Streetwise Professor

In the CNN interview I discussed in the last post, Feisel Rauf mentioned “national security” eight times, and “radical” nearly 20 times.   He seemed obsessed with national security and radicals.

For some reason, Rauf’s newfound obsession with national security seems less than genuine.  To the contrary, it seems much an opportunistic, manipulative argument; the last refuge of a scoundrel, as it were.  But perhaps he can persuade me otherwise.  So I have some questions for him: Mr. Rauf, what have you done in the last nine years to bolster American national security, specifically by supporting the war against the radicals whom you claim you deplore?  What risks have you run, what costs have you borne, to advance American national security from radical threats?  Have you encouraged all those moderate Muslims you claim to represent in the United States to, inter alia: (a) publicly condemn radicals, (b) identify radical elements in their communities or mosques, (c) take measures to eject radical elements from their mosques or community centers, (d) assist in US military operations against radicals by serving as translators or intelligence personnel, or (e) speak out on behalf of the United States and its treatment of Muslims in Muslim countries?  In your numerous trips abroad–many on the US taxpayers’ dime–what have you done in word or in deed to advance American security?  Have you ever done or said anything that might compromise American security?

And while I’m in a questioning mood, I have some for Obama.  Recently he has been making the rather tired point about Guantanamo serving as an Al Qaeda recruiting tool.  Mr. President: Don’t you think that they would use the Thompson, IL prison as a recruiting tool if Al Qaeda detainees were moved to there from Guantanamo?  In fact, don’t you think they would use the Mayberry Jail as a recruiting tool if the detainees were moved there, and guarded by Barney Fife?  So, short of releasing all Al Qaeda suspects, how do you propose to deprive AQ of a recruiting tool?  If you are not going to release them, and since it is the fact that they are being held, rather than the location, which angers AQ, where is the best place to hold them?

And speaking of things radicals use to recruit, it is undeniable that the Koran is Al Qaeda’s most effective tool.  What do you plan to do about that?