Congressman Keith Ellison on US Drones in Africa and Media's Portrayal of Muslims

[marmar]

from truthout:



.......(snip).......

Jon Letman: In January, you wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post titled "Time for Congress to build a better drone policy." How was the piece received by your colleagues in Congress?

Rep. Keith Ellison: It had mixed reviews. Some people told me it was the administration's prerogative and to just butt out, and even insinuated that if I did anything to try to restrain the US military's use of weaponized drones, that might not be greeted as the most patriotic thing in the world. Other people said, "Spot on - you're right." It was a very mixed reception.

My point was to try to provoke a more in-depth conversation than we've been having. I was disappointed that we haven't even really discussed this. The op-ed, as much as I was happy to write it and get it published, didn't have the splash that Rand Paul's filibuster had. Even though he and I agree on almost nothing, I was pleased to see him get attention for this really critical issue.

JL: Who supported your op-ed?

KE: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California). She thinks we have to move forward on drones and have transparency, due process, accountability and international protocols that are respected. And others - we had a good group around us, but not nearly enough. We need some committee hearings.

.......(snip).......

JL: How have you seen civil rights for Muslim Americans and Muslims in America changing over the last decade?

KE: There's a small, concerted effort to try to marginalize Muslims in the United States. It's a well-funded effort. It's a small effort, but they have yielded some results. They're just people who write, speak and promote the idea that Muslims are threatening to America and should be marginalized and are dangerous to our country. They are the moral equivalent to the Ku Klux Klan, but they couch everything they say and do in anti-terrorism. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/news/item/15976-exclusive-congressman-keith-ellison-on-us-drones-in-africa-and-medias-portrayal-of-muslims