Posted on 10/29/2003 5:21:37 AM PST by 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."
I guess the advantage the demos have by just having one person on the floor, while the Pubbies have to 50 in a 24/7 seesion zooms right over your head.
Also I find your lack of criticism of the demos throwing out 200 years of judicial precedent not that surprising.
Indeed he is. Much better than many people here. What do they want, a series of speeches that condemn Islam as a fraud and a scam?
The goal is to wedge the extremists out of Islam. The fact is, this sort of thing puts extraordinary pressure on the the Islamic leaders that sit with Bush. No doubt they go back to the Islamic Centers and are berated with cries of "Why did you dine with that infidel?" from the more extremist young men in their congregation.
A true Christian doesn't want to eliminate the competition, but to convert through the will of God.
Bush is not naive. He sees the dangers. If the whole of the Islamic world (Turkey excepted) rises up to fight the west, he'll deal with it. But for the time being, his strategy has the best long-term consequences -- for both Islam and non-Muslims.
No they are not.
Yes, spoken like a true follower.When the odds are against you, fold.
" Also I find your lack of criticism of the demos throwing out 200 years of judicial precedent not that surprising."
When all else fails, start using the Dim trick of redirection or name calling.Ahh well, so much for logical discussions from you.
And, in fact, the Old Testament has repeated exhortations for the Jews to take in the wife of a deceased brother.
Child brides were common-place in antiquity anywhere. They wouldn't consummate the marriage until the girl had her period.
Also true. I believe FITZ was wrong, Aiesha is supposed to have been married at age 9 and it was consummated when she was 12. This, again, was common throughout all of antiquity, although more common for two children to be "wed", in an arrangement, who were approximately the same age.
If true, I'd say God needs to adjust his bipolar meds.
Please highlight to me where we condem ALL people from a certain group, whether it be from a different religion or from a different country
Should we condemn all people from Japan and Germany because there were evil people from their countries that attacked and killed many americans ?
The former leader of Iraq and some of his followers often threatened and did killed americans .. should be condemn all iraqis?
My point is .. even though there is evil in the world .. it doesn't mean that every one is
I am sure the president realizes the evil that is going on in the world with regard to the Islamic faith .
But I am also sure that he realizes that he can't piss off all members of the Islamic faith by openly condemning all of them because of this war on terror that we are in.
MM
I'm not especially surprised to see this, but it's always nice to see it confirmed.
LOL. Although the guests would have probably broken their fast anyway.
I've been looking for references -- especially since CAIR was calling for a boycott -- but haven't found a list (surprise!)
From the official WH version: "Guests included ambassadors from African, Middle Eastern, European, Central Asian, and East Asian countries, as well as representatives from several Muslim American organizations."
These are the only specific names mentioned in Bush's remarks: Colin Powell, Spence Abraham (Secty of Energy), Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates, and Imam Faizul Khan, who gave the invocation.
One story that I read mentioned that there were Muslims holding their own Iftaar as a protest outside the White House.
You missed my point. The President did not have any plans to celebrate an Iftar at the White House until after we were attacked by Islamic terrorists.
I do not advocate condemning all of Islam and never have, nor do I advocate commending all of Islam for accomplishments that haven't been proven.
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