Opinion Editorials, July 2015

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Fox News gloats over its news coverage with its infamous logo as "fair and balanced", where as Muslim basher, Peter King goes through pain to publicly insult Americas' Muslims with his "fake and biased" tirades. 
 
Days before this July 4th, the Republican law maker from New York who chaired the subcommittee of Department of Homeland Security in Congress warned during his radio interview that there will be terrorist attacks during the celebrations committed by Muslim Americans. Luckily, the predication of Mr. King was dead wrong, even though the host of the show never demanded any evidence or a citation of the Congressman.  Rep. King tells Americans what they want to hear about their perceived enemy.  He never apologized or retracted his statement or offered any explanation about his Muslims impending attack during July 4 celebrations.
 
Peter King is “fixated on Muslims in America, like a drug addict hooked on drugs.”  He has in the past expressed particular concerns about American mosques serving to promote radical Islam and that there are too many mosques in America!  Does this law maker prefer Muslims to build more casinos, brothels, or hookah bars? It worth noting here that Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Took out a full page ad in The New York Times to condemn the 9/11 attacks, in which it urged all American Muslims to contribute money, donate blood and help with the medical relief operation. [ The N.Y. Times 16 September, 2001].
 
Had Rep. King made similar remarks about any other religious or ethnic group in America, he would have been nationally condemned, forced to resign his post or censured in the House of Representatives for his remarks. America's Muslims should not be fair game!  Insulting and defaming Americas' Muslims is not what one expects of a public official.  Such comments are dangerous, indecent and un-American.  One gets the impression  that Rep. King is using prejudice and racial division to advance his political career. I wish to challenge Mr. King's False assumptions. First of all, there are nearly 6,500 Muslims serving currently in all branches of our Armed Forces. Muslims and Arabs soldiers took part in every war and major conflict since the founding or our nation.  More can be learned about Muslims' and Arabs' contributions in the defense of America by visiting the website of Patriotic Arab-American in the Military www.apaam.org 
 
It is a religious and moral duty for Muslims to defend their country, or the country in which they live, against enemies within or threat from the outside. It makes no difference if they live in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya Palestine or in the good ol' USA.
 
 
In March of 2011 Rep. King conducted a Kangaroo Court hearing on alleged "radicalization of Muslims". The same year, King accused Muslims in America, like yours truly, of supporting terrorism, of not being loyal or patriotic citizens, and implied in an interview that Muslims are not truly Americans. During that time I wrote four articles about that bigoted Chairman. I would like to share excerpts with readers as I feel this man's views on Muslims add insults, subtract pleasure, multiply ignorance and divide attention.  
 
It is fascinating to read a story by Ed Moloney in the February 19, 2011 issue of The Irish Times on King’s hearing. The report reveals who Peter King really is. The story’s first paragraph sums it all up, by stating, ” Not so many years ago the BBC banned him from the airwaves for his terrorist sympathies, a judge threw him out of a Belfast court because he was a “collaborator” with the terrorists on trial, and the FBI was opening his mail because of his views. The US secret service once listed him as a threat during a presidential visit to his neighborhood.”  Rep. King’s statement against Muslims is dishonest and disingenuous. Americans deserve facts not a demagoguery " 
 
1- Here is a part of my column titled, Peter King- Isalamophobe and Phony which was published by Veteran Todays on from Feb. 26, 2011: (Special thank you goes to my friend Ingrid B. from Norway for her help and assistance in getting this published by VT).
 
" US Rep. Peter King owes his rise for his political career to his own support for a foreign terrorist group. He accuses Muslims in America of supporting terrorism, not loyal or patriotic citizens and implied in a recent interview that Muslims are not truly Americans.
 
This coming from a former cheerleader, confidant and friend to the leaders of one of Europe’s bloodiest and most violent terrorist groups, namely the Irish Republican Army, better know as the IRA, is a sad sick joke. He is the last person who should be trying to paint Muslims, or anyone else, with a terrorist brush.
 
To create ill will for Americas’ Muslims and divert the public’s attention from his long history of supporting terrorism abroad, the Chairman of Home Land Security Committee in Congress, Rep. Peter King [R-N.Y.] is holding a hearing on alleged ” radicalization of Muslims” on the week of March 7th.
 
Tracking down Peter King’s Mickey Mouse Hearing for the last two months, I have learned some pretty interesting and amazing stuff. First of all the so called “alleged Muslim radicalization” is bogus and only intended to feed the hungry Muslim-bashers. Had Mr. King been genuine about our home front, he should have engaged and reached out to Muslim leaders, instead of referring to them recklessly as, 'the enemy amongst us.'
 
So, why isn’t Mr.King inviting law enforcement officials and anti terrorism task force to testify? He claimed in a recent Fox News interview that, “they are too busy or scared.” I say, Bologna! Fact is, FBI Director Robert Mueller, the Chief law enforcement official in the US, has told the Senate Judiciary Committee two years ago that “Muslim and Arab communities have been tremendously supportive and worked very closely with [the FBI] in a number of instance around the country.”
 
It is also worth nothing here that recent study reveals that 38 out of 120 attempted terror plot since 9/11 that involved Muslims were foild by either Muslim parents, mosque leaders or simply a friend on Facebook. It is public record that the father of the "underwear bomber" was the one who tipped US diplomats in Kenya about his son suspicious travel activity. So, why did Mr. King refuse to investigate or conviently ignore other acts of terror committed on US soil that were not Muslim related? Aren’t they are equally worthy of investigation?
 
