Boston Marathon Bomb: Do Not Rush to Judgment Against Arabs

Impact

The suspicion that a Saudi national is in captivity in a Boston area hospital is unsubstantiated and is being reported by the New York Post. The Post may be taking liberty with the fact that 15 of 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi nationals.

Rushing to judgment over such things is highly dangerous as many Arabs and anyone who may have looked the part were victims of abuse after the 9/11 attacks.

Saudi government officials have been relentless in their pursuit of Islamic extremists since 9/11, and warned U.S. officials of the Al-Qaeda threat for years prior to the attacks. What many people fail to realize is that Islamic extremism is just as much of a threat to Saudi Arabia itself as it is to anyone else.

Regardless, the attacks are beginning to bear certain hallmarks of organized terrorism.  The day in general is symbolic of America’s history, and the timing and location of the two bombings at the marathon finish line suggest it may not be amateur hour.