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."
Come on get with the program, LQ, don't you know that foaming at the mouth is a much better strategy.Don't underestimate the power of mindless emotional reactions instead of thinking. Look how long the liberals have lasted.
-Eric
My guess they would complain .. but then if they would complain about a dinner .. they would complain about anything
For example .. Halloween is coming up .. if the WH invited a bunch of witches for dinner .. I can think of a number of people that would be in an uproar over that
Just because you have your talking points down doesn't mean that you're smart, or smarter than anyone else. Don't look down your nose at people Louie, you ain't always so great yourself you know.
Speak for yourself, please. It's arrogant to presume to speak for others. I'm a conservative and you don't speak for me.
A wise and circumspect President Bush has CORRECTLY framed this war on terror as a war between civilisation and barbarianism.
Those who insist on thinking they are wiser than he is in how this war should be framed and are busily undermining his leadership, are stupid and are, in fact, playing right into the hands of the terrorists who have been trying to frame this war as a "holy war" from the very beginning.
The DemocRATS love having so many useful idiots helping them in their efforts to undermine GWB and American interests both here and abroad.
They have to be laughing up their a$$ when they see that some of their "helpers" are supposedly "conservatives".
Those Iraqi policemen and civilians dying along side our soldier to help rebuild their country aren't Southern Baptists either.
The Iraqis risking their lives to point out the location of terrorist and those Iraqis inviting Christian U.S. soldiers into their homes to eat ALSO aren't Southern Baptist.
What part of my post is bull?
MM
The God of Islam is. He is also into abrogation, i.e. the doctrine that whatever statement in the Koran is contradictory of another statement, the latter statement takes precedence, as in the words of Sura 2, V 106:
"Such of our revelations as We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring (in place) one better or the like therof. Knowest thou not that Allah is Able to do all things?"
How curious that the immutable word of Allah needs correction.
President Bush is President of all the people. And even though his public views on Islam may not mirror yours and mine, it is simply irrational to expect the President, or any President for that matter, to denounce a religion, especially in a country where freedom of religion is a founding principle.
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