Senator Joseph Lieberman
Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
RE: Copts & the USA Homeland Security
Dear Senator Lieberman:
I am a U.S. citizen.
I am a Coptic Christian who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s because of a worsening climate of hostility toward non-Muslims in Egypt.
The recent attack on the Coptic Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria, which cost 23 people their lives, demonstrates that things have only gotten worse since I left.
I am writing to you because I am extremely worried about my fellow Copts in Egypt. I also want to point out the relationship between what is happening to them now and its long-term impact on our security in America.
On December 24, 2010, I e-mailed President Obama a note and predicted something very bad will happened to the Copts in Egypt in the near future.
I provided evidence.
Sure enough, eight days later, terrorists attacked Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria and just minutes after the New Year Mass, while people left the church. The explosion resulted in many casualties. Many of them were very young children. In the aftermath of the attack, Muslim Egyptians chanted “Allahu Akbar” in celebration.
Sadly, before the investigation began, Egyptian officials were blaming “foreign elements” for the attack. At first glance, this might sound like they were blaming terrorists from Iraq for the attack, but in Egypt’s over-heated environment, some listeners would take this to mean that Israel was ultimately responsible for the attack.
This may seem outlandish, but the fact is, many commentators in Egypt did explicitly blame Israel for the attack, just as some people blamed Israel and Jews for the attack against the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.
I am afraid the New Year’s attack is just the beginning. We will witness more attacks on Copts in Egypt who have been the target of an ongoing campaign of incitement that has lasted many years and has intensified in recent months.
Egyptian culture and the education system reject non-Muslims and call for them to be isolated from the rest of society. Some commentators call for Copts to be gotten rid of altogether.
On January 7, 2011, Boston Globe and AP wrote about a very small example what Copts experience on a daily bases. “…worshipper dressed in black entering Mass at the main Coptic Church in the Cairo district of Giza. “But even on my way here, a couple of young men shouted at me, ‘God take you all and rid us of you.’ ’’.
Moreover, in my letter to President Obama, I mentioned what Sheik Wagdi Ghoneim said about Muslims what should do to Christians in Egypt. Two days later, Sheik Wagdi, repeated the same threats from his residence in Yemen, however, this time he was more aggressive and asked Copts to immigrate to America.
Unfortunately, the education system in Egypt is the main cause for of Egypt’s troubles.
It is also a threat to American security. This system produced 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta and a number of extremists such as Dr. Ayman El-Zawahry, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, Abu El Hamza El Massey. It has produced many members of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
This system is still producing young radicals with no vision, no job opportunities, and no chance of earning a decent living in Egypt. Some will leave Egypt for the West and bring their hate with them.
This represents a threat to our safety in the U.S.
Since 1979, Egypt has received over $35 billion in military assistance as part of the reward of the peace treaty with Israel. Unfortunately, the current regime and the military leadership still view Israel as the main enemy. Furthermore, after over 30 year’s of anti-Israel campaigns, the Egyptian culture now is rife with Anti-Israel, Anti-Semitic, anti-Western, and anti-Christian attitudes.
Commentators and government officials blame Jews and the West for everything, from jellyfish and shark attacks in the Red Sea to shortage in food, and much more.
To be sure, there are signs of hope. After the attack, prominent Muslims in Egypt acted as human shields to protect Coptic churches during their Christmas celebrations.
But these signs are too few and far between.
It also important to point out one negative side effect of our military assistance to Egypt.
It has freed the Egyptian military to spend their money on other businesses like retail, agricultural, construction and tourism. In so doing, we are subsidizing this culture of hate.
Americans should demand that its foreign assistance be used in ways that enhance their interest in the Middle East and to protect – not endanger – U.S. citizens here at home.
The U.S. government must redirect part of the military assistance it provides to Egypt to improve that country’s education system and to promote a culture of peace.
In conclusion, Egypt needs a different kind of help than what we have been giving her. After 35 years in power, the current regime has failed to solve many of Egypt’s challenges. As much as 45% of the population is illiterate. Thirty to 35 percent of the population below the poverty line. In addition, almost 57 million out of the total 85 million people living in Egypt have no access to sanitary sewers, which in turn leads to the pollution of the Nile River, which is used to irrigate much of the country’s crops. This results in many health problems. For example, roughly 17,000 children die each year because of diarrhea. (However, it is interesting that just this week, some members of the Parliament are starting to hold the government responsible because its failed policies.)
In light these problems, it’s clear Egypt needs engineers, scientists and doctors. She does not need any more radicals.
Egypt has access to many natural and human resources. We must help
Egypt to develop its own processes to be self-sufficient in many industries, such as food, healthcare and transportation.
She needs engineers, scientists and doctors. She does not need any more radicals. Egypt has access to many natural and human resources. We must help Egypt to develop its own processes to be self-sufficient in many industries, such as food, healthcare, transportation, etc.
Many Muslims leaders in America are calling for America to understand their culture and to be more tolerant. Furthermore, many of those Muslims leaders are trying to change America to be more compliant with their beliefs even after they have gained their citizenship.
It is about time that America regain its confidence and demand that Egypt and the rest of Arab world understand her culture, her Bill or Rights, her commitment to individual rights, and to be more tolerant to non-Muslims, just as Americans work to be tolerant of Muslims.
These are the things that brought those Muslims leaders to America in the first place.
We shouldn’t be shy about promoting our way of life because it is GREAT.
I apologize for not sharing my contact information, but I withhold this information for reasons of security. As you probably know, Al Qaeda has posted the names, addresses, phone numbers and photos of Coptic Christians in Canada. I will however, include my blog address for your staff to leave me a message and I will contact your office to answer any question.
Many thanks for your attention to this matter.
Michael
Jan. 11, 2011
