mid://00001386/#AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS TOP
CAIR: 'Today you equated the religion of peace with the ugliness of fascism'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/10/06) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today expressed concern over President Bush's use of the term "Islamic fascists" in a news conference about the arrest of 21 suspects in a plot to bomb airliners flying between Britain and the United States.
SEE: Religious Group Bristles at Bush Term 'Islamic Fascists' (Reuters)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14290351/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14290351/
In a letter to President Bush, Parvez Ahmed, board chairman of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote in part:
"American Muslims have consistently condemned all acts of terrorism, whether carried out by individuals, groups or states. We repudiate anyone who plans or carries out a terrorist act. The American Muslim community remains dedicated to the protection of our nation's security. . .
"Unfortunately, your statement this morning that America 'is at war with Islamic fascists' contributes to a rising level of hostility to Islam and the American-Muslim community. Just today, Gallup released a poll indicating that four out of ten Americans feel 'prejudice' toward Muslims.
SEE: Anti-Muslim Sentiments Fairly Commonplace
http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=24073
http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=24073
"You have on many occasions said Islam is a 'religion of peace.' Today you equated the religion of peace with the ugliness of fascism.
"The use of ill-defined hot button terms such as 'Islamic fascists,' 'militant jihadism,' 'Islamic radicalism,' or 'totalitarian Islamic empire,' harms our nation's image and interests worldwide, particularly in the Islamic world. It feeds the perception that the war on terror is actually a war on Islam. . .
"American Muslims stand ready to serve as a bridge of understanding to the Islamic world. We can best fulfill that role by offering advice that can help prevent misperceptions and misunderstandings between different nations and cultures."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Venezuela's Chavez says Castro is in 'great battle for life'
Associated Press
MUNICIPIO INDEPENDENCIA, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Thursday his close friend and ally Fidel Castro is in a ``great battle for life,'' but he also expressed optimism about the 79-year-old Cuban leader's recovery.
``From here, let's pray to God for Fidel and his recovery, and he's fighting a great battle,'' Chavez said in a televised speech from the eastern state of Anzoategui.
His statement was the most dire yet from a close Castro ally in describing the 79-year-old Cuban leader's condition.
Chavez said he had received a message from Castro on Wednesday ``that filled me with more optimism, with more faith.''
``Among other things Fidel told me ... 'I keep saying Chavez, God help Chavez and his friends,''' Chavez said.
``I wrote to him in my own handwriting last night, in the early morning, to send it with the messenger who was returning immediately: 'You are fighting a great battle every day, all these nights,''' Chavez said.
Castro said July 31 he was stepping a side temporarily, granting his powers to his brother Raul as head of the government and the Communist Party so he could recover from intestinal surgery.
Neither brother has been seen in public since then. Details of Castro's condition, his ailment and the surgical procedure he underwent are being treated as a ``state secret.''
Chavez said Thursday that in his letter to Castro, ``I told him, 'Here we're with you every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every night of that great battle for life that you are fighting from your heart, from your soul.'''
``It's a battle, and I know, Fidel, that we're going to win it, too. We are prevailing and we will prevail,'' Chavez said.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_4163173
for post 425:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%27ISLAMIC+FASCISTS&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=Parvez+Ahmed&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=militant+jihadism&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
Looks interesting:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%27Islamic+radicalism&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=%27totalitarian+Islamic+empire&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US