Why Must the Entire American Muslim Population Pay for the Acts of a Few?

Last week, George Fulton, an Englishman who moved to Pakistan with his Pakistani wife in 2002, and then became a prominent TV personality there, moved back to the UK because of what he called the "spreading cancer of extremism and intolerance" in Pakistan. He claims "this is no longer a political problem or an economic problem, this is now a cultural problem".   Really? Is this guy some kind of expert? Why is NPR casting him in the spotlight right after the Islamic radicalization-hearing? Could the timing be more perfect?

Now, it's very possible Pakistani citizens are getting fired up. After all, over the last five years, American unmanned drones have killed more than 2,000 people in their country.  In 2010 alone, there were 929 casualties according to a study conducted by the Conflict Monitoring Center(CMC).    You see, drone aircraft, which lacks the human discernment and judgment to differentiate between the innocent and the dangerous, is designed to identify enemies as anyone who is armed, and then, once identified, automatically launch missiles.  Well, it just so happens that  civilians in the tribal areas, traditionally carry weapons and munitions.  The Brookings Institute estimated that for every terrorist killed, there are ten civilians who lose their lives. However, you will not find this out from US and Pakistan officials.  They report the opposite.  These officials "deliberately overlook civilian deaths that outnumber the killings of militants in CIA drone attacks."

"Our research observed that intelligence officials of US and Pakistan deliberately overlook civilian fatalities and relay only censored accounts to Western media organisations. However, study reports suggest that the civilian casualties generally outnumber the killings of militants in drone attacks"

Isn't it bad enough that we're murdering innocent civilians in their own country?  Do we have to put all American Muslims on trial as radical terrorist sympathizers "bent on a “stealth jihad” to usurp the Constitution and impose Islamic law on the land"?

As Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, one of two Muslim members in Congress, who broke down while "delivering a tribute to a young Muslim-American who lost his life in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - and whose reputation was later maligned due to his faith," at the radicalization hearing, said on Real Time, to Bill Maher, "You used the Irish example. I don't think you investigate the Irish, you investigate the IRA, perhaps. You investigate broke down in tears while delivering an emotional tribute to a young Muslim-American who lost his life in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - and whose reputation was later maligned due to his faith.the mafia, not the Italians..."

Nevertheless, Rep. Peter King, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, who considers comparisons to McCarthy, a "badge of honor", acting on behalf of the real terrorists DHS, continues on his witch hunt.

Links: 

Peter King's 'Islamic Radicalization' Hearings Fan Paranoid Fantasies

U.S. apology for Afghan deaths "not enough"


Nato 'kills cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai'

10 of the Most Outrageous TSA Horror Stories

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Have We Sacrificed Our Civil Liberties for This "War on Terror"?

Bill Maher says we have:

And finally, ew rule: liberals must stop saying President Bush hasn't asked Americans to sacrifice for the War on Terror. On the contrary, he's asked us to sacrifice something enormous: our civil rights.

Now, when I heard George Bush was reading my e-mails, I probably had the same reaction you did--George Bush can read?! (Laughter.) Yes he can, and this administration has read your phone records, credit card statements, mail, internet logs... I can't tell if their fighting the War on Terror or producing the next season of Cheater. (Laughter.) I mail myself a copy of the Consitution every morning, just on the hope they'll open it and see what it says! (Laughter and applause).

So when it comes to sacrifice, don't kid yourself--you *have* given up a lot! You've given up faith in your government's honesty, the good will of people overseas, and 6/10 of the Bill of Rights. Here's what you've sacrificed: search and seizure, warrents, self incrimination, trial by jury, cruel and unusual punishment. Here's what you have left: handguns, religion, and they can't make you quarter a British soldier. If Prince Harry invades the inland empire, he has to bring a tent. (Laughter).

You know, in previous wars, Americans on the homefront made a very different kind of sacrifice. During World War II, we endured rationing, payed higher taxes, bought war bonds, and in the interest of national unity, people even pretended Bob Hope was funny. (Laughter.) Right--like you laughed at him!

Women donated their silk undergarments so they could be sewn into parachutes. Can you imagine nowadays a Britney Spears or a Lindsay Lohan going without underwear? (Laughter.) Bad example, but look, George Bush has never been too bright about understanding "furriners", but he does know Americans. He asked *this* generation to sacrifice the things he knew we would not miss--our privacy and our morality. He let us keep the money. But he made a cynical bet, that we wouldn't much care if we became a Big Brother country that has now tortured a lot of random people.

And yet no one asks the tough questions, like "Is torture necessary?", "Who will watch the watchers?" and "When does Jack Bauer go to the bathroom?" (Laughter.) I mean, it's been five years--is he wearing one of those astronaut diapers?

In conclusion, after September 11, President Bush told us Osama bin Laden "could run but he can't hide". But he ran and hid. (Laughter.) So Bush went to Plan B: pissing on the Constitution and torturing random people. Conservatives always say the great thing Reagan did was make us feel good about America again. Well, do you feel good about America now?

I'll give you my answer. And to get it out of me, you don't even need to hold my head under water and have a snarling guard dog rip my nuts off. (Laughter). No, I don't feel very good about that. They say evil happens when good men do nothing. Well, the Democrats proved it also happens when mediocre people do nothing.

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