Friday, June 18, 2010
[The following, by Richard Landes, is crossposted from Augean Stables.]
I've seen various items on this and couldn't believe that it was true (or at least, that it would continue very long). It would be just too stupid and vicious...
The Department of Homeland Security wants to deport Joseph (Masab) Yousef, the "Son of Hamas," who has so ringingly denounced the cult of death spawned by his father and other Hamas leaders.
But it looks like it's for real (see his facebook page). Which raises a question for me.
I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I'm not stupid enough to think that they don't happen. I've read Paul Sperry's disturbing Inflitration: How Muslim Spies and Subversives Have Penetrated Washington, which I find perfectly plausible. And given the paralyzing political correctness of the current administration, which couldn't recognize a "radical Islamist," much less denounce him or her, why would Radical Islamists not take advantage of our principled stupidity?
They're not that stupid.
So I want to know: Who in the Department of Homeland Security put together a set of quotes from Yousef's book to make him look like a spy for Hamas? Either he's a complete idiot, or he's doing Hamas' work. The odds stack up as follows: either someone, in good faith, completely misread the book (how did he find it without knowing what it's about?), or someone has infiltrated Homeland Security and is working to kick Yousef out as a message to anyone else who thinks USA is safe haven from Muslim enforcers.
I hate to say it, but they're probably both plausible. I just think it's worth knowing which is the case.
United States looking to deport 'Son of Hamas' spy
By Avi Issacharoff
U.S. authorities are seeking to deport Mosab Hassan Yousef, the "Green Prince," who reportedly worked as a Shin Bet security service agent from 1997-2007.
Yousef, who now lives in the United States, had unparalleled access to Hamas, which his father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, helped found and led in the West Bank. He first described his experiences to Haaretz earlier this year, and has since published a book, "Son of Hamas," on the subject.
Recently, however, the Department of Homeland Security asked a California court to approve his deportation, on the grounds that he "provided material support to a [Tier 1] terrorist organization" - namely, Hamas.
The request is based on quotes from Yousef's book, "Son of Hamas" - in which he described how he worked within Hamas to obtain information for the Shin Bet. Taken out of context, the quotes make it seem as if he worked for the group.
A San Diego immigration court is to hear the case on June 30. Yousef said he will appeal if it rules against him.
The deportation request is the Department of Homeland Security's response to Yousef's asylum application. Yousef, who converted to Christianity in 2005, wrote on his blog that he was stunned by the move.
"If Homeland Security cannot understand a simple situation like mine, how can they be trusted with bigger issues?" he demanded.
MK Einat Wilf (Labor ), a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, recently began collecting MKs' signatures on a letter thanking Yousef for his contribution to Israel's security.
Shades of Reutersgate 2.0. We need to know who did this job of cropping.
In the meantime, sign the petition.
Too many demopaths have aided and abetted democide, throughout the 20th century, certainly.
Peter Beinart, with Icarus, perhaps the most recent apologist in that vein.