Conservatives Fight Over Islam

NewsMax.com ^ | Feb. 20, 2003 | Wes Vernon

[TLBSHOW]

Conservatives Fight Over Islam

Wes Vernon, NewsMax.com

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003

WASHINGTON – A fierce, nearly three-week running battle of accusations and counter-accusations between two conservative icons has brought to the front burner a long-festering debate among President Bush’s supporters on how far the White House should go in seeking Islamic support.

Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy and a former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, has accused two White House officials – Ali Talbah and his predecessor Sukhail Khan – of putting President Bush in the company of “people who have made no secret of their sympathy for terrorists, provided them financial support, excused their murderous attacks and/or sought to impede the prosecution of the war against them.” Gaffney reiterated these charges in his Washington Times column Tuesday.

Gaffney’s initial comment in this flap came at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Jan. 31.

His remarks sparked a stinging rebuttal from Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and one-time confidant of Newt Gingrich when the latter was speaker of the House.

“There is no place in the conservative movement for racial prejudice, religious bigotry or ethnic hatred,” Norquist told Gaffney in a Feb. 5 letter. He went on to accuse his fellow conservative of attacking each of the two White House officials because of their Muslim faith.

Norquist then banished Gaffney from further attendance at his influential coalition meetings that he holds every Wednesday, pending an accepted apology to Tulbah and Sukhail. He added, “It is important that we, as conservatives, stand up against bigotry, racism, and religious hatred whenever it raises its ugly head.”

Gaffney replied with a three-and-a-half page single-spaced letter to Norquist that offered no apology. Gaffney not only refused to apologize but also cited chapter and verse of quotes from radical Islamic fundamentalists (Wahhabists) who had been received cordially at the White House.

He also stressed that he had taken pains to “express distinction between such Islamists, and what is, I believe, the majority of Muslims in this country whom the former [Wahhabists] are determined to recruit, intimidate, and dominate through a variety of techniques.”

The CSP boss took Norquist to task for his involvement with Islamic Institute, through which, Gaffney argued, Norquist and his associates had been instrumental in “promoting and facilitating Wahabbis’ access to the executive and legislative branches of government” and thereby “could prove politically damaging and strategically detrimental to our cause and the well-being of our country.”

Norquist says Islamic Institute “was formed to promote within the Muslim world the fact that the Koran and Islam are perfectly consistent with a free and open society.”

In an interview with NewsMax.com, Norquist said he wrote his letter because the two young White House Muslims whom Gaffney criticized were merely underlings carrying out decisions made by more senior White House officials.

“He decided to single out the kid who was a Muslim in both cases, even though the people making decisions are Presbyterians and Catholics, not Muslims,” the ATR president said.

In his latest column, Gaffney reports that one Muslim representative in a group visiting the Oval Office just days after 9/11, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, had said two days before the attack: “This country is facing a terrible fate. This country stands condemned.”

Why FBI Couldn’t Find Him

When FBI agents visited Yusuf’s home, they were stunned to learn from his wife that he was unavailable because he was with the president.

However, Norquist, while “not vouching for anyone,” said the Muslims who had access to the president passed muster with the Secret Service and the FBI or they wouldn’t have been there.

“If they were a security risk, not if they said something stupid, if they were a security risk or a problem ... the Secret Service would pull them out,” he said.

Gaffney describes as “bizarre” FBI Director Robert Mueller’s decision to speak to the American Muslim Council last year despite that group’s “long record of activities hostile to the Bush administration’s prosecution of the war on terror.”

Walking the sometimes unclear lines between peace-loving Muslim Americans and those who pose a threat is a dilemma symbolized by the bitter dispute between Gaffney and Norquist, two well-known conservatives in the Bush constituency.

[TLBSHOW]

The ones that think Grover isn't finished are densed.

I hear there is no war with Iraq either..

In addition, Republican leaders in both the House and Senate are telling the Presidently privately that he is losing support in Congress for a "go it alone war" against Iraq.

"The President's war plans are in trouble, there's no doubt about that," says an advisor to House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert. "Some Republican members want a vote on military action and some of those say they would, at this point, vote against such action."

Some White House advisors are urging the President to consider complying with the UN position or to look for other "face saving" ways to avoid war with Iraq.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_1796.shtml

[hchutch]

Right now, I see a lot of unsubstantiated crap - most of it coming from someone who doesn't seem to have gotten over the (justified) dumping of Trent Lott.

He has been asked to cite where Gaffney provided proof for the allegations he made at CPAC, serious allegations aimed at a pair of White House staffers. None seems to have been forthcoming. It appears to me that these staffers were attacked by Gaffney because they were Moslem.

Not only should that offend anyone who believes in freedom of religion, but Article VI, Clause 3 prohibits the use of a "religious test" as a qualification to hold office or a public trust (which can be interpreted to mean government employment).

Gaffney apparently has NOT provided any proof to back up his allegations. Norquist called him on it, and demanded an apology. Gaffney has refused to provide one, and Norquist then took some actions in response to Gaffney's refusal to apologize or provide proof.

[Fred Mertz]

the both of you are trying to bring down the President

Mo, I believe you're becoming delusional. Please relax.

