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US Marines Build Shrine To Islam
Front Page Mag ^ | 6/13/06 | Paul Sperry

Posted on 06/13/2006 4:51:14 AM PDT by Buffettfan

US Marines Build Shrine To Islam

By Paul Sperry

FrontPageMagazine.com

June 13, 2006 http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=22845

We are at war with militant Islam, but you wouldn't know it from the Pentagon, which is busy erecting a shrine to Islam just five short years after Islamic terrorists destroyed a good chunk of its own building and killed more than 100 of its occupants. Worse, it's consulting on the project with a Wahhabi-educated cleric posing as a moderate.

Last week, military brass -- along with representatives from the terror-tied Council on American-Islamic Relations -- dedicated the first Muslim prayer center for the Marines as a symbol of the military's "religious tolerance" and "respect" for the faith the enemy uses to attack us. Already, plans are in the works to build by 2009 a bigger mosque at the Marine base in Quantico so Muslim service members can have a "proper place" to worship, and one that "honors their religious heritage," officials say, not realizing that the mosque can also be used by the enemy to build a Fifth Column inside the Marines.

The idea for the center came from Navy Lt. Abuhena Mohammed Saifulislam, a young, smooth-talking Muslim chaplain, who wanted a permanent place of worship -- and "education" -- for the growing number of soldiers who are interested in -- and converting to -- Islam.

Quantico has only 24 Muslims on base, so the mosque -- the first of its kind in the 230-year history of the Corps -- will also serve to introduce and draw other Marines to the faith. Large posters explaining how "Muslims love and respect Jesus" (but only as a minor prophet and not the son of God, which they view as blasphemous to Allah) line the inside of the white building. This is one way imam Saifulislam -- known on base simply as "Saif" -- bridges the faiths to reach out to Christian soldiers. Blacks are particularly susceptible to his pitch.

Apparently, whatever Saifulislam wants, he gets -- even at the terrorist prison camp at Gitmo, where he was first assigned after 9-11. There, he recommended that al-Qaida detainees be served halal meals -- including traditional dates and lamb -- prepared according to Islamic dietary law. The Gitmo menu now boasts 113 Muslim-appropriate meals for the benefit of finicky terrorist tummies.

That's not all. Thanks to Saifulislam's advice, our enemy now wakes to the sound of Muslim chaplains calling them to prayer instead of barking dogs or guards, who are now trained in Muslim sensitivity. Also thanks to Saifulislam, detainees can brush up on jihad by reading paperback Pentagon-issued copies of the Quran. They can even finger prayer beads and wear makeshift turbans and skull caps.

While at Gitmo, the Navy imam privately counseled al-Qaida prisoners in their native tongues of Urdu and Arabic. "I must give hope for them to cope," Saifulislam said. How thoughtful of him.

It turns out Saifulislam also ministered to Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, a fellow Muslim charged with desertion, just before he went AWOL again last year. Hassoun deserted his post in Iraq where he served as an Arabic translator. After he was captured, and after he met with the Quantico imam, he deserted again.

Saifulislam is clean-cut with a Colgate smile. The Pentagon gives him great latitude because he claims to be moderate.

However, Saifulislam studied Islam at a hardline Wahhabi school in Virginia that was raided by federal authorities after 9-11. And one of his mentors is Taha Jaber Al-Alwani, an unindicted co-conspirator in the Sami al-Arian terror case. Federal court records allege he gave at least $50,000 in jihad money "to support suicide bombings" in Israel.

Saifulislam, born in Bangladesh, insists he is only a Sunni Muslim and does not adhere to the faith's more orthodox and militant Wahhabi sect practiced by Osama bin Laden and his ilk. Still, his pro-jihad academic background should raise flags at the Pentagon.

Instead, it's giving him a permanent taxpayer-supported platform from which to convert grunts to Islam. With the Quantico mosque, the Pentagon is facilitating the study of the holy texts the enemy uses, heretically or not, as their manual of war. This is tantamount to the Marines setting up a Mein Kampf reading room during WWII.

