Bush to Make Recess Appointment to Peace Institute (Will Appoint Daniel Pipes!)
AP Breaking News ^
Posted on 08/12/2003 6:57 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Aug 12, 2003
Bush to Make Recess Appointment to Peace Institute By Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush is expected to bypass the Senate and appoint an outspoken Middle East scholar to a federal think tank over the objections of Democrats and others who say he is anti-Muslim. According to sources close to the matter, Bush intends to appoint Daniel Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, to the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
The move would come just weeks after Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee raised strong objections to Pipes' nomination, forcing the panel to postpone a vote on the appointment.
The White House does not comment on personnel appointments prior to their announcement, but spokeswoman Ashley Snee said Bush continues to support Pipes, who was nominated for the post on April 2. Pipes also had no comment on the nomination.
Pipes, said Snee, "is a well-respected scholar." His supporters include a number of Jewish groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Anti-Defamation League.
Critics call Pipes an extremist who should not be named to a peace organization.
"I continue to believe that Dr. Pipes is not the right person for this position," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in a statement issued Tuesday. "His record and experience do not reflect a commitment to bridging differences and preventing conflict. Surely the administration can find someone better to serve on the Board of the United States Institute of Peace."
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., spoke out against Pipes during the committee meeting, saying his positions are inconsistent with the USIP's efforts to "contribute to the promotion of international peace and the resolution of conflicts without recourse to violence."
Bush has made no recess appointments during this August break, but he appointed 11 individuals to various boards during Congress' April break. By signing appointments during a congressional recess, Bush can bypass the Senate confirmation process.
The appointment would be valid until the next Congress is sworn in, which would be January 2005.
Pipes is a Harvard-trained scholar who, as head of the Middle East Forum, has called for a war on Islamic extremism, declaring in one post-Sept. 11 interview, "What we need to do is inspire fear, not affection."
The expected appointment "is a defeat for democracy and an affront to Muslims, Arab-Americans and all those who seek peace," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "This person has such a long record of anti-Muslim bigotry."
CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread