Lee Smith describes how Clock Boy's father conned the world by playing on the American Left's racism.
Some have conjectured, perhaps wildly, that Ahmed's father is working on behalf of Islamist parties. Who knows? The reality is that the episode won him a meeting with major Islamist figures, like the prime minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu and the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir. In fact, Mohamed al-Hassan Mohamed wanted to challenge Bashir for the presidency in the 2010 elections, but the Butcher of Darfur, as the accused war criminal who has ruled Sudan since 1989 is popularly known, wouldn't have it. Did Mohamed's political aspirations set the clock-scam in motion? Well, now he's got personal contacts--and photographs!--with an impressive roster of world leaders. And his son is a role model--persecuted by racist Americans and welcomed back to the region by adoring fans. How is Bashir going to prevent a hero's father from running for office next time out? Surely, he's in line for a ministerial position--and the money that will follow as a consequence.
More from Paul Mirengoff about how the Mohameds duped President Obama.
