FBI should explain use of agent provocateurs

Last week, MPAC expressed its outrage over the alleged plan of four men to carry out attacks against Jewish houses of worship. MPAC also applauded the FBI for foiling the group’s plot to bomb New York City synagogues and use surface-to-air missiles to attack U.S. military planes.

In recent news articles, including one by the Nation Magazine, “FBI Blows It: Supposed Terror Plot Against NY Synagogues Is Bogus” (published May 23, 2009), the writer states that there is another narrative on what actually transpired between the FBI informant and the group of four people that were eventually charged with plans to carry out the attacks.

By now, it’s maddeningly familiar. A scary terrorist plot is announced. Then it’s revealed that the suspects are a hapless bunch of ne’er-do-wells or run-of-the-mill thugs without the slightest connection to any terrorists at all, never mind to Al Qaeda. Finally, the last piece of the puzzle: the entire plot is revealed to have been cooked up by a scummy government agent-provocateur.

MPAC feels that it is of utmost importance that the FBI comes out with a clear and thorough explanation addressing what is perceived as a trend of using agent provocateurs and entrapment. In addition to casting a cloud on the credibility of the FBI and the seriousness of effective counterterrorism, it enforces a stigma that some insist on using when addressing the Muslim community in America.

MPAC feels that a thorough and transparent explanation that addresses the community’s concerns over law enforcement practices will help to protect our country, increase the cooperation between the FBI and Muslim American community and allay the unhealthy anxiety within our society.