FBI Director Robert Mueller speaking on ‘Combating Global Terrorism and Crime’ at the Foreign Press Center briefing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17. (Photo as seen on U.S. Department of State Web site)

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller spoke on ‘Combating Global Terrorism and Crime’ at a Foreign Press Center briefing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17.

As per the transcript of the briefing posted on a Department of State Web site, Mueller, while replying to a question on the status of the Arab and Muslim community in the U.S. post-Sept. 11, Mueller said: “...you talk about Muslim-American, Arab-American individuals. Since September 11th, we have had substantial assistance and cooperation from the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, [and] the Sikh-American community within the United States. And for that all of us are tremendously thankful. Special Agents In Charge around the country meet often with the leaders of the Muslim-American communities. I periodically meet with the leadership here in Washington.”

He further said: “And I want to add that from my view that 99.9 percent of Muslim-Americans, Arab-Americans, Sikh-Americans are every bit as patriotic and supportive of the United States as any others of us here in the United States, and that has come out since September 11th.”