The timing of the dedication ceremony is ironic by half. As the deputy secretary of defense and Marine commandant respectfully removed their shoes to enter the mosque and intoned pleasant PC platitudes about being one big happy "family" with Muslims, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced the arrest of 17 Muslim men who had allegedly plotted to explode fertilizer-based bombs at important sites in Canada. Their plans also called for attacking parliament and even beheading the prime minister. Almost half of them had attended the same mosque in Toronto.

Several military officers chose to sit out the Quantico ceremony than hear deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England mouth "salaams" to the Muslims in attendance. They think the mosque is misplaced, and don't trust its imam.

"I have great concern about this young Muslim chaplain," said Lt. Comm. Gary P. Stewart, also a Navy chaplain. "I don't trust him."

The Pentagon's over-the-top gesture is only the latest sign that political correctness is running amok inside the military. Chief chaplains for the Navy, Army and Air Force routinely meet with top leaders from the Islamic Society of North America for PC powwows, even though ISNA is a Saudi-backed group with ties to terrorists. No matter, the Pentagon distributes ISNA literature on Islam and Muslims to help increase troops' "sensitivity" toward Islam.

The first principle of war is knowing your enemy and what motivates him. The PC-addled Pentagon seems to have forgotten that rule. Click Here to support Frontpagemag.com


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: crushislam; islam; marines; mosque; muslimtroops; outrageous; paulsperry; quantico; ridiculous; terrorists; usmc
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To: Peach
The prison system is a separate issue. That's where we're raising the coming generation of homegrown terrorists.

Again they're entitled to a place to worship, but it's worth noting the aforementioned Capt. Yee, as well as one of the DC snipers and I believe the fragger in Kuwait (?) were military converts to Islam. Obviously military service may impact ones religious outlook. I wonder how many individuals convert to another religion while in the military?

241 posted on 06/13/2006 7:52:17 AM PDT by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do!)
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To: Fruitbat; CWOJackson

They are building a room off the CHAPEL. Who do you think thats been serving for decades? Atheists? Who do you think was paying for it? Canadians? Get a grip.


242 posted on 06/13/2006 7:53:11 AM PDT by notigar
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

Whether you want to admit it or not, yes we are!


243 posted on 06/13/2006 7:53:33 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

Whether you want to admit it or not, yes we are!


244 posted on 06/13/2006 7:53:42 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse
We're fighting a war against all of Islam?

The party 'faithful' won't be happy until we are. It'll be like the Crusades all over again, except with 21st century technology...

245 posted on 06/13/2006 7:56:35 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: reagan_fanatic
thank God this mentality didn't exist during WWII or the outcome would have been very different.

You got that right. And as a side note, We whipped the Axis' A** in WW-2 in under 5 years!

246 posted on 06/13/2006 7:57:29 AM PDT by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: CWOJackson
I'll repeat, you are not worthy of the dust on the boots of a Muslim Marine.

For the dozenth time. LOL

Most of us got it after the first read Chief.

Appreciate your terrorist polemical tactics however!

I'm sure the Marines would be proud if you used the same methods in combat.

247 posted on 06/13/2006 7:57:43 AM PDT by Fruitbat (I)
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To: Fruitbat

You speaking about Marines and pride? Now there's a laugh. You are not worthy of the dust on the boots of a Muslim Marine.


248 posted on 06/13/2006 7:58:53 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: CWOJackson
I assume that were there a move to ammend the First Ammendment so as to deny religious freedom to those who teach we are the children of pigs and monekys and to those who teach we must be converted or killed you would be supportive of the move.

Would I be correct in that assumption?

249 posted on 06/13/2006 8:02:10 AM PDT by bornacatholic (Pope Paul VI. "Use of the old Ordo Missae is in no way left to the choice of priests or people.")
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To: bornacatholic
"Would I be correct in that assumption?"

Your assumption belongs in the dank and musty place it came from.

250 posted on 06/13/2006 8:04:01 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: CWOJackson

Do you totally support EVERYTHING that DoD sees fit to do? Is that the basis of your position?


