Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hiding in Plain Sight (Al Arian at the White House)
Newsweek ^ | March 3rd, 2003 | Michael Isikoff

Posted on 02/23/2003 8:53:24 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alarian; alitulbah; enemywithin; grovernorquist; islamicinstitute; khaledsaffuri; norquist; saffuri; suhailkhan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 341-355 next last
To: TLBSHOW
What would you say if its not really about a White House visit years ago its about now and since the charge is that it is still going on with Grover providing the White House with terrorist muslims not people that the President should be meeting with let alone taking pictures with.

I'd say you made that up unless you have some proof to back it up. We will, of course, wait for your answer.......Accusing this WH of harboring terrorists is a serious charge, and one I'm sure you do not make lightly. So I'm sure you have some proof? HARD proof.

201 posted on 02/23/2003 8:59:02 PM PST by justshe (Free Howlin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: Darkdrake
BTW.....welcome to Free Republic!

I've been perusing your posts today. You have been BUSY!
202 posted on 02/23/2003 9:00:21 PM PST by justshe (Free Howlin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 183 | View Replies]

Comment #203 Removed by Moderator

Comment #204 Removed by Moderator

To: Darkdrake
Hope it has been enjoyable.

BTW.....you have frmail.
205 posted on 02/23/2003 9:06:12 PM PST by justshe (Free Howlin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 204 | View Replies]

To: justshe
That would be a serious charge but as you know that isn't what the charge is and not one that I made, have you read any of Franks web site and what is being said?

You surly don't think it is good for The President to be seen with the likes of Sami who is charged as a terrorist do you? Or that people like Sami would be given access do you? Or do you? I am having a hard time with your posts.

206 posted on 02/23/2003 9:07:06 PM PST by TLBSHOW (God Speed as Angels trending upward dare to fly Tribute to the Risk Takers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 201 | View Replies]

To: TLBSHOW
#206 That would be a serious charge but as you know that isn't what the charge is and not one that I made,..."

# 184 "What would you say if its not really about a White House visit years ago its about now and since the charge is that it is still going on with Grover providing the White House with terrorist muslims not people that the President should be meeting with let alone taking pictures with."


Can you explain the bold....enlarged statement above then?

207 posted on 02/23/2003 9:14:08 PM PST by justshe (Free Howlin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 206 | View Replies]

To: justshe
Can you explain the bold....enlarged statement above then?

Wonder how long it will take this time?

208 posted on 02/23/2003 9:18:04 PM PST by Mo1 (FREE HOWLIN !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 207 | View Replies]

To: justshe
"I'm not too fond of having my words twisted and contorted to the point that what I actually said comes out exactly the opposite by the flamer."

I know the feeling, as any perusal of my threads the past few days can attest.

Still, for me, it comes with the territory.




209 posted on 02/23/2003 9:20:49 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

Comment #210 Removed by Moderator

To: Darkdrake
Uh........yup!
211 posted on 02/23/2003 9:25:48 PM PST by justshe (Free Howlin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 210 | View Replies]

To: ohioWfan
How many times can we 'question' the propriety of entertaining a man who is now in the slammer?? You're a smart guy, Sabertooth.....don't you see the absurdity of beating this dead horse.

It's more than just one guy. It's not a dead horse. I've posted numerous articles and links. This is a scandal that doesn't have to touch the President. but he needs to roll some heads. Some of his subordinates have been sloppy, or worse, in allowing terrorist sympathizers, supporters, and co-conspirators access to the White House, as recently as last month.




212 posted on 02/23/2003 9:28:33 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth; TLBSHOW; Jael; aristeides
It's not a dead horse.

You've done yoeman's work trying to get this aired out and corrected. And you've been unfairly attacked by the 'this is old news' crowd. They're trying to do the same to TLB right now too.

213 posted on 02/23/2003 9:33:34 PM PST by Fred Mertz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 212 | View Replies]

To: Amelia; Miss Marple
The part I wonder about is whether or not Bush actually knew the guy was a suspected terrorist. And the part that worries me most of all is the idea that either the Secret Service didn't get the message that some of the WH guests might be criminals, or they were over-ruled by some junior staffers.

Miss Marple may have something with her Clinton holdover Secret Service observations, however, I'd lay my money on the staffers. Suhail Khan and Ali Tulbah are names to keep in mind.

FWIW, when I was doing some work for President Reagan in the late 90s, I had a chance to chat with some Secret Service folks about the various assignments. Anyone with any pull or seniority got the heck off the Clinton detail, any way they could. I could never get any specific dirt, but the bemused disgust on the face of the agents was unforgettable.




214 posted on 02/23/2003 9:36:54 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: justshe
GAFFNEY was just on Fox News Channel being interviewed by Geraldo.

But.....BUT.....BUT.......not ONE word about Norquist.... What do you think?

I think that more people read Newsweek and the Washington Post than Frank Gaffney.

As Elvis is to the building, so are the horses to the barn.




215 posted on 02/23/2003 9:40:21 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Darkdrake
Sami comes to mind.
216 posted on 02/23/2003 9:41:02 PM PST by TLBSHOW (God Speed as Angels trending upward dare to fly Tribute to the Risk Takers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 210 | View Replies]

To: Bob J
You're beating a dead horse 'tooth.

Horse named Grover.




217 posted on 02/23/2003 9:41:40 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: justshe
Old news.

Clintonspeak.

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

Attacking the messenger. You may not like the WP, but they've got ample clout to run this story for as long as it takes. Bush must act.




218 posted on 02/23/2003 9:47:14 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies]

To: Mo1; Amelia
FYI, Gaffney is a hawk on Iraq and the War on terror. I've been listening to him weekly on Hugh Hewitt for a couple of years now. He's solid. I'm not sure you could find daylght between Gaffney and Wolfowitz if you tried.



219 posted on 02/23/2003 9:50:09 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies]

To: Fred Mertz
Can you fill me in about the free howlin tag lines?
Seems silly to me but the matter at hand isn't silly as some would have you think.

Old news LOL

Its just started as I said nights ago story after story has been coming out already and Frank has a new one planned for tomorrow. And this isn't going away as the security of this country is at stake.
220 posted on 02/23/2003 9:50:40 PM PST by TLBSHOW (God Speed as Angels trending upward dare to fly Tribute to the Risk Takers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 213 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 341-355 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson