The Most Mainstream Muslim Group?
Philadelphia
BI directors don't make a
habit of breaking bread with
organizations their agents
may soon be investigating,
perhaps even closing.
Robert S. Mueller III, however, is
about to make precisely this blunder on
Friday, June 28, when he is scheduled to
deliver a lunch talk to the American
Muslim Council (AMC). Mueller accept-
ed this invitation, his spokesman Bill
Carter explains, because the FBI regards
the AMC as "the most mainstream
Muslim group in the United States."
The AMC does indeed seek to con-
vey a message of moderation. Its
event this month, for example,
is reassuringly titled 'American
Muslims: Part of America."
AMC also boasts of having ini-
tiated "many of the historic
events marking the entrance of
Muslims into mainstream American
culture and life."
Public relations, however, is not reali-
ty. The FBI may have missed the
AMC's true nature because until just
days ago, its guidelines prohibited it
from collecting general information on
an organization of this sort. To help it
catch up, then, here are five compelling
r
reasons why Director Mueller should
break his lunch date:
• Apologetics for terrorism. The Justice
Department years ago formally certified
Hamas and Hezbollah to be terrorist
groups; AMC sings their praises.
Abdurahman Alamoudi, the long-time
AMC executive director, exhorted a
rally outside the White House in 2000
with "We are all supporters of Hamas.
Allahu Akhbar! ... I am also a supporter
of Hezbollah."
Alamoudi was also reported by a
Hamas publication in the United
States, Az-Zaytuna, crowing that AMC
FBI chief shouldn't speak
before Muslim Council.
Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle
East Forum. His e-mail address is
Pipes@MEForum.org A version of
this piece, with footnotes, appears on
www.danielpipes.org
has gone "to the White House and
defended what is called Hamas." And
the American Muslim Council has ties
to terrorists in other countries, includ-
ing Algeria, Sudan, Egypt and Jordan.
• Helping fund-raise for terrorism.
The Holy Land Foundation is one of
the main American conduits of money
to Hamas; not surprisingly, AMC has
lavished praise on organization and
bestowed an award on it for a "strong
global vision."
When President George W. Bush
closed the Holy Land Foundation after
9-11 for collecting money "used
to support the Hamas terror
organization," AMC responded
by condemning the president's
act as "particularly disturbing ...
unjust and counterproductive."
remains hostile, but expresses
himself more elegantly today,
for example, accusing Attorney
General John Ashcroft of
"using national security as a
pretext" to engage in patterns
of ethnic and religious discrim-
ination.
• Run-ins with the law. AMC
DA NIEL
leaders have a long and colorful
history of legal problems. Jamil
PI PES
• Hostility to the United
Abdullah Al-Amin (the former
States. Its apparent patriotism
Spe cial
H. Rap Brown), a one-time
Comm entary aside, AMC harbors an intense
president of AMC's executive
anti-Americanism. "Let us
board, has the nearly unique
damn America," Sami Al-
distinction of having been listed not
Arian, a featured speaker at recent AMC
just once, but twice, as one of the FBI's
events, has declaimed. Alamoudi, the
Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Oh, and
long-time executive director, has dilated
today he is sitting out a life sentence
on the agony of living in a country he
without parole for murdering a police-
loathes: "I think if we are outside this
man.
country, we can say, 'Oh, Allah, destroy
Other employees have less horrible,
America,' but once we are here, our
but still troubled resumes. For example,
mission in this country is to change it.
Eric Vickers, AMC's current director,
There is no way for Muslims to be vio-
has been admonished, sanctioned or
lent in America, no way. We have other
suspended by courts over a 10-year
means to do it. You can be violent any-
period due to his faulty practice of law.
where else but in America."
Far from being:`the most mainstream
• Hostility to law enforcement. Even
Muslim group in the United States,"
after 9-11, AMC's Web-site linked to a the AMC is among the most extreme.
document, "Know Your Rights" that
That explains why George Bush in
advises "Don't Talk to the FBI."
2000 returned its $1,000 donation to
Naturally, AMC fervently opposes suc- his presidential campaign. Rather than
endorse AMC by his presence, Robert
cessive administrations' efforts to stave
off terrorism.
Mueller should find other lunch com-
AMC Director Vickers personally has,
panions. Then he should put the
organization under surveillance, ascer-
to put it delicately, a strained relation-
ship with law enforcement. In his youth,
tain its funding sources, look over its
he admits, he was "against the cops." He
books and check its staff's visa status.
❑
Perspectives on Israel: a continuing series
was beautiful, more beautiful than
anything I have ever seen. Muslims
and Jews, Christians and atheists, we
walked hand-in-hand and greeted our
families, who cheered side-by-side.
For three days, for that moment, it
was about fighting a disease that kills
women: a disease that knows no skin
color or religion, but one that cruelly
that takes mothers from their chil-
dren. And we hugged and we laughed
and we cried together because togeth-
er, we had done it.
Together, we had walked 60 miles
and raised $5.2 million net proceeds
for the cause; but most important in
the fight against every cancer that
threatens our world, together, we
exemplified community. Throughout
the walk, we heard, "If we can do this,
we can do anything."
How true. On a field in Farmington
Hills, we found peace, and all of us
walked away a little different than we
began.
SUPPORT ISRAEL'S ECONOMY
sra
r d I f, economy is seriously impacted by the ongoing
ui ocrisis. Just last month, the number of arriving
and departing airline flights declined 29% and the number of
passengers was the lowest in 7 years. The Israeli shekel continues
to weaken against the dollar and other currencies, as Arab nations
and some European and American groups push for boycotting of
Israeli goods.
Unemployment is rising, foreign investment is slowing, and the costs
of defense are skyrocketing. The new security fence along Israel's
eastern border with the Palestinian territories, expected to initially
measure 130 kilometers, has an estimated outlay of $1 million per
kilometer.
Not only are tourists not coming, but many Israelis have cut back on
spending due to security concerns and declining income. Once thriv-
ing shopping districts include stores that no longer open for business
each day.
While our local federation contributions help many social
services needing additional funds, many Israeli businesses
just need customers.
Take Action:
1 - Buy Israeli products locally and urge your favorite stores to stock
them, or by them at private or synagogue Judaica stores.
2 : More than 20 on-line sources of Israeli products can be found at
www.standwithus.com/actions/action_shopisrael.asp
3 - Make a shopping date: Attend the "Ben Yehuda Mall" festival,
Oak Park, August 11-13. Call (248) 646-7686 for more information.
Jewish :
Community
Councilpegegiveggiiiegf the
❑
To learn more about how you can become an effective Israel advocate, visit www.jewishcommunitycouncil.orq
6/21
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2002
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