More coverage on the approval of the ISA expansion

Thanks to Snapped Shot

You may find more coverage on the approval of the ISA expansion at Crystal Clear Conservative, Snapped Shot, and Marooned in Marin.

The Fairfax County Times article Board approves expansion for Saudi private academy closes with the words of Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville):

“I think a lot of the charges that were directed at your school were misplaced,” Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) said, speaking directly to academy representatives in the board auditorium. “We are fortunate in Fairfax County to have you as an educational alternative.”

Evidence of editorial bias on the part of the Fairfax County Times?

Foust's district abuts Sterling (Loudon County), where the All-Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) mosque is located, near the county line. According to the ADAMS website, ADAMS serves Chantilly, Centerville, Sterling, Great Falls, Ashburn, Leesburg, McLean, Herndon, and Reston. Membership is 2200 and ADAMS serves nearly 5000 families. Now you know who his constituents are.

Foust's district covers Herndon. Herndon is one node of Northern Virginiastan, the other being Falls Mosque, er, I mean, Falls Church. As noted in SperryFiles.com, the buildings at 500 and 555 Grove Street, right by the Herndon Post Office, housed dozens of Muslim shell organizations.

HURRY to oppose ISA expansion!

As local activists know, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on expansion of the Islamic Saudi Academy at its Monday, August 3 on 3:00 PM.

Keeping in mind that political officials often respond better to phone calls than letters, I called the offices of Linda Q. Smith, Supervisor, Providence District, and Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Not surprisingly, Smith and Bulova were in meetings.

Smith's staff member asked if I supported or opposed expansion of the Islamic Saudi Academy, as Smith's office was keeping a tally. She took down my phone number and said that she would have Supervisor Smith to call me.

I shared the following talking points with her senior aide "Lynn":

* The re-sentencing of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali to life imprisonment only this past Monday

* The possibility that 2003 ISA grad Raed Abdul-Rahman Alsaif was attempting a 9/11-style coordinated attack.

* With respect to the concerns of Springfield District residents about traffic safety on Pope's Head Road, I pointed out the 2005 accident caused by ISA bus driver Abdelrazeg Abdalla.

No oral statements will be taken at the August 3 meeting; however, written statements, submitted for the record, will be allowed.

Supervisor Pat Herrity of Springfield District will make the motion on expansion of the ISA.

Please email or fax a written statement for the record to Nancy Vehrs, Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. Email: ClerktotheBOS@fairfaxcounty.gov; Fax 703-324-3926. Reference case number SE 2008-SP-025.

HURRY! Written statements must be submitted by COB Friday, July 31, 2009.

You are urged to read Urgent Action Alert: Help Defeat Terror School in Virginia from ACT! for America: Northern Virginia/Washington, DC Metro Chapter's Official Blog and ACTION ALERT - AUGUST 3, 3:00 PM from Saudi Watch for more information.

Also listen to a full hour of local perspective on the trouble with the Islamic Saudi Academy: Criminal, Legal, Land Use, and more via Radio Free Dar Al Harab (hat tip: ACT! for America: Northern Virginia/Washington, DC Metro Chapter's Official Blog)

What I saw at last night’s Islamic Saudi Academy hearing

This is not comprehensive coverage of last night’s Fairfax County of Supervisors hearing on expansion of the Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA). It is simply my strongest impressions from the meeting.

While I had concerns about coordination among opponents of the ISA, opponents greatly outnumbered supporters.

Some opponents were not ideologically based: residents who live near the school complained about increased traffic and being downstream from septic fields. A petition to oppose the ISA based on land use was signed by 300 residents living near the ISA.

While a person representing an opponent who couldn’t make it because he was sick was not permitted to read a statement, one Christina Sheetz, an ISA alumna, was allowed to make a statement on behalf of Kamal Suliman. I called my district supervisor’s office about this double standard, and I was referred to Sharon Bulova’s office. Ms. Bulova rebuked ISA opponents twice for clapping, while supporters were not rebuked.

Reem Al-Hussain, a 2007 ISA alumna and now a student at GMU, said that equating one person (she was probably alluding to Abu Ali) with the whole of Islam was like equating Hitler with the whole of Christianity. Despite her over-the-top statement, I actually cut her some slack because of her relative youth. However, her statement that she felt that she was “stabbed” is symptomatic of Muslim victimology.

Dana Nicholas, who identified herself as an assistant principal at ISA, testified that ISA bus drivers would be educated in traffic safety and that ISA bus drivers had an excellent safety record. She is lying. Refer to our 2005 article WaPo conflates two bus accidents.

One opponent said that if the government didn’t serve the citizens, then overthrow the government. He dramatically turned to the audience when he shouted “overthrow the government.” He was subsequently rebuked by Katherine Cox Chenard, who identified herself as a teacher and curriculum development specialist at ISA.

I distance myself from his statement. It hurts the cause. Instead, I would have coldly told the Board of Supervisors that if they support ISA expansion (as sadly, I expect they will), then we will remember that at election time and vote them out.

Several ISA parents testified what a safe environment ISA provided: drug-free, fight-free, alcohol-free, teen pregnancy-free, yada yada yada. How are ISA students punished for transgressions? Did anyone else catch the irony of advocating a private school before the county government, which has oversight of Fairfax County Public Schools? Fairfax County Public Schools are obliged to serve all school-age children, whereas a private school can select its students. Moreover, what is being done to assure that Fairfax County Public Schools are drug-free, fight-free, alcohol-free, and teen pregnancy-free?

Finally, visit the comprehensive video coverage provided by Atlas Shrugs, especially the testimony of an Egyptian apostate who was not on the advance speakers list.

UPDATE: Snapped Shot couldn't attend last night's hearing. He notes that the final decision on the expansion of ISA has been deferred to August 3. Also refer to his links to Crystal Clear Conservative's report and live tweets.