Jefferson Corner

Original Post: 17 Nov 2005

After the tragic events in Amman and the murder of innocent people it is difficult to drop the subject of terrorism and the excuses it finds among Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East, not only among people in the streets but among intellectuals as well.
Fighting terrorism must start with every house, with every family, with every street and with every journalist and with every satellite channel, and of course with every mosque and with every imam in every mosque.
The sad events in Amman is a reminder that all of us, Arabs and non- Arabs, must stand united in fighting this scrooge that is out to kill and maim for the hell of it. These terrorist are worst that any creatures on earth. There must never be an excuse for killing people.
The Arab streets in Amman, in Riyadh, in Casablanca, in Sann’a, in Ramallah and Gaza must stand up against terrorism loud and clear and must condemn this new culture of death that is but a cancer among nations.
I was in Casablanca when terrorist attached several locations and killed scores of innocent people and I was very impressed with the hundreds of thousands of Moroccan as they took to the streets to condemn such terrorist attached and I did not see any single Moroccan who went to give condolences to the families of those who committed such murder.
What I have seen in Casablanca I would like to see in Cairo, in Damascus, in Beirut, in Ramallah, in Gaza and in Riyadh and Baghdad. We need to make sure the terrorists know that they have no support what so ever in the Arab streets, they must know that they do not represent any one and certainly they are not Islam. These terrorists are nothing but misfits and killers and murderers who should pay a very high price for the murder they committed.
I am also calling on Palestinians to openly and publicly reject suicide bombing and must give a clear message to those who plan suicide bombing their pictures and posters will not adorn walls and streets and people will not visit and give condolences to their families and that no one, no one in Palestine will ever celebrate the death of a suicide bomber.
Yes, there are many grievances the Arabs and Muslims have against their own governments and against the West in General and the US in particular. Certainly against Israel and its racist and murderous policies, but there must never be any excuses for committing murder against innocent people; Jews and gentiles, Muslim and Arabs.
Such a culture of terrorism is not an Arab and Muslim culture. Before Muslim and Arabs started to commit these acts of terror and suicide bombing, many nations, people and culture did engage in such criminal and uncivilized activities. I reject claims by so called experts on terrorism like Steve Emerson and members of Congress and their staff who always try to make it a point that terrorism is nothing but an Arab and Muslim intrinsic trait. Individuals like Steve Emerson and members of Congress have their own agenda and it is not an American agenda. The US should understand and accept the right of people to reject and fight foreign occupation and Iraq and Occupied Palestine must not be an exception to the rule and that not all resistance to occupation are acts of terror.
The US as the leader of the so-called “Free World” should take the lead in pushing for a world conference on terrorism and liberation making a distinction between the two. At the same time there should be no distinction between acts of terrorism committed by groups and individuals and acts of terrorism committed by a state in pursuit of its policies. Let us not confuse acts of terrorism and acts of liberation.

