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Disappointed at Bush’s call for renewal of Patriot Act:
ADC, CAIR, MPAC response to State of the Union address
Washington, DC, January 21, 2004 - - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) today voiced its disappointment in President George W. Bush's request, during last night's State of the Union Address, for Congress to renew certain controversial and sunset provisions of the USA Patriot Act.
ADC reiterated that, while some parts of the Patriot Act may be effective tools to combat terrorism, some provisions set to expire in 2005 should be permitted to do so. It was Congress's intent for certain temporary provisions to expire in 2005 in order to preserve core American freedoms and liberties. A specific example of a sunset provision which should not be renewed is Section 215 of the Act.
In late July, ADC and several other organizations, filed a legal challenge to Section 215 of the Act. Section 215 allows, among other things, FBI agents to access any individual's bank, library or medical records without that individual knowing about this breach of privacy. The bank, library, or doctor would not be allowed to inform anyone, thereby preventing any challenge of the infringement in a court of law.
Prior to the Patriot Act, access to people's information required probable cause and was subject to judicial oversight, but these safeguards have been eliminated by Section 215. Attorney General John Ashcroft's assertion that controversial Section 215 powers have not been used calls into question both the constitutionality and the need for such far-reaching invasions of privacy.
ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, "While we, like all Americans, are committed to the security of our country, President Bush's request for Congress to renew these un-American provisions of the Patriot Act is extremely disappointing." Former Congresswoman Oakar continued, " It is unacceptable for the government to be looking over everybody's shoulder when they go on the internet, and snooping into the library, medical and banking records of ordinary Americans." She concluded, "there is no justification for renewing such provisions which, by the Attorney General's own assertion have not been used, or, as we assert in court, have been used in secrecy and without disclosure."
CAIR is very concerned about the Patriot Act
Davie, Florida, January 21, 2004 – Mr. Altaf Ali, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations applauded the parts of President Bush's speech concerning rebuilding Iraq and bringing democracy to that country. He congratulated Bush as well for his support of recognizing marriage as the union between a man and a woman, saying "this is one of the foundations of civilization."
But Ali was disturbed by the part of the speech calling for renewal of Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism law that is scheduled to expire next year.
"Like many other civil liberties groups, CAIR is very concerned about the Patriot Act," Ali said. "It is cutting the corners on freedom of speech and the right to counsel."
MPAC’s reaction to President’s address
Washington DC, January 21, 2004 – Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) listened with interest to President George W. Bush's fourth State of the Union Address to the American people. As per our tradition, we have listened carefully to the speech and issued feedback that reflects the collective thinking of our organization.
Iraq
The President dedicated the majority of his speech to what seemed like a justification of, or at the very least, reflection on, his administration's policy toward Iraq. MPAC found it noteworthy that while President Bush asserted with infamous confidence that Saddam Hussein was developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in last year's speech, this year he referred only to "dozens of Weapons of Mass Destruction-related program activities," a severe diminution in rhetoric. Significantly, it seems as if the Bush Administration has made a switch, now claiming that regime change is the number one reason our nation went to war. This change in rhetoric indicates that the administration may be trying to distance itself from other reasons for war cited prominently in former State of the Union speeches, namely the presence of WMDs and a link between Saddam Hussein and 9-11.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Bush stated that for "diplomacy to work, words must be credible," implying that countries had to know that the US is prepared to use force when necessary. Bush stated a desire to "keep the most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the most dangerous regimes." Yet many around the world will doubtlessly detect a dangerous double standard when the fact remains that our nation supports its own nuclear weapons program, in addition to those of Israel, India and Pakistan.
Afghanistan
The President used Afghanistan as a model of success after the recent adoption of a constitution. His image of children going to school, women participating fully in society and people living free from the grip of the Taliban is unfortunately belied by the facts. In reality, arguments have been made by policy makers and others that our engagement in Iraq has detracted our focus dangerously away from Afghanistan. Women are not yet free - outside of Kabul there are widespread reports that women are too afraid to venture outside of their homes, let alone go to school, due to the dominance of clan leaders outside the authority of Hamid Karzai's government. And, of course, in these regions, women are still forced to wear the Burkah. It is dangerous to claim success in this nation while we are unfortunately far from free of our responsibilities there.
