The shooting in Tucson offers Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) an opportunity to rethink his planned Homeland Security Committee hearings on Muslim “radicalization” in this country.

In today’s Newsday OpEd New York Rep. Peter King announced his election by the House Republican Conference to chair the Homeland Security Committee, and his intention to hold hearings on “the radicalization of American Muslim community and homegrown terrorism.” Of course, King’s reputation for anti-Muslim rhetoric has many Muslims concerned that King’s inquiry will be more like this century’s version of the Red Scare era House UnAmerican Activities Committee hearings.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force Division of the FBI Visits an Austin Peace Activist to Question About Pre-Crimes! On April 21, 2010, two agents of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) came to my house to talk to me, a part time peace volunteer for Palestine. After verifying that they really were with the FBI, I asked them to wait. I shut my door, took a deep breath, and grabbed my video camera.

Compare how the U.S. and Canadian governments responded to the wrongful abduction and torture of Maher Arar. News and views from Glenn Greenwald

The notion that the government can execute an American-born cleric far from a combat zone, with no judicial process, has set off a debate among authorities.

A Qatari diplomat who was questioned by federal investigators after an in-flight disturbance has been released and will not face charges, officials said.

Mohammed Al-Madadi has "been given clearance to travel back to Washington," said Alison Bradley, a spokeswoman for the Brown Lloyd James public relations firm, which represents the Qatari Embassy. A federal law enforcement official told CNN Al-Madadi will not face charges.
Initial reports said the incident involved an attempt to set a shoe on fire, but there were later indications that the situation may have resulted from a misunderstanding.

The passenger was in a lavatory for a long time and may have been smoking, a U.S. official told CNN. He also may have made an "unfortunate comment" referring to a shoe bomb when questioned on the plane, the official said.

Fran Townsend, a homeland security official in President George W. Bush's administration, told CNN that the person involved was a Qatari diplomat and that her sources said the incident may have been a misunderstanding. She said law enforcement officials examined the man's shoes and were satisfied there were no explosives.

The Fiqh Council of North America – a body of Islamic scholars – issued a fatwa this week that says going through the airport scanners would violate Islamic rules on modesty.