WAS a problem. I have confidence enough in the President's leadership and integrity to believe that whatever was done wrong (and obviously something was), has now been, or is being corrected.

[aristeides]

I will agree that the problem has been corrected when I stop hearing "Islam is a religion of peace."

[ohioWfan]

I don't agree with that statement, but I'm not obsessed with it either, aristeides.

If our President makes enemies of every Muslim in the country by slamming their religion, it will serve no useful purpose. And it would be stupid.

I prioritize my concerns, and that is FAR from the top of my list.

[bvw]

I disagree with the value of that tactic, in your analogy. That is -- the Mayor's wife SAVED the town a whole lot of money and probably chased away far more bad guys than invetsigation, arrest and prosecution would have. Sun Tzu would have awarded her! And so would Miyamoto Musashi.

If I could only so "scare" the mice away from my house. Traps are a continual expense, bother to set and a pain to clean up.

Look ... the saying is "wasn't doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" (I have many reservations about that wisdom -- but it has some value, and many take it very seriously). Even after a good investiagtion and prosecution, the bad guys may go free, or some of them avoid any official notice. They find that "empowering" and it brings them allies -- weak-moralled, low ethics, weak-minded hangers on who tag along to the "powerful" or wealthy.

A FEAR, however, is near always found greater than the reality -- Hooray for the Mayor's Wife!

[PhiKapMom]

What is your agenda? My mind is boggled trying to figure out which way you are going! You seem to be on board anyone that goes after the President right now unless he does something you like and then you join that thread saying he is the best President ever and how much you support the President!

Which way is it?

These latest bashing using Isokoff is laughable. Do you know how many campaign visits that people arranged for pictures to be taken with the candidate? I couldn't count them if I tried.

Maybe you should know your President better -- if he meets someone before he speaks, he more than likely will look at that person during his speeches and smile or nod -- doesn't mean he knows the person all that well -- that is just the way he makes contact with the audience.

You also have to remember the campaign was before 9/11 or did you forget that little detail? Before 9/11 this professor was on staff at USF and no one and I REPEAT no one considered him anything other than a Professor, but I guess your crystal ball said he was trouble.

Amazing how much time some folks on here thinks the President has to deal with something you all think is important like this. He has enough on his plate with the upcoming War for more than two people while people like to sit behind a computer and go snipe, snipe, snipe one day on a visit to the White House that he didn't even arrange and the next day praise him. And a lot of us on here are getting really sick of this agenda.

As for Norquist -- he has gone from genius on tax matters to the bottom of the heap! Take your pick! Do you know how easy it would be for a college professor to get in good with someone because that person would be assumed they were okay before 9/11 especially? Hindsight is so much better than real time! But then some of the folks on here ever made a mistake about someone? Guess Norquist should do background checks on everyone he meets from now on! And I am not defending him BTW because I don't know the details. Unlike some, I don't take the press' word about a situation until all the facts are in! Unlike some on here it seems, I have made a lot of mistakes in judging people! Always figured that people are going to take into consideration the lack of integrity of the media when reading an article and commenting.

The anti-Bush/anti-Republican people sure love to give aid and comfort to the democRATs. Guess they all preferred when clinton was in office so they really could complain. Now this crap from Isokoff and others and it is treated like it is some big deal -- bigger than what is happening in the UN and with Iraq. Guess it is a big deal to some folks who don't see the big picture.

BTW not all Arabs are Anti-American and the continued attacks on here by some Freepers make it look just like that! We have Iraqi's that have come to this Country that appreciate every day they are here because of our freedoms! I look at demonstrators here in this Country and most of them are retreds from the 60's/70's demonstrations and their kids.

Actually I asked about your agenda -- you know what -- it has become obvious. If there is an article about how popular the President is or he is supporting a pet project of yours, he is great. But then have something negative happen, and you are with the bashers. Must be hard to not know where you stand.

As for your continued comments on Lott -- amazing that you don't still get it. Guess you were always with Lott praising him every step of the way (sarcasm).

Haven't met a Republican yet that that I have talked to who is not glad that Lott is not Majority Leader at this point in time -- not one and I DO travel in Republican circles! But then I come from a State with two Conservative Senators that don't just talk the talk but walk the walk! They also have spines!

[PhiKapMom]

My daughter is in the Navy as well! This is such small potatoes when compared to the large picture but seems like the story of the year by some of the folks on here. Wonder why? Disgusting if you ask me!

[Luis Gonzalez]

I know, I was going to follow-up with a statement to that effect, but it got REAL late and I went to bed.

To declare war on the Wahabbis would mean that we would be literally declaring war on a religion, or a sect of a religion. To charge him with treason, we would have to be at war with the Wahabbis.

Tough charge to make stick.

[carton253]

You go girl!!!!

[justshe]

If our President makes enemies of every Muslim in the country by slamming their religion, it will serve no useful purpose. And it would be stupid.

---

And let's not let the Constitution get in the way either. That oath of office was just a pesky detail.

[aristeides]

I'm not asking the administration to explicitly condemn Islam. There are some good Moslems. I know some, from visits to Turkey. I just want to stop hearing that stupid mantra, which -- even if it's not entirely false -- is hopelessly tainted now by association with terrorist sympathizers.

[aristeides]

Treason isn't the only possible charge. I wonder if Norquist has registered as a foreign agent, as the law may require.

But even if Norquist can't be shown to have violated any criminal law, I think he has now discredited himself as a political operative. For me, his charging Gaffney with racism was where he went too far.

[TLBSHOW]

bump

[Mo1]

I take it you're saying one or more White House aides might have refused to pass on Gaffney's warnings.

That isn't even close to what I was saying .. I simply asked him how he knew ?

[Mo1]

THANK YOU!!! ... The is an excellent post!

[TLBSHOW]

Todays stories on the subject so far.......

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/850546/posts?page=


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/850555/posts?page=3#3

[cyncooper]

Thank you for highlighting my point that the WH characterization of the campaign stop in Florida is as Newsweek describes it. The effort by the Boston Globe to portray it as otherwise falls.

And how many here who claim they're just seeking answers bought the Globe portrayal hook, line and sinker, betraying their true agenda.

[deport]

Sources of material plus posters will sometimes give you an insight into both their compentency or lack there of and/or their agenda. In some cases they apparently aren't capable of voicing coherent thoughts thus they have others to do it for them..... They sometimes flip and flop within a thread as has been demostrated before.

Most of these threads would die of lack of attention or survive with just a few posting between themselves.... They get additional attention from ppl bumping or arguing with their little statements which they make whether correct or not. I believe many readers on this board realize the compentency of some of these posters (especially those that are here 24/7 and have large numbers of post per day) and thus judge and take their accusations accordingly.

In due time all get their just rewards.... Ratty Rats included. This may turn out to be a big item but so far it's not getting much attention even on other forums. So as events unfold over time we'll see what the final outcome will be. I suspect that Norquist will have much less influence in Republican circles but that's just my guess. I also believe that if charges are appropriate they will be brought forth. We shall see. But until then all the keyboard jocks/Ratty Rats will make themselves feel important and usefull but in reality they are like everyone else, just a single poster with an opinion (or some can form opinions while others need help to do so).

Have a nice one.....

[PhiKapMom]

Great response!

Love your Ratty RATS!

[justshe]

Todays stories on the subject so far.......

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/850546/posts?page=
Posted by editor on Feb 10, 03 | 12:05 am


I wouldn't term this a 'new' story.