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OCTOBER 12, 2001 FEATURES THE TERROR NEXT DOOR 6 In the aftermath of September 11, Metroplex Muslims are facing a new kind of terror. by Karen Olsson AN UNLIKELY DISSIDENT 13 A spiritual advisor to the President has an unlikely take on the new “war on terrorism.” by Michael Erard Texas Observer DEPARTMENTS DIALOGUE EDITORIAL From Susan Sontag to Texas City OBSERVATIONS What Are We In? by Ronnie Dugger MOLLY IVINS Let’s Start Thinking JIM HIGHTOWER Feeling Safer Yet? OPEN FORUM by Rich Malley POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE 10 11 12 14 2 3 4 BOOKS & THE CULTURE POETRY by Ronald F Smits and Mark Johnson THE TRUTH UNDER THE TABLE by Steven G. Kellman COUNTING BEANS, LOSING LIVES by James E. McWilliams AFTERWORD by Gabriela Bocagrande THE BACK PAGE Photographs by Jana Birchum Cover: Firebombed mosque in Denton. Photo by Kes Gilhome. 17 18 20 22 24 DIALOGUE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 After the recent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, the global threat of terrorism is far greater than anything previously encountered by America. India has been dealing with this problem for over a decade and as an Indian-American, I can personally sympathize with the victims of the recent attacks. The first step in targeting terrorism is to focus on those countries that provide refuge, recognition, and funding for terrorists. The two most terroristinfested countries currently are Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their terrorist networks are so intertwined that to focus on one while excluding the other is sure to set the stage for additional acts of terrorism on U.S. soil. Therefore, the entire terrorist machinery must be uprooted. In terms of U.S. State Department statistics, the largest terrorist operation in the world is being conducted in India, and sponsored by its neighbors Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist minorities have been ethnically cleansed with the assistance of bin Laden’s network. Kashmiri Hindus, Sikhs, & Buddhists have been victims of terrorism for over a decade, with thousands of innocent civilians massacred and over 350,000 forced to flee their ancestral homes. We congratulate frequent Observer contributor Paul Stekler and his team of researchers, Dan Carter, Sandra Guardado, Daniel McCabe and Matt McClung, who received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Research for their documentary George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire. The award was presented at the 22nd annual Documentary Awards Ceremony of the National Academy of Television Arts and ‘Sciences on September 5. As an Indian-American, I hope that the democratic societies of India and the United States will now join together to fight the evils of terrorism at its very root, and ensure that the fundamental rights of all human beingsfreedom, life and libertycan be pursued in peace. Rajiv Pandit, M.D. Austin This old cowboy does not know much about the Observer and certainly doesn’t want to know anything more about Ivins, Dubose and their ilk. But this morning, I can’t help but wonderare they gloating? Perhaps our country will unite behind their “Shrub” and his political life will be far longer than they and the rest of the Left could imagine. John Urbin Via e-mail One finds Molly Ivins’ collections of French comments on American foreign policy extremely nave \(“What One remembers that one’s first introduction to the use of terrorism to achieve obscure political goals was reading in the newspapers at least once a week about OAS and FLN bombs killing civilians in Paris and Oran during the late 1950s and early 1960s. And OAS, FLN or French government bombs killing civilians in Oran or Algiers. Plus one remembers the repeated assassination attempts against French President De Gaulle by other Frenchmen. One notes that any French male that Ms. Ivins interviewed who is over 60 was almost certainly in some way involved in the cruel French war in Algeria, if only as a draftee in some rear echelon post. Or, just possibly,”interrogating” Algerian POWs. As for unilateralism, one remembers De Gaulle pulling French military forces out of the NATO command structure in the mid-1960s, and per sonally preventing British attempts to join the European Union during the same time period. One remembers continued on page 15 2 THE TEXAS OBSERVER 10/12/01