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Is CAIR a Terror Group? Is CAIR a Terror Group?
Townhall.com ^ | November 30, 2014 | Daniel Pipes

Posted on 11/30/2014 11:51:26 AM PST by Kaslin

We who follow the Islamist movement fell off our collective chair on Nov. 15 when the news came that the United Arab Emirates' ministerial cabinet had listed the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as one of 83 proscribed terrorist organizations, up there with the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS.

This came as a surprise because the UAE authorities themselves have a record of promoting Islamism; because CAIR has a history of raising funds in the UAE; and because the UAE embassy in Washington had previously praised CAIR.

On reflection, however, the listing makes sense for, in recent years, the Islamist movement has gravely fractured. Sunnis fight Shi'is; advocates of violence struggle against those working within the system; modernizers do battle against those trying to return to the seventh century; and monarchists confront republicans.

This last divide concerns us here. After decades of working closely with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and its related institutions, the Persian Gulf monarchies (with the single, striking exception of Qatar) have come to see the MB complex of institutions as a threat to their existence. The Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti, and Bahraini rulers now view politicians like Mohamed Morsi of Egypt as their enemies, as they do Hamas and its progeny – including CAIR.

While the Gulf monarchs have not become any less Islamist, they have acquired a clear-eyed appreciation of the harm that MB-related groups can do.

Having explained why the UAE listed CAIR on its terror manifest, we must a second question: Is the listing warranted? Can a Washington-based organization with ties to the Obama White House, the U.S. Congress, leading media outlets, and prestigious universities truly be an instigator of terrorism?

CAIR can rightly be so characterized. True, it does not set off bombs but, as the UAE's foreign minister explains, "Our threshold is quite low. … We cannot accept incitement or funding." Indeed, CAIR incites, funds, and does much more vis-à-vis terrorism:

Apologizes for terrorist groups: Challenged repeatedly to denounce Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist groups, CAIR denounces the acts of violence but not their sponsors.

Is connected to Hamas: Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and many other governments, indirectly created CAIR and the two groups remain tight. Examples: in 1994, CAIR head Nihad Awad publicly declared his support for Hamas; and the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), a Hamas front group, contributed $5,000 to CAIR; in turn, CAIR exploited the 9/11 attacks to raise money for HLF; and, this past August, demonstrators at a CAIR-sponsored rally in Florida proclaimed "We are Hamas!"

Settled a lawsuit: CAIR initiated a libel lawsuit in 2004 over five statements by a group called Anti-CAIR. But two years later, CAIR settled the suit with prejudice (meaning that it cannot be reopened), implicitly acknowledging the accuracy of Anti-CAIR's assertions, which included:

• "CAIR is a terrorist supporting front organization that is partially funded by terrorists";

• "CAIR … is supported by terrorist supporting individuals, groups and countries";

• "CAIR has proven links to, and was founded by, Islamic terrorists"; and

• "CAIR actively supports terrorists and terrorist supporting groups and nations."

Includes individuals accused of terrorism: At least seven board members or staff at CAIR have been arrested, denied entry to the US, or were indicted on or pled guilty to or were convicted of terrorist charges: Siraj Wahhaj, Bassem Khafagi, Randall ("Ismail") Royer, Ghassan Elashi, Rabih Haddad, Muthanna Al-Hanooti, and Nabil Sadoun.

Is in trouble with the law: Federal prosecutors in 2007 named CAIR (along with two other Islamic organizations) as "unindicted co-conspirators and/or joint venturers" in a criminal conspiracy to support Hamas financially. In 2008, the FBI ended contacts with CAIR because of concern with its continuing terrorist ties.

On learning of the UAE listing, CAIR called it "shocking and bizarre," then got to work to have the Department of State protest and undo the ruling. Nothing loath, department spokesperson Jeff Rathke noted that the U.S. government, which "does not consider these organizations to be terrorist organizations," has asked for more information about the UAE decision. The UAE minister of state for Foreign affairs replied that if organizations can show that their "approach has changed," they are eligible to appeal "to have their names eliminated from the list."

