The Arab American News
Author's Posts
Shady companies with ties to Israel wiretap the U.S. for the NSA
June 14th, 20130 Army General Keith Alexander, the director of the NSA, is having a busy year — hopping around the country, cutting ribbons at secret bases and bringing to life the agency’s greatly expanded eavesdropping network.In January, he dedicated the new $358 million CAPT Joseph J. Rochefort Building at NSA Hawaii, and in March he unveiled the...Edward Snowden’s brave choice
Edward Snowden is not a traitor. Nor is he a hero, at least not yet. But he probably will be martyred by an establishment that cannot abide critics.Both House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, D-California, have called him a traitor, which only shows how ignorant they are. Under the...Whistleblower should not be prosecuted
Millions of Americans learned last week that their government is spying on them and looking at their phone records, via a massive surveillance program that is operated by the National Security Agency. Citizens have one man to thank for these revelations: Edward Snowden, the 29-year-old "geek," who leaked the information about the program...Sectarianism and the irrational new discourse: Why Arabs must worry
My friend Hanna is Syrian and also happens to be Christian. The latter fact was rarely of consequence, except whenever he wished to boast about the contributions of Arab Christians to Middle Eastern cultures. Of course, he is right. The modern Arab identity has been formulated through a fascinating mix of religions, sects and races....Misreading Iranian politics
This year’s Iranian presidential election is likely to produce a strong political figure who will have a significant impact on the Islamic Republic’s foreign and domestic policies, helping to ensure Iran’s continued internal development and bolstering its regional importance.Yet every four years, a combustible mix of pro-Israel...Lebanese women caught at Detroit – Canada border trying to smuggle $59K in their bras
DETROIT — A mother and daughter who are both Lebanese were caught trying to smuggle close to $73,000 into the United States from Canada. An estimated $59,000 was found in the women’s bras. A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday in Detroit federal court. The mother, Moura El-Asmar, 51, and the daughter, Jacinta El-Asmar, 16,...FBI director says U.S. will hold Snowden responsible on NSA leak
WASHINGTON — FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Thursday that the U.S. government is doing everything it can to hold confessed leaker Edward Snowden accountable for splashing surveillance secrets across the pages of newspapers worldwide. FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Federal...Immigration bill clears early test vote; Obama calls for action
The U.S. Senate voted on Tuesday, June 11, to begin debate and amendments on a historic immigration bill, burying a procedural roadblock that opponents regularly use to delay or even kill legislation.With November's election results indicating broad support for updating the country's immigration laws, even some senators who have...
Activists urge National 9/11 Museum to acknowledge historic “Little Syria” in permanent exhibition
June 14th, 20130 NEW YORK — Activists are continuing to urge the National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center to acknowledge “Little Syria” in its permanent exhibition. Throughout the late 1880s, up until the 1940s, the area around the World Trade Center was known for having a vibrant and growing Arab American community....
AAPAC begins endorsement process for upcoming elections
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — As election season draws closer, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) will soon begin their process of interviewing candidates, in order to determine who will receive the organization's endorsement, before the August 6 primary.Formed in 1998, AAPAC’s membership consists of a diverse group of Arab American...70 years later, remembering the Detroit Riot of ’43
This month marks the 70th anniversary of the Detroit Race Riot of 1943, during which white and black residents of the city clashed and rioted for three straight days after a fight that had taken place between two groups on Belle Isle on June 20, 1943. The riots claimed the lives of 34 Detroiters, wounded 433 and caused $2 million in...Court removes Duggan from Detroit Mayor race, campaign files appeal
DETROIT — Mike Duggan has been removed from the ballot as a candidate for Detroit Mayor, in accordance to a ruling by the Third District Court this week. Mayoral Candidate Tom Barrow had filed a claim in late May that Duggan was never qualified for the position to begin with.According to the Detroit City Charter, which was ratified and...Dearborn Planning Commission approves turning City Hall into apartments for artist
The Dearborn Planning Commission recently approved a plan to turn the current Dearborn City Hall on Michigan Avenue into work studios and apartments for low-income artists.The City had previously verbally agreed to sell the building for $1.65 million to Artspace Projects, Inc., a national non- profit organization that helps artists find...Dearborn’s city council approves fire merger, draws mixed reactions from Melvindale
DEARBORN — This Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council voted 5-0, to approve official plans of a fire department merger with the neighboring City of Melvindale. Officials from both cities are hoping to have operations up and running by September 1, after the Melvindale City Council approves the merger as well.While the decision to move...Arab American scholar and historian dies at 93
Alixa Naff.Arab American historian and scholar Alixa Naff passed away on June 8 at 93 years of age. Naff was widely known for documenting the lives of the first wave of Arab American immigrants. Through her research, Naff greatly contributed to the understanding of the early Arab immigrant experience in the United States, from 1880......
Dix: Home to culture and economic growth, pollution and neglect
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — Many Dearborn residents refer to "Dix," an area located just south of Michigan Avenue, between Miller Road and Wyoming Street, as if referencing an area that is detached from the City. If you ask some of the estimated 7,500 people, who reside in this area, they too will admit that they feel like they've been on their...
Gasoline stolen from underground tanks at stations caught on camera
June 14th, 20130 DETROIT — Abdul Beydoun, who owns a gas station here, expressed relief Wednesday, when two men were arrested by police, after getting caught pumping gasoline out of underground tanks and into a tank that was hidden in a van (pictured above) at his BP station. Beydoun says thieves have been stealing gasoline from stations...Protesters demand better pay for Walmart employees
DEARBORN -- Approximately 100 people gathered in front of the Walmart store on Ford Road on Friday, June 7, to demand better wages for employees.The demonstration was attended by Walmart employees, along with community members and leaders. "We gathered to stand in support of Walmart employees," said Community Liaison for “Good...High gas prices hurt Michigan’s economy
The State of Michigan had the second highest gas prices in the United States last week, according to AAA. Experts and citizens agree that the spike in prices is affecting the local economy badly.The average price of a gallon of gas here reached $4.24 last week; one cent short of the State’s all-time record high that was set in July......
Loaning a car to a friend is a roll of the dice
“Hey buddy, can I borrow your car?” The question seems innocent enough. The answer, more often than not, is “of course you can, my good friend.” However, at the risk of sounding uptight, letting someone borrow your car is like placing the deed to your home on the poker table. It’s even worse than that,...McCollough Unis student honored with multiple awards
Julia Cheaito.DEARBORN — McCollough Elementary Student Julia Cheaito, who recently completed the fifth grade and is moving on to junior high school this Fall received several awards this year for her outstanding academic performance. Cheaito, 10, was recognized by the school's department of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and......
Judge allows suit on border questioning of Muslims to move forward
MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, a federal judge in Michigan allowed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FBI, which was filed over the repeated detention and questioning of Muslims at the United States-Canada border and other ports of entry, to move forward. The Council on American Islamic Relations of...State of Michigan sets new rules for trailers in Camp Dearborn
The State has also banned permanent structures that require footings from the Dearborn-owned Park that is located in Milford.The State of Michigan recently banned trailers, larger than 400-square feet from Camp Dearborn grounds. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has told Dearborn city officials that the State......