Army Corps Approves Plan for Muslim Camp

Associated Press ^ | 06-30-03

[Brian S]

Army Corps Approves Plan for Muslim Youth Camp in Iowa, if Proposal Is Scaled Back

The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa June 30 —

The Army Corps of Engineers has approved a plan to build the nation's first summer camp for Muslims if organizers scale back their proposal.

Col. William J. Bayles, the corps' district engineer in Rock Island, Ill., issued a report Monday, saying there would be no significant impact from the Muslim Youth Camps of America's plans for 106 acres along Coralville Lake north of Iowa City.

But the ruling asks the group to submit a new plan with a 50 percent reduction in the project's use and size.

The proposal by the Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit group has drawn attention and criticism from a range of detractors since it was proposed in 1999.

Neighbors say it will alter their quiet, rural way of life and have a negative effect on the environment. Local government officials complained it would stress services, while a small group of others voiced distrust of Islamic groups.

The original plan calls for 10 overnight cabins to hold up to 136 campers, swimming and dock facilities, a paved parking lot and caretaker's residence.

The plan also features a 17,500-square-foot convention center. Organizers say the center would not be used for overnight stays, but would be open year-round for conferences, weddings and weekend retreats.

The Bayles' report said a scaled-back plan would provide for about 60 campers and staff for 10 weeks during the summer, and for intermittent recreational and educational use by up to 1,500 people the rest of the year.

Bayles said the corps will enter into lease negotiations once a reduced-use proposal is approved. The group also needs to obtain state permits.

"In general, we feel quite satisfied with their decision," said Manzoor Ali, the group's board chairman. "We will look at what they're proposing and get together as a team and see what we can do with our plan."

[Im Your Huckleberry]

Are you freakin' kidding me?

And Iowans are going to put up with this in their midst?

[Im Your Huckleberry]

I wonder if everyone would be so "tolllllll-errrrrrrrr-ant" if the Neo-Nazis or Aryan Nations came to Iowa with the intention of setting up a "New Hitler Youth" camp in their midst...

[IFly4Him]

My friend, Craig Winn, author of Tea With Terrorists is going to Iowa City for a radio townhall meeting about this very issue. I think it's being hosted by Mike Gallagher (sp?) - not familiar with him, but I understand he has a nationally syndicated talk show.

The forum is set for Wed morning.

[Bluntpoint]

Hmm!!! Hot summertime Islamic chics in skin tight burka swimsuits. We can have our way with them and then stone them for acting like prostitutes.

[Rudder]

What has the Army Corps done for the Boyscouts of America lately?

[Iowa Granny]

I have tickets for that show on Wednesday morning. The timing of this announcement smells fishy to me.

Today's Cedar Rapids Gazette had a front page article about the proposed, since approved, camp. I'm not very good with links, but I'll try to drag it over here.

[niteowl77]

Some locals (I know one) are unbelievably upset, but the area media and Iowa diversity goons have done a fantastic job of coordinating feigned outrage and spurious civil-rights concerns. Cedar Rapids has long had a big (for Iowa) Arab population, and I guess it will get bigger, huh? Trust me, some of these locals are scared (AND SCARED SHIITELESS) to say a thing about the Religion of Peace™

Now as I understand Sharia law, if a Muslim so much as farts somewhere, that ground is "sacred"... I truly believe that there will be violence over this camp, and well within my expected lifetime.

[dagnabbit]

Officials were puzzeled however by several items in the camp proposal, including the "737-fuselage activity center" and the zone near the science hall marked "backblast area"

[A Navy Vet]

I think the title and first sentence are misleading. The Army Corp of Engineers are often involved in approving private rural projects, not building them. Seems they've become another EPA. There was thread here just the other day about someone not getting permission from the ACofE and having to pay thousands of dollars in fines.

[WisemanRAX]

"I truly believe that there will be violence over this camp"
Maybe violence will be bred there.

[IFly4Him]

Neat. I think it will be lively. I was scheduled to go with him, but I have to send someone in my stead. If there are any after-action reports that you can post, please ping me.

[niteowl77]

But it will be called "self-defense" class, just like at the other "community centers."

[Endeavor]

ping

[Endeavor]

nevermind, you're already here

[Doc On The Bay]

EXCUSE ME!!??

I Seem to Remember a Constitutional Prohibition regarding "Separation of Church & State."

WTF????

SINCE WHEN can an agency of the US Gov't have ANY CONTACT with a Proposal to create a Religious Entity???

I SMELL A RAT (& SO should YOU!!!)

Doc

[Iowa Granny]

Here is the URL for the Gazette article I mentioned above. This is in a protected area of the site for subscribers only. I'm not certain you will be able to access it. But it's worth a try.

http://www.gazetteonline.com/article.aspx?art_id=61640&cat_id=1

[Lijahsbubbe]

Is the ACLU going to go in there and demand they strictly follow civil rights.

They must allow women to wear whatever they want, have women as leaders, allow members who don't believe in Allah and certainly allow campers to have pork for their meals.

Screw this. I'm really getting sick of this country. There. I said it.

[proudofthesouth]

Please ping me on this.

[daddypatriot]

This is certainly good news. I heard from a confidential source that the Muslim camp was approved as a strategic plan aimed at getting Osama bin Laden to show up as a guest lecturer. Once inside th camp he will be bagged by one of the local sheriffs. I don't know who came up with this plan but it is a boffo one. I suspect the State Department, which is filled with whizzes, had a big hand in this.