Kirsanow is the former head of the right-wing Center for New Black Leadership.
He was appointed by Bush to the seven-member commission last year. His response to the testimony in Detroit from Arab-American representatives was to argue they should support Bush’s anti-terrorism program and stop complaining on the grounds that another terror attack linked to Arabs or Muslims would result in far harsher measures.
Should terrorists carry out another attack, he told the meeting, “and they come from the same ethnic group that attacked the World Trade Center, you can forget about civil rights.” Jennifer Braceras, another Bush appointee to the commission, added, “There’s no constitutional right not to be inconvenienced or even embarrassed.”
Kirsanow’s provocative remarks angered many in the audience, who took them, justifiably, as a form of political blackmail. Following the hearing a reporter for the Detroit Free Press questioned the commissioner about his reference to mass internment, and Kirsanow reiterated his view that another terrorist attack would produce a “groundswell of opinion” supporting the detention of certain ethnic groups. The commissioner added that he would be “personally opposed” to such action and the Bush administration did not envision it.
He was appointed by Bush to the seven-member commission last year. His response to the testimony in Detroit from Arab-American representatives was to argue they should support Bush’s anti-terrorism program and stop complaining on the grounds that another terror attack linked to Arabs or Muslims would result in far harsher measures.
Should terrorists carry out another attack, he told the meeting, “and they come from the same ethnic group that attacked the World Trade Center, you can forget about civil rights.” Jennifer Braceras, another Bush appointee to the commission, added, “There’s no constitutional right not to be inconvenienced or even embarrassed.”
Kirsanow’s provocative remarks angered many in the audience, who took them, justifiably, as a form of political blackmail. Following the hearing a reporter for the Detroit Free Press questioned the commissioner about his reference to mass internment, and Kirsanow reiterated his view that another terrorist attack would produce a “groundswell of opinion” supporting the detention of certain ethnic groups. The commissioner added that he would be “personally opposed” to such action and the Bush administration did not envision it.