Washington (JTA) - An Arab-American group called on Senate Democrats not to return Sen. Joe Lieberman to his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee.
The letter from the Arab American Institute to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader, cited in particular a report on Islamist extremism and the "Homegrown Terrorist Threat" completed in May under Lieberman’s watch.
"While this committee report appropriately observed the value of outreach and engagement with Arab Americans and American Muslims as vital to securing the freedom and safety of our nation, the overall findings of the report make the dangerous and unsubstantiated claim that the threat posed by violent extremists now comes ‘increasingly from within’ the United States and falsely characterizes Arabs and Muslims in America as ‘susceptible to radicalization,’ " said the letter from institute President James Zogby.
The letter also cites the reported involvement of Lieberman (I-Conn.) in a sequel to the controversial documentary "Obsession," a film that critics say unfairly tarnishes broad sectors of Muslim society as extremist.
Lieberman, the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee and the first Jew on a national ticket, broke with the party in 2006 over his support for the Iraq War, and he backed Republican candidate John McCain for president. Still, Lieberman continued to caucus with Democrats and vote the party line on most domestic issues. In a 51-49 split, his was the critical vote giving Democrats the majority...
The letter from the Arab American Institute to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader, cited in particular a report on Islamist extremism and the "Homegrown Terrorist Threat" completed in May under Lieberman’s watch.
"While this committee report appropriately observed the value of outreach and engagement with Arab Americans and American Muslims as vital to securing the freedom and safety of our nation, the overall findings of the report make the dangerous and unsubstantiated claim that the threat posed by violent extremists now comes ‘increasingly from within’ the United States and falsely characterizes Arabs and Muslims in America as ‘susceptible to radicalization,’ " said the letter from institute President James Zogby.
The letter also cites the reported involvement of Lieberman (I-Conn.) in a sequel to the controversial documentary "Obsession," a film that critics say unfairly tarnishes broad sectors of Muslim society as extremist.
Lieberman, the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee and the first Jew on a national ticket, broke with the party in 2006 over his support for the Iraq War, and he backed Republican candidate John McCain for president. Still, Lieberman continued to caucus with Democrats and vote the party line on most domestic issues. In a 51-49 split, his was the critical vote giving Democrats the majority...
Source: JTA
H/T: Jihad Watch
Arab American Institute
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