Justice Dept Fraternizes With Terror Defendants: Media Silent

The crew at Power Line has been doing a superb job of following up the case of the Holy Land Foundation, in which the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) was named as an unidicted co-conspirator. The offical indictment can be found in the previous link. The national media, on the other hand, has been virtually silent, both on the case itself, which has exposed all kinds of illicit relationships, and on the uneasy relationship the United States government has with these Muslim organizations such as CAIR, many of whom are linked with the very people whom we are currently fighting.

In today's Power Line, Scott Johnson writes about the fact that while the government has been trying a case in which CAIR is named as an unidicted co-conspirator, the Justice Department has a booth at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)- another unidicted co-conspirator's convention! As Mr. Johnson wrote,

On the other hand, the government was fraternizing with one of the unindicted co-conspirators this past weekend in Rosemont, Illinois. The Justice Department sponsored a booth at ISNA's national convention. The Justice Department has declined to say how much it paid for the booth at the convention, but we can infer it paid something. And not just the Justice Department. Janet Ellen Levy usefully summarizes the roster of government departments and agencies attending the convention: "The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the FBI, USAID, the Department of Transportation, and the TSA all had booths at the ISNA [convention]."

Mr. Johnson quite correctly noted that this had some interesting aspects- the government fraternizing with some of the same people it was currently engaged in trying a criminal case - with grave consequences for the United States - while at the same time trying to play buddy-buddy with the defendants. And the media, just as they have ignorde most if not all of the Holy Land case, virtually ignored this strange event as well. As Mr. Johnson wrote, "I can find precisely one news story noting -- shall we say? -- the tension in the government's actions."

The one news story was in the Indianapolis Star, headlined Tense ties between Muslims, U.S. on display. Where is the rest of the media on this incredibly important story? ABC News had room to write a lengthy story headlined Iraqi Forces 'Dysfunctional' and 'Corrupt', but no room to talk about the Islamic terrorists hiding in the United States. The New York Times did nto mention the case at all. Neither did CNN, NBC News or CBS News. Why? Or are they only interested in spilling secrets that might actually damage the United States in its fight against Muslim aggression? Perhaps telling the truth about the Muslim groups that purport to speak for American Muslims is not in the best interests of the purveyers of dhimmitude who reside in the offices of the mainstream media? For if they actually reported on the Islamic groups who are so outspoken in claiming they have been targeted, Americans might realize that these groups, and the clientele they represent, are in fact essentially the same kind of people who drove airliners into the Twin Towers on Spetember 11, 2001. Hat tip to Power Line. Cross-posted on NewsBusters.

CORRECTION: The convention was ISNA's, not CAIR. Thanks to reader Clay from NewsBusters, who caught my mistake.

Gonzalez Gone

According to the new York Times, Attorney general Albert Gonzales has resigned as of Sunday night. The Times lead it story by writing,

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. He is expected to announce the decision to reporters at 10:30 Eastern time this morning in Washington.

As noted by the guys at Power Line, "False accusations of perjury, made largely by the Times itself.". This is too true And even the Times may have realized its role in promoting the non-scandal of the fired United States attorneys, as it found an anonymous official to say

The official who disclosed the resignation today that the turmoil over Mr. Gonzales had made his continuing as attorney general difficult. “The unfair treatment that he’s been on the receiving end of has been a distraction for the department,” the official said.

This is unfortunatley true, and the unfari treatment mentioned by this un-named official largely emanated from the media such as the Times itself. The Times's treatment was ably buttressed and supported by the pontifications of such partisan hacks as personified byu such individuals as Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy. These partisans had their own takes on Gonzales' resignation, and the media was only too happy to quote them. Kennedy was reported to have said

"He has exhibited a lack of candor with Congress and the American people and a disdain for the rule of law and our constitutional system. I strongly urge President Bush to nominate a new attorney general who will respect our laws and restore the integrity of the office." — Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"Respect our laws and restore the integrity of the office"? Mr. Gonzales never ignored a court order as did Janet Reno. Nor did he conspire with local officials to cover up what might have led to manslaguther charges, as did Kennedy himself. Yet Kennedy has no qualms about making these over-the-top claims, knowning as he does that the national mediua largley exists as an echo chamber for ideas beloved by the Democratic Party and their allies on the political left. It is more to the shame of the media that they report accusations such as this than it is to the poltiicians who make them.

In any event, I have beeen no fan of the Gonzamez Jusitce Department. I believe that he has shown no real flair for the job and he has made a number of mis-steps in defending his agency to the hostile party hacks in Congress. But like former Senator John Ashcroft before him, I believe that Gonzales was unfairly demonized by the Democratic Party and their friends in the press. I wish Mr. Gonzales good luck in his future endeavors, and thank him for his service to his country.

Hat tip to Power Line.