[dagnabbit]

No we're not either. People can be as radical as they want in their beliefs. We have freedom of religion in America in case you've forgotten.

Haven't forgotten. Unfortunately, radical Islam is not just a religious belief, it's also a political ideology, specifically, a radical utopian ideology, whose adherents have expansionist designs, and who like other totalitarian adherents (fascists, communists), view violence as an appropriate means to their ends.

It's my enemy; and it should be your's too.

[Fred Mertz]

Poor boy, Grover is persona non grata for a long while.

[deport]

I think

---

Don't start lying again the nights still young.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

the nights still young.

Hehehehehe......you bad.

[cyncooper]

We've seen the picture--Howlin mentioned the picture. The man arrested today is not the President's "friend". The implication of saying he is is that President Bush supports the terrorists.

Now, you and TLBSHOW can make your insinuations, then claim that's not what you meant, when called to state it explicitly, but it belies reality.

Say, what do you make of the arrest today?! President Bush is most pleased, I'm sure, that these guys were indicted. Most pleased.

[Mo1]

"The President's war plans are in trouble, there's no doubt about that," says an advisor to House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert. "Some Republican members want a vote on military action and some of those say they would, at this point, vote against such action."

Then why are members of congress who were orginially against the war with Iraq ashe white after a briefing to Powell and Rumsfeld and are now 100% behind the President

[TLBSHOW]

If this is the way the republican party acts then and I am always right it is no different than the democrats! This is not how we used to solve problems here at FR. What has hapened to all of you?

This has been all about Grover and all the bots want to make it about The President, I'd like to know why?

[Mo1]

delusional ... nope

pissed off ... yep

[cyncooper]

Did I see a picture of President Bush with person that was handcuffed today as a terrorist?

So what do you make of President Bush's DOJ making the nab?

Hooray!

Oh, you're not happy? Oh, well, can't please everbody!

[TLBSHOW]

I have no idea I just found this story at chb. Taking a break from all this fighting, Is it true who knows?

CHB was normally a good source and Townhall was good source and newsmax was a good source but the way things are going if it isn't all PRO for The President then I guess all the sources suck!

Like I said what has happened to all of you? This isn't the way we solved problems before.

[Fred Mertz]

I don't understand why the bots are all acting so defensive.

There must be a story here or sumpin'.

[Mo1]

This has been all about Grover and all the bots want to make it about The President, I'd like to know why?

You have NO ONE to blame but yourself because you did it

[Howlin]

This is not how we used to solve problems here at FR. What has hapened to all of you?

We finally realized that a lot of the stuff you post is not true and we're tied of it.

This has been all about Grover and all the bots want to make it about The President, I'd like to know why?

You made it about the president:

It does not look like Frank plans to drop it and me I have always wondered why The President and Mr Powell attacked Pat Robertson so hard and calls Islam Peace, looks like that answer is coming rather we like what it is or not. Because Islam isn't peace its a bloody cult.
20 posted on 02/17/2003 11:06 PM PST by TLBSHOW

I think I will have to say this country is being sold out from within and from who is what really saddens me tonight.
23 posted on 02/17/2003 11:27 PM PST by TLBSHOW

Thanks, I was afraid that was going to be my confirmation about President Bush. After refusing to go after Clinton and the CFR signing I have been on a fast track to this point but always hoping I was wrong.

I have fought it tooth and nail, many times standing up for him, but in my heart with my gift when he refused to bring Clinton up on charges in an instant that day the truth was told to me and I have fought it a long time back and forth hoping I was wrong maybe once since I recieved the gift of truth. I have not ever been wrong if I follow my first thoughts and not try and fight them.

I am deeply sadden tonight and I am going to sign off for the evening with this post. Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. is correct and he will be slammed but good by these people.
26 posted on 02/18/2003 1:10 AM PST by TLBSHOW

Do you understand what is being implied in this thread? Its been a long day since this thread started and I have done nothing but study all resources that I have and I do understand even better what is implied than I did when I found this story last night at Midnight. I am still doing research and study and I hoped what is being implied would be false. I say I had hoped!
34 posted on 02/18/2003 2:22 PM PST by TLBS

[cyncooper]

When posting a cut and paste that refers to "last year", it would behoove you to include the date of the article you are drawing from

Your article is from October 2001 and the "last year" refers to 2000.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

all the bots want to make it about The President

This statement, by itself, proves that you are a liar and a disruptor. Keep it up, Todd. Maybe you'll get what you deserve.

[hchutch]

No, it's very simple:

I do NOT tolerate slander as a tactic - which Gaffney apparently engaged in with regards to those aides. There has been NO proof offered other than the fact the aides in question were Moslem.

I think you never got over the fact that Trent Lott got the boot for his remarks about Strom Thurmond. Particularly since Bush had the temerity to tell the truth about those remarks. When people have called you on questionable tactics, you've attacked them. I'm sick of your tactics, and so are others.

[Fred Mertz]

We finally realized that a lot of the stuff you post is not true and we're tied of it.

You're tied of it? Are you gonna tie up someone?

Thanks for the laughs! This is a humor thread, isn't it? LOL