BUSH HOSTED RAMADAN DINNER AAT WHITE HOUSE (Mired in controversy)

Yahoo ^ | 10/28/2003 | Staff

[JesseHousman]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - George W. Bush hosted a Ramadan dinner with US Islamic leaders, as the White House was besieged with demands to fire an army general whom made comments some say makes the US-led war on terror out to be a war on Islam.

General William Boykin's comments surfaced two weeks ago, in which he likened the US battle against terror to a battle between Christiandom and the Muslim world, placing the Bush administration in an uncomfortable position.

While the Pentagon (news - web sites) has opened its own investigation, it has also said that it does not expect to ask Boykin to resign. He continued to serve as a undersecretary of defense for intelligence, in charge of tracking down Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) among others.

Bush invited Muslim leaders to an Iftar, the evening feast that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast Muslims observe during the month of Ramadan. He organized the first White House Iftar after bin Laden and al-Qaeda launched the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

"America is a land of many faiths and we honor, and welcome and value the Muslim faith," Bush said in opening remarks before the meal.

At a mid-day press conference earlier Tuesday, Bush said that the controversial Boykin "doesn't reflect my point of view or the view of this administration."

"Our war is not against the Muslim faith."

"Americans think terrorists are evil people who have hijacked a great religion," Bush said, responding to a reporter's question.

Such statements, however, did not quell the Boykin controversy.

"The obvious response to the Boykin case is to say that because he is now under-secretary of defense for intelligence, he should be relieved of his post," The Washington Post said in an editorial Tuesday.

Boykin made his questionable speeches while wearing his military uniform before conservative Christian groups whom Bush will woo as part of his 2004 reelection campaign.

"It is highly likely that Bush himself, a genuinely devout Christian by all accounts, agrees with at least some, perhaps much, of what Boykin said," the Post speculated.

The US president had just returned from a tour of Asia, which included a three-hour stopover in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population. He also met with several leaders of Muslim countries at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC (news - web sites)) forum.

"Muslims are completely wrong to think that the US is engaged in a war against Islam," New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said.

"But that misperception flourishes in part because the domestic political strategy of the Bush administration -- no longer able to claim the Iraq (news - web sites) war was a triumph, and with little but red ink to show for its economic plans -- looks more and more like a crusade."

[LizardQueen]

Exactly.

And nothing would make Bin Laden et al happier than Bush coming out and saying we are at war with all Islam. Al Qaeda WANTS to make this a religious war, they want to turn it into a 2nd Crusade as that would align the entire Muslim world (where a LOT of the lifeblood of our economy, OIL, comes from) against us.

Those urging Bush to tell all Muslims to stuff it are playing into Al Qaeda's hands, IMHO. That is exactly what they want.

And if we really want to tell them to stuff it, we first need to reduce our dependence on oil coming from Islamic nations, both by drilling here at home and by conserving what we can. If we don't we risk them cutting off our economic "blood supply" and crashing our entire economy.

How many of those calling for Bush to flame the Arab world are driving vehicles that get 10 mpg?

LQ

[JustAnAmerican]

"appointing good conservative judges."

Appointing and having the guts/Brass ones to see they get passed are two different things. Watching the Republicans in the Senate bow to pressure from the Dims is despicable.

[Dane]

Those urging Bush to tell all Muslims to stuff it are playing into Al Qaeda's hands, IMHO. That is exactly what they want

Come on get with the program, LQ, don't you know that foaming at the mouth is a much better strategy.

Plus it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[FITZ]

Islam is Judaism with a belief in Jesus Christ the Messiah,

And the muslims are not following Jesus Christ or his example, they chose a man who murdered many Jews and Christians, lived a very hedonistic lifestyle --- child "wives" and the rest. In the koran it says Jews are monkeys and pigs ---- and infidels are to be slaughtered wherever they are found.

[Dane]

Appointing and having the guts/Brass ones to see they get passed are two different things. Watching the Republicans in the Senate bow to pressure from the Dims is despicable

And your solution is?

[LizardQueen]

LOL....

Foaming doesn't help you when playing poker. And that's what this is - a giant, deadly poker game. Bush is playing it smart, from what I can see.

Whoever said above "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" had it right, too.

LQ

[af_vet_1981]

And just how many enemies did we fight in WWII?

Almost more than we could handle initially. We were fortunate not to lose more carriers in the Pacific until we increased production and quality. Per your example, suppose we had declared war on Japan, Germany, and the USSR. Do you still think we would have won WW II ?

[Cultural Jihad]

The forum grows weary of your endless calumny. Supposedly you think you know better than President Bush does. Why not run against him next year on the Knuckle-Dragging Party? We certainly won't be holding our breaths, though.

[a_Turk]

I don't care to be seen as someone who defends, but rather as someone who shows what may be hidden from the eyes of most men..

And what is hidden here may be this: Where there are many wars, there are many dead men. and where there are many dead men, there are many women with nobody to take care of them, especially in the antique middle east. That was the only reason for those outrageous proportions in polygamy. Otherwise, where the ratio to males and females is already about 1:1, how could a population of men all have 40 wives?

Taking in the family of your dead enemy is, in my view, an act of compassion, and of respect for your dead enemy. Again, one should keep in mind the time and place.

Child brides were common-place in antiquity anywhere. They wouldn't consummate the marriage until the girl had her period.

Tell me about the Roman practice of having sex with virgins of any age before executing them. I am sort of glad to be alive in this day vs the past..

[Dane]

Foaming doesn't help you when playing poker. And that's what this is - a giant, deadly poker game. Bush is playing it smart, from what I can see.

Exactly, great analogy.

[Cultural Jihad]

Spreading religeon ...
intergration of ...
religeosly mandated ...

Help me out here...

Sure! Here you go! http://www.m-w.com/

[pollywog]

I admire President Bush so much, but this really concerns me.!!

[a_Turk]

You just went over the top along with plenty others around here..

[Cultural Jihad]

Well said, a_Turk.

[Redleg Duke]

Hardly, just stating the facts. Of course, being a creature of feelings, I am certain you are devestated.

[Sir Gawain]

I've never seen a happy looking Muslim though --- never once.

Here ya go:

[JustAnAmerican]

"And your solution is?

Use the same pressure on the Republicans in the Senate that he uses on the House and Senate when he wants a bill passed, I.E. Iraq funding. Instead of letting the Dims rewrite the filabuster laws so that it's 9-5 versus 24/7, so that the Republicans can go home instead of doing the work they are "Overpaid" for.

[Sir Gawain]

These kids are excited. They can't wait their turn.

[Cultural Jihad]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that Islam was not part of the Christian faith.

They are both valid religions instituted by God. There's no indication in President Bush's statements to claim we are not a Christian nation because of exercising hospitality and spreading good will to our neighbors.

[Sir Gawain]

Can't wait to take their turn, I meant to say.