[R-G] Arab American Institute: Independent and Inspirational

[james m nordlund]

Independent and Inspirational
February 22, 2008-Vol. 9, #7, A regular update from the 
Arab American Institute
255 Days Until Election 2008!

http://www.aaiusa.org/

Independent and Inspirational
When Kosovo declared independence this week it became Europe's first
majority-Muslim nation and earned almost immediate recognition from key
members of the European Union, as well as the United States. But Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice was quick to note that "the unusual combination
of factors" in Kosovo, including "crimes against civilians...and the
extended period of UN administration," made this case exceptional and did
not set "a precedent for any other situation in the world today." Really?
Because it sounds awfully familiar. And at least one senior Palestinian
Authority advisor also took note, saying "we deserve independence even
before Kosovo, and we ask for the backing of the United States and
European Union for our independence." 

Don't Worry, They're Still Listening
"What we have here is a remarkable display of the anti-anti-terror
minority," a Wall Street Journal editorial stated about last week's House
opposition to amending FISA. Democrats, the WSJ charged, are trying to
thwart wiretapping powers "through the backdoor by unleashing the trial
bar to punish the telephone companies." Nonsense said Congressman
Silvestre Reyes (D-TX). In a cutting letter to President George W. Bush,
the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence cited
three secure mechanisms for NSA surveillance and turned the pointing
finger around: "if our nation is left vulnerable in the coming months...it
will be because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan and
Pakistan... allowing al-Qaeda to reconstitute itself on your watch." The
congressman decried efforts to circumvent the Constitution, warning "if we
do that, we might as well call the terrorists and tell them they have
won." Pun intended.   

Above Board
Republican presidential frontrunner, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), widely
known for his service in Vietnam and detention as a prisoner of war,
shocked many last week by voting against a ban on controversial
interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. But McCain comfortably
defended his decision, clarifying that his vote was actually against
codifying the Army Field Manual. "Waterboarding is torture; it is in
violation of many laws," McCain insisted, "but I do not believe the Army
Field Manual should be the only document that the CIA should be restricted
to." Don't even try to 'swiftboat' this senator. 

We Broke It, We Own It
The United States "has a moral responsibility to lead the international
response to the Iraqi refugee crisis," Congressmen Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
and John Dingell (D-MI) reminded the administration recently. In a letter
to the State Department, the congressmen noted that of the paltry 7,000
Iraqi refugees eligible for relocation to the United States (there are
over 3 million Iraqis displaced throughout the Middle East), only 1,324
have been admitted. And that rate is projected to decline exponentially
this fiscal year, despite beefed up goals. Beyond what is billed as "the
most pressing humanitarian crisis in the world," the letter warns that
lack of future planning "is creating a potential security crisis, as the
most vulnerable Iraqis are turning to extremist elements for assistance." 

Reel Talent
The Arab Cinema Institute is newly up and running in Amman, but the
budding Jordanian film industry has already produced two buzz-worthy
movies. Captain Abu Raed and Recycle were featured as independent films at
this year's prestigious Sundance Film Festival and both walked away with
awards and critical acclaim. Though dwarfed by entertainment industries in
Lebanon and Egypt, Jordan is on the cutting edge of a regional trend;
Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen have all produced
feature-length films in the past year. We eagerly await the Arab hero and
hope stereotypes, as seen in Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia , will
fade to black.  

Arab American Institute
1600 K Street, NW Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
www.aaiusa.org 


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