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Original Post: 19 Nov 2005

Bayan Jaber Solaj, the Iraqi minister of interior not only should resign but should stand trial as well. The man is not only an arrogant minister who have a habit of insulting others (he called the Saudi “Bedouins” who could not teach him any thing) that is for sure, the Saudis could not teach such an arrogant and corrupt man any thing, he is too far gone to be salvaged by the Saudis and the Americans.
The discovery of “secret” prisons belonging to the ministry of interior where systemic abuse and torture takes places is enough reason for Solaj to step down and stand trial. The fact that he knew of such secrete prisons, and the fact that he know there was systematic torture of prisoners, are enough reasons for the man to get the hell out of the office and to take his place in the dock, in the court room with Saddam and his Baathist murderers.
Yes, one can understand the Shiite and what they had to endure during Saddam regime and one can understand the anger and frustration the Shiite have against the Sunnis who misruled and misused and abused Iraq and Iraqis for a long time, but that does not in any way ever, justify the abuses the Sunnis have to endure at the hand of Iraqi Shiites. This is not what this whole thing in Iraq is all about.
What the Iraqis need is not another Baathist regime like that of Saddam. What Iraqis need is not another Shiite regime like next door Iran responsible for the killing and murder of tens of thousands who challenged the mullahs of Iran. The Mullahs of Iran put to death, not supporters of the late Shah, but ordinary Iranians who saw that the Islamic revolution eating and devouring its sons and daughters. We do not need Shiite regimes like that of Iran. What the people of Iraq need is a democratic, secular state where citizens of Iraq can be equal in the eye of the law. What the Iraqi needs is not a secular criminal regime like that of Saddam’s Baathist regime, and do not need a regime of the Mullah, certainly, we do not need a regime like that of Paul Bremer and Solaj. Iraq and Iraqis more than ever needs freedom, freedom from fear, freedom of religion and from religion, freedom from war lords like those they had in Kurdish areas and certainly they do not need a Shiite or a Sunni majority, but an Iraqi democratic majority.
Hell broke lose when the Americans where caught on camera abusing prisoners in Abu-Ghraib prison, and the entire world jumped on the US demanding apologies and trials for those who committed such crimes. We should not demand less than that Now.
Well what the world now demands from Mr. Solaj is nothing less, and since he is directly responsible for authorizing such a systematic torture, then nothing short of resignation and trial will do.
I never could understand what is going on in Iraq and I like the recommendation of Dr. Salmeh, the former Lebanese minister of information and culture where he said in recent interview, that every one should have known that Iraq is quite an interesting and complicated country and once you open the door on such a complex problem you better come up with very original ideas, that address this strange combination of mosaic.
What is more surprising in the case of secret Iraqi prisons is the silence of the Shiite leaderships, a silence no less worrisome that the silence of the Sunni leadership at the ever increasing wave of suicide bombing and killing of innocent Iraqis committed by Sunni fighters. What Iraq needs is an outstanding secular leadership that keeps religious leaderships where it belong in the mosques and put criminal sectarian leadership behind bars for failing to stop all of the killings that is going on. The torture of Sunnis in secrete Shiite jails is no less dangerous that suicide bombing carried by Sunnis against Shiites. Iraq needs responsible leadership for a change not killers and murderers to rule it.

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Original Post: 19 Nov 2005

What is the hell is going within the US Congress? Republican turned what should be a debate on the war in Iraq to a debate on patriotism and who is a coward? What a shame. But then Republicans these days have no sense of shame or patriotism.
It is very unlikely that finally the US Congress wakes up to its responsibility for the nation and decided to debate the War in Iraq couple of years later, couple of thousand dead soldiers later, and couple of hundred billion later? No, I do not believe it. What is going on in Congress has nothing to do with the war in Iraq but has every thing to do with the Republicans siege of the nation and the Republican definition of patriotism and loyalty to the country. It is war of intimidation and war against America.
Every debate that has to do with national security, or national interest or national priorities, or national rights and freedoms, or economic priorities always changed and manipulated by the Republican leaderships in the White House and Congress to debate on patriotism and loyalty to the country. I will not be surprised if the debate on abortion will also become a debate defined in terms of patriotism and treason.
The action of Representative Jean Schmidt is insult to all American and should be an insult to all Republicans as well. The personal attach on Congressman John P. Murtha is for sure meant to intimidate the nation and attempt by “Republican Chicken Hawks” to define what is America all about and who is a patriotic American and who is not.
One only need to see of those who where the “godfathers” of the war in Iraq how many of these in fact enlisted and joined the US military? Non-is the answer. Vice President Dick Chaney claimed had has some other “important” things to do that join the US military. Richard Perl, Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, perhaps fined it more compelling to join the IDF and lobby on behalf of Jonathan Pollard than join the US military.
One thing Representative Jean Schmidt and the entire Republican leadership have to understand and be reminded of is that a debate on war and peace, a debate that will send our men and women in harms way, have nothing to do with the crap that is “Republican Patriotism”. We must never allow these “Republican Chicken Hawk” define for us what is American Patriotism. We do need a lesson from Republican in Congress or the White House to teach few bits on US patriotism. Who in the hell they are to dare to tell us and define for us what is American patriotism is all about. Patriotism is standing up for America’s ideals and values. Standing up and fighting for America freedom and liberty, and standing up for freedom and liberty abroad, not to go to war on false pretenses and fraudulent claims and allow all the crooks and thieves the Republican Party can fined, to rape Iraq and raid our US and Iraqi national treasuries, and allow crooked businessmen and companies to defraud US Treasury out of billions of dollars of hard earned US tax dollars. We better see hundreds of crooks go to jail.
One thing Representative Schmidt failed to understand that a debate on the war in Iraq has nothing to do with American commitment to patriotism, but has every thing to do with Americas national interest and Iraqi national interest, and more importantly the very lives of those we decided to send to war to fight in a war that has no legitimacy what so ever. Instead of manipulating and hijacking the debate and make it about “patriotism” perhaps Republican and Democrats can wake up and live up to their responsibility of debating issues of national interests and rights, and leave patriotism to every single and individual Americans. We, as citizens can teach few Republicans what patriotism is all about. Let us put an end to this crap that is called “Republican Patriotism”.

