National security is achievable without discrimination

Now, by no means am I saying that America does not have a radicalization problem. However, a single-minded approach to homegrown terrorism ignores all other threats. Today’s terrorists do not share a particular ethnic, educational or socioeconomic background. Recently, when state law enforcement agencies were asked to identify terror groups in their states, Muslim extremist groups ranked 11th on a list of 18.

Law enforcement agencies identified neo-Nazis, environmental extremists, and anti- tax groups as more prevalent than Muslim terrorist organizations. Just last month, we saw a sophisticated explosive device found along a parade route in Washington state on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, an act of domestic terrorism clearly based on racist ideology. Further, terrorist groups are not the only threat we face. According to the Department of Homeland Security, “lone wolves and small terrorist cells” may be the single, most dangerous threat we face.

Sadly, just last month, our friend and colleague was violently attacked in Tucson along with others by an alleged lone wolf extremist. What Muslim extremists have in common with lone-wolf extremists is that they espouse radical views. This shows what should be common sense, that our most effective means of identifying terrorists is through their studied behavior—not ethnicity, race, or religion.

Rather than targeting minority groups on the basis of stereotypes and violating one of the founding principles of our Nation’s Bill of Rights, the government should make greater use of empirical and verifiable evidence and technology to distinguish the innocent from known or suspected terrorists. 

The danger posed by modern terrorists is real, and Congress must understand the scope and nature of the threat and exercise its authorities to the utmost in overseeing the government’s response. Congress must hold our military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies accountable, and craft sensible legislation that enhances security while protecting the rights of innocent persons.

Unfortunately, Thursday’s Homeland Security Hearing failed to provide our government with the facts needed to better protect this country. Instead, it isolated and demonized an entire religion, and it failed to provide comfort to those of us who believe in the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression that are found in our Constitution. Additionally, it did not adequately acknowledge the cooperation of the American Muslim community in working with law enforcement to prevent acts of terrorism. 

Muslim Americans are a vital part of law enforcement and intelligence agency’s anti-terrorism work, specifically in the cases of the Northern Virginia Five and the Times Square Bombing. Therefore, I believe that we must do more outreach and investigations into the whereabouts of Anwar al-Awlaki, who uses the internet to radicalize Americans. 

We should also be working with the intelligence and international law enforcement community to bring him to justice instead of harassing hard working American Muslims who simply want to provide for their families. Further, we need to be sensitive to the repercussions of discrimination against Muslims in America, such as the case with the six Imans that were trying to pray in an airport terminal in Minneapolis.

People who commit acts of domestic terrorism cannot be identified no matter their religious, ideological, ethnic, economic, educational, or social profile, and holding hearings that suggest otherwise is counterproductive to keeping America safe from real terrorist threats. And to state differently, is not only the most appalling kind of political grandstanding, but it also goes against the very foundations and laws upon this country was built.

If we are going to seriously maximize our efforts toward countering violent extremism, we need to come from behind the veil of ethnic stereotyping and begin to look at all trends in all types of domestic terrorism and boost our reliance on human intelligence.

We all need to do better. We should never stop our due diligence and vigilance to prevent terrorism and discrimination. As I said on March 10, 2011 in the Homeland Security Hearing on “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response,” the constitution is a living, breathing document. It is spirited. It is vigorous. It is partly a model for the entire world. But on last Thursday, the United States Constitution was in pain. So in closing, let us remember that no matter how challenging the times, our Constitution has to be the guidepost for America’s actions.