Sending Signals
The Washington Post has a long article about the trials of a number of people convicted of various terrorism related crimes. It is framed by the "Muslims worried about being targeted" story line that has become somewhat shopworn through overuse. Nonetheless, it offers a glimpse into what is driving and motivating some of these prosecutions. It also sheds some light on what is wrong with the mindset of some people - regardless of their religion.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, law enforcement officials pledged an aggressive effort to choke off future plots. People identified as security threats would be charged as soon as a crime could be proven, even if it was well short of a terrorist strike. The Washington area, where seven of the 19 al-Qaeda hijackers spent time before the attacks, became a focus of their investigations.
"Awaiting an attack is not an option," Paul J. McNulty, the deputy U.S. attorney general, said in a recent speech. He described the approach as "preventative prosecutions."
For prosecutors, that effort has been a success: Chandia was the 11th man convicted in what they describe as a "jihad network" in the D.C. suburbs dedicated to supporting military action on behalf of Muslims. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Muslims in the Washington area, even those unconnected to the defendants, wonder and worry about the implications of these cases for their community. Some feel that the prosecutions could increase the stigma Muslims have faced since Sept. 11. And many Muslims say the aggressive law enforcement has been far out of proportion to the offenses, which harmed no one.
Chandia's trial, for example, focused on favors he did for an acquaintance who belonged to a Pakistani group on the U.S. terrorist list. Chandia drove the visitor around the D.C. suburbs and helped him ship packages abroad.
For that, prosecutors sought 30 years to life. Some of the other defendants will spend decades in jail, including two who received life sentences.
"If this is how you deliver justice, you lose your trust in the justice system," protested Muddasar Ahmed, a Beltsville consultant who was among Chandia's supporters at his sentencing.
Ahmed and others have also argued that the prosecutions show a fundamental misunderstanding of Muslims in America: The local men wanted to help oppressed Muslims overseas, which isn't the same as backing bin Laden.
The article goes on to describe why some Muslims feel nothing the men did was really wrong. Even though some were training to fight against the Indian government in Kashmir and even against US and allied forces in Afghanistan. They also don't think that helping a man belonging to a terrorist group mail packages that contain supplies often used in military training is anything unusual. Which is frankly disturbing. The prosecutors maintain (and I believe they are stating fact here) that they are not targeting Muslims but they are trying very hard to send a message. But there does appear to be a mindset problem and some serious grounds for misunderstanding that need to be addressed. Signals are being sent in both directions that are being misinterpreted. I think it would be a helpful first step if some of the Muslim advocacy groups out there refrained from trying to play the victim card every single chance they get.
The problem with crying wolf all the time is that after a while, nobody believes you anymore.
By tom scott, Sunday, 3 September , 2006 @ 12:23 pm
I happened across Blue Crab Boulevard about a month ago and bookmarked it. I appreciate the sober, thoughtful and reflective posts here and this post is an example of that. Thanks
By Gaius, Sunday, 3 September , 2006 @ 12:48 pm
Thanks, I’m glad you like it here.
By Roland Hesz, Tuesday, 5 September , 2006 @ 2:03 am
“The problem with crying wolf all the time is that after a while, nobody believes you anymore.”
Too true.
Just look at the “terrorism danger” scene.
People start to laugh, ’cause almost every “we busted a terrorist!!” and “god, it was danger, danger, danger!!” ended in “erm.. sorry, our mistake, sorry madame”.
They should keep it less theatrical, concentrating on doing their job, not trumpetting every false alarm they got.