New York Republican Rep. Peter King has been criticized and subjected to historical comparisons for his insistence that suspected radicalized Muslim Americans must be questioned to prevent further terrorist attacks. Here's the catch: King supported the IRA's transition from paramilitary organization to political force in the 1980s.
In a recent interview with CNN's Dana Bash, King says that he would "absolutely" require Irish Americans to submit to hearings if the IRA (Irish Republican Army) had committed terrorist attacks on American soil.
"I also knew there were elements in that movement, led by Gerry Adams, who wanted to bring that movement from the paramilitary world into the diplomatic world," King told Bash -- ignoring the likelihood that most Muslims in America also support peaceful conflict resolution.
King is also Homeland Security Committee Chairman, and he promises that his desire to further investigate radicalism through questioning would exist for "any group" willing and able to carry out an attack.
New York Daily News staff writer Joanna Molloy made the obvious comparison between King and McCarthy. In his pursuit against Communism, Sen. Joe McCarthy questioned many notable liberal Americans in the 1950s, including several Hollywood stars.
Molloy's article from December of 2010 questions the potential hypocrisy of Rep. King's differing treatment when it comes to the Muslim-American community and the establishment of peace in Northern Ireland.
Comments