What a Stupid Decision
Reader comment on item: Why Revoke Tariq Ramadan's U.S. Visa?

Submitted by Salim Chishti (United States), Jan 25, 2005 at 06:20

This is one of the stupidest decisions made by the Government in its attempt to look like it is trying to protect the people and I will tell you why.

But first I must say that despite Mr. Pipes' protestations and presentations, in my opinion he gives only circumstantial evidence of Mr. Ramadan's proclivities and certainly none that are any better than Mr. Ramadan's assertions of his own innocence on the charges. For instance, the idea that one is to be declared guilty because of the actions of one's father is ludicrous to say the least. By that account we should also keep George Bush out of the white house because his grandfather had dealings with Nazi Germany, or his father has dealings with the Bin Ladens. But all of that aside here's why the decision is stupid.

1. What could Mr. Ramadan not do from here in the US that he could not do from where he is right now? If the 9/11 attacks were arranged from outside the US then what difference does it make?

2. If you had someone you wanted to keep a strict, tight observance over, wouldn't you want them right there in your clutches? It seems that the US would have a better chance of knowing what Mr. Ramadan's activities were if he were here under close scrutiny. I would think that the DHS would welcome him with open arms just to have the opportunity to watch over him closely.

So here, in my opinion, is the real deal. The DHS and the administration know that the US citizenry will never, in the long run, stand for the kind of unconstitutional shenanigans they have in mind. The US people, when they begin to see their freedoms eroded will take action on their own. So the admin needs to keep people like Mr. Ramadan out of the country so they can keep illegal watches over him in other countries. In the name of protecting our citizenry, what idiocy!

Salim

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