Two new research projects by the think tank New America and the New York Times found that White Supremacists, anti-government extremists and other have killed nearly twice as many people as radical Muslims since the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Despite all of that, those new finding were conveniently ignored by Rep. Peter King during his July 4 "terror alert" address.
 
One week after Dylann Roof killed nine people at the historical black Church in Charleston, S.C., the Chairman of Homeland Security in Congress referred to this cold-blooded killer as " deranged" person and not a terrorist, even though his act fits the FBI definition of terrorism. Rep King then attacked the New York Times for comparing the white supremacists with international terrorist and saying that it amounts to the New York Times at its worst.
 
2- Another in part of an article published by the Ugly Truth on Jan. 28, 2011 , under the title, "Excuse Me Rep. King, But this is my America too":
 
" The newly elected House Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Peter King [R-N.Y.] is on a crusade. This law maker is fixated on Muslims in America, like a addict hooked on drugs. He will go through all imaginable pain to defame, smear and insult Muslims in our country. First thing on his agenda–holding congressional hearings, on alleged “hidden radicalism” amongst American Muslims and in mosques. In other words, putting Muslims on trial and in the crosshairs.

This “honorable” law maker has made many reckless and absurd remarks about Muslims recently that have had a chilling effect. At first, Rep. King complained that there are “too many” mosques in America. What is that supposed to mean? Does this lawmaker prefer that Muslims build more casinos, brothels, porn shops, or Hanukkah bars instead? Personally, I would rather hang around with people who frequent the house of God than the aforementioned.

New York is considered to have the second largest Muslim population in America, after Michigan, and Rep. King is supposed to represent his constituents–INCLUDING Thos who happen to be MUSLIMS–in Washington, rather than being their declared enemy.

Rep. King is targeting a Long Island mosque located in his district, and even though not one single member of the Islamic Center has ever been accused of terrorism, King claims the mosque is a hotbed of “radical Islam”, calling its leaders extremists, who should be put under surveillance as if this were the Soviet Union. He further argues that most Muslim leaders in the United States aren’t cooperating with authorities. Rep. King is either ignorant or a liar!"

3- On March 11, 2011 Aljazeerah.info published my guest column, titled, " Open letter To Rep. Peter King from a Muslim veteran":  Here is the full text
Dear Rep. Peter King,

This is in response to your email letter addressed to me dated March 8th. You got it wrong, Mr. Chairman, on all accounts. Let me explain!  First of all, I do not support or stand by you. You are conducting a Kangaroo Court hearing against Muslims like me in America. Your hearing is nothing more than a witch hunt against our fellow Muslim American citizens.

Secondly, your false claim about Muslim terrorism, radicalization, extremism or what ever you want to call it is unfair and un-American, as it targets Muslims only, while ignoring all other acts of terror. Besides, how does a man like you with ties to Europe’s bloodiest and most notorious terrorist organization become the Chairman of US Homeland Security Committee, let alone paint all Muslims with the same terrorism brush?

As the old saying goes, Mr. King, “Those in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Two distinguished lawmakers are on record condemning your Mickey Mouse hearing, Rep. Michael Honda of California and Rep. Beanie Thompson of Mississippi, both wrote Op-Ed pieces challenging your false claims against Muslims and disputed all of your allegations.

Finally you ended your letter with, and I quote, “As I go forward, it is very reassuring to know that I will have good Americans like you on my side.”
I am not so sure as to how you came to this conclusion. Have you or any of your staff ever read my letters?

Well Mr. Chairman, you were half right on that regard. I am a good American. In fact I served the country that I love for 20 years. And I was willing and ready to die for America if need be. But, I am not on you side!

To give you further proof, here is a copy of a letter I wrote last night after I watched you on CNN spewing your venom. BTW, the was sent to local news publications.
“US Rep. Peter King is a flat liar!  He has told CNN news in an interview on March 7th that AG Eric Holder stated/told him that Muslims in America keep him up at night. That is a false claim. There was no where in AG Holder’s quoted statement that the word “Muslims” was ever uttered.

To set the record straight, here is AG Holder’s exact statement:

“It is one of the things that keeps me up at night,” Holder said. “You didn’t worry about this even two years ago — about individuals, about Americans, to the extent that we now do. And — that is of — of great concern.” The threat has changed from simply worrying about foreigners coming here, to worrying about people in the United States, American citizens — raised here, born here, and who for whatever reason, have decided that they are going to become radicalized and take up arms against the nation in which they were born.” 

As a Muslim and patriotic American, I am sick and tired of bigots and hatemongers like Peter King who unfairly attack Muslims, falsely accuse them of evil doing and treat them as suspects instead of law obeying citizens. This former terrorist cheerleader help promote ill feeling towards Muslims and instill hate and fears into people hearts and minds, just to promote his own political career. It is about time The Speaker of the house should remove this Islamophobe from his post.Finally, I believe Peter King is Muslim basher who is fake and biased and if he has his way, he will introduce a law requiring every Muslim in America to wear a GPS tracking bracelet at all times.” He will even propose that the government bug Muslims in their homes, work and place of worship. May be even opening interment camps.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph
Retired USAF Veteran
Feedbackelyousseph6@yahoo.com

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah & ccun.org.

editor@aljazeerah.info & editor@ccun.org