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**Original Post: 7 Dec 2005

The acquittal of Professor Sami Al-Arian of terrorism, perjury and immigration charges by a Tampa jury proves that freedom of speech and association still the law of the land even after September 11, notwithstanding our Justice Department.
For 10 years, over zealous and over ambitious prosecutors in both Washington and in Tampa spent tens of millions of dollars building “their case” and of course listening to some 20,000 hours of secrete wire tapping, with the prosecutor spending hundred of thousands of dollars airlifting hundreds of Israel citizens to testify against Dr. Arian. Of course the prosecutor did not see a need to fly in one single Palestinian who were the beneficiaries of charities supported by Dr. Arian. To the prosecution all Palestinians are terrorists, similar to the views held by the Israeli government.
The prosecution unsuccessfully tried to frame the issue of Palestinians and Muslims exercise their rights of political speech and association as a form of terrorism. The jury made up of average citizens made it clear it has better understanding and better appreciations of the US Constitution and First Amendment rights. That such rights did not cross the threshold even if speeches are supporting independence and freedom of Palestinians is very unpopular with the Jewish communities in Florida, within community of Jewish Campus Watch, within college professors and administrators and certainly with such creeps and assholes like Bill O’Reilly of Fox News.
The acquittal of Dr. Arian is a slap in the face of both former attorney general Ashcroft and present attorney general Gonzales, certainly the acquittal might have a chilling effect on the business of Steve Emerson to tape and video tape speeches at mosques or at Palestinians and Muslim gatherings. The jury made it clear hates for Israel and Zionism and hate for Israeli Occupation, support for freedom and independence for Palestinians is not against the law and is a protected speech and is not terrorism, and those US citizens of Palestinians origin are not second-class citizens and do have the same rights granted to all US citizens.
Once again, the Justice Department proved that the Patriot Act is a very bad act and while not protecting US against terrorism as it is infringing on the rights of citizens for free speech and association and of course it stands against every legal principal we have in the country. Moreover, relying on Israel as a source of information to prosecute Palestinians in the US who happened to speak up against Israel and against the occupation does not stand. Perhaps the US Justice Department needs to understand that the standard of justice in the US is quite different from that of Israel. While in Israel the law and justice depends on whether the defendant is a Jew or an Arab, the law and justice in the US is color and religion blind and does not differentiate between a US citizens who is a descendant of the Mayflower or a citizens who legally immigrated to the US and made the US his/her country of choice.
The Bush Administration and the US Justice Department have to understand that Arab American and Muslim American love this country, their loyalty to the US is no less than that of the Jewish community and no less than the descendants of the Mayflower or the Daughters of the American Revolution. The US Justice Department has to understand supporting freedom and independence for Palestinians and advocating an end to the Israeli Occupation and advocating and end to Israeli settlements and the Wall is not a form of terrorism and supporting Palestinian charities is not a form of terrorism and speaking out on Zionism is not a form of terrorism, it is freedom of speech.
Once again American celebrates our rights of freedom and liberty, thank you Tampa.

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Originial Post: 19 April 2005

I am sure all of you now are experiencing what we have experienced some years ago. The issues may be different now, but the needs for free speech on campus was and remains a big issue for every one.

While college campuses now enjoy the relative calms that was missing in the sixties and seventies, now it is not the government that is stifling free speech on campus, it is the administration, alumni, campus watch groups, special interest groups, that are now interfering and creating a chilling effect on the right of free debate and free speech on campus inside and outside the classrooms.

Students groups, professors and college administrations are threatened with law suites and loss of jobs. Powerful and rich alumni withholding funds from universities threaten colleges and universities and colleges because some professors and student groups take on subjects deemed controversial and not so politically correct. Registered student and not registered students now bring in video cameras to record the teaching and classroom discussions. All of these sad and tragic events are creating threatening and frightening conditions on campus for the right of free speech.

