Peter King's Controversial Radical Islam Hearings Set to Begin Thursday

Reminiscent of the McCarthy witch hunt that fanned the flames of anti-communist hysteria in the early 1950's, U.S. Representative Peter King's hearing on what he calls radical Islam in America is scheduled to begin Thursday at 9 AM EST. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and in a turnaround from his support for his Muslim constituents early in his political career, Representative King says Muslim Americans are not doing enough to discourage extremists in their midst.

In a report by MSNNBC Mr. King said the reason for these hearings is "to establish and show the American people that there is a real threat of al-Qaida recruiting and of homegrown terrorists being self-radicalized within the Muslim community." However, even his own Congressional colleagues, such as Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-Calif.), denounced King's hearings as "something (similar to placing U.S. citizens of Japanese descent in prison camps during WWII) sinister."

Representative King is zeroing in on radicalism within the U.S. Muslim community, but ignoring the other groups that have spawned their own home grown terrorists. Anti-abortionists who set off bombs in clinics, white supremacists, and environmental radicals such as the Unabomber all contribute to the senseless violence in this country, but are not the target of a Congressional hearing. His vocal support for the Irish Republican Army, a violent sect that was best known for its practice of setting off car bombs in crowded civilian settings, adds to the already strong doubt for the need for such hearings.

The most condemning evidence against holding this hearing is in the hearing's title, "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response." It is doubtful that the 6 witnesses called to make statements will provide any useful information on which to base a serious conclusion about the extent of radicalization or the Muslim community's response. It does, however, provide a bully pulpit from which further attacks on American gullibility and fears can be launched. This hearing will no doubt be a reference when Peter King seeks more money for his committee and its work. Another Catch 22 that will be paid for in dollars and maybe even lives.

Sources

Hearing schedule and witnesses: http://homeland.house.gov/hearing/hearing-%E2%80%9C-extent-radicalization-american-muslim-community-and-communitys-response%E2%80%9D

Recent Associated Press article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_muslims_terror_hearings

Additional background: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/03/rep-peter-king-defends-hearing.html