West Point opens Islamic worship space as Muslim cadets increase

Newsday.com ^ | 10/22/06 | Newsday.com

[World_Events]

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) _ Muslims at the U.S. Military Academy numbered just two in 2001. This year, there are 32.

Now West Point has opened its first space dedicated to Muslims, a worship hall complete with a pulpit facing Mecca. The space officially opened Thursday.

"I knew the Army had a policy of religious tolerance, but I didn't know it was to this extent," said first-year Cadet Ahmed Moomin, 20, from the Maldives.

Until now, Friday prayers were held in an increasingly crowded first-floor office, said Imam Asadullah, the academy's Muslim cleric. The number of Muslim cadets jumped by 10 from last year.

The new hall is large enough for dozens of followers, he said.

West Point's Muslim leaders approached administrators last year for help.

"We live in a world where everyone is looking at the United States saying, 'You're anti-Islam.' But here at West Point, that's not what we do," West Point Chaplain Col. John Cook said.

[Alfonso1000]

I am not sure the specific nations at this exact time , but they go to European nations, Arabic nations, South American nations, China, Russia, Japan, and other friendly nations. I think it is designed so cadets can learn about other languages and cultures.

[antiunion person]

The muslims can go pray in the nearest restroom. They can kneel in front of their porcelain god.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"I don't mean to link Catholics and Muslims, but the foreign allegiance think was used to describe why you couldn't trust Catholics."

I'm aware of that argument. However, it was never the stated goal of the Holy See to place a "Vatican flag" over the White House.

"For num. 2, Are all muslims enemies?"

Were all members of the Nazi party in Germany enemies? Even the Hitler Youth? ISLAM is the problem here just as Nazism was the problem there.

[Caesar Soze]

If these cadets attempt to "plant the seeds of discord and sedition," they'll be dismissed before they can cause any real harm."

That would be true if West Point was the target.

So what is the target? Wargame with me, here. Think red. Show me a scenario where a Muslim American citizen gains admittance to West Point and causes some kind of real, measurable harm. Keep in mind the following:

• The rigorous appointment standards at West Point.
• The rigorous moral standards to be maintained while at West Point and other training sites for four years.
• The difficulty of training for four years at West Point and other training sites.
• The background investigation for the SECRET clearance granted to all commissioned officers.
• The rigorous moral standards at post-commissioning training, e.g. IOBC.
• The rigorous moral and proficiency standards exacted of a new Platoon Leader by his Company Commander and his men.
• The "zero defect" promotion system used by the officer corps.

When does the "targeting" come in? When does this sleeper agent strike at America? Or is it your contention that he intends to flee back to Dar al-Islam with his wealth of training in small unit leadership and convoy planning, then rise through the ranks of Al Qaeda? It's possible, but again, there's much easier ways for a potential terrorist to receive military training. Sneaking through West Point, Airborne, IOBC, etc., is the stupid way of doing it. I'm not terribly afraid of stupid terrorists.

[conservative in nyc]

Not only did I read the full article at the link, but I read the original article from the Middletown Times-Herald Record as well. Not all of the Muslim cadets are foreigners. The original article quotes a cadet from Virginia.

We're not at war with the Maldives, last I checked.

[Rokke]

The USS Cole, Somalia, and the World Trade Center? Which one of those events involved a graduate from one of our military academies attacking us in any way? I don't "get you" because I don't recognize any logical connection to what we are talking about in this thread. But based on the rest of your post, I'm not sure logic is something you have any grasp of at all. I'd ask you to provide some legal justification the commanders of USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA, and the USCGA could use to exclude muslims, but why bother. More cogent posters than you have failed to provide anything in that regard, and my expectations of you are pretty low.

[Rokke]

"How do you explain the Japanese internment camps during the war? "

In the context of what?

[kellynla]

I give up.


You apparently need another 9/11 attack and a few thousand more dead bodies to realize what the hell is going on.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Maldives, how fitting.

"President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stated repeatedly that no religion other than Islam should be allowed in the country."

"Freedom of religion is restricted significantly. The 1997 Constitution designates Islam as the official state religion, and the Government interprets this provision to impose a requirement that all citizens be Muslims. The constitution also stipulates that the president must be Sunni and has the "supreme authority to propagate the tenets of Islam."

"The Government follows civil law based on Shari'a. In the event a situation is not covered by civil law, as well as in certain cases such as divorce and adultery, Shari'a is applied."

"The law prohibits public statements that are contrary to Islam.

“The Government registered only clubs and other private associations that do not contravene Islamic or civil law.”

“By law the president and cabinet ministers must be Sunni Muslims."


http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71441.htm

[Rokke]

"Nisei generally didn't serve in the Pacific theater (there was a ban) and most of the intel breakthroughs were a product of the code breakers at NI."

They served and fought in almost every campaign in the Pacific from the Aleutians to Iwo Jima racking up several Silver Stars and Distinguished Service Crosses along the way. Granted, not in large numbers. But the point remains.

[eleni121]

Al Qaeda plans are long term--a 20 year plan to implement an islamic caliphate with America at the center. If you really believe that Colonel Ahmed and Captain Abdullah will obey fellow Muslims in the middle east then I fear for all of us.

[Rokke]

"There is no legal requirement to admit foreigners in fact, Mr. ACLU, acceptance to any military academy is a privilege not a right for even Americans. "

Which one of the cadets in question are not US citizens?

[kellynla]

don't tell me, inform our resident legal genius from NYC! LMAO

[stephenjohnbanker]

In the context of, why we should throw caution to the wind, and place Muslims in an institution that trains our finest strategists and warriors. That context! We did not throw caution to the wind when we interned many Japanese, and we sure as hell didn't place them in West Point!

[hegemony]

"Muslims at the U.S. Military Academy numbered just two in 2001. This year, there are 32"

There's the troubling part of the entire article imo. While some here have been debating about the legalities of allowing Muslims into West Point, I'm looking at what appears to me like a change in quotas since 9/11. Freshman class admittance has not changed since 9/11 and in fact, applications in 2004 to USMA were down 11%, yet the student population of Muslims is obviously increasing. This begs an explanation.

"If" in fact, a new policy of affirmative action for Muslims has been implemented that IS troubling.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Unbelievable : )

[MissAmericanPie]

Nothing surprises me anymore.

[Rokke]

"There is no legal requirement to admit foreigners in fact, Mr. ACLU, acceptance to any military academy is a privilege not a right for even Americans. "

Nevermind. I see the guy quoted is from the Maldives. And you are right, there is no legal requirement to admit foreigners.

[kellynla]

"Which one of the cadets in question are not US citizens?"


"first-year Cadet Ahmed Moomin, 20, from the Maldives."

Maldives, another haven of religious freedom! LMAO

and I thought all military academy graduates were smart? you did graduate it, didn't you?

[stephenjohnbanker]

I think you finished off this thread....got another one? : )