College campus is the one place where students not only get an education; they are exposed to many competing ideas, thoughts, and issues. And it is one the place where no one has a monopoly on knowledge. The university is the one place where great ideas are always debated in a civilized and enlightened atmosphere where people on the “other side’ of the issues would meet after a debate and continue the discussions into the late hours. Such was the case with me while at Indiana University in Bloomington, where the subject of Israel and the Palestinians was always a “hot” topic, but where students on both side of the issue would have very heated debates only to go out afterward to a bar of a coffee shop and continue the discussions. Many on both sides of this issue became lifetime friends. The same was with the issue of Vietnam, where students would have great and very moving debates and all in the interest of the nations. Great times and great moments in one’s college life. That was before interest groups and alumni change that.

I invite all student governments on campus to petition the university and sponsor a single location on campus, where students at any time, can mount a soapbox and exercise and enjoy the right to free speech, and where all can enjoy the fun and the knowledge that comes of such encounters. I am sure that most if not all of you heard of Hyde Park Corner, that great and famous Speaker Corner of London famous Hyde Park where speakers after speakers can mount that soap box and give great speeches, not so great and sometimes foolish speeches, but all have the right to speak out and express an opinion. The idea is for you, the students to sponsor a Jefferson Corner at your campus and make it and turn it into the great and central attraction it can be. I invite you to join me in celebrating our rights and tradition of free speech and celebrate a Jefferson Corner on every campus in this great country of ours. Thanks you.
Sami Jamil Jadallah, sponsor and promoter www.jeffersoncorner.com
Fairfax, VA

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**Original Post: 9 June 2005

The US Senate, that great bastion of power, where lobbyist roam the great halls of the people and dictates the laws of this country, met in secrete session and voted on the new provisions of the Patriot Act. The new provisions give that other great police institution of this country, once run by the infamous J. Edgar Hoover for over 40 years. Lady J, ran it with an iron fist for his/her person and his/her personal agenda, making sure agents, where “straight as an arrow” while he/she was parading in a skirts and women handbags. The same man, oh, sorry Lady J, terrified so many sitting presidents and terrified the nation, using the hunt for communism as the agenda to control the nation, and no one dared to question him/her. That same institution now has power that went beyond the dreams of Lady J.
Under the new provisions of the Patriot Act, the FBI can issue orders; warrant for arrest, seizures, monitor and wire tap any and every one. Well, not really every one, but mostly Arabs and Muslims of this country, and can get all kind of information, including medical records and how many times couples have intercourse, and books checked out of the library. All of this power and more even if the person the FBI is after did not or is not suspected of doing any thing illegal or criminal, or have any connection with any foreign power or group. All that and more without the benefits of an independent federal judge to look at the evidence or pass a judgment on the request of the FBI.
Well, of course, we need to keep in mind that this great institution of ours have within its ranks and for so many years, spies and traitors who were responsible for policing others and protecting the nation.
Well, the question is does the nation trust the FBI to do all that, and have all of the powers without the danger of abusing such powers? Of course not!
Without any checks and balances, no police or security institution could ever be entrusted with the security of the nation and with the rights of citizens without an independent supervision of the judiciary, the only independent branch of the government we have, that is not subject to the dictates of lobbyist and people like Tom Delay, who if has it his way, federal judges will be at the whims of special interest groups, and even in danger for their lives. We only need to look at the Gestapo or Hitler’s Germany or the Stassi of East Germany or the KGP of the former Soviet Union and to the Savak of the late Shah of Iran, to know that such institutions with raw powers not only failed to protect the nations, they contributed to their demise. We only hope this will not be the case with the FBI.
Terrorism and the fear of terrorism is a big business and federal agencies asking and are getting hundreds of billions of precious tax dollars only to give it away to greedy and incompetent federal contractors who think they are providing the nation with added security, when in fact the citizens feel other wise and they are filling the pockets of their shareholders and executives.
I am not going to go to the intended victims, suspects and targets of the Patriot Act, the Arabs and Muslims. I will not be surprised if I walk up one night on the sound of someone knocking on my door at 4 am in the morning and asking me why do I shop at Safeway and not at Giant, and why do I buy smoked turkey and not roast beef. We should not be surprised if these things happen. Every thing we buy or a book we check out, or a restaurants we go out to, or food we eat, or music we listen to, we must first think what interest will the FBI have in such activities. Of course, we like the rest of the nation, it is our country and we care for it as any one else, perhaps more, we chose to be here.

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