Prof. Najam in the Media on Failed New York Bombing Attempt

Prof. Adil Najam, Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future and Boston University Professor of International Relations was interviewed and quoted in various international media outlets on the failed bombing attempt in New York’s Times Square.

These included an op-ed published in The Express Tribune (adapted from Prof. Najam’s blog post at Pakistaniat.com) titled “Who is Faisal Shahzad?” In the op-ed Prof. Najam writes that “the bombing attempted in New York City was heinous in intent and we should all be thankful that it was neither well-planned nor well-executed and the mayhem and murder that was intended was averted.” In talking about the Pakistani-American community he goes on to say: “One hopes that just as the citizens of New York did not let the car bomb blow up, Pakistanis in America will not let him destroy the self-confidence that this community has been so painstakingly reconstructing since the tragedy of 9/11.”

Amongst the many news interviews by Prof. Najam, one was with New York radio station WNYC (listen to audio), which built on Prof. Najam’s 2006 book of Pakistanis in America. Prof. Najam argues that “A data set of one never makes a trend. So I think it’s certainly too early to say this is a trend or there’s some brewing larger problem. On the other hand, one knows that there is alienation in Muslim communities living in the U.S. –not just Pakistanis — and that alienation sometimes leads to anger.”