Letters

--I want to take issue with the characterization of the Arab American Institute (AAI) in the article by Alex Alexiev ("Stopping the Saudis," Sept. 1). In the piece, Alexiev managed to recycle a number of allegations about U.S.-Saudi relations and then attacked our organization almost parenthetically toward the end of the diatribe. Not only is his information inaccurate, and based solely on a poorly written article in the Arab News, it also manages to further distort already warped allegations about remarks I made at a recent meeting of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).

For the record: I was asked by the U.S. embassy in Riyadh to speak at WAMY. During the program, I received a question about reports that 13,000 Arab and Muslim males were being considered for deportation by the U.S. government for visa violations. I responded that we were working with a coalition of U.S. organizations to ensure due process for these individuals. I also reminded the audience, however, about how illegal immigrants are treated in Arab countries. I noted that AAI's goal in this case is to make sure that American laws and values are protected and respected in dealing with this issue. On no occasion was there a suggestion of WAMY and AAI working together on such an effort. Alexiev, of course, could have learned this had he inquired before repeating the charge that the interests of the Institute are somehow those of a foreign entity.

If this is indicative of the quality of journalistic research and integrity the National Review allows in its publication, then I must seriously question both Alexiev's and National Review's work. Shame on you both.

James J. Zogby

President

Arab American Institute

Washington, D.C.

--Alex Alexiev replies: Mr. Zogby takes issue with my statement that the World Assembly of Muslim Youth will "'take up the cases' of 13,000 Muslim illegal aliens slated for deportation, together with the Arab American Institute, an American non-profit organization." He further states that "on no occasion was there a suggestion of WAMY and AAI working together on such an effort."

If the article in Arab News was indeed "poorly written," that's a matter Zogby should take up with the Arab News, but here is exactly what it said regarding WAMY and AAI: "The Washington-based Arab American Institute and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) will take up the cases of some 13,000 Arabs and Muslims, some of whom have been targeted by the US government for possible deportation." To me, this sounds like planned cooperation, especially considering that the issue was discussed at a Zogby press conference at WAMY headquarters in the presence of WAMY's president.

Nor was there much ambiguity concerning Zogby's position. Far from being interested only in assuring that the illegal aliens were accorded due process, as stated in his letter, Zogby claimed (according to the Arab News) that these individuals were "not illegal because of a pending status change" and were subject to "selective prosecution" and a "discriminatory attitude toward Muslims" that was "disturbing."

This quite aside from the even more fundamental question of the wisdom of contacts with WAMY, an organization that has been implicated in funding terrorist organizations and activities by several governments.