Bomb Plot Worries Foreign Doctors In US

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 7-6-2007 | Matt Apuzzo

[blam]

Bomb Plot Worries Foreign Doctors in US

Friday July 6, 2007 11:16 PM

By MATT APUZZO

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Evidence that doctors are at the heart of a British terrorist plot has foreign-born physicians in the U.S. on edge and wondering whether already stringent immigration security will get even tougher.

Six physicians are among eight suspects in the failed terror attacks, including one from Iraq, one from Jordan, two from India and a man identified by hospital staff as being from Lebanon.

``We're hoping and praying these physicians are cleared and that they've done no harm,'' said Dr. Subramaniam Balasubramaniam, past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.

The attacks led British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to order a review of Britain's medical recruiting policies, which for years had been crafted to help fill a doctor shortage.

Officials have not called for such a review in the U.S., where foreign doctors face not only difficult licensing requirements but lengthy background checks and security interviews.

Still, doctors and immigration lawyers are bracing for possible fallout.

``This is going to complicate matters,'' said Balasubramaniam. ``I'm sure Homeland Security will have a microscopic examination of physicians coming from abroad. I expect them to do that.''

Medical practitioners normally are licensed at the state level. The federal government does not track how many foreign-born doctors are in the U.S. at any given time, but George Washington University researcher Fitzhugh Mullan estimates there are more than 130,000 currently practicing in the U.S.

India has the most, with more than 40,000 doctors, followed by the Philippines with nearly 18,000 and Pakistan with nearly 10,000, according to Mullan's research.

Foreign doctors usually come to the United States on temporary visas enabling them to complete their residency and take

[cripplecreek]

My doc is Pakistani but he’s a long time trusted friend and good Christian.

[cajungirl]

Perhaps they should call for their heads,,that might convince me they are not jihadists.

[Freee-dame]

We're hoping and praying these physicians are cleared

Cleared??? even the ones caught red-handed?

[Bahbah]

It may be a good development that the jihadis are going to start causing real damage to the interests of those muslims who do not lean that way.

I know an Iranian Jewish doctor (he is now an American citizen), and I would not have a problem with that. But otherwise, I am going to be very careful who is poking syringes in my direction.

[Cindy]

Recap and UPDATES

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "UK TERROR INVESTIGATIONS - NEWS ROUNDUP - JULY 6" by Jeffrey Imm (July 6, 2007)

BBC NEWS: "NEW AUSTRALIA RAIDS OVER UK BOMBS" (Last updated July 6, 2007 06:50 GMT, 07:50 UK)

More Links (July 6, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "UK TERROR INVESTIGATION - NEWS ROUNDUP - JULY 5" by Jeffrey Imm (July 5, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "UK TERROR PLOT INVESTIGATION - NEWS ROUNDUP - JULY 4" (July 4, 2007, 11:07 a.m.)

CNN.com: "UK TERROR POLICE FIND SUICIDE NOTE" (July 4, 2007)

SKY NEWS: "FULL TEXT OF VICAR'S TERROR WARNING EMAIL" (updated July 4, 2007, 11:52)

JIHAD WATCH.org (THE TELEGRAPH): "'The people who cure you would kill you'" (July 4, 2007)

GUARDIAN.co.uk: "MASTERMIND BASED ABROAD SUSPECTED OF GUIDING PLOT" (July 4, 2007)

BBC NEWS: "TERROR SUSPECTS ALL LINKED TO NHS" (Last updated July 4, 2007, 06:11 GMT, 07:11 UK)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "AGITPROP - "'Were the attacks in the UK justified?'" (July 3, 2007)

CBS NEWS.com: "TWO MEN LINKED TO BOTH U.K. PLOTS" (July 3, 2007)

REWARDS FOR JUSTICE.net: "ABU AYYUB AL-MASRI" (Note - akas: "Abu Ayyub al-Masri, aka Abu Hamza al-Muhajir)

More Links

FOX NEWS.com: "AUSTRALIAN POLICE FREE DOCTOR IN U.K. ATTACK PROBE" (July 3, 2007)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): Glasgow, Scotland - "BRITISH TERROR PROBE FOCUSES ON DOCTORS" (July 3, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "UK TERROR PLOT INVESTIGATION - NEWS ROUNDUP - JULY 3" by Jeffrey Imm (July 3, 2007, 7:39 am)

BBC NEWS: "AUSTRALIAN ARREST IN TERROR PROBE" (July 3, 2007, 04:29 GMT, 05:29 UK)

More Links

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "DENIAL IN BRITAIN" by Robert Spencer (July 3, 2007)

News.Sky.com - SKY NEWS: "FIVE DOCTORS HELD OVER ATTACKS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Five doctors are now being held in connection with the recent attempted terror attacks - one is an Iraqi doctor who trained in Baghdad.") (Updated July 2, 2007, 22:50)

BBC NEWS: "TWO MORE HELD OVER BOMB ATTACKS" (Last Updated July 2, 2007, 11:19 GMT, 12:19 UK)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - weblog (OBSERVER.GUARDIAN.co.uk): "REFORMED AL MUHAJIROUN MEMBER: 'MUSLIMS MUST RENOUNCE TERROR'" (July 1, 2007)

ABC NEWS.COM - THE BLOTTER: "SECRET DOCUMENT: U.S. FEARS TERROR 'SPECTACULAR' PLANNED" (July 1, 2007)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "CAR BOMB JIHAD" by Dr. Walid Phares (July 2, 2007)

YNET NEWS.com: "AL QAEDA'S CAR BOMB GUIDE" by Yaakov Lappin (July 1, 2007, 16:18)