Pressure from the Obama administration might reverse the UAE listing. Even so, this will not undo its lasting damage. For the first time, an Islamist government has exposed the malign, terroristic quality of CAIR – a stigma CAIR can never escape.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: bassemkhafagi; cair; danielpipes; ghassanelashi; hamas; hezbollah; holylandfoundation; iap; ibrahimhooper; iran; islam; jihad; lebanon; muslimbrotherhood; muthannaalhanooti; nabilsadoun; nihadawad; omarahmad; rabihhaddad; rafeeqjaber; randallroyer; sirajwahhaj; terrorgroups; terroristgroup; terroristgroups; uae; unitedarabemirates
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1 posted on 11/30/2014 11:51:26 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Short answer: YES!


2 posted on 11/30/2014 11:52:49 AM PST by txnativegop (I'm out of ideas about tag lines.)
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To: Kaslin

Is there really any question?
.


3 posted on 11/30/2014 11:55:42 AM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Kaslin

Yes! Yes!


4 posted on 11/30/2014 11:55:45 AM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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We're going to need a big push to
wrap this up. Let's git 'er done.







Please Contribute Today!

5 posted on 11/30/2014 11:56:08 AM PST by RedMDer (I don't listen to Liars but when I do I know it's Barack Obama.)
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To: editor-surveyor

Not at all


6 posted on 11/30/2014 11:57:12 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

Do bears...


7 posted on 11/30/2014 11:58:49 AM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: Axenolith

Cairns are certainly part of the terrier group.


8 posted on 11/30/2014 12:05:23 PM PST by ully2
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To: Kaslin

Yes. Yes.


9 posted on 11/30/2014 12:07:47 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: Axenolith

Is a pig’s pu$$y pork?


10 posted on 11/30/2014 12:09:17 PM PST by EandH Dad (sleeping giants wake up REALLY grumpy)
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To: Kaslin

Unless your dhimmitude factor is blinding you, of course these traitors are terrorists.


11 posted on 11/30/2014 12:13:54 PM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: EandH Dad

That was weird...


12 posted on 11/30/2014 12:23:45 PM PST by krunkygirl (force multiplier in effect...)
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To: Kaslin

The question: Is CAIR a terrorist group, all anyone has to do is use the same standard the leftist use against the “Tea Party” (who are actually just pissed off Americans voicing their opinions and demonstrating against an out of control government) calling the TP racist terrorist!

Of course CAIR is a terrorist group! But, as long as CAIR continues to carry the water for the leftist in this country, the communist will continue to look the other way while CAIR promotes, funds, and actively participates in terror acts all around this great country!


13 posted on 11/30/2014 12:28:45 PM PST by americanparatrooper (Remember your forth point of contact in a PLF and cover it)
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To: Kaslin
Perhaps our esteened SoS can provide a nuanced answer to those two questions:


14 posted on 11/30/2014 12:57:11 PM PST by mikrofon (Ouija Master)
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To: Kaslin

Whenever two or more Muslims come together in the name of Islam, they form a terrorist group. It’s the inescapable nature of the Islamic beast.


15 posted on 11/30/2014 1:05:38 PM PST by pallis
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To: Kaslin

Yes!

CAIR is a TERRORIST organization.


16 posted on 11/30/2014 1:07:23 PM PST by G Larry (Amnesty imposes SLAVE WAGES on LEGAL immigrants & minorities)
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To: Kaslin

The face on the lower left in the picture is Hassan Shibly Esq. Ex. Director of CAIR Florida. CAIR is allowed to hold office space in Tampa and operate freely. Mr. Shibly has a history of trying to prevent Prof. Jonathan Matusitz from speaking on terrorism by invitation at public events around Florida.


17 posted on 11/30/2014 1:19:37 PM PST by Captain7seas (y)
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To: Kaslin

Absolutely.


18 posted on 11/30/2014 1:36:50 PM PST by mulligan (I)
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To: Kaslin

Yes it is! Yes it is!


19 posted on 11/30/2014 1:37:55 PM PST by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Daniel Pipes ping:
CAIR initiated a libel lawsuit in 2004 over five statements by a group called Anti-CAIR. But two years later, CAIR settled the suit with prejudice (meaning that it cannot be reopened), implicitly acknowledging the accuracy of Anti-CAIR's assertions...
CAIR would be a lot more tolerable if all of its members were stone cold dead.
20 posted on 11/30/2014 1:54:50 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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