Analysts both in the
Muslim and the Western world by and large agree that �fear� and lack of
objective dialogue are the root cause of Islamophobia and anti-Americanism. And
while the debate on which one of the two ignited the other is still ongoing,
one fact remains irrefutable: more people were victimized as a result of
Islamophobia than the other way around.
A recent public
opinion survey conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
indicates that Muslims are still viewed negatively in the U.S. There are
estimated 7 million Muslims in America and over 50 thousand in Central Ohio
alone -- the majority being Somalis.
Among the of
questions in the survey, the question �When you hear the word �Muslim,� what is
the first thought that comes to your mind?� revealed the most daunting reality
that Muslims still carry the 9/11 burden. Six percent of those surveyed
indicated positive perceptions as they offered responses such �good religion,�
�good people,� �faithful,� �devout,� �misunderstood.� On the other hand, 26
percent espoused negative perceptions about Muslims as they offered answers
such as �violence,� �hatred,� �terrorists,� �war,� �guns,� �towel-heads� and
�rag-heads.�
The irony is that
this came at a time when Muslims in the U.S. and in the West were doing more
outreach than ever before. Are the powerful engines that propel the �war on
terror� blowing the smoke of fear and distrust that ultimately hinders efforts
toward building bridges of understanding?
I recently had an
opportunity to interview Professor John Mueller, the author of the best selling
book, Overblown: How Politicians and the Terrorism Industry Inflate National
Security Threats, and Why We Believe Them. Professor Mueller is a national
security expert. He holds the Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies at
the Mershon Center.
In that interview,
arranged by SomaliLink Journal, Professor Mueller reiterated the premise of his
book that America is frightened senseless . . . and that there are some
�well-meaning� special interest groups �who grossly exaggerated the threat of
terrorism� and, as a result, created the �terrorism industry� that in due
course became an economic abyss.
The national
treasury is being drained as the U.S. tries to build a bulwark against a mirage
of fear and dashes to every corner of the world where an �al-Qaida flag is
waved.�
�If there were any
sleeper cells or al-Qaida operatives who are as determined, as inventive and as
demonically competent as assumed, why have they not done it yet, especially
when carrying [out] a terrorist act does not require flying planes into
buildings? Could it be because they are not yet here? If not, they must not
been trying hard enough or perhaps they are far less dedicated, diabolical, and
competent than we are being told.� said Professor Mueller. �Apparently, there
are no terrorists under the bed or hiding in mosques -- the very lamppost that
they should be avoiding in the first place� he added.
And while Professor
Mueller acknowledged the need and the importance of enhancing the security of
the United States, he repeatedly pointed out the sheer absurdity that justifies
the post 9/11 fear-driven policies and initiatives. He said the FBI embraces a
spooky line of reasoning that he refers to as �I-think-therefore-they-are.� He
quoted the FBI Director Robert Mueller who said � . . . the greatest threat is
from al-Qaida cells in the U.S. that we have not yet identified," who
substantiates his claim by repeating �his alarmist mantra� and telling the
public �I remain very concerned about what we are not seeing."
According to
Professor Mueller, it is this kind of mindset combined with the rhetoric of
fear-mongering politicians whose aim often is to frighten voters to their side;
lazy journalists and the media�s desire to sensationalize the news; and those
in the security business who are motivated to seize this golden opportunity to
push their profits and services and maximize their profits that perpetuate the
terrorism industry, keep Muslims demonized, and the anti-terrorism laws
irrationally rigid.
Even a well-meaning
innocent person could be held as an �enemy combatant.�
�When a judge raised
a hypothetical question on who might be detained as an enemy combatant and
asked �what about an old lady in Switzerland who donates money to an orphanage
in Afghanistan who, unbeknown to her, finances al-Qaida? Could she be detained
as an enemy combatant? The answer provided by the Justice Department
representative was simply 'Yes.'�
The rationale of
course is that "we live in age of terror" -- a notion that Professor
Mueller outright rejects as �hyperbolic.� He said �the probability of an
American being killed by an act of terrorism is 1 in 80,000, which is more or
less the same probability of being hit by an asteroid.� But, no one is
frightening people with the latter.
�Including 9/11 in
the count, the number of Americans killed by international terrorism in the
last three decades is about the same as the number of Americans killed over the
same period by lightning, accident-causing deer, or severe allergic reaction to
peanuts.� Yet, the message often repeated is that the sky is about to fall . .
. which makes diplomacy seem irrelevant. Despite all this, Professor Mueller
still maintains a rare sense of optimism. He believes an introspective
government working with people of goodwill can change the course of history.
And, in order to
reverse the current trend, two main things must happen: first, the gross
inflation of the threat of terrorism that implicitly portrays Muslims as
ticking bombs must be appropriately calibrated. Second, diplomacy and
constructive dialogue must be revived, and moderate Muslims must be engaged.
Abukar
Arman is a freelance writer who lives in Ohio.