To the editors of the BBC,

Your appalling “Muslim Brotherhood expands westward” by Magdi Abdelhadi  seems entirely based on two writers who have no academic qualifications or credibility and one of whom has a long history of extreme right-wing religious bigotry.  The premise, pushed by Steven Emerson and several extreme right organizations like the Committee for the Present Danger and David Horowitz’s “Front Page” (the creator of “Islamo-Fascist Week”, who regularly republishes Emerson’s work), is that the Muslim Brotherhood has underground organizations plotting terror throughout the west.  It would be laughable if it were not so pernicious.

Perhaps your writer might Google Steven Emerson’s name before you base an entire story on his fantastic and hateful views.

Some examples:

“controversial terrorism expert Steve Emerson-who has been accused of sloppy journalism and with having a pervasive anti-Arab bias-and behind the scenes was remaking himself into a self-styled authority on terrorism” (Salon.com, January 19, 2002).

Emerson was the prime mover behind the extreme-right “documentary” “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West” which extreme-right groups produced to be distributed during the 2008 US presidential campaign.  It argued that Islam “is threatening, with all the means at its disposal, to bow Western civilization under the yoke of its values.”

Isabel Macdonald noted of Emerson in 2008 that:

“his research has been repudiated many times over. This is an “expert” who initially blamed the Oklahoma City bombing on Middle Eastern terrorists, and who is now going around claiming that the Bush State Department is collaborating with extremists.”

From the Minnesota Independent:

Emerson has a long history of getting into hot water over his anti-Muslim rhetoric. In the 1998 nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan, Emerson fed reporters with an informant who said Pakistan was set to strike India with a nuclear weapon. The media eventually found the informant to be unreliable – but not until international media had used Emerson’s source and intensified an international crisis.

In 1990, he was accused of plagiarism in his writings about Pan Am 103.

He sued a Florida paper after it published reports that he was supplying reporters with documents he said were from the FBI. The Florida Weekly Planet reported that the documents were frauds and Emerson sued. When he couldn’t substantiate his claims, he withdrew the lawsuit.

Emerson once claimed that an extremist Muslim group put out a hit on him and that the FBI offered to put him in a witness protection program. The FBI denied that claim.

Emerson told Fox News “80% of the mosques in the United States are controlled by the Wahhabists. That’s the reality. No one wants to admit it. They’re the ones that attract terrorists.”

In March of 1995, Emerson told The Jewish Monthly, “nearly all of the Islamic organizations in the United States that define themselves as religiously or culturally Muslim in character have, today, been totally captured or dominated by radical fundamentalist elements…”

In 1998 Emerson falsely wrote that in the 1960s one of his critics, California journalist Reese Erlich, ‘was charged with conspiracy to carry out violence in support of the Black Panthers.’ Emerson apologized and paid Erlich $3,000,” (Washington Post, November 14, 2001).

Emerson had concluded  before September 11th, that “the U.S. has become occupied fundamentalist territory” (Jerusalem Post, 8/8/97)

Emerson is quoted by The Palm Springs (California) Desert Sun Newspaper as saying that “Islam’s ‘leadership and organizational superstructure’ threaten Western values” and that (radical) Muslims “want to conquer the United States. They want to conquer Europe.”

The Wall Street Journal stated in 1993, “Mr. Emerson’s prime role is to whitewash Israeli governments and revile their critics.”

Emerson appears regularly with Pamela Geller, the woman who is organizing the anti-Mosque protests in NY right now, along with another of Emerson’s regular collaborators, Robert Spencer.  Spencer, author of the “Jihadwatch” blog who regularly equates all Muslims with terrorists, and their religion is “a cult”.  With inspiration from groups like the English Defense League and Dutch neo-fascist Geert Wilders, Spencer and Geller run the group “Stop the Islamization of America”. Emerson regularly contributes to their work.  Emerson has claimed that the Imam of the Islamic Community Center proposed for lower Manhattan Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, and former GW Bush era US government advisor, is a “radical extremist cleric who cloaks himself in sheep’s clothing.”

One could go on.

What possible research could your reporter have done to afford this — controversial at best — writer the forum of an entire article showcasing his crackpot theories, which include the belief that every major Muslim-American organization are involved in terrorism though a secret ‘US Muslim Brotherhood” group?

How could someone identified as your “Middle East Editor” be so startlingly ignorant of the background of their sources?

I expect a reply,

T Miles, NY, NY

For a little background on Emerson see:

• http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1443
• http://www.rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/Emerson_Steven
• http://www.cairchicago.org/2007/03/31/steven-emersons-disturbing-track-record/
• http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/05/steve-emerson-wowser/
• http://www.cairchicago.org/2009/05/05/career-hatemonger-steven-emerson-enraged-by-cair-chicago%E2%80%99s-positive-social-engagement/
• http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/42070
• http://smearcasting.com/smear_emerson.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/isabel-macdonald/the-anti-muslim-smear-mac_b_133695.html
• http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/ground_zero_mosque_imam_bush_partner_for_peace.php

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Ivan, provided security for antifascists and dissdents of all stripes.

“S2W” at avtonom.org shares his memories of this modern day hero, Ivan Khutorskoy.

“Yesterday evening, Monday the 16th of November, 26 year old anti-fascist Ivan “Vanya Kostolom” Khutorskoy was shot to death at the entrance to his home at Khabarovsk street in the east side of Moscow; according to some information with two shots to his head.

