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.

[justshe]

Old news.

And besides......the WP? Ewwwwww.....

[TLBSHOW]

The news confirms what the Center for Security Policy has warned the Bush administration - first privately and later publicly - for nearly two years: That the architects of the White House's well-meaning Muslim outreach program paid little or no regard to national security issues, and ignored information about alleged extremists, including supporters of terrorism, who had hijacked the administration's initiative.

Again, the question must be answered: Who invited and cleared Al-Arian and other suspected terrorist supporters into the White House?

2/23/2003 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., is President of the Center for Security Policy, a TownHall.com member organization.

[TLBSHOW]

Not wp its their own story you might read it and learn what is going on and what questions are going to be answered.

[Mo1]

I saw the Geraldo interview, and Gaffney seemed concerned about the war in Iraq, but you're right, he didn't mention Norquist at all.

He is against the war?

[Amelia]

I don't think he's against the war, he seems to think we need to quit pussyfooting around and free the Iraqi people.

[bvw]

Why not in the legal sense -- it is "aid and comfort"?

[justshe]

Oh.....gotcha. It's a press release. Sort of like what Judicial Watch does. OK.

[Mo1]

Oh ok .. thanks

[bvw]

He's being snapped at by the Howlin Posse -- and they ain't adding anything, just argument, no content, no logic.

[justshe]

Or wait.......it WAS a WP story that FRANK posted on HIS site. That's the ticket! Boy......

[TLBSHOW]

fyi

look who is handing out that picture of Al-arian with The President.

(Courtesy Sami Al-arian Via AP)

[Torie]

The nuances of this will forever escape you. It was pre 9-11, Muslims were a prime target for GOP outreach, and no one was thinking about these folks fostering terrorism aimed at the US. The perp in question was a free man until this month. Still, it is an interesting story. It lacks significant traction because no one in their right mind thinks that the administration would trim when it comes to turning a blind eye to terrorism, either before 9-11, and certainly not after. But it will remain a curiousity even if it has no traction.

[Torie]

Giving aid to families of killers is not a crime. Sorry about that.

[bvw]

Promising that aid, and evidencing that aid, such that it is highly contributory to motive in murders -- that could well and should well be a crime.

[Bob J]

'Tooth and I know and respect each other, just so many times you can post the same info, dressed up differently, though.

[bvw]

That's a reasonable defense of the White House, most reasonable -- yet not of Norquist.

[bvw]

Fair enough.

[TLBSHOW]

Logically post! The meat of the matter is on Franks web site

here
Again, the question must be answered: Who invited and cleared Al-Arian and other suspected terrorist supporters into the White House?

Alleged terrorist leader met with top White House political adviser
Washington Post, 22 February 2003

Al-Arian indictment 'likely will inflame a debate embroiling the Republican Party'; Wall Street Journal links Norquist
Wall Street Journal, 21 February 2003
Arrested terrorist suspect 'was White House guest' (Insight)

Post-9/11 legal changes opened intelligence to Jihad investigators
St. Petersburg Times, 21 February 2003
Intercepting evidence likely took 'small army' (St. Petersburg Times)
Why the FBI didn't stop 9/11 (City Journal)

American Muslim Council and other groups slam Ashcroft for Jihad arrest
American Muslim Council, 21 February 2003
FBI again serenades AMC
The AMC's pro-terrorist activism
International ANSWER condemns Bush and Ashcroft for 'target' Al-Arian

U.S., Britain to present new Iraq resolution Monday
Fox News, 21 February 2003
Blair: war difficult to avoid (Guardian)
Rumsfeld says US 'ready for Iraq war' (BBC)
U.S. to maintain full control after fall of Saddam (WP)


Anti-Semitism is alive and thriving on the 'peace-movement' left
David Brooks, Weekly Standard, 21 February 2003

Where are the Iraqi peaceniks?
Jeff Jacoby, FrontPageMagazine.com, 21 February 2003

Sami Al-Arian's shameful defenders
John Podhoretz, New York Post, 21 February 2003

The other shoe drops on Al-Arian's collapsing facade
Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, 21 February 2003

The French challenge
Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, 21 February 2003

Road to Pyongyang through Beijing?
William C. Triplett II, Washington Times, 21 February 2003

One enemy, one war, one outcome
Victor Davis Hanson, National Review Online, 21 February 2003

When war is morally permissible, it is also morally obligatory
National Review Online, 21 February 2003

Conservative leader tells of 'zealots' who denounce 'racists and bigots' as they apologize for Wahhabism
David Keene, The Hill, 21 February 2003

Convergence of radical Left and radical Islamism continues
J. Michael Waller, FrontPageMagazine.com, 20 February 2003

Immorality on the march
Michael Kelly, Washington Post, 19 February 2003

A win for national security despite Sens. Edward Kennedy and Russ Feingold
Washington Times, 19 February 2003

Al Qaeda's nightmare scenario emerges
Mansoor Ijaz, Weekly Standard, 19 February 2003

The End of Appeasement
Max Boot, Weekly Standard, 19 February 2003

The United States is ill prepared for what Saddam might do
Laurie Mylroie, National Review Online, 19 February 2003

US unprepared for WMD attack
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Fox News, 18 February 2003

'Scandal': Making it harder for non-radical Muslims
Mona Charen, TownHall.com, 18 February 2003

U.S forces unprepared to battle WMDs
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Fox News, 18 February 2003

What does “just war” require of lay people?
Michael Novak, National Review Online, 18 February 2003

Hand in glove: Iraq and al Qaeda
Mansoor Ijaz, National Review Online, 18 February 2003

Toxic talk on war
Lawrence F. Kaplan, Washington Post, 18 February 2003

Anti-war protests show the left's dedication to preserving murderous, dictatorial regimes
Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard, 17 February 2003

Veterans of Cold War 'peace' protests now lead pro-Saddam antiwar movement
J. Michael Waller, Insight, 17 February 2003

Who's 'with' the President?
Center for Security Policy, 17 February 2003

President Bush releases national strategy for combating terrorism
White House, 14 February 2003





Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy


National Security Advisory Council
Jon Kyl & James Woolsey
Honorary Co-Chairmen

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William J. Casey Institute
Roger W. Robinson, Jr.
Chairman

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The Military Committee
Carl E. Mundy, Jr.
Chairman