McCarthyism 2.0

Yes, I will go that far. I will call this another McCarthy era. Because if it isn't just that, then what is it? Here we are aggressively questioning a religion's patriotism, making poorly supported accusations, using accusations of disloyalty to pressure a religion's followers to adhere to conformist politics. If it isn't a witch hunt, then what is it? Is it not an attempt to cause moral panic?

How do you expect me to take these "Muslim radicalization" hearings seriously? The great champion of the threat is Republican Peter King. In the past, King supported a different kind of terrorist organization — the Irish Republican Army. He pledged to support the "brave men and women" of the IRA as they "struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry." His explanation? Well, the IRA never attacked the U.S - only British civilians, a distinction which, in King’s moral universe, makes his support acceptable. I mean, it's true that the IRA never attacked the U.S., but neither have Hamas, Hezbollah or the Muslim Brotherhood. Does King have the same sentiment for them? I doubt it.


King's problem with the Muslim-Americans is that they are not doing enough to stop terrorism in the country. But really, what ethnic group in America is doing enough to safeguard the nation from terrorism? Once again the Republicans have bamboozled their gullible constituents, by claiming that jobs were going to be their priority - but the minute they get into office, they start chasing ghosts. They have yet to create a single job because they are too busy with creating Islamophobia and tax cuts for their corporate masters.

The Southern Poverty Law Center counted 1,002 active hate groups in the United States in 2010: Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi, white nationalist, racist skinhead, Christian identity and so on. These people are not members of the “Muslim community.” The more pertinent question to be asked and answered is: will King hold hearings to examine these groups' threats to America's security too?


[Totally worth watching is Jon Stewart's take on King . Also for your entertainment, a cartoon from THE WEEK.]

Reminiscing Carter

As the sun set today on the sixth day of widespread protests in Egypt, the Obama administration continued to walk a difficult line on what is generally agreed to be its most challenging foreign policy test to date. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the US wants to see an "orderly transition" to a "democratic, participatory government." This pretty much made clear that the US administration was not ready to demand or even suggest the overthrow of its longtime ally, President Hosni Mubarak. 


This is all too reminiscent of Tehran in 1978 - Jimmy Carter had found himself in the middle of a dilemma, too. He had to decide whether to remain loyal to the long-standing American-backed dictatorship or to dump the Shah and support the popular uprising demanding democracy and human rights. Carter tried to play smart and have it both ways - he modulated his support to the Shah, called for political liberalization, and warned the Shah against the use of state violence. Obama seems to be doing the same.


Just like the coalition of secular liberals and religiously inspired political activists that brought down the Shah, a consensus has emerged from the Egyptian streets that Mubarak must go. But after the Shah's fall came Ayatollah Khomeini and that is probably what the Obama administration fears: that after Mubarak an anti-Western, Islamist regime will come to power, most probably through the popular election of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is actually much more moderate than Khomeini's Shi'ite clerics. But if and when it comes to power, it will remind the Egyptian people that it was billions of American military aid dollars that kept Mubarak's 30-year regime afloat. 


From past experiences, Washington this time should make sure that it stays on the side of political reform and change and show that it is not aligned with the Arab status quo. America needs to display that its interest in the Middle East is not driven by its addiction to oil. Washington clearly needs to say that it will support any regime that will come to power through fair elections - even if that means supporting the Brotherhood.


Obama won many Muslim hearts with his speech in Cairo in June 2009. It is now time for him to show that those were more than just words.