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ma NS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARAB AMERICANS 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 211, Washington, D.C. 20009 202-797-7757 Ms On ete et me eS ance ateens tes MORN L cet ah | he men il Officers *Joanne McKenna President \ * i Jr. February 19, 1980 Caenuie Vice Present *Thomas Abraham are as Vice President SUTSINE SCECE *Anis Nick Shamiyeh Mr. William H. Webster _ Vice President Director poe unders Federal Bureau of Investigation *David Sadd 9th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Treasurer Washington, DC ee 2g fl LSC ee td of Directors Dear Mr. Webster: lt am writing to request a meeting between you and represen- tatives of the National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) concerning press reporting on ABSCAM, the FBI's recent under- [cover investigation. Qur concern is not the substance of the investigation but rather the use of an Arab-related "cover I story" that has deepened anti-Arab prejudice because it rein- i forced the familiar stereotype of Arabs as high-spending people with low moral values. We are less disturbed by the possibility | of a decision to "stick it to the Arabs" than that it may never have occurred to the planners that ABSCAM was prejudicial and likely to damage American relations with the Arab world. \I would not be candid if I were not to say that the FBI has ia poor reputation in the Arab-American community. This view iby people who pride themselves on their loyalty to the United States stems from FBI activities such as "Operation Boulder ‘that may have had a valid objective but that ended up violat ‘the civil rights of American citizens of Arab ancestry. [We believe that an informal discussion with you would be mutual? ‘beneficial and perhaps help clear the air. It is in the interest lof the FBI to have the confidence of the American people as well: jas to understand more about relating to communities that seem to be unduly on the receiving end. \ We would anticipate bringing four or five individuals in our group. We would appreciate it if your office could give us a call so that ik On he os. Yisb/- \W | Ae 2 rh84 1990 | Thank you. Regards, t’ Mbenadllon J.R. AbiNader Executive Director gs tig cc: Joanne McKenna, President Dr oe NAAA Board mai gun PAs & ean eniabeier aed aati an at eee cele nt ol ee "=="Thomas Abraham, Maryland Paul Ajlouny, New York Vic Ajlouny, California Abid Al-Marayati, Ohio Violet Asha, Maryland Bill Aossey, lowa Mohamed A. Baghal, New Jersey Cherif Bassiouni, Winois ~~ *Joseph D. Baroody, Washington, DC Frederic Cadora, Ohio Gerald G. Decker, Pennsytvania George A. Doumani, Washington, Di Joanne McKenna, Ohio Rev. Fr. Paul Mouawad, California George R. Najemy, Massachusetts Muhamad Najjab, Pennsyivania Abdallah E. Najjar, Georgia George A. Nassif, Michigan Virginia Piendak, Pennsylvania Richard J. Razook, Florida Mike Saah, Virginia L. David Sabbagh, Ohio Sandra C. Sabbagh, Indiana hidj B. Sabouni, California wid Sadd, Virginia adore A. Sahley, Ohio s F, Sams, Washington, DC smmeawmm Sheryl Saunders, Texas *Cherif Sedky, Washington, DC Anis Nick Shamiyeh, California “Hisham Sharabi, Washington, DC Alexander A. Simon, Jr. Georgia —aw emer emus *Peter Tanous, Mariand tbrahim Tawasha, California Robert W. Thabit, New York James Zogby, Pennsylvania *Executive Committee Members OTTO Ee EN EEE nr prereset terme Mie AY eee ee TT