Free Republic

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Hookah smoke drifted through the restaurant as Elias Shetayh and Aziz Wehbey spoke intently about their support for President Trump, whose temporary halt on immigration from war-torn Syria — their homeland — had touched off a political firestorm. Nearby, a waitress carried out several platters of Mediterranean food to a large Arab American family. Trump is right, in a way, to do what he’s doing,” Shetayh said, discussing the executive order banning certain immigrants from entry into the United States. “This country is going into a disaster. Allentown and surrounding Lehigh County have one of the country’s...

U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford confirmed to The Cable widely held suspicions that the Syrian government is arresting and torturing Syrians whose family members have spoken out against the regime here in the United States. The FBI is investigating claims that the Syrian embassy staff in Washington has been collecting information on Syrian-Americans in and around Washington, especially those who dare to protest against the regime. That embassy is led by Ambassador Imad Moustapha, who has updated his blog only intermittently since the outbreak of violence in Syria. Ford did not directly accuse Moustapha of spying on American citizens...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is stepping up contacts with the Syrian opposition amid concerns that unrest in Lebanon could cause wider instability, administration officials said on Saturday. Senior U.S. officials involved in Middle East policymaking met in Washington on Thursday with prominent Syrian Americans, including political activists, community leaders, academics and an opposition group. "White House officials were present," said a White House official who confirmed the meeting took place. Representatives from other departments, including State and Defense, took part. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview with the Washington Post published on Saturday that the...

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (Reuters) - A U.S. military judge denied a motion on Thursday to dismiss the case against a Syrian-American airman accused of spying at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo, Cuba. A civilian lawyer for Ahmad al Halabi asked a military court on Wednesday to dismiss the case because he did not have access to important documents he needs to defend his client. At a hearing at Travis Air Force Base 50 miles north of San Francisco, Military Court Judge Barbara Brand denied the request but said she would allow Halabi's defense team greater access to...