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America Needs You, CIA Chief Tells Arabs
In a historic visit to Dearborn, CIA Director Leon Panetta reached out to metro Detroiters with roots in the Middle East at a Ramadan dinner aimed at engaging Arab Americans.
“The reason I’m here … is very simple: Your country needs you,” he told a crowd of about 150 Arab Americans and Chaldeans on Wednesday at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center. “It needs your ingenuity; it needs your wisdom; it needs the skills of your communities to help protect the way of life that all of us hold dear.”
Panetta’s speech was believed to be the first time a CIA head has held a public Ramadan dinner, said CIA official George Little. And it comes at a time when the CIA finds itself involved in conflicts across the Muslim world.
Panetta talked about the importance of making the CIA more diverse, drawing upon his background as the son of Italian immigrants.
“America is strong because it is a nation of nations,” Panetta said. “Because it draws on the strength of people from every part of the world.”
Panetta spoke with reporters before the event, stressing the theme of diversity. He also dismissed reports that he has had tensions with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder over his call for investigations into claims the CIA tortured suspects. But he added that it’s important that the CIA not get dragged into past allegations.
“We have to move beyond the past,” Panetta said. “We’ve got two wars, dealing with a number of threats.”
He also said that although the CIA works with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, there is concern that the ISI might be supporting extremists who threaten the United States and its allies.
“We have a…close working relationship wih ISI,” Panetta said, adding that “we remain concerned about some of the relations they have with some of the terrorist groups in that part of the world…They do mantain other relations, particularly with groups that target India, that remain a concern for us.”
Panetta opened his speech with the Islamic greeting of “Ramadan Kareem,” which is often said during the month of Ramadan. Panetta’s speech happened to come on the Night of Power for Sunni Muslims, a time when many stay awake all night in mosques for special prayers.
“I am particularly honored to be with you on this night, which I understand is the Night of Power, which holds such deep spiritual meaning for all Muslims,” he said.
Panetta then talked about the multiple threats the U.S. faces, saying that “America faces a world that poses a number of challenges to our safety.”
But, he added, “we are a safer country than we were on 9-11.” Panetta said that “Al-Qaeda and its allies are on the run. Fanatics are ultimately doomed by their own fanaticism.”
In order for the CIA to get better, “we have to reflect the face of this nation, we have to reflect the face of the world,” Panetta said. “Our goal is to substantially increase diversity.”
Panetta’s talk was well received by the audience.
“We are ready to serve our country,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab-American News, who served as emcee for the dinner. But, he added, “we have suffered since 9-11 and it’s time we were treated like Americans.”
Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committe, said that Panetta “set the tone for a new direction.”
Yahya Basha, a medical doctor from West Bloomfield who is Republican, said: “I see a new era under Panetta, with openness and transparency.”
Panetta sat at a table with Sunni and Shia imams, as well as Christian and Arab leaders, including Hamad, Basha, and others. Imam Husham Al-Husainy, of the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn and Imam Mohammed Mardini of Dearborn gave the invocation.
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press