Posted on 03/18/2003 3:28:43 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Texans of Iraqi descent decry march toward war
03/18/2003
By MATT CURRY / The Associated Press
DALLAS — Hadi Jawad said he knows American history, so he was a "spooked" a couple of months ago when the FBI asked to meet with him.
"I know how Chinese-Americans were treated during the Korean War and how the Japanese were treated during World War II," said Jawad, a 51-year-old American of Iraqi descent. "Even though I've lived here all my life, I'm nervous."
Jawad said he was assured he was not being investigated, and in response to questions, told authorities he knows no one contemplating terror in North Texas. Still, he felt his patriotism was being questioned.
"I am as much a part of this society as they are," Jawad said. "I have children in this society, I have friends and family and am just as afraid of attacks as everyone else."
An FBI spokeswoman did not return a telephone call from The Associated Press by early Tuesday. But the agency has earlier acknowledged increased surveillance on some Iraqis in the United States.
President Bush on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq or face the consequences. A national terror alert was raised to orange, indicating a high risk of attack.
Some Americans of Iraqi heritage say the developments go against everything the United States stands for.
"I came to this country when I was 19. I love this country — its institutions, its fair play and due process," said Jawad, a self-employed Dallas peace activist. "I think Mr. Bush is destroying the foundation of what this nation is founded on. These folks are riding roughshod over fundamental American values."
Jawad said Bush's address to the nation left him "terrified" for relatives, whose presence in the region dates to the time of Mohammed.
"I am horrified and outraged that my country, my nation is resorting to such barbarism," he said. "It's a dangerous development what has happened right now, this unilateralism."
No war is justified unless it's clearly self-defense, said Isam Alimam, who was raised in Iraq but prizes his loyalty to America.
The Lewisville architect, who came to the United States in 1978, quickly corrects references to his being an Iraqi-American.
"Philosophically, I am American. I am from Iraqi descent," he said. "I choose to be American, so I am an American."
As the most powerful democracy in the world, going to war with Iraq "is not a good example for our values," Alimam said.
Alimam said he wishes Saddam's departure had been achieved by quiet negotiations.
"You cannot insult him on TV and give him an ultimatum. You can't do it on TV like that and expect him to resign. We make him more stubborn, more stubborn than he is."
Alimam is not as troubled by word of increased surveillance of Iraqis in America.
"Personally, and I don't speak for any particular group, I welcome that. This is the only way to know what's going on," he said. "But identifying one group is maybe not right. A lot of Iraqis are supportive of the war. To paint every Iraqi as a suspect is wrong, it's not American."
(ap.state.online.tx 0567 03/18/2003 01:38:56 )
When the USA speaks two-bit dictators better listen, we mean business unlike the UN.
There are a LOT more Iraqis that feel like the one you mentioned than this knucklehead Iraqi Pakistani Peace Activist in this article . . .
---------------------------------
Sirs:
I was dumfounded to read the following AP article (byline Matt Curry) in this morning's Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/texassouthwest/ap/stories/AP_STATEGS_0567.html
Note that, despite a title that implies monolithic opposition ("Texans of Iraqi descent decry march toward war"), the reporter cites a grand total of _two_ Iraqi-Texans to support the thesis.
I was further dumfounded to discover, with a simple Google search, that the key source cited in the article (Hadi Jawad) is an activist in two extreme-Left groups (American Muslim Alliance and Coalition in Solidarity with the People of Iraq) that have formed coalitions with extreme anti-semitic groups such as the Nation of Islam. Even more curious: it appears Jawad is not Iraqi, but was born in Pakistan.
http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2003-02-06/feature.html/1/index.html
Oddly, Jawad is characterized in the article with the rather bland designation of "peace activist."
If you in the media are struggling to understand why we dopes in flyover country hold you in utter disregard, you need look no further than this sad little shred of agitprop masquerading as a "news story." If Mr. Curry and his headline writer wish to write Op-Eds, please reassign them to the appropriate department.
Sincerely,
David Burge
Chicago, IL
PS - Given a bit of time, I am confident I can locate two Right Wing extremists who would like to drop an atomic bomb on Paris. Would you please interview them, and run the story with the headline "Americans support nuclear annihilation of France"?
LOL ! . . .
PS - Given a bit of time, I am confident I can locate two Right Wing extremists who would like to drop an atomic bomb on Paris. Would you please interview them, and run the story with the headline "Americans support nuclear annihilation of France"?LOL ! . . .
See Zee monkey
There's a FreeRepublic thread on this somewhere, I didn't have it handy. But the audio is a "must listen".
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