Comments on: Terrorist Profiling and Muslim Organizations http://religion.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/07/07/terrorist-profiling-and-muslim-organizations/ The World Affairs Blog Network Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:12:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: John Maszka http://religion.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/07/07/terrorist-profiling-and-muslim-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-152 John Maszka Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:47:35 +0000 http://religion.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/07/07/terrorist-profiling-and-muslim-organizations/#comment-152 A growing number of Muslims around the world believe that America's attitude toward them has changed dramatically since 9/11. Daniel Byman (2003) notes that even in Egypt, which receives the second largest annual amount of US aid, a mere six percent of the people viewed America favorably in 2003. Furthermore, Byman argues that the Bush administration's support of Karimov in Uzbekistan, and Putin against the Chechens, among other tyrannical regimes, is giving credibility to the conviction that Bush uses these regimes to oppress Muslims in their own countries. Some 13 percent of U.S. Muslims believe that suicide bombings can be justified. Too high, for sure, but it compares with 35 percent for French Muslims, 57 percent for Jordanians and 69 percent for Nigerians. This distinct American advantage- which testifies to our ability to assimilate new immigrants- is increasingly in jeopardy. If leaders begin insinuating that the entire Muslim population be viewed with suspicion, that will change the community's relationship to the United States. Wiretapping America's mosques and threatening to bomb Mecca are certainly a big step down this ugly road (Zakaria, 2007:26). A "distinct American advantage" indeed; But many fear that we are not acting wisely as a nation. We are rapidly squandering the political good will we once enjoyed, especially among countries in the Middle East. How long will it be before the Bush administration squanders what good will it still enjoys at home? Many Muslims were treated terribly after 9/11. "In the months following the September 11 attacks, U.S. authorities detained approximately twelve hundred foreign nationals...Some were held for days, weeks and even months without being charged with a crime" (Cornett & Gibney, 2005:425). Zakaria's concern is not that far-fetched. America's foreign policy toward Islamic states abroad, combined with a growing intolerance here at home, very well could eventually turn the tide of American Muslim opinion and thereby possibly culminate in an increase in domestic terrorist attacks. A growing number of Muslims around the world believe that America's attitude toward them has changed dramatically since 9/11. Daniel Byman (2003) notes that even in Egypt, which receives the second largest annual amount of US aid, a mere six percent of the people viewed America favorably in 2003. Furthermore, Byman argues that the Bush administration's support of Karimov in Uzbekistan, and Putin against the Chechens, among other tyrannical regimes, is giving credibility to the conviction that Bush uses these regimes to oppress Muslims in their own countries. Some 13 percent of U.S. Muslims believe that suicide bombings can be justified. Too high, for sure, but it compares with 35 percent for French Muslims, 57 percent for Jordanians and 69 percent for Nigerians. This distinct American advantage- which testifies to our ability to assimilate new immigrants- is increasingly in jeopardy. If leaders begin insinuating that the entire Muslim population be viewed with suspicion, that will change the community's relationship to the United States. Wiretapping America's mosques and threatening to bomb Mecca are certainly a big step down this ugly road (Zakaria, 2007:26).

A "distinct American advantage" indeed; But many fear that we are not acting wisely as a nation. We are rapidly squandering the political good will we once enjoyed, especially among countries in the Middle East. How long will it be before the Bush administration squanders what good will it still enjoys at home? Many Muslims were treated terribly after 9/11. "In the months following the September 11 attacks, U.S. authorities detained approximately twelve hundred foreign nationals…Some were held for days, weeks and even months without being charged with a crime" (Cornett & Gibney, 2005:425). Zakaria's concern is not that far-fetched. America's foreign policy toward Islamic states abroad, combined with a growing intolerance here at home, very well could eventually turn the tide of American Muslim opinion and thereby possibly culminate in an increase in domestic terrorist attacks.

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