Stereotypes and Sense on Counterterrorism

When he commented on the arrest of a handful of British Muslims accused of plotting to blow up U.S.-bound civilian aircraft ["Plot to Bomb U.S.-Bound Jets Is Foiled; Britain Arrests 24 Suspected Conspirators," front page, Aug. 11], President Bush said the case was "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists." The president's use of that term is misleading, unfortunate and unacceptable.

We, as peaceful and justice-loving Muslims, deeply resent the implication that "fascism" is an integral part of our faith tradition, or that it is condoned by those of us who practice the religion of Islam. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence that supports the legitimacy of any form of state-sponsored violence and injustice, either in our revealed text, the holy Koran, or in the traditions of Islam.

Islam is constantly referred to by the news media as the theological basis for terrorism and, now, fascism.

But the same media never associated the Catholic faith as a root cause of Italian fascism under Benito Mussolini in the 1930s, or the Jewish faith as a religious motivation for the violent, anti-Palestinian conduct of many Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Gaza. Islam, alone among the three major Abrahamic faiths, has been tarred with the brush of legitimized extremism and violence in the name of God. This is an association that has no basis in our faith, and it is an association that we vigorously reject.

ESAM OMEISH

President

Muslim American Society

Falls Church

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The first paragraph of the Aug. 11 front-page story "Tip Followed '05 Attacks on London Transit" said authorities were able to stop the plot to bomb transatlantic flights because "a worried member of the Muslim community" called in a tip conveying "general suspicions about an acquaintance." The probe led from there.

None of The Post's other coverage of the foiled plot that day seemed to convey an important lesson: A Muslim humanitarian -- actually an everyday person, just like the bomb plot suspects whom neighbors were quoted as calling "regular guys" -- cared enough to tip off authorities. The lesson is clear: The war on terrorism will not be won by high-tech surveillance or the confiscation of shoes and common household items from carry-on luggage. It will ultimately turn on the actions of everyday men and women who care enough about human life to report what they see or hear. Terrorists operate in the shadows but not completely in the dark.

They must be overwhelmed by the mass of people of goodwill who put the sanctity of life above religion or dogma.