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Paul Kendall: Did an ´Expert´ on Terrorism Conspire With a Foreign Government to Violate the Constitutional Rights of American Muslims?

WASHINGTON, Mar. 04 /PRNewswire/ --

Collaboration between Steve Emerson and the Israeli Consulate in Boston Merits Investigation

WASHINGTON, March 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is an Op-Ed by Paul Kendall, of Justice and Liberty For All:

Steven Emerson, who has appeared at numerous congressional hearings and on major news outlets as an alleged 'expert on terrorism,' has raised some serious concerns among congressional staffers, civil rights groups, and some members of the media.

E-mail communications made available during lawsuits involving the building of a mosque in Boston, MA , indicate a collaboration between Emerson and the Israeli Government. These electronic communications prove that Emerson, along with some anti-Muslim advocacy groups, worked directly with the public affairs office of the Israeli consulate in Boston to formulate the creation of a smear campaign intended to stop the construction of a new Islamic cultural center.

However, despite these attempts, the new Boston mosque was opened

on September 28, 2007 in the predominantly African-American community of Roxbury.

The e-mail messages that prove this collaboration between Emerson, the consulate, and other anti-Muslim advocacy groups are available to the public at: http://www.justiceandliberty4all.wordpress.com/_

Emerson, whose credentials, investigative methods, and sources were once considered to be highly questionable, has managed to position himself as America's leading 'terrorist expert' after 9/11. However, there are many within and outside the Muslim Community who question Emerson's investigation tactics, characterized as 'Islamophobic.'

Some have accused Emerson of pandering to fear because of his characterization of the Muslim American community, Muslim organizations, and Muslim leaders as a 'fifth column' working to subvert the American government and our civil institutions. Many have gone so far as to suggest that his motives have less to do with protecting our national security than with being a paid propagandist for a foreign country.

One congressional staff member stated, "I am seriously troubled that the public affairs office of the Israeli Consulate would cooperate with U.S. citizens and advocacy groups seeking to deny American Muslim's the religious freedom of American Muslims.

The constitutional right to build a new mosque in Boston is a religious freedom protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution. And no foreign government has the right to interfere with this right.'

Interviews with several civil rights activists reveal that there are serious concerns regarding the accuracy and objectivity of the information that Emerson provides to members of congress, law enforcement, and the media.

Civil rights activist and leader Reverend Graylan Hagler, put it this way: "This Emerson guy uses the same tactics that racist segregationist used against civil rights activist including Dr. King."

Hagler added, "Emerson may well be our domestic 'curve ball.'" This is a reference to the Iraqi source that provided inaccurate information to U.S. intelligence services in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

I, too, am deeply troubled by the lack of scrutiny that Steve Emerson and his Investigative Project receive. If the nation learned anything from the Judith Miller fiasco about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, it should be this: It is time to seriously investigate Steve Emerson and his bogus 'Investigative Project.'