Yuram Almanfi's Blog | Armchair Terrorist?

Yuram writes perspectives on Islam, social justice, economics and politics from the viewpoint of an American convert to Shia Islam, focusing on the deleterious role played by the U.S. in the Middle East and elsewhere. A dissenting voice from the “Belly of the
Beast”, he lives in Denver, Colorado and can be reached at yuram@sahafa.com.

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Armchair Terrorist?

09 March, 2009

“All I am asking for is to be treated like every other person in the United States who is accused of a crime, including terrorism, and to be given a fair trial in an American court," pleaded Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, an alleged terrorist held for over 5 years without a trial in isolation at the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina.[i]

The United States Constitution clearly requires trial by jury for all crimes without exception other than cases of impeachment.[ii] Even someone accused of treason cannot be convicted without testimony by two witnesses in open court.[iii] Despite constitutional guarantees of a speedy, public trial[iv] and freedom of religion,[v] in post-9/11 America those accused of terrorism and Muslims have been singled out as exceptions.

Sadly, one of the responses I received from a colleague after sharing that I converted to Islam was “Now that you’ve joined the terrorists, you’re not going to blow up anything, are you?” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, as U.S.propaganda promoting the “War on Terror” has done a fine job of equating Islam with terrorism, demonizing Muslims and of course, portraying Israelis as the innocent victims of Palestinian terrorists.[vi]

I’ve been called many things since I became politically active. I’ve been called unpatriotic for voicing my outrage over the U.S. invasion of Iraq and condemning U.S.atrocities there. I’ve been called anti-semitic for my criticism of Zionism and the Israeli government’s policies in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. While protesting the Israeli attacks on Lebanon in 2006, someone yelled at me, “If you don’t like it here get out!”

But recently, one of my anonymous electronic critics called me an “armchair terrorist.” I’m still marveling at the juxtaposition of these two words; “Armchair,” connoting casual comfort and complacency, and “Terrorist” with its inherently brutal malevolency. Like an armchair quarterback cheering on his favorite team, I stand accused of supporting the “terrorists” in the comfort of my home. And I thought I was protesting against injustice.

Keep in mind that there is no universally accepted definition of terrorism; just who is a terrorist and who is a resistance fighter depends on one’s point of view. A recent United Nations committee report emphasized the need for agreement on a legal definition of terrorism and stressed that such a definition “should establish a clear distinction between acts of terrorism covered by the convention and the legitimate struggle of peoples in the exercise of their right to self-determination or against foreign occupation.”[vii]

This difference of opinion over terrorism is clearly illustrated by contrasting the positions of the Syrian delegate to the United Nations Sixth Committee with his Israeli counterpart. The Syrian delegate, Ghassan Obeid, stated that foreign occupation was the most heinous form of terrorism. He emphasized that resistance by the Palestinians against the Israeli occupation was legal, and their daily repression by the Israeli occupiers must be denounced. The Israeli delegate, Tal Becker replied, “the attempt to argue that Israeli measures to protect civilian lives were terrorism, while suicide attacks which threatened them were part of a legitimate struggle, was offensive in the extreme.”[viii]

Despite the lack of a legal definition of terrorism, the U.S. Government maintains a “Terrorist Watch List,” which now contains over one million names and includes members of the U.S. Congress, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.[ix]

The fear of terrorism seems to prevail everywhere in the U.S.. Not long ago during a brief conversation, a bystander at a bus stop informed me with all seriousness that al-Qaeda had already set up terrorist cells in a nearby city. I was so taken back by this remark that I failed to ask him, “How do you know about this, are you a member?”

I was amazed at the ordeal necessary to open a new account at a neighborhood bank. I was asked for two forms of identification, was fingerprinted and I was informed that I would be investigated by outside agency. While waiting for what seemed like hours as a superficially friendly bank clerk input reams of data into the computer, I noticed a sign that explained all of this information gathering is being done to insure that my account isn’t used for money laundering to finance terrorism.

