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‘NATIONAL AG OCIATION OF AF. 1825 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 211, Washington, D.C. 20009 202-797-7757 STATEMENT ON "ABSCAM" The apparent willingness of Members of the U.S. Congress to accept bribes from FBI agents posing as representatives of Arab interests is a sad commentary on the morality of Congress. The decision by the FBI to build the "scam" around Arabs is also a sad commentary on cultural bias in American society and institu- tions. At a time when negative racial and cultural stereotypes are gradually being eliminated, a branch of the Administration has taken a major step to per- petuate the image of Arabs as unscrupulous aliens. The Arab World is part of the Third World, struggling to develop and at the same time to maintain traditional social and religious values. But several Arab countries are also vital trading partners of the United States because they provide much of the oi] on which our industrialized society runs. Every action that perpetuates negative images of the Arab World increases obstacles to normal and healthy ties with the United States. Lest anyone fail ‘to understand the inher- ently ugly nature of stereotypes, Jet him reflect on the impact of an FBI opera- tion that, instead of being called "ABSCAM" (short for "Arab Scam"), was instead called "JEWSCAM". The outcry would be tremendous, and fully justified. The chuckles that attend "ABSCAM" show how far American society must yet travel tovard equality. The FBI has shown that it is still part of the problem, not part of the solution. - February 4, 1980 L3_/7 Sf — (