251 posted on 06/13/2006 8:06:20 AM PDT by punchamullah
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To: Buffettfan
US Marines Build Shrine To Islam

You can be damned sure that some Marine is going to have some bacon stuffed into this thing somwhere.

252 posted on 06/13/2006 8:06:56 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (You go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company and conversation.)
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To: punchamullah
Not at all, I support the DoD's efforts to provide for the religious practices of all our troops.
253 posted on 06/13/2006 8:07:33 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse
How do you define victory in a war against all of Islam? What is the desired end state

When no one practices that insane murder cult anywhere in the world. End state?: A secular/Christian Middle East and Indonesia.

254 posted on 06/13/2006 8:08:09 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (You go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company and conversation.)
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To: CWOJackson
"I do not want to see this mosque -- it's very near my house in Tuscany. I do not want to see a twenty-four-metre minaret in the landscape of Giotto. When I cannot even wear a cross or carry a Bible in their country! So I BLOW IT UP!"

Such statements make strike some as overzealous. But one must read between the lines a little. Fallaci remembers how quick is Europe in granting full rights to the very same people who justify the lack of rights for non-Muslims in the Islamic world.

255 posted on 06/13/2006 8:08:21 AM PDT by prognostigaator
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To: Centurion2000
I'm sure it's already been done to Jewish observances also. There are childish Marines but they usually learn over time or become ex-Marines.
256 posted on 06/13/2006 8:09:08 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: prognostigaator
"Fallaci remembers how quick is Europe in granting full rights to the very same people who justify the lack of rights for non-Muslims in the Islamic world."

We gave those rights to our citizens when we adopted our Constitution.

257 posted on 06/13/2006 8:10:16 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: punchamullah

You believe everything FrontPageMag says? And what the hell is this line: "Blacks are particularly susceptible to his pitch," without any explanation? This isn't journalism. If anything belongs in a toilet, its this story.


258 posted on 06/13/2006 8:11:43 AM PDT by notigar
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To: notigar

With that, I must be off. God Bless our troops...and to hell with the jerks who treat them as third rate citizens. Have a good day.


259 posted on 06/13/2006 8:12:56 AM PDT by CWOJackson (Go Mike Go!)
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To: All
You know it took me over an hour to read this thread. Wow. There are some pretty vitriolic folks taking shots at one another. Our first amendment allows everyone religious freedom, yes even the troops. And before the flames start dancing let me say that I spent 14 years in the Navy before I opted out for various reasons and policy decisions.
The Koran, on the other hand does not allow for religious freedom in any way, shape, form or fashion. It is career ending in today's military to discriminate against anyone due to religious preference, sex, sexual orientation, race etc. So it is not surprising that the brass are bending over backwards for this Chaplin. After all they would like to finish their careers on a high note, not in a court martial for religious discrimination. There are plenty of Muslim service people in all branches of the military and just like some of my ex-shipmates, they have had to set their religion aside to do their jobs. On small ships like cruisers and destroyers, most folks set religion aside when underway. It eases tension and lets people get along.
One cannot condemn or persecute a fellow American due to the god or gods they worship. That is what our founding fathers where fleeing in the first place. There are Christian churches on most military facilities. I know there are Synagogues on most major installations. While I personally find Islam distasteful and would rather see it fade and die as a religion, the construction of this temple is logical and politically motivated.
Does the US Military recognize Wicca as a religion? Yes it does. Don't expect to see any "groves" planted for them to worship at. Islam is a major religion in the world, there are lots of people who follow the "Mad Prophet". So the conflict remains, and will remain until the terrorist issue is resolved. While reading this thread was entertaining don't you think you are getting worked up over something that the Military Brass Ass's in the 5 sided puzzle palace on the Potomac decided would keep them their jobs? Its a case of appeasement and the squeaky wheel getting the grease. Eventually I am sure this will prove to be an unmitigated disaster, but only time will tell.
260 posted on 06/13/2006 8:14:02 AM PDT by SouthernBoyupNorth ("For my wings are made of Tungsten, my flesh of glass and steel..........")
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