Perhaps I should have mentioned to the smiling bank clerk that I have donated to charities that try to help the besieged citizens of Gaza cope with the devastating Israeli attacks. By making these donations, I might even be considered an “Unlawful EnemyCombatant” under the broad scope of the Military Commissions act, a definite step up from accusations of being a mere armchair terrorist. As one U.S. court observed, an unlawful enemy combatant could include a “little old lady in Switzerland who writes checks to what she thinks is a charity that helps orphans in Afghanistan but really is a front to finance al-Qaeda activities.”[x]

The majority of U.S. citizens seem content with this state of affairs, as most do little beyond occasionally contacting their representatives to voice their opinions. A few idealistic Americans have actually deducted a portion of their taxes in protest of the bloated U.S. “defense” budget and while I admire that, I have paid mine, so like most Americans, I could be considered as complicit in U.S. government policies.

Without opposition by an external power or strong protest from its citizenry, America has metastasized into an imperialistic cancer, which in pursuit of its never-ending “War on Terror,” consumes half the world’s “defense” budget, has military installations infecting over 150 countries, and has been directly involved in destabilizing and overthrowing democratically elected governments around the world.

If any other country acted with the arrogance and impunity of the United States, it would be universally condemned as a rogue state and a supporter of international terrorism. If I could be called an armchair terrorist, then perhaps I would bejustified to call the complacent, compliant and complicit majority of U.S.citizens “armchair imperialists.”

Yuram Abdullah Weiler

2009-03-07

Endnotes

[i] Jane Meyer,The Hard Cases, Will Obama institute a new kind of preventive detention for terrorist suspects?, The New Yorker, 20 February 2009, http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/02/20-0(Accessed 22 February 2009)

[ii] “The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury,” U.S. Constitution, Article 3, Section 2.

[iii] “No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on Testimony of two Witness to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court,” U.S. Constitution, Article 3, Section 3.

[iv] “The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,” Amendment 6, United States Constitution.

[v] “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” Amendment 6, United States Constitution.

[vi] Edward Said, Covering Islam, New York: Random House, 1997, page xxi.

[vii] Report Of The Ad Hoc Committee Established By General Assembly Resolution 51/210 Of 17 December 1996, 12th Session (25 And 26 February And 6 March 2008 ),UnitedNations Document A/63/37(SUPP) [ English ] , released 4 April 2008, page 12, http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N08/268/05/pdf/N0826805.pdf?OpenElement (Accessed 27 February 2009)

Note: To access this document, go to http://documents.un.org/simple.asp then in the field “Symbol” enter “A/63/37(SUPP)” and click on “Search.” This will bring up a screen with a link to the document.

[viii] Final Agreement Elusive, Legal Committee Endorses Further Work, Press Release GA/L/3200, Fifty-sixth General Assembly, Sixth Committee, 21 November 2001, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/GAL3200.doc.htm,(Accessed 27 February 2009)

[ix] Privacy Watch: Out-of-control Terrorist Watch List, The American Civil Liberties Union National Newsletter, American Civil Liberties Union, Winter 2009, page 7.

[x] Allison M. Danner, Defining Unlawful Enemy Combatants: A Centripetal Story, Texas International Law Journal, University of Texas at Austin, Fall 2007, http://tilj.org/journal/entry/43_1_danner/P3/(Accessed 22 February 2009)

Posted by yuram 05:13 | General , Middle East , United States | Comment(25) | Permalink

Comments

“I am with terrorism if it is able to free a people from tyrants and tyranny,” wrote Syrian poet Nizar Qabani,[xvii] and so am I. This is from your Revolution of Hope entry. One of your critics wrote: "Bottom line Yuram, you support terroism, you said in your last line. So why don't you leave you comfortable home in the USA and join the islamic version of the crusades? Is not dying for the cause of islam much more honourable than being a terroist version of a arm chair quarterback?" It does not say "armchair terroist"...OK, a minor dinstiction. But it is still a valid question. Since in your last line and in other writings you support terroism/freedom fighting...why are you content to stay at home? Also, you are anti Jewish...all of your writings contain classic anti Jewish rants: tribalism, they laws, ways are not our ways, they are different(shades of Haman), Khazars, and oodles more. Those people who use that rehortic and are at least truthful are anti Jewish and wishes the destruction of Israel. You do not decry injustice as you were silent about the Mumbai incident amongst others. The armchair quarteback comment was meant not to stifle dissent...it is an honest question. If you support these people and decry "injustic" as you see it. Why not join them as others have? Or are you just a sunshine patriot for their cause?

