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."

[JesseHousman]

"Muslims are completely wrong to think that the US is engaged in a war against Islam,"

Those aren't Southern Baptists that are ambushing our soldiers.

[BayouCoyote]

SHHhhh!!!

[JesseHousman]

Good evening. Ramadan Kareem. Welcome to the White House. I'm pleased to host all of you, our distinguished guests, during this blessed month of Ramadan. For Muslims in America, and around the world, this holy time is set aside for prayer and fasting. It is also a good time for people of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold common -- love of family, gratitude to God, and a commitment to religious freedom. America is a land of many...

Wonder if the WH metal detectors turned up anything suspicious?

[aristeides]

Was Grover Norquist at the dinner? Can we have a list of the attendees?

[zerosix]

Look at how Muslims started their own "Holy Month of Ramadan": killing infidels.

When, oh when, will everyone who wishes to see the world as they would like to believe it is (Bush Administration) take off their rose colored glasses and admit - Islam is NOT a religion of peace and people who point this out are not Hate Mongers, they are just telling the truth!

[SquirrelKing]

Big deal. If he refused to hose muslim leaders it would only confirm media accusations of war againt Islam. Besides, if Clinton had a Ramadan dinner he would be praised as "America's First Muslim President".

[LurkedLongEnough]

As you know, it's all right for Muslims to lie to "infidels". We can play the same game.

[JustAnAmerican]

Guess he figures since his reelection is pretty well a lock, given the current crop of contenders, he can do what he wants when he wants. Which includes pissing off most of the Conservative base. My hope at this point is that a good "True Conservative" 3rd party candidate pops up(and I don't mean Libertarian), at least then my conscience will be clear. And we can put someone in office who will do something about our Borders,stop kissing up to the Muslims and stop spending taxpayers money like it grows on trees.

[SquirrelKing]

hose=host

Then again maybe they need to be hosed.

[chachacha]

YALE

[Jim Cane]

As you know, it's all right for Muslims to lie to "infidels". We can play the same game.

"Well sure the muslims are raping me, but even tho' I say I love it, I don't really, and so by tricking them into thinking I like being raped by the muslims, I'm really getting the better end of the deal."

[Kerberos]

"America is a land of many faiths and we honor, and welcome and value the Muslim faith,"

Wait a minute, I thought America was a Christian country.

[af_vet_1981]

Guess he figures since his reelection is pretty well a lock, given the current crop of contenders, he can do what he wants when he wants. Which includes pissing off most of the Conservative base.

It is a tightrope, a balancing act, between many different constituencies. It is a tough job. He wants Islam to be a religion of peace because the alternative is a world war with m/billions dead.

[petercooper]

Islam is militant, radical and 12th century backward.

[mewzilla]

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

[truthandlife]

Looks like Rove in action again. Bush needs to start leading instead of taking advise from his political advisors.

[MissAmericanPie]

The servants all wore blue surgical gloves during Clinton's homosexual victory dinner at the "White House", lest they contract aids, a victory dinner President and Mrs Clinton were not able to attend, btw.

So I wonder what the servants wore during the Islamic victory idolitry feast at the "People's House"? Burqa's?
Where women allowed to serve the guests? Perhaps they wore body armor, provided by the D.C. bomb squad. Certainly they all had their antrax innoculations.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We are.

[JustAnAmerican]

"It is a tightrope, a balancing act, between many different constituencies. It is a tough job. He wants Islam to be a religion of peace because the alternative is a world war with m/billions dead.

Living in a fantasy world will not help. Whether now or later we will have to fight Islam and it's followers.The only difference is that later they will have infiltrated our society to a much bigger degree and be better prepared. Which means more of us will die.

[Geezerette]

Your post deserves a "Mega Dittos" Bump!!

I sadly agree with every word you said.

g