Undoubtedly, Peter King’s staff realized that criticism for holding hearings on radical Islam would be inevitable. They knew too, that there are people on both sides of this issue whose positions are fixed and cannot be swayed by congressional hearings. Their target audience should have been those in the middle who are uninformed but open-minded. Their goal should have been to educate the public and raise awareness, to present testimony that would rightly demonstrate why the Chairman’s concerns are founded. Ideally, the three witnesses selected by the Republicans would have provided facts within a framework that could have served as the basis for concurring with the Chairman’s conclusions.
The selected witnesses should have incorporated the following information into their initial presentations:
- What is the definition of radical? Is it just violence or the underlying ideology?
- Is there a difference between prisoners who might become “radical Christians” or “radical Jews” and those who become radical Muslims? Which is the largest national security threat and why?
- Is Islamic radicalism a religion as the west understands it or is it more of a political ideology? Does it make sense to single out the radicalization of Muslims as opposed to other religions?
- Can you be specific about how radical Islamist ideology is a threat to national security and freedom including freedom of religion?
- How is Islamist radicalism different from gangs and thugs? Can you place this in a national security context and tie it to the War on Terror?
- Is it possible that “credentialed Imams” are radicals as they are in the military program, established by now-jailed Alamoudi?
- Why did the 9/11 Commission single out Imams as problematic rather than all jail clergy?
- Though the number of radicalized Muslims in jail might be small, as were the 19 hijackers from 9/11, what is the risk of ignoring this problem?
- What is the process of radicalization and what can be done to prevent it?
- Is the radical Islamic ideology a problem when prisoners are released from jail?
- Can the problems that the EU is having with radical Muslims happen here in the U.S.?
Little of this was confronted in the original testimony. Of course it was appropriate for the Democrats to have a witness who does not believe that the radicalization of Muslims in prison is prevalent enough to pose a national security threat. After all, reasonable minds can differ. However, it was imperative for the Republican panel to include witnesses who would explain the dangers of radical Islam as a political ideology and to identify this underlying ideology as a threat to national security and American freedom. It was a mistake to allow Democrats to frame the issue as a prison problem rather than a national security threat. The Chairman pointed this out, but in order to have any impact, the witnesses needed to present facts and analysis that would lead the audience to the same conclusion.
Congressman Peter King should be commended for raising issues critical to the national dialogue and for having the fortitude to withstand the onslaught of criticism that he bears.
Let’s hope that in preparation for the next hearing in this series, Peter King’s staff does a better job in witness selection, obtaining subject matter expertise, and drawing out testimony that explains why Islamism is a problem in the U.S. Chairman King and the American public deserve no less.
Deborah Weiss, Esq. works for Vigilance and is a regular contributor to FrontPage Magazine and the American Security Council.
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There was more exposed than than it may seem.
The liberals left's congressmen who perpetually tried to divert attention away from Islamic created prison conversions In so doing they seemed very protective of Islamic extremism.
They were arguing that every thing else should be investigated except Islamic prison conversions.
These disrupters of the Left have left a viewable record of their tactics used to protect
Islamic terrorist recruiters from exposure.
The enemy with in has exposed it's self.
I support Congressman King and wish there were more support for his efforts. Please pray for him
Months ago I warned people right here that Peter King was a fool who would botch this investigation. I was mercilessly thumbed down for it.
How's Peter King working out for you thumbers?
There is nothing worse than an ally who's incompetent. A bad argument in favor of your position is worse than a thousand arguments against your position.
It does sound like he was out of his depth. Like most, still unprepared for the modern Meme Wars.
"Michael Downing from the L.A. Police Department praised Islam as “one of the most peaceful religions in the world but it has been hijacked.”
"Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless
to the unbelievers but merciful to one another" Quran 48:29
Islamic terrorists have carried out more than 17,365 Deadly Terror Attacks Since 9/11 http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
British Schoolgirl's Testimony – Muslims Threaten Children With Violence & Rape Outside School Daily http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24cg_pnpZJE
A nation's leadership that refuses to protect its own children is a nation that cannot survive.
Horrifying and Evil. The utter horror of kidnapped Christian children. Their lives forever destroyed by cruel Islamo Fascists who are determined to make the children exactly like they are:
Quran School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jwii8QihT0&fe…
Who will rescue the children?
It is war. A war that has been going on for 1,400 years. Founder of Islam, HUGE slave trader, Mohammad, murdered/beheaded 700 Jewish men because of the Jews' love for, and allegiance to G-D. The Jews refused to follow another god and the new religion of Mohammad. The Jews' wives and children were seized for slaves to lives of living hell.
"Michael Downing from the L.A. Police Department praised Islam as “one of the most peaceful religions in the world but it has been hijacked.”
By your statement, Mr. Downing, you obviously include Mohammad, founder of Islam, has having hijacked his OWN religion.
"Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-Michigan) was practically in tears as he shouted that discrimination against poor black men constituted the real problem with jails and that the focus on Islamic radicalization is merely a “distraction”."
Save your tears, Congressman, for Black African Christian victims of Muslim barbaric cruelty!
frontpagemag.com
Faith J. H. McDonnell April 15, 2011
A Plea for the Cote D’Ivoire:
…Senator Jim Inhofe known for his love for Africa…He advised that he would offend not only the Ouattara regime, but the United Nations, France, and the U.S. State Department. All of these have sided with Ouattara, even as his supporters slaughter Ivory Coast Christians in a manner eerily reminiscent of the slaughter perpetrated by Kenya’s Odinga, another Islamist supported by the Obama administration. He reminded his fellow senators that in the days leading to the assault on Abidjan he had said that “this was going to happen” and that he had warned the UN and the State Department “that they would have blood on their hands.”
He also expressed his concern for the hundreds of young supporters of President Gbagbo that had formed a human shield around the presidential palace, saying, “No one knows how many of these youths have been killed by UN and French forces.”
…in the western Ivory Coast town of Duekoue, where a massacre of as many as 1000 pro-Gbagbo supporters, mostly Christians, took place between March 27 and 30.
On Tuesday, March 29, “they started killing everyone.” She said that the Ouattara forces killed mothers and children, including shooting a young neighbor and her 6-month-old baby, and the elderly. By Wednesday, Houe said that Ouattara’s troops were using machetes. “They were slitting people’s throats, anyone — men, women, children,” she said.
…Ouattara’s men circle Simone Gbagbo. Inhofe said that the thugs had pulled out her hair by the roots and then went to the streets, displaying her hair to mobs of cheering Ouattara supporters. Again Inhofe repeated his warning to other Sub-Saharan African leaders, saying, “This could happen to you. This could happen to your wife.” http://frontpagemag.com/2011/04/15/a-cri-de-coeur…
With very strong U.S. backing, UN soldiers and French troops went to war against Ivory Coast's Black African Christians. They proudly won the jihad and handed the country over to the barbaric Muslim forces. UN Peacekeepers? Give them their real name: UN Soldiers for Global Jihad.
Why is there no investigation of this horrible crime against humanity? Where are the tears of congressmen and women and senators?
Photo on the internet – Ivory Coast Christians' signs. A desperate appeal to the world for help:
UN-USA-FRANCE = ASSASSINS
The truth is there for those who seek it.
Read the Qur'an and discover what Islam is. A cruel and inhuman dictatorship.
It sure seems easy to fault Mr. King. Are you taking a stand? any kind of a stand?
I believe he may have been threatened. I think I remember hearing about death threats and threats to his family so if he went soft….well, where are you?! before you judge Mr. King?
Just saying. Easier to go against him? I think we should give this brave man credit and see what we can do to help!!