Why We Want To Kill You

[Sdiver]

This should go over real well.

Former terrorists to explain 'why we want to kill you.'


BOULDER - Two self-proclaimed former terrorists are scheduled to speak at the University of Colorado on Tuesday in a speech called "Why We Want to Kill You."


CU's College Republicans group made the request to bring in the two former Islamic terrorists, Walid Shoebat and Kamal Saleem, at a price tag of $10,000. The university has footed the bill for the 7 p.m. lecture out of the mandatory $670 per student activity fee, of which they say about $20 is used to bring in speakers annually.

Spokesman for CU, Bronson Hilliard, told Boulder's Daily Camera the university does not micromanage the list of guest speakers.

"I don't think these events are beneficiary [sic] for the students we have here," said Sadra Azimi of the Muslim Students Association.

CU student-diversity groups and the Muslim Student Association are calling the event entirely anti-Muslim and are encouraging people to research the speakers.

"It's very similar to what guys like Osama bin Laden do. I think they are doing the same thing," said Azimi. "They're spreading the message of hatred to almost one-fifth of the world's population and I think it's dangerous."

The speakers, who say they are frequently met with heckles and demonstrations, want to give students a different view on the war on terror and the conflicts in the Middle East.

"Patriotism is now an anathema at the university campuses and schools," said Shoebat. "My kids went to school here in America. They're taught anti-America all the time; anti-Americanism all the time; the hatred of this country all the time. And I ask the question, if America is so bad, then why would 150 Muslim student associations establish organizations here?"

Shoebat says he became a part of the Muslim brotherhood in the early 80s and says the Jihad movement is very real.

Officials at CU say, while many of the posters advertising the event have been torn down, the event is sold out.

Saleem, who will join Shoebat for the lecture at the Glen Miller Auditorium on Tuesday, says terrorism is not just the act of blowing up a bomb.

"Terrorism starts politically, financially, then it goes to blowing up themselves," said Saleem. "Terrorism is like a drug addiction."

Azimi says he thinks Shoebat and Saleem are still terrorists.

"I think they're terrorists right now," said Azimi. "A terrorist is someone who spreads terror and fear, and I think they're doing exactly the same thing right now."

The Muslim Students Associations says it doesn't plan protests, but its members will be on hand to ask questions.