ISLAM ONLINE.net - Cairo: "UK FAILED ATTACKS SHOW TACTIC CHANGE" (July 1, 2007)

BBC NEWS.com: "CAR BOMBINGS SUSPECT 'ON THE RUN'" (Last Updated July 2, 2007, 9:35 gmt, 10:35 UK)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "SKY NEWS: TWO JIHAD SUSPECTS ARE HOSPITAL DOCTORS" (July 1, 2007)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "JIHAD IN GLASGOW" by Jacob Kaksin (July 2, 2007)

BBC NEWS: "POLICE CONFIDENT IN BOMBERS HUNT" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The man has been identified by the BBC as Dr Mohammed Asha, from Iran.") (Last updated July 1, 2007, 21:48 GMT, 22:48 UK)

A Link

BBC NEWS: "FOUR HELD AMID UK TERROR ALERTS" (Last updated July 1, 2007, 08:16 GMT, 09:16 UK)

BBC NEWS.com: "UK TERROR THREAT NOW 'CRITICAL'" (June 30, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "UK AT HIGHEST 'CRITICAL' TERROR LEVEL" by Jeffrey Imm (June 30, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "(UK) SCOTLAND: TEROR STRIKE AT GLASGOW AIRPORT" by Jeffrey Imm (June 30, 2007, 02:31 p.m.)

HOT AIR.com: "BREAKING: CAR ON FIRE DRIVES INTO GLASGOW AIRPORT TERMINAL; UPDATE: GAS CYLINDERS IN JEEP? UPDATE: SUSPECT IN CRITICAL CONDITION; UPDATE: SCOTTISH COPS BELIEVE INCIDENT IS LINKED TO CAR BOMB PLOT" (June 30, 2007, 11:09 A.M.)

More Links (June 30, 2007)

JIHAD WATCH.org (ABC NEWS - THE BLOTTER): "US WARNED OF POSSIBLE GLASGOW ATTACK TWO WEEKS AGO IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER THREATS" (June 30, 2007)

FOX NEWS.com (THE TIMES OF LONDON): "REPORT: LONDON NIGHTCLUBS WARNED BEFORE ATTEMPTED BOMBING" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Nightclubs across Britain were warned they could be terrorist targets just days before yesterday's attempted double car-bomb attack in London, according to a report in the Times of London.") (June 30, 2007)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "LONDON CAR BOMB FOUND; SECOND CAR BOMB AND SUSPECT IDENTIFIED (Updated)" by Jeffrey Imm (June 29, 2007, 5:00 pm)

OSINT.INTERNET-HAGANAH.com (blogs.ABCNEWS.com - THE BLOTTER): "WHY WE SUPPORT THE PRACTICE OF PREVENTIVE DETENTION" (June 29, 2007)

BBC NEWS: "POLICE AVERT CAR BOMB 'CARNAGE'" (Last updated June 29, 2007, 12:07 GMT, 13:07 UK)

A Link (June 29, 2007)

CBS NEWS.com: "WAS LONDON BOMB PLOT HERALDED ON WEB? Internet Forum Comment From Night Before: 'London Shall Be Bombed'" (June 29, 2007)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "The 'Top Twelve' list of Arabic Salafyist/Jihadist forums."

HOT AIR.com (JIHAD WATCH with Robert Spencer) - VIDEO/blog: "THE RUSHDIE AFFAIR" (June 29, 2007)

July 11, 2007: "JULY 11, A DAY FOR VIGILANCE AGAINST JIHADIST INTIMIDATION" -Robert Spencer (posted June 15, 2006, FrontPageMagazine.com)

YouTube.com: "4/23/07: STEVEN EMERSON ON 'SPECTACULAR' THREAT FOR BRITAIN" (Added July 3, 2007)

[Cindy]

“Bomb Plot Worries Foreign Doctors in US”

OPINION: Good.

[I see my hands]

Foreign doctors in the US are worried and that's appropriate. I wish they would continue being appropriate and leave.

[Darksheare]

What already stringent immigration policy?
Just run across the southern border!

[Red_Devil 232]

Perhaps they should call for their heads,,that might convince me they are not jihadists.

Bet you some boudin and crackers they wont do that!

[aynrandfreak]

If they’re worried, these doctors should join the next anti-terrorism march since it was terrorist doctors in the UK that caused their worry.

[cajungirl]

Right. So far all we have seen here is victim oriented muslims suing airlines and complaining we are treating them mean.

I know Pakistani and Egyptian docs and they are rich and powerful and love this country, love the good life. They do not like this bunch of scum making them maybe lose business and face.

Lately I am hearing tiny voices of some muslims denouncing the jihadists. Louder are the voices of Americans trying to destroy our defenses. Sickens me.

[cajungirl]

Heh heh,,I looked at my post and realized that “calling for their heads” might just make me more leery of them. I mean who chops off heads anyway. Maybe we need some pro American head choppers.

[Bahbah]

They do not like this bunch of scum making them maybe lose business and face.

This is what I am hoping for. If it starts impacting some people economically they may be encouraged to take some action.

[Wolverine]

Is your doctor Muslim?

[mgstarr]

Jewish plot you know.

[freema]

You rock, you know.

[G Larry]

Uh...instead of “hoping they’re cleared”, how about condemning their actions?

[Cindy]

Thank you freema for reading it.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

It may be a good development that the jihadis are going to start causing real damage to the interests of those muslims who do not lean that way.

``We're hoping and praying these physicians are cleared and that they've done no harm,'' said Dr. Subramaniam Balasubramaniam, past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.

From the name, this guy isn't a Muslim. I'd imagine what they're worried about but won't say is that all of the non-Muslim doctors from the Mideast or South Asia are going to be stained with this.