Carson: Intelligence agencies must work with Muslims in US

The first Muslim appointed to the House Intelligence Committee said Friday that intelligence agencies must work with Muslims to successfully fight terrorist groups.

“I think it’s clear that we will never win the war on national terrorism, or even global terrorism for that matter, without getting help from Muslims, getting help from Sikhs, getting help from nontheists,” Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) said on CNN’s “New Day.”

{mosads}Carson was appointed to the Intelligence panel this week. He worked in law enforcement and counterterrorism before he was elected to Congress.

The appointment has received a huge amount of media attention and some criticism.

On Thursday, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) condemned comments that he said had appeared on conservative websites and social media suggesting that Carson was not fit to serve on the committee because of his religion. Carson said his staff had informed him of some comments, but many of his colleagues had been excited by his appointment.

“I think, for the most part, folks have been very excited about this opportunity on both sides of the aisle,” he said.