Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Feds funding Ground Zero imam's Mideast trip
New York Post ^ | August 10, 2010 | Geoff Earle and Brendan Scott

Posted on 08/13/2010 10:08:54 AM PDT by John Daniels

The imam behind a plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero is set to depart on a multi-country jaunt to the Middle East funded by the State Department -- raising concerns that taxpayers may be helping him with the controversial project's $100 million fund-raising goal.

Feisal Abdul Rauf is taking the publicly funded trip to foster "greater understanding" about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States, the State Department confirmed yesterday.

"He is a distinguished Muslim cleric," said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, when asked about the journey, reportedly to include stops in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar.

RAUF "I think we are in the process of arranging for him to travel as part of this program, and it is to foster a greater understanding about the region around the world among Muslim-majority communities," he added.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/feds_funding_zero_imam_mideast_trip_OTq9dmoHpxbaKvJbB4VLGM#ixzz0wVMOzctB

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: groudzero; islam; mosque; obama

1 posted on 08/13/2010 10:08:58 AM PDT by John Daniels
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: John Daniels

Hopefully it was a one way ticket.


2 posted on 08/13/2010 10:10:18 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Daniels

Separation of church and state? Right—only if you’re Christian.


3 posted on 08/13/2010 10:14:52 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (Fix bayonets!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Daniels

Welcome to FreeRepublic.


4 posted on 08/13/2010 10:20:52 AM PDT by EggsAckley ( There's an Ethiopian in the fuel supply!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Daniels

So, taxpayers are being co-opted to pay for a fund-raising trip to other nations in order to secure funds for the construction of a place devoted to the religion of the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center and killed thousands of Americans, at the site where this barbaric act of terrorism occurred.

How is that even slightly ethical, or rational? How is that “necessary and proper?”


5 posted on 08/13/2010 10:21:38 AM PDT by ronnyquest (There's a communist living in the White House! Now, what are you going to do about it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Daniels

Since when does the US government fund religous missionary trips?


6 posted on 08/13/2010 10:23:43 AM PDT by rod1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Daniels
Feisal Abdul Rauf is taking the publicly funded trip to foster "greater understanding" about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States

...by a paid-for trip to the Middle East? They need a "greater understanding" of Islam? Wish the State Department would send the Phelps clan instead for some "missionary work" (never to return from)...

7 posted on 08/13/2010 1:20:01 PM PDT by Moltke (panem et circenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson