Alleged Terrorist Met With Bush Adviser (Al-Arian Part of Muslim Outreach)

Washington Post ^ | February 22nd, 2003 | Mike Allen and Richard Leiby

[Sabertooth]

The meeting was controversial within the White House even before it took place. The group that included Al-Arian was scheduled to be briefed by Vice President Cheney, but Cheney canceled. That morning, the Jerusalem Post had run a front-page article headlined, "Cheney to host pro-terrorist Muslim group."

(see below - ST)

Several pro-Israel and conservative activists had warned administration officials not to meet with the American Muslim Council contingent because the group had courted controversy for years, knowledgeable sources said.

Abduraham Alamoudi, a member of the organization also at the meeting with Rove, said at a White House demonstration in October 2000, "We are all supporters of Hamas," the popular name of the Islamic Resistance Movement, a main sponsor of suicide bombings in Israel.

Rove, according to Al-Arian and other attendees, used the meeting to talk of White House efforts to embrace the Muslim community. Al-Arian said he sat in the front row.

To see the article without registering with the WP, go here, then click on the headline, "Alleged Terrorist Met With Bush Adviser."

[ChadGore]

Am I the only one who finds it funny that the only muslim GWB could find turned out to be a terrorist? What does that tell us about the terrorist density among the muslim population today ?

If you can throw a stick and hit an "Osama-loving-sycophant", islam, as a political institution has *real* problems.

[Morrigan]

What amazes me is that these guys could get into the White House at all--it certainly does tend to make you rethink your idea of what Washington considers a "moderate" Muslim to be. I think that the higher-ups need to start paying WAY more attention to the people that get into this country, especially the White House. It almost seems as if they are underestimating the amount of Muslims that truly do sympathize with terrorists.

A Muslim once posted a message on another forum that really got me thinking about this. I wrote it down because it was so revealing. It is short, so here it is: "Regarding calls by Western leaders for "moderate" Muslims tackling "extremist" elements within their ranks, these are merely appeals to divide the Muslims. What is the moderate Muslim that these leaders refer to? One that does not pray or fast or wear hijab; one that agrees with the Israeli occupation of Palestine, one that thinks cutting off a thief's hand is barbaric, and one that thinks Islam is primitive and backward? There is no such thing as a "moderate" or a "liberal" Muslim. If there was, in what category would he place the Prophet Muhammad?"

Scary thing was--everyone agreed with him. Food for thought.

[TLBSHOW]

Here's more background on Grover Norquist--note the bit about "faith-based initiatives," which means giving government money to these people:

The Protestant Norquist is a founding director of the Islamic Institute, a socially conservative Muslim think tank that eschews international issues in favor of domestic issues such as tax cuts and faith-based initiatives. In addition, Norquist’s lobbying firm, Janus-Merritt Strategies LLC, was officially registered as a lobbyist for the Islamic Institute as well as for Abdurahman Alamoudi, the founder and former executive director of the American Muslim Council. Public records show that Alamoudi has done more than $20,000 worth of business with Norquist’s firm, on issues relating to Malaysia....

Alamoudi ... attended an anti-Israel protest outside the White House on October 28, 2000. Alamoudi revved up the crowd, saying: " I have been labeled by the media in New York as being a supporter of Hamas. Anybody supporters of Hamas here? " The crowd cheered. " Hear that, Bill Clinton? We are all supporters of Hamas ... I wish they added that I am also a supporter of Hezbollah. " [Boston Phoenix, 10/4/01]


As president of Americans for Tax Reform, Norquist is best known for his tireless crusades against big government. But one of Norquist's lesser-known projects over the last few years has been bringing American Muslims into the Republican Party.... "He worked with Muslim leaders to engineