[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, July 2, 2003

Quote of the Day by Liz

[ETERNAL WARMING]

While the ACLU feels it necessary to take action against symbols of the Christian faith, it seems they do not attribute the same set of standards to Islam.

Does anyone know if the good people of Iowa are fighting this thing? Are there protests, phone calls etc.? I sincerely hope so. At a time when our Christian foundation is being destroyed, it would be a total abomination for this to be allowed. It must be stopped. Wherever they build it, it must be monitored to make certain they're not raising indoctrinated little suicide bombers.

[Im Your Huckleberry]

A junior jihadi training camp. So what's the problem? Where do you expect them to train future pilots and homicide bombers...in Saudi Arabia?...in Syria?...in Libya?

Sheesh, cut 'em some slack! They need a nice, home-grown, place in the American heartland where they can raise future jihadis in safety...

[Im Your Huckleberry]

A junior jihadi training camp. So what's the problem? Where do you expect them to train future pilots and homicide bombers...in Saudi Arabia?...in Syria?...in Libya?

Sheesh, cut 'em some slack! They need a nice, home-grown, place in the American heartland where they can raise future jihadis in safety...

[ETERNAL WARMING]

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Feds OK controversial Muslim youth camp
National radio host who opposes project will hold public forum

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Posted: July 1, 2003
5:00 p.m. Eastern



© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Amid resistance from neighbors and nationwide attention, a plan to build a Muslim youth camp on federal land moved ahead yesterday with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' approval of a scaled-down proposal.

As WorldNetDaily reported, the newly formed Muslim Youth Camps Association, or MYCA, wants to build a facility at a site in Northern Iowa formerly leased to the Girl Scouts for $1 a year. Most opponents have expressed environmental concerns, while some fear it could be used by extremists as a "camouflage" for terrorist activity.


Plan for Muslim prayer tower (Iowa City Press-Citizen photo)

Lease negotiations will begin when the Muslim group gives the Corps a new design plan, said Corps spokesman Ron Fournier, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Approval to proceed with the project came after Col. William J. Bayles, the Corps' Rock Island, Ill., district commander, signed off on an independent study concluding the MYCA's plan would have no significant environmental effect, the Iowa City paper said.

The organization will not be required to have another environmental assessment when it submits its revised plan.

Originally, the Muslim group proposed a 7,500-square-foot convention center, 10 cabins, 12 tent camping platforms and a 75-foot tall prayer tower. Its second choice, according to a Nov. 12 report by the Corps, proposes a 2,400-square-foot lodge, five cabins and five tent camping platforms, with no mention of a prayer tower.

"It's a very positive decision," MYCA President Manzoor Ali said, according to the Press-Citizen. "We really appreciate it. But we'll see how much 'scale down' means. Whatever we decide, it's a very positive decision for everyone, not just for us but for everyone."

The site was used by the Girls Scouts until 1990 when a fire destroyed their lodge.

The Press-Citizen said if the MYCA is unwilling to accept the Corps' offer for a reduced design plan, other non-profit groups will be free to submit proposals.

Public forum broadcast live

The MYCA's project has sparked the interest of national talk-show host Mike Gallagher, who will air his radio program tomorrow morning from Iowa City. Gallagher believes federal property should not be used for a religious purpose. His broadcast will include a public forum on the issue.

Manzoor Ali, president of MYCA, has insisted the project is "not a religious organization and that is not in our proposal."

He has said, however, it would be more than a rustic camp.

"Our idea is that it will be an educational plus recreational camp on a solid foundation, not on just a tent foundation," he told the Des Moines Register. "It should be like an institute where students from different cultures and inter-faith groups could come and exchange their ideas, open their minds."

The Press-Citizen said MYCA members and Corps representatives will not attend Gallagher's forum.

[Eroteme]

I'd like to think this apparent bit of PC idiocy on the part of the feds is along the lines of "step into my parlor, said the spider to the fly."

[MaxPlus305]

I'd just like to seperate the issues here. How many people are against this camp because of the no-religion-on-federal-property issue? And if you are, are you also for removing the dozens of Christian camps that are already on federal land?

[OXENinFLA]

WTF!!?!?!?!??!

MYCA to contact DNR, county

"It didn't fit within the area within the environmental assessment," Barati said, adding that the ongoing back-and-forth review was typical of the resubmittal process.

A complete revised plan will be resubmitted in the next few weeks, MYCA chairman Manzoor Ali said. As part of the lease negotiations, MYCA was advised to contact county staff regarding traffic counts and other issues as well as the DNR for environmental issues, he said.

"We are making substantial progress regarding understanding with the Corp of Engineers," Ali said. "They are really cooperative and nice."

Ali said raising money and possible communication with residents living near the site cannot start until the lease is finalized. The goal of the proposed camp is to have it managed by Muslim staff but open to children of all faiths. He said plans are to do background checks on all the campers.

"We will be having educational programs and outreach programs," Ali said. "In the summer, people can enjoy picnics and other outdoor activities, and in the winter, we will be involved in seminars and presentations and conferences."[Can you say indoctrination camp.............]

Winter activities might be open to public use, depending on the Corps' direction, Ali said.

The original camp proposal, submitted in 1999, included a 17,500-square-foot central lodge, 12 tent camping platforms and 10 cabins, a 75-foot-tall tower and plans to construct a beach. The revised plans showed a 50 percent reduction in designs, a stipulation given to the group by the Corps.