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
Significantly, Bush avoided the most obvious source of anti-US sentiment in the Arab and Muslim world, not to mention the world at large - US policy toward Israel and the Arab world. Failing to acknowledge the gravity of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is a sign that the President has abandoned interest in winning the hearts and minds of people in the Arab and Muslim street, the lack of attention to which has been shown to provide a major supply of terrorist recruits. Bush neglected to mention Israel's illegal and internationally-reviled "separation barrier," a grotesque violation of human rights. Indeed, Bush did not even make a passing reference to his own "Road Map" for peace in the region. MPAC believes that this omission is dangerous and has the real potential to undermine our national security.
Bringing Democracy to the Middle East
President Bush stated that "freedom is rare" in the Middle East, although it is "mistaken and condescending to think that whole cultures and great religions don't want to live in freedom." MPAC certainly agrees with this statement. It is of the utmost necessity, however, to move beyond pleasant sounding platitudes when we are discussing massive US military engagement to promote a project of explicitly transforming a region. How will the US bring about this transformation? Will the US continue to support dictatorships in the region? Will we continue to give Ariel Sharon a free hand to wreak havoc on the Palestinians and the region's stability? Will we respond to the Shii's call in Iraq for direct elections, even if the results do not please Washington? These are the types of essential questions that were left unanswered in last night's speech. Expanding Voice of America programming in Arabic and Farsi and broadcasting our messages on a new satellite television station to the Arab world is fine, but the authors of the recent Public Diplomacy report in the Muslim world themselves acknowledge that such ultimately cosmetic overtures are no substitute for concrete reexaminations of US policy toward the region.
USA PATRIOT Act
President Bush called for a renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, which MPAC, along with a wide spectrum of Americans, has argued violates civil liberties, giving the government unprecedented powers that undermine the Constitution without providing any guarantee of strengthening security. Bush's argument that it is "not enough to serve enemies with legal papers" and his support for the questionable tactics of special forces around the world, have implications here in the US for American Muslims who are inadvertently caught up and labeled as suspect without being able to rely on the legal checks and balances that normally apply.
Interestingly, Bush referenced Khaled Sheikh Muhammed, who was apprehended jointly by US and Pakistani forces in relation to 9-11, and the perpetrators of the Bali bombings in relation to the USA PATRIOT Act. Yet there is no evidence that has been made public that the USAPA assisted at all in these cases. President Bush referenced the Sunset Provisions of the USAPA that are due to expire next year, garnering applause from the Democratic side of the aisle, suggesting that this legislation is far from uncontroversial even among those who passed it shortly after 9-11.
Tax Cuts
On the domestic front, President Bush offered an agenda that responded to his supporters. He called for his tax cuts to be made permanent and floated the idea of the "personal retirement account" which individuals would invest in with their social security taxes. MPAC opposes these tax cuts, calling them irresponsible, and decries our ever-growing deficit.
Unemployment
The President's solution for the unemployment crisis seemed to be the expansion of free trade, which threatens manufacturing and other jobs here at home. No mention was made of the two million jobs lost during President Bush's term, except for passing reference that "employment is on the rise." MPAC supports the President's proposal for increased training for released prisoners.
Healthcare
President Bush's vision for changes in the healthcare system did not address the millions of Americans who are uninsured, other than by recommending changes to "eliminate wasteful and frivolous medical lawsuits," in order to reign in the skyrocketing costs of medicine.
Faith-Based Initiatives
President Bush reiterated his support for faith-based services by making billions of dollars in grant funds available to such groups so that "people of faith will know that the law will never discriminate against them again." This is of particular interest to American Muslims whose charities are again under attack by a recent demand from the Senate Finance Committee to obtain the protected financial records from the IRS of 25 Muslim organizations, including donor lists. It remains to be seen if President Bush's largesse towards faith-based social service programs will include those run by Muslims.
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