Tuesday, February 22, 2005

This article from National Review is a pretty good assessment of 24, which I believe is one of the best dramas on TV today. One line in the column stuck with me today:

As in previous years, terrorism is the basic plot line — this time with an Arab-American family at the center, a plot decision that has earned the show a rebuke from the Council on American Islamic Relations. (In response, Fox has run a public-service message from Sutherland urging viewers to keep in mind, as they watch 24, that the Muslim-American community stands with America in its opposition to terror.)

The emphasis is mine. Read that again.

Now, read this:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An American citizen was charged Tuesday with conspiring to assassinate President Bush and with supporting Al Qaeda (search).

If convicted of all the charges, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali (search), 23, faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison.

Abu Ali, a former Virginia high school valedictorian, made an initial appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

[...]

An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Alexandria on Feb. 3 was unsealed Tuesday. There are 10 alleged co-conspirators in the indictment.

Abu Ali faces six counts: conspiracy to provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda; providing material support to Al Qaeda; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; providing material support to terrorists; contribution of services to Al Qaeda; and receipt of funds and services from Al Qaeda.

The federal indictment said that in 2002 and 2003 Abu Ali and an unidentified co-conspirator discussed plans for Abu Ali to assassinate Bush. They discussed two scenarios, the indictment said: one in which Abu Ali “would get close enough to the president to shoot him on the street” and, alternatively, “an operation in which Abu Ali would detonate a car bomb.”

Again, the emphasis is mine.

Sadly, it’s stupid to assume that all American citizens are on board with our fight against Islamic terrorism. Clearly, that’s not the case. And for Fox to kowtow to CAIR’s complaints is a waste of time. Are they going to apologize to the Bush family and the American people for this Abu Ali’s alleged assassination plot? I don’t think so.

National Review article, courtesy: Cam Edwards