Twenty-two days and counting on an answer back from the Department of Homeland Security as to whether or not they’ll send me a single copy of one of the 200,000 DVDs which DHS sent out to federal employees — the one that counsels federal folks how to deal with Muslims when encountering them in the field. I’ve got Finish blood running through my veins (my grandfather was from Finland) and I’m still hoping for DHS to produce, film, edit and distribute its refresher course on how to deal with Fins on the phone; maybe that would prompt a quicker response from them to me.

In the meantime, this just in from an Air Marshal. It seems there is more “Arab and Muslim” sensitivity training programs on the horizon.

From: Assistant Director, Office of Personnel and Training

Sent: Fri 16-Feb-07 11:33

Subject: Mandatory Training: Arab and Muslim Cultural Awareness for DHS Personnel

All FAMS personnel are required to complete the “Arab and Muslim Cultural Awareness for DHS Personnel” training currently listed on the TSA Online Learning Center’s (OLC) learning plan.

There’s more; you can use your imagination. I would not want to post anything that might tip the terrorists’ hands.

Audrey Hudson of The Washington Times got her hands on a copy of the DVD. Here’s what she had to say about it :

Arab, Muslim Cultures Focus of Law Enforcement Video

By Audrey Hudson

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

February 5, 2007

“An Arab man is being questioned by law-enforcement officers and suddenly becomes uncooperative and refuses to make eye contact. Suspicious behavior or a clash of cultures?

The latter, according to a new training DVD that will be distributed to nearly 200,000 Homeland Security employees. A panel of Arab and Muslim scholars shown in the training video said it’s a misconception that the action is evasive — Arab culture considers it impolite to stare.

‘The times in which we live, I think it is very important that all Americans understand Islam — for law enforcement, it can be a matter of life and death,’ said Akbar Ahmed, professor of international relations at American University and one panelist in the video. ‘Take the security aspects of 9/11. All 19 hijackers and terrorists: Muslims. American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan: Muslim nations. The most-wanted people on the terror list: Osama bin Laden and [Abu Musab] Zarqawi: Muslims.’

Mr. Ahmed said Muslims are also supporters and allies of the U.S., and that ‘it is important at this stage in history to understand Islam.’”

There’s more, you can read the whole article here.

You can read “DHS releases 200,000 Training Videos on Arab Americans,” here.

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