: Arab-Americans Flood FBI With Job Applications

Arabic speakers, including hundreds of Arab-Americans, have flooded the FBI with applications for jobs as translators since 9/11, according to officials who say that some of those hired already are playing key roles in terrorism probes. Jamal Baadani, an Egyptian-born U.S. Marine, says he applied to the FBI to fight terrorism and “ignorance and bigotry.” 52 Arabic speakers have been hired already, with plans for more next year. How will having people on the inside affect the FBI dragnet of thousands of Arabs suspected of having information about actual or potential terrorism? Will this play out like the 1998 movie, “The Siege“, with Arab FBI agents becoming unwillingly involved with the detention of their bretheren?

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.