Vanya was a great figure in the Russian anti-fascist movement, and I am sure many people will write down their memories of him in the days, months and years to come. But as of today most of his friends are too angry and too shocked, at the loss of this friend and comrade. [read the rest at avtonom.org]

You can help:

“Vanya’s father died a few years ago, he is by his mother and his sister. Donations to support friends and family with funeral costs are welcome, you may use Yandex-money account 41001411894609, or in case you do not know what that is, you may donate through ABC-Moscow: http://www.avtonom.org/donate. But in this case write to ABC-Moscow about your plans (abc-msk AT riseup DOT net, and also indicate in transfer that it is “for Kostolom friends and family”. ”

Related articles by Zemanta

• Nationalists Suspected in Russian Activist’s Death (nytimes.com)
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The Socialist Party USA condemns the racially motivated attacks which have followed the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States. People of color have been targeted throughout the country by small groups of racist whites. Acts have ranged from a cross burning, simulated lynchings and even violent attacks. Mainstream news sources report that hundreds of incidents have occurred.

The election of Barack Obama was undoubtedly an important historical event. Millions of Americans rejected the race and red baiting tactics of the McCain-Palin campaign and cast their vote without regard to race-status. The election therefore drew from the long-term progressive cultural impact of the civil rights movement. Viewed entirely from this perspective, the election of Obama represents a potentially progressive moment in American race relations.

Sadly, the Obama presidency will offer little of the “change” and “hope” it promised throughout the campaign. Early indications are that his administration will be directed by a free-market capitalist agenda and his policies will seek to enhance the profitability of corporations at the expense of working-class America. People can expect little in the way of fundamental change in healthcare, militarism or wealth redistribution. Winning these much needed changes will be the duty of broad social movements.

Poor and working class whites will therefore be challenged not to fall back into patterns of racial animus which debilitated the labor movement throughout the 20th century. As scholar W.E.B DuBois noted, white workers have often proved willing to forgo the struggle for material gains in favor of receiving the psychological wages of whiteness.

As the US heads toward a major economic recession, a racist discourse which targets people of color and immigrants is sure to emerge among a section of whites. Elite politicians will seek to mobilize these sentiments as a means to push forward a right-wing political agenda. However, class unity can be built through a critical recognition of the role of racism inside of capitalist society. Speaking out forcefully against racism and building democratic multi-racial coalitions will greatly assist in the construction of the mass social movements needed to move beyond the meager reforms offered by the Obama regime.

White supremacy is a primary enemy of working class solidarity. The recent racist attacks are purposeful attempts to divide working people against each other. The socialist left has learned the hard lessons of the 20th century and will oppose any racist attacks be they cultural or physical. A cultural approach which features exchange and engagement, instead of just tolerance, offers the brightest possibilities for unity among all working people. Public campaigns and policy proposals to dismantle the prison industrial complex, address issues of environmental racism and to challenge racial patterns of employment could demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-racist class politics.

We recognize that every human being regardless of their country of origin or skin pigmentation needs healthcare, a clean environment and a peaceful life. Socialists remain committed to challenging the fear, racism and oppression that typify capitalist society by building movements which demonstrate that solidarity, equality and compassion offer brighter possibilities for humanity. Thus, the Socialist Party USA says no to racist attacks! No to white supremacy! And, yes to working class solidarity in the service of human liberation!

November 2008

Socialist Party USA Statement on the Recent Racist Attacks

National Action Committee of the SP-USA http://www.sp-usa.org/

Written interviews from the 1960s with the WWI German army doctor who saved Hitler’s life, reveal he really did lose a ball at the Somme, due to a wound.  The doctor, Johan Jambor,  recalled ” They called him the ‘Screamer’. He was very noisy. Hitler was screaming ‘help, help’.”

The Telegraph (blech) goes on to remind us of the 1940s ditty: “Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall.”, and it’s common — now conclusively incorrect — variant:

“Göring has only got one ball, Hitler’s [are] so very small, Himmler’s so very similar, And Goebbels has no balls at all.”

From the Brilliant LOLGRIFFIN blog: “Nick Griffin has lost his membership list. Let us LOL at him.” Yes. Yes we will.

The neo-fascist British National Party was thrown into panic in the last 24 hours as someone posted their entire membership database to a blogspot account. The detailed members list includes personal details, jobs, contact numbers, emails, even hobbies! Speculation is that splitters within the group posted the list, but no one knows for certain. This is especially bad news for British public employees, as many are legally barred from membership in what is an avowedly racist organization. The list of ten thousand names includes teachers, doctors, company directors cops, and a BBC radio DJ. A quick count reveals 33 members with US addresses, seven of which are in New York (five in NYC).

The original post to http://bnpmemberslist.blogspot.com/ was dumped by the webhost, but not before it was mirrored across the web.

Laughs are to be had by the barrelful at “nationalist” websites and blogs, as members panic at the prospect of being outed as nazis!

Check out Lancaster Unity (UK) antifascists blog for news updates:

* Lancaster Unity Blog

and the mainstream media at:

*http://www.dailymail.co.uk

and read the comments at the nazi:

* http://northwestnationalists.blogspot.com/2008/11/bnp-membership-list-2008-goes-online.html

The list is currently mirrored at:

* http://www.bnpmemberslist.co.uk/

* http://wikileaks.org.uk/leak/bnp-membership-list.txt

? UPDATE: Vice Magazine has a hilarious “Best of list”, with notes such as “Has two suits of medieval 14th & 15th century armour and can joust for rallies.”

?Rumours abound about Premiership footballers (Scots and/or English) being on the list, but I’ve not managed to match up the Rangers teamsheet to any names. Working….

? What to get up to speed on the internal drama of the BNP? http://antiracistnetwork.wordpress.com/ is a good place to start. For the doings of the North American nazi idiots, www.onepeoplesproject.com is the best source of news.