Patrick Syring

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William Patrick Syring, who uses his middle name, Patrick, (born August 30, 1957 in Toledo, Ohio), is a retired American career diplomat indicted August 15, 2007, on charges that he threatened and violated the civil rights of James Zogby, the Lebanese founder, and other Lebanese employees of the Arab American Institute.^[1]

Patrick Syring
Born	William Patrick Syring August 30, 1957 Toledo, Ohio
Residence	Arlington, VA

Contents 1 Background 2 Indictment 2.1 Messages 2.2 Alleged quotations 3 Trial 4 References

[edit] Background

From 1993 to 1994, and from 1998 to 1999, Syring was consular/commercial officer at the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.^[2] 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. ^[3]

Syring retired from the Department of State in July 2007. His 2006 retirement application predated the pro-Israel and expletive-laced messages he sent to selected, senior employees of the Arab American Institute. Syring's retirement concluded a career of nearly 26 years at the United States Department of State.^[4]

[edit] Indictment

[edit] Messages

Syring allegedly sent three voice mails and four emails to the Arab American Institute in July 2006, during the 2006 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, by threat of force or use of force, to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the rab American Institute.^[4]

Syring identified himself in the voice mails 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, 2006 to July 29, 2006, Syring allegedly sent seven email and voice mail messages to the Arab-American Institue 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 Arab American Institute issued a statement that said "The threats were both intimidating and frightening – and the fact that the defendant was a 20-year career officer at the Department of State made it of even greater concern."

[edit] Alleged quotations

From the indictment returned August 15, 2007:^[5]

• 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 Israel 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.^[6]

[edit] Trial

Syring pled not guilty on August 30, 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.^[7] On November 19, 2007, U.S. District Judge Coleen Kollar-Kotelly denied a motion from Syring to dismiss the charges against him, ensuring that the case will go to trial. "Whether [the] Defendant’s communications constituted a true threat," Kollar-Kotelly wrote, "is an issue properly left to the jury."^[8] In the memorandum opinion November 19, 2007, the U.S. District Judge added "the Court agrees with Defendant that on its face the Indictment does not present a compelling case." ^[9] In an order filed December 14, 2007, Syring's trial was tentatively rescheduled to begin February 11, 2008.

[edit] References