Sir Mixmaster | 12/03/2009, 07:36 [ Reply ]

Being a Jew does not imply that one supports the actions of Meir Kahane, Baruch Goldstein or Yigal Amir any more than being a Muslim means that one supports terrorism committed in the name of Islam.

Yuram | 12/03/2009, 10:04 [ Reply ]

Comon Yuram...this quote is from you in your revolution of hope piece: I am with terrorism if it is able to free a people from tyrants and tyranny,” wrote Syrian poet Nizar Qabani,[xvii] and so am I. Gee am I missing something, you admitted it and now you are backtracking?! You should go into politics. Other pieces you minimize the rocket attacks into Israel by saying that Israelis cry too much over little casualties. You make some synde comment about an ICBM "might" bring you to decry injustice. You are politically active and I assume you go to angst filled rallies. You see signs and hear chants that are really extreme...do you go to your fellows and tell them it is not right, etc. I do not think so. I think you are liar and you have lied so much, you believe your own lies. Also, it is really amazing how you respond to either a question or a point with something totally unrelated. But to be fair, you are right about not all muslims supporting terroism. The ones who do that usually are killed, or in hiding. BTW, was there a protest at you mosque when the Mumbai thing happened? Hmmm, I don't think so, outrage at other attacks by "extreme" Muslims? Hmmm...don't think so. Not from you and maybe some measly mouthed spokes people from CAIR and other groups...but usually not.

Sir Mixmaster | 13/03/2009, 00:53 [ Reply ]

Yes, I think you are missing something. The meaning of the quote from Qabani is that the tyrants and oppressors are the ones who trot out the label of "terrorists" for those fighting against them. And judging by your use of smears and labels, I can only assume you have nothing constructive to offer in this discussion.

Yuram | 20/03/2009, 12:31 [ Reply ]

No, Mr. Qabani did not say that. He was quite clear and I believe honest (unlike you). If he meant freedom fight or anything like that, why did he not use that? Either it was mistranslated(which is possible) or he meant it (which I think is more likely. You accuse me of smears and labels...you trot you "zionist" "imperialist" and many others(are these not smears and labels?) in your posts. By your logic, the blog you write would fall under "having nothing constructive". I believe you are a liar and a fraud (my opinion based on reading your earlier posts), I believe you are anti Jewish (based on earlier blogs with typical anti Jewish rehortic). You do not answer direct questions as you weasel your way out (this based on various posts by me and others when you fail miserably to answer anything direct). I recall on some "intifada" site that you wrote support of the "continued struggle to liberate Al Aqsa(sp)" when one of crtics asked if you support the killing of old people, children, invalids, non combatants,and so on in Israel. You were silent? Why? I think you in your last post quoting Mr. Qabani and your support of it showed you true self. So, you are as the Brits say "fucking nicked mate". Lastly, in-re the "armchair" remark. I say that because you are so on fire about this, I thought logically you might join others of your like mind in ISM(International Solidarity Movement).

Sir Mix Master | 22/03/2009, 08:42 [ Reply ]

Qabani these lines after his wife was killed in a bombing of the Iraqi Embassy in Lebanon. He writes, based on the English translation, "We are accused of terrorism" a number of times, indicating to me that his intention is to be in support of those who fight for social justice and self-determination of all peoples.

For the record, I don't support the killing of old people, children, invalids, or non combatants anywhere, period. Having said that, how do I answer a Pakistani who has just lost his family due to a US missile attack? How do I justify the American invasion of Iraq to an Iraqi who has been forced to flee the violence that has been unleashed upon his homeland? How can I explain American support for Israel's attack on Lebanon to a mother from Qanna who has lost her children?

You call me a liar and a fraud when I point out these inconsistencies, while you hide behind your "handle." Why? Are you afraid to put your name on what you write?

Yuram | 28/03/2009, 07:55 [ Reply ]

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