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Revision as of 02:14, 11 October 2007 by Pat1425 (talk | contribs) (→Messages)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)William Patrick Syring, who uses his middle name, Patrick, (born August 30, 1957 in Toledo, Ohio), was an American career diplomat indicted August 15, 2007, on charges that he threatened and violated the civil rights of James Zogby, the founder, and some employees of the Arab American Institute.
| Patrick Syring | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Patrick Syring August 30, 1957 Toledo, Ohio  |
Background
From 1993 to 1994, and from 1998 to 1999, Syring was consular/commercial officer at the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. He was also posted to the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1994-1998, and subsequently, to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Office of Economic Policy Analysis, among other assignments, at the United States Department of State.
Syring retired from the Department of State in July 2007. His 2006 retirement application predated the expletive-laced messages he sent to James Zogby, the founder of the Arab American Institute, accusing him of anti-Semitism, of supporting Hezbollah, and of advocating destruction of the State of Israel. Syring's retirement concluded a career of nearly 26 years at the United States Department of State.
Indictment
Messages
Syring allegedly sent three voice mails and four emails to the Arab American Institute in July 2006, during the Lebanon War. A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 15, 2007, charging Syring with violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 875, threatening messages in interstate commerce to injure an individual, and violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 245, threatening, by threat of force or use of force, to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the Arab American Institute.
Syring identified himself in a voice mail he left at the headquarters of the Arab American Institute on July 17, 2006, in which he allegedly stated "the only good Arab is a dead Arab." From July 17 to July 29, 2006, Syring allegedly sent seven email and voice mail messages to the AAI headquarters offices from his home. The indictment claims Syring "did willfully intimidate and interfere with Arab American Institute employees because of their race and national origin", and "threatened to injure Arab American Institute employees".
Asked about Syring, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, on August 16, 2007, "Let me just underline the seriousness with which the Secretary approaches the idea that the State Department should be a workplace that in no way, shape or form, tolerates discrimination or hateful language or any other action that would violate federal laws or regulations. It is just not condoned or acceptable in this department."
On August 16, 2007, the AAI issued a statement praising the indictments. The statement said "The threats were both intimidating and frightening – and the fact that the defendant was a 20-year (sic) career officer at the Department of State made it of even greater concern."
Syring pled not guilty on August 30, 2007, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Alleged quotations
From the indictment returned August 15, 2007:
- The only good Lebanese is a dead Lebanese. The only good Arab is a dead Arab. Long live the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).
- I think James Zogby is worse than Osama bin Laden. Since he supports Hezballah, he's an anti-Semitic motherfucker, and the only good Arab is a dead Arab.
- You wicked evil Hezbollah-supporting Arabs should burn in the fires of hell for eternity and beyond. The United States would be safer without you. God Bless the State of Israel. God Bless America. Sincerely, Patrick in Arlington, VA.
- Praise for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for "bombing Lebanon back to the stone age where it belongs. Arabs are dogs."
- Fuck the Arabs and Fuck James Zogby and his wicked Hizbollah brothers. They will burn in hellfire on this earth and in the hereafter.
- You are a fucking anti-Semitic Arab-American stooge who sympathizes with Hezballah (sic) terror.
References
- "U.S. prosecutors say Arab political organization threatened". Retrieved 2007-08-15.
- ^ "Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service MSFS Alumni/ae Newsletter, Summer 2004" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- U.S. Department of State profile of Lebanon, January 1994
- "Diplomat Charged With Arab Threats Retires". Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ "AAI Statement on the Grand Jury's Indictment of Patrick Syring". Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- http://www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=3797&blz=1
- "United States v. Patrick Syring, Indictment". Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hcmNZDwjqqggQe19rcQ3keK-JvsQ