Al-Qaeda in America

No, I’m not talking about so called ‘sleeper cells’ of Osama Bin Laden’s followers. I’m talking about the growing influence of Al-Qaeda like hate groups and right-wing radicals over American society and politics. After the heinous acts committed by Al-Qaeda on September 11, right-wing radicals in America are exploiting the genuine security concerns of the US citizens to advance their own radical agendas.

There are estimated 1000 right-wing radical groups in the Untied States. Over 400 of them are known armed militia groups (Robert L. Hilliard, Michael C. Keith, 1999, Waves of Rancor: Tuning in the Radical Right - Media, Communication, and Culture in America. 11). These groups are motivated by hatred towards religious and ethnic minorities, opposition towards federal regulation and taxations and the United Nations. At their core, these right-wing radical groups include organizations such as Ku Klux Klan, Christian Identity, Aryan Nations, 11th Hour Remnant Messenger, Aryan Brotherhood, Neo-Nazi, etc. But as with extremist groups in other parts of the world, this core always had its mainstream sympathizers and supporters in politics, media and church.

Here are just a few examples of what these people are capable of doing;

 Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which killed 168 persons and injured many more.
 Centennial Park bombing during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which killed one person and injured more than 100.
 Shooting sprees in 1999 in Chicago and Los Angeles areas targeting minorities, which left three people dead.

The decades of 1950s and 1960s were an unprecedented period of upheaval and change. Blacks – historically the primary target of right-wing radicals - successfully challenged the centuries old racist and segregationist laws and social norms. This opened a floodgate of change for women, Jews, gays, atheists and other groups who were suffering from various forms discriminations. Ku Klux Klan, skinheads, militias, Neo-Nazis were not a mainstream people anymore. Mainstream America disassociated itself from the extremist agenda of such groups. A social evolution towards a more inclusive society forced such groups to transform their message by euphemisms instead of racial and religious insults. Lot of their action groups went into, what I would call, ‘sleeper cells’. Their main stream friends on radio talk show hosts, churches and politics also had to adapt to the changing times.

These hate groups and their sympathizers badly needed a new target to stay relevant and come back to the mainstream. Targets like Blacks, Jews, gays and US government were a little outdated although still good enough to keep the core intact, but what they really needed was a cause, a target which could help them win the support of larger audience and bring them to mainstream once again. Unfortunately, the tragedy of September 11, has provided them with that opportunity.


The immediate aftermath of September 11, saw many hate crimes against Muslims and people who were thought to be Muslims. These crimes include murder, harassment and threats among others. A recent report released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic advocacy group based in Washington, DC, which covers the period from March 2001 to March 2002, details 1,516 reports from community members, complaints ranging from violence to harassment to murder.

Mainstream sympathizers of the hate groups are back in the game. Extreme right-wing commentators are working overtime to spread their message of hatred over American airwaves. Their persuasive rhetoric and advocacy of violence is turning resentment into hatred and violence. Rush Limbaugh, Westwood One, Pete Peters, Kurt Saxon and many other fiery radio talk show hosts, who range from right to far right, are all now pointing their guns towards this new found target.

American religious right, whose traditional targets have been women, gays, Jews and other minorities, have now turned their full attention towards Muslims and Arab Muslims. Talking about Islam on his ‘700 Club’ television show, Pat Robertson told his viewers that, "it is not a peaceful religion that wants to coexist. They want to coexist until they can control, dominate and then, if need be, destroy." Reverenced Jerry Falwell went so far in his comments against Prophet Mohammad and Muslims that they are not even worthy of repeating. These and many other hate mongering religious fanatics are coming out of the closets and ‘sleeper cells’ to capitalize on this opportunity. They are making no secrets of their plans to make this war between the United States and Al-Qaeda into a war between Christianity and Islam.

All this propaganda is beginning to have an impact on the general attitudes of the America society. These attitudes are, in turn, reflecting themselves into political responses and governmental policies. Racial profiling at airports, special registration requirements for non-immigrant men from Muslim countries resulting into mass arrests and discriminatory language by elected representatives and government officials are just a few examples of this new trend.

The world must not be allowed to be divided on the basis of religion. As naive as it may sound, in a broad sense there are only two types of people in this world...good people and bad people. Just like good people, bad people come in all colors and faiths. In Afghanistan they take the name of Taliban and Al-Qaeda, in US they call themselves KKK, Michigan Militia and Jerry Falwell. Their motivations and methods may differ but their message is always the same -hatred, hatred towards people who are different...different faith, ethnicity, language, nationality, or whatever. If Dr. Martin Luther King was alive today, he probably would have to deliver another ‘I have a dream’ speech to tell the world why people should not be judged by the color of their faith but by the content of their character.

This war against terrorism started with the US response to Al-Qaeda attacks. Now people and governments all over the globe are joining hands to fight militant religious nuts. This surely is not a war between Christianity and Islam. Although the Bin Ladens and Jerry Falwells of the world want this war to be a war between Christianity and Islam; they want religion to be the central issue in this war. They want the crusades to start all over again; they want a world which is divided into Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews. This is what will make people look towards them for leadership. This is how they hope to get power. This can never be allowed. Not in this day and age. Let’s make sure that Al-Qaeda of the United States do not exploit September 11 tragedy to start new Crusades. If it happens, Bin Laden will be the happiest person on earth.