Unanswered Questions

Submitted by Alo Kievalar (Saudi Arabia), Jan 24, 2003 at 11:35

One major problem with the news media is that one never really gets to hear or read the full story.

I fully understand why....newsmen are out to make a living, most people's attention and interest span is very short and this leads to unanswered questions up and down the system.

For example, Dr Pipes mentions that it was found out that Mr Khan had overstayed his visa.....presumably a deportable violation.

But then, Dr Pipes says "To investigate this matter - and here our information comes from one of the two, Ayub Ali Khan, after he was released - the authorities put them through some pretty rough treatment."

The question immediately arises in my mind (as a former Immigration Officer, I might add): why was Mr Khan "released"? He shouldn't have been. He was in violation of the law. Is he still around? Under what status? How is he supporting himself? (Over-stayers of visas aren't allowed by law to work in the US), etc, etc.

When it comes to "foreign affairs" in any context, Americans are notoriously naive and pathetically ignorant. In any other country, Mr Khan would have been grabbed by his chinny chin chin and kicked out of the country forthwith. But not here......oh no, we might "upset" him ( or some such).

The full impact and meaning of what happened on 9/11 has still now really dawned on Americans, I'm afraid. Not really. Most of them look upon it as sort of like a "Las Vegas Hotel/Casino fire" or some such. How wrong they are.

As far as "profiling" Muslims, let me say this: The idea that Islam is simply "another" religion and should be treated as such is a grave and suicidal error. It may be a religion,....but it is much more too. Militant Islam is also an ideology as virulent and dangerous as communism or nazism ever were. This too is something Americans are loathe to admit.

But eventually, they (we) will. Then we can really get down to business. In the meantime, well, keep plastic morgue bags handy....we're going to need them.

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