I was, frankly, stunned when slacker told me about this article he read in the local paper yesterday. Apparently FBI agents, in their effort to thwart possible terrorist activity, have been knocking on the doors of what seem to be only Muslims (despite their claims) in the Phoenix area, interviewing them about their associations and political views.
I don't know quite what to think, other than to be really bothered by this. I can't figure out what the FBI thinks to accomplish, other than deliberately intimidating local Muslims.
Does this squick anyone else out as badly as it does me? Have the FBI been doing this in all the areas where debates/rallies have taken place?
[ October 13, 2004, 05:30 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Democrats should be thankful. A visit by the FBI is probably a vote for Kerry.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
I believe they're doing it because of tonight's debate. There are many buildings and other places here that would be great targets for a terrorist attack. What would happen to the president's reputation if terrorists struck Palo Verde or the plant where they build Apache attack helicopters while the president was in town.
An attack on Palo Verde. Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :
quote: Who are your friends?
How do you feel about the Bush administration?
What do you think of U.S. foreign policy in Israel?
Would you become a confidential informant?
These strike me as pretty stupid questions. It's not as if they'd spill out their opinions on all these questions to the government, especially right before a terrorist plot. They'd probably just give like one word answers to everything asked of them. What's the point of these?
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
They'd have to do more than crash a plane into it, since it can withstand a direct hit from a 747.
Still though, why target only the valley's Muslim population? If they're the only people disatisfied with the government, I must be a Muslim....
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
You know, racial and religious profiling is really unfortunate, but it's also inevitable. It's not that muslims are terrorists. It's just that the particular terrorists that we have at the moment are... well, muslims.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Most instances of terrorism in the US have not been by Muslims. They've been by Christians. So, why isn't the FBI going door-to-door to all the Christian households?
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
If the FBI is really asking those questions, I am really frightened for the safety of our country. Next thing you know, you'll see these guys in suits and dark glasses going around with butterfly nets, peering into bushes yelling "Terrorists? Any terrorists about?"
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
Ahem... I did say the particular ones we have right now. And terrorism is not really an American problem, either. Globally, and in very recent history, most terrorism is being perpetrated by islamic extremists. I'm sorry, but that is just the way things are.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I wonder if the FBI is aware that these activities seem a little racist. They probably are, and they probably have their reasons for doing it anyway, IMO. Besides going door to door, they're probably doing a lot of other things to guard against any possible attack. I doubt they're just singling out Muslims.
Posted by CStroman (Member # 6872) on :
I should be selling signs:
"No Soliciting (or FBI!)"
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
quote: She declined to describe how subjects are chosen except to say, "We have not been sent a list. We've been sent a directive to talk to as many people as we can about a potential al-Qaida attack between now and the election."
I think the manner of choosing people to interview is key to whether this is problematic.
[ October 13, 2004, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: pooka ]
Posted by CStroman (Member # 6872) on :
One thing also to keep in mind that I didn't think of is what if they have received specific threats from "Muslim Extremists" that flat out say they will attack during the debates or during the elections, etc?
Sounds far fetched, but if that happened, I could see why they might ask around.
Going door to door and asking isn't really a problem (to me at least). Demanding answers or threatening them would be too far in my opinion.
Posted by Zamphyr (Member # 6213) on :
They're looking for a group of 20-25 Chechens rumored to have entered via Mexico.
FWIW, I don't think brown men with backpacks is a narrow enough description, especially when the President is scheduled to be on an Arizona college campus.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Well now that I see how hawt Ann Coulter is, her rhetoric isn't nearly as offensive It's cute when she says it.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
It's cute when she says it.