Posted on 12/05/2002 3:37:52 PM PST by TLBSHOW
By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - With Muslims worldwide growing more suspicious of the United States, President Bush (news - web sites) marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with a visit Thursday to a mosque.
"The spirit behind this holiday is a reminder that Islam brings hope and comfort to more than 1 billion people worldwide," Bush said. "Islam affirms God's justice and insists on man's moral responsibility."
Bush left his shoes at the door, in keeping with the practice of the Islamic Center of Washington, a national center for Muslim culture and prayer. He also had visited six days after the terrorist attacks last year.
Back then, with a surge in hate crimes against Muslims in the United States, Bush was trying to defuse Americans' anger against Islam. Today, he has a different problem — increased hostility by Muslims around the world against America.
In an international survey released Wednesday, the Pew Global Attitudes Project found the image of the United States is slipping worldwide, and particularly in Middle Eastern countries with large Muslim populations. Large percentages of Muslim respondents in several countries said they believe suicide bomb attacks are a justifiable defense of Islam.
On Wednesday, Bush blamed America's tarnished image among Muslims on "propaganda machines (that) are cranked up in the international community that paints our country in a bad light."
The growing animosity comes at a time when Bush is trying to rally the world against terrorism and gather allies for possible military action against Iraq.
Inside the ornate mosque, Bush offered an explanation of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and renewed his defense of Islam.
Bush's speech was directed to a national and international audience. There was virtually no one inside except journalists and his staff. A few mosque officials stood next to Bush as he spoke.
"Over the past month, Muslims have fasted, taking no food or water during daylight hours, in order to refocus their minds on faith and redirect their hearts to charity," Bush said.
"Muslims worldwide have stretched out a hand of mercy to those in need, charity tables at which the poor can break their fast line the streets of cities and towns, and gifts of food and clothing and money are distributed to ensure that all share in God's abundance," he said.
From the Muslim event, Bush officially opened the Christmas season at the White House by lighting a Christmas tree just outside the gates.
And of course the best way to "reorganize the Muslim world" is by engaging in over-the-top smooching of the posteriors of American Muslims at photo-op royales. This in turn (Ssshhh) will lull of course the rest of "Islam World" into a false sense of camraderie with the infidel President Bush.
And of course in your judgement the best way to reorganize the Muslim world is to start a holy war with all half a billion Muslims just because some or most don't call you friend.
Bali!
Precisely. Most Muslims interpret parts of the Koran the way Christians do the Old Testament.
Your "outside looking in" analogy just doesn't carry much weight.
On the contrary, it is highly appropriate.
We all make mistakes of course.
One still must wonder if such careless and confused political discussion, that is so dangerous to our republic, is not the result of the propensity of some to engage in fanciful political banter in lieu of confronting political reality.
Diplomacy is saying "nice doggy" while looking for a bigger stick.
How do you know those countries aren't part of their agenda?
Oh, wait. Maybe they're exempt because they fund the madrasas!
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