"The Jihad Way"

By: Lowell
Published On: 9/28/2007 6:29:08 AM

Yesterday, after two YouTube videos surfaced showing Dr. Esam S. Omeish delivering fiery speeches on "the jihad way" and on "free[ing] the land of Palestine, all of Palestine" for the "believers," Governor Kaine quickly demanded that he resign from a state immigration commission.  Good work by Gov. Kaine in acting so quickly and forcefully on this; Dr. Omeish's words are hateful, extreme, and encouraging of violence. 

By the way, does anyone else find the concept that Omeish is considered "a respected physician and community leader" as disturbing as I do?  I mean, sure, Omeish might be a fine doctor, but so might this guy.

On another note, it's kind of sad that Gov. Kaine had to find out about this from a caller on his live, monthly radio show.  I'd definitely say it's time for the governor's office to tighten up its vetting process.  Having said that, mistakes do happen, especially when you appoint hundreds and hundreds of people to various state boards, commissions, panels, etc., etc.  This was a bad one, though...

Comments



Seeing into a person's soul is more difficult than the President claims (dsvabeachdems - 9/28/2007 6:48:01 AM)
What is important is vigilance, then decisive action when facts such as these come to light.


Right, now way to look into someone's soul. (Lowell - 9/28/2007 6:49:19 AM)
But thorough vetting of nominees is a prudent thing to do.


Prudent but difficult to catch everything... (dsvabeachdems - 9/28/2007 6:59:50 AM)
when, as you pointed out, there are so many appointments. Reference: George McGovern and Thomas Eagleton.


doctor from inova aleh=xandria hospital? (pvogel - 9/28/2007 10:52:14 AM)
scary. that hospital is 1 mile from my house


So... (FMArouet - 9/28/2007 4:28:55 PM)
it is inadmissible to express support for Palestinians, many of whom have been driven from their homes and some of whom are actively resisting the occupation of their land? Do they not have an inherent right of self-defense, just as surely as the Israelis do? Is it simply not permitted in the U.S. to express support for Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation?

Does the corollary therefore state that it is laudable to express support for Israel's continued occupation of, and continuing settlement activity in, Palestinian territories?

There also seems to be a requirement to praise and even encourage the occasional Israeli invasion (Lebanon last year; also in 1982) or bombing (February 6th in Syria) of a sovereign Arab nation. Even a certain Democratic presidential candidate with close AIPAC ties praised that air strike in
Syria--apparently without even knowing what really was bombed by the Israeli jets.

It is permissible only to allow the Right and Far Right of the Israeli political system, and its AIPAC allies in the U.S., to frame the public debate on such issues? Must every criticism of short-sighted and repressive Israeli policies be dismissed as "anti-semitism" so that the underlying political realities cannot be considered or discussed? Good grief. Progressive political forces in Israel have a more robust debate on such topics than is permitted in the American public square.

Just ponder how AIPAC unleashed its fury against Jim Moran last week. He even caved on the jingoist House resolution on Iran, a rather unlikely vote for someone of his enlightened worldview.

Has Tim Kaine appointed any AIPAC zealots? Will he now treat them in the same way that he has treated Dr. Omeish, i.e., compel them to resign? If an activist on one side of this issue is not allowed to serve, should someone on the opposite side of the controversial issue be allowed? (My suggested answer: either both, or neither.)

With each passing month our nation seems more and more like Germany in 1933, except that the neocon/corporatist establishment has substituted Muslims, especially Arab Muslims, for Jews as the key bogeyman for the public to despise, suppress, and rally against.

Is this still a free country, or what?



Context. (JPTERP - 9/28/2007 4:42:26 PM)
The Washington Virginia political blog had another video up yesterday which included such radical ideas as "the Palestinians deserve a right to self-determination."

Another clip on the Post's website with an explanation by Dr. Omeish.

http://www.washingto...

I think there's a possibility that Omeish is a "respected physician and community leader" because he is in fact a respected physician and community leader -- i.e. that the video clip is not representative, and is not shown in context.