Posted on 09/28/2001 2:24:53 AM PDT by sarcasm
Remember the kid who murdered his parents and then pleaded for leniency because he was an orphan? He used to be the very definition of chutzpah, but he has lost his spot in the dictionary to an even more audacious victim: The Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Washington-based CAIR is perhaps the most important and vocal Islamic group in the country. Twice in the past two weeks, its representatives have met with President Bush. This is part of the ongoing White House effort to assure the public that the vast majority of Arabs and Muslims in the country do not support terrorism and are on the American side in the fight against it.
But as the President once famously observed, a man can be judged by the company he keeps. And CAIR is bad company.
There is no need to present a litany of CAIR's odd takes on what constitutes justice. One example will do. According to Jake Tapper of the online magazine Salon, CAIR has labeled the conviction of Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman (for conspiring to blow up New York City landmarks, including the Lincoln and Holland tunnels in 1995) as a "hate crime" against Muslims.
Not the Easter Bunny
CAIR is also in bed with at least two philanthropic groups suspected of being fronts for one of the Middle East's most lethally anti-American, anti-Jewish jihadists: Palestinian Hamas.
Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the CAIR, has nothing bad to say about Hamas, but he denies a connection. "We do not support Hamas," he says. "We don't support the Easter Bunny, either."
Neither the Easter Bunny nor Hamas is mentioned on the CAIR Web site, which features a statement that is a study in evasion. It regrets the "massive loss of life resulting from the tragic events of Sept. 11" and says that "American Muslims unequivocally condemn these vicious and cowardly acts."
But nowhere will you find the name Osama Bin Laden or any acknowledgment that the "vicious and cowardly acts" were carried out in the name of Islamic holy war and applauded by Hamas and other Palestinian and Iraqi outfits.
On the other hand, the CAIR is very specific about how the public should respond to the attacks on America: Send money. It recommends contributing to three organizations — the Red Cross, the Holy Land Foundation and the Global Relief Foundation.
Loss of Status
The Holy Land Foundation, located in Richardson, Tex., claims to be a charitable group, but there is some doubt about its real activities. In June 2000, the U.S. government registered it as a private agency eligible to receive federal aid for its humanitarian efforts. Less than three months later, Washington rescinded that status for reasons of "national defense."
The Global Relief Foundation, located in Bridge View, Ill., has been accused by Israel and American security experts of funneling money and support to Hamas. Like the Holy Land Foundation, it is currently under intense federal scrutiny.
CAIR is untroubled by these investigations. In fact, it regards these two organizations as victims of persecution. "There's been a campaign to shut them down for years," Hooper says. "You tell me if they are legal American organizations."
They are. For now.
Bush is right to insist that not every Islamic and Arab group supports holy warriors such as Hamas. But, as his staff ought to know by now, some have, and still do.
It will be deeply embarrassing to the President — and devastating to his pleas for tolerance — if it emerges that he has been the unwitting host of longtime apologists and fund-raisers for the same terrorists he is fighting.
E-mail: zchafets@aol.com
Original Publication Date: 9/28/01
LOL...what's really laughable,'roni', is yourself lecturing ANYBODY about "sticking to the subject"!!!
Honey, you are the "queen" when it comes to interjecting off topic 'swill' on thread after thread of topics that do not conform to your Zionazi agenda...
You: right, ALL RW supporters of Israel, in or out of Israel, are AGAINST the US/Bush- as opposed to the socialist surrenderist Jews (in and out of Israel) who supported Clinton and continue to support Arafat, the mother of all Bin Ladens.
Please dig through your hyperbole and examine what I ACTUALLY said. Should an Israeli citizen not have the interests of his country paramount?
Why is Bush talking to these folks? You can't tell me that the WH doesn't know something that even I know??
HELP!!
Yes, and so should we........yet, we are honoring Arafat as if he was not a terrorist. Why does this adm pretend that Arafat is a decent person? He is a liar and he has stated that he will wage war against Israel forever and encourage it.
Yet, we 'talk to him' as if he would change his mind.
I smell oil.....is that the 'interest' of our country that is paramount? We need to do the right thing and as Bush said, "If you harbor terrorists you will get the same. We will treat you as the enemy". Arafat is the enemy........let's treat him that way. We will not win this war without resolve. At the moment I fear that the window of opportunity to do the right thing has shut. . or closing fast.
It's all coming out now.....
Chafets lives in NY and writes for the NY Daily News now.
Disinformation will not change the facts.
RCW2001 have you been reading anti-Semitic websites like Zundelsite? That's a word that Jew haters on the web love to use.
Is he an American citizen, or is that not known?
No. Just the satisfaction of seeing you get your skivvies in a twist. If the source can't claim to be totally objective, it bears noting. Sorry you find that disturbing.
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