No, I am not inviting people to start planning assassination attempts every time they disagree with a country's policy. Instead, I would UNDERSTAND if, say, some Iraqi group had decided to detonate a bomb outside some US Army barracks in Saudi Arabia for their perception that the US is victimizing Iraqis in the guise of UN resolutions - while ignoring or vetoing resolutions about the liberation of Kashmir and Palestine. I would not understand, nor forgive, such a group's, for example, planning to blow up innocent civilians in the tunnels or landmarks of Manhattan. (Note 2002:This comment was made at the time of a terrorist plot to attack NYC landmarks several years ago and it was obvious that the terrorist attempts would not stop).
Judge Duffy instructed the jurors in this case to "please remember that political beliefs are not on trial here" and "neither are religious beliefs."
What garbage. The honest truth is that a Muslim on trial for alleged complicity in any political mission opposed to American support of Israel is Presumed Guilty and certain to be sentenced (to life most likely) for "planning" or even thinking about something. (Note 2002: Sadly, we are targetting and punishing just Muslims for small infractions of the law while real dangerous sleeper cells probably exist amongst us right now.)
While this "justice" is being carried out, it is stunning to see the FBI pandering to good ol' militiamen in Montana who DID commit crimes, who DID have an armed standoff, and who HAVE others like them continuing to plan what they call "an overthrow of the illegitimate government" of the United States. These people not only get 60-70 days of national coverage and a hands-off handling by the FBI they will all also likely walk with a slap on the wrist. (Note 2002: Except for the remorseless Tim McVeigh, many others like him are still out there posing a threat to the very country they belong to).
I just wonder what would have been the outcome if the people in Montana had been Muslims. I have news for Judge Duffy, if someone is a Muslim, or opposes the Zionist state of Israel, they can bet their life that their political beliefs will certainly be on trial and so will religious beliefs. (Comment 2002: Racial profiling of Muslims today and our supporting Israel as it terrorizes Palestinians could lead to bigger problems for us in the future unless we support JUSTICE for all the people there).
Whether it satisfies the Zionist string-pullers in America, or whether the unsuspecting American public realizes how the Muslims are being used merely as a whipping post to keep Israel happy remains to be seen. The risk is that the repeated convictions of Muslims to LIFE IMPRISONMENT here while they live and die under Israeli or Indian occupation in occupied territories will unfortunately cause young and impressionable Muslims worldwide to be more believing when extremists try to recruit them with this proof of "America's continued injustices against Muslims." (Note 2002: The terrible events of 9/11 show that I was unfortunately terribly right and that Usama Bin Laden DID manage to do worse than we could have imagined)
By pandering to its Israeli lobby the US' policy is again showing its shortsightedness, by ignoring a future disastrous problem it itself is helping shape and create among Muslims the world over that someone will exploit some day. (Note 2002: Unfortunately, we are not addressing the root problems, putting us all at greater risk of worse attacks in the future that one even shudders to think about)
This is Imran Anwar, in New York, judged guilty of having strong opinions, signing off.
Imran Anwar welcomes comments and emailed opinions.
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