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BUSH HOSTED RAMADAN DINNER AAT WHITE HOUSE (Mired in controversy)
Yahoo ^ | 10/28/2003 | Staff

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."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush43; iftar; kowtowing; ramadan; rmadan
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To: Mo1
You're right .. and if I recall the WH does this type of thing for many other different religions.

"He organized the first White House Iftar after bin Laden and al-Qaeda launched the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington."

Interesting incentive for those other "different" religions who don't yet have a dinner at the White House.

41 posted on 10/29/2003 6:14:47 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: JustAnAmerican
>> Your country is "Secular" because your Military makes it so.

Every man in Turkey is in the military. That makes my military my country and my country my military.

>> When your country is secular by choice and not force let me know.

Nobody is forced to vote for the 80,000 elected offices in Turkey, but they do..

So simply put, you are full of, hmmm, rubbish...
42 posted on 10/29/2003 6:15:14 AM PST by a_Turk (Nothing's good that uses bad...)
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Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

To: JesseHousman
I know everyone is saying that GW Bush is a slam dunk for '04 but I am beginning to think otherwise. He is turning off his base. His base that was very supportive of him in 2000 are going to be luke warm to cold for him. He cannot afford for this to happen.

Rove and company are clueless and Bush should start asking God for wisdom instead of his so-called advisors.
44 posted on 10/29/2003 6:16:09 AM PST by truthandlife
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To: truthandlife
Thank God GW is the president and not you!
45 posted on 10/29/2003 6:16:32 AM PST by Redleg Duke (Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
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To: JustAnAmerican
No president running for re-election since the NH primary has become a significant political event (post-WW2 in other words) has ever lost re-election when they faced no serious opposition in the NH primary. The deadline is next month to be on the ballot. And, the best way to stop a president is to mount a challenge in the president's party's presidential primary in NH-- every time they've lost the general. We'll all know if Bush is a lock by then.
46 posted on 10/29/2003 6:16:41 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("We happy because when we switch on the TV you never see Saddam Hussein. That's a big happy.")
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To: JesseHousman
I assume the Ramadan dinner was also held last year.
47 posted on 10/29/2003 6:17:30 AM PST by Pan_Yans Wife (You may forget the one with whom you have laughed, but never the one with whom you have wept.)
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To: truthandlife

Fancy silverware and plates c'mon.

Traditionaly the celebrants squat down in a filthy hovel wearing feces splattered nightshirts and flipflops with pure hate pounding in their heads and eat with their dirt covered fingers.

48 posted on 10/29/2003 6:18:28 AM PST by freedomson (Baruch haba b'shem Adonai!)
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To: hobbes1
One FReeper responded thusly:

I have just signed into law, legislation that would outlaw Mecca for ever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."

Within an hour or so after the 9/11 mass murders in NYC the US should have bombed Saudi oilfields into oblivion. Recognizing and punishing our hateful enemies is the best defence possible. Everything else is just political correctness gone crazy.

Your comment:

Holding all Muslims accountable for the acts of a distorted sect is every bit as ignorant as hloding All Pro Life people responsible for Clinic Bombers and murderers. is a very poor example of what we're talking about here. Some time American do-gooder, PC advocates are going to have to come to grips with the fact that this is indeed a holy war.

Read Spanish history. Muslims make very cruel conquerors and slave owners.

49 posted on 10/29/2003 6:19:34 AM PST by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal)
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To: Redleg Duke
Bush is a good man.
50 posted on 10/29/2003 6:19:39 AM PST by a_Turk (Nothing's good that uses bad...)
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To: truthandlife
I would humbly suggest that there is an example of cluelessness staring out at you from your bathroom mirror.
51 posted on 10/29/2003 6:20:17 AM PST by Redleg Duke (Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
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To: truthandlife
I know everyone is saying that GW Bush is a slam dunk for '04 but I am beginning to think otherwise. He is turning off his base

JMO, but he is turning off truthandlife, who gets all hot and bothered that Bush sits down to talk some muslim clerics and not blame all of muslims for the actions of the radical muslims.

I guess to you after World War II all Lutheran Germans were nazis and all Japanese Shinto's were kamikazies.

52 posted on 10/29/2003 6:21:44 AM PST by Dane
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To: truthandlife; All
I posted this on another thread, but thought I would repost it.

President Bush simply can not say that the war on terror is Christianity vs. Islam. He simply can't. One, it isn't wholely true. It's the entire world vs. Islam. And if you look closely at what Bush, Blair, and other world leaders have said, you don't need to nit-pick through the words: the war on terror IS against Islam. To specifically call out a religion would not only isolate the United States, but many of our allies as well. As much as we hate it, myself included, there is no way the President of the United States- no matter who it is, will ever specifically say a war is against a religion. Let the actions speak louder than the words.

BTW, as the leader of the free world, do you really think President Bush would ever say what you want him to say? Realistically? I'd bet a dime to donuts that privately, Bush the *man* can't stand Islam. But you'll never hear Bush the *President* say it.

To me, when the President says militant Islam, it is still Islam. And you can bet that's why most Moslems can't stand Bush now. Because they know that he is targeting their religion, whether he's targeting them as peaceful followers or not. Detante is a clever game of what is said and what isn't said. And to me, what isn't said is far more powerful than stating the obvious.

53 posted on 10/29/2003 6:21:44 AM PST by rintense
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To: hobbes1
Now don't go getting all logical here. You MUST allow your emotions to rule over your brain! /sarcasm
54 posted on 10/29/2003 6:21:45 AM PST by justshe (Do you trust a Democrat to protect America?)
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To: JustAnAmerican
My hope at this point is that a good "True Conservative" 3rd party candidate pops up(and I don't mean Libertarian)...

This has been my dream for a long time.

A legitimate and conservative 3rd party would syphon votes and forever dilute the power of these two parties.

55 posted on 10/29/2003 6:22:34 AM PST by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal)
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To: a_Turk
Unlike some, I do keep abreast of history. If every "Man in Turkey", was in the Military then I guess your Military coup to oust elected officials when they became too radical, was really to overthrow non-Turks? History, it's what the world is made of and something you can't avoid.
56 posted on 10/29/2003 6:22:39 AM PST by JustAnAmerican
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To: a_Turk
Islam isn't a Turkish religion --- it is an Arab religion founded by Mohammed --- and it was imposed on Turkey. You face the death penalty if you ever choose to freely convert to another religion. Turkey and Persia had better cultures and better religions before they were conquered by the Arabs.
57 posted on 10/29/2003 6:22:48 AM PST by FITZ
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To: JesseHousman
This has been my dream for a long time.

A legitimate and conservative 3rd party would syphon votes and forever dilute the power of these two parties

Oh you mean like 0.03% Pat or 0.01% Howard.

58 posted on 10/29/2003 6:26:16 AM PST by Dane
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To: JesseHousman
Muslims make very cruel conquerors and slave owners

Actually, that could be said of every NON Western "Civilzation"....Are then Hutus of Rwanda muslims? Was Genghis Khan?????? Are the madmen of the Congo?

Secondly, how do you know the traits you are ascribing are more Muslim, than Arab? There is a Difference...

59 posted on 10/29/2003 6:26:47 AM PST by hobbes1 ( Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
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To: JustAnAmerican
Wishful thinking is a bitch.
60 posted on 10/29/2003 6:26:57 AM PST by Consort
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