Arab-American members of the Republican Party say they plan to keep supporting President George W. Bush, even as the Iraq war draws widespread criticism. Their votes may carry real weight: battleground states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida all hold large Arab-American communities, and the race against Democrat John Kerry remains extremely tight.
Domestic priorities, particularly economic opportunity and immigration reform, are driving much of that loyalty, according to several Arab-Republican figures who gathered at the party's national convention. California congressman Darrell Issa argued that removing Saddam Hussein required force, telling the group that no amount of persuasion would have led the Iraqi leader toward democracy. Arab-Americans number roughly 1.5 million in official tallies, though community organizations put the figure closer to 3 million, with the heaviest concentrations in California, New York, and Michigan.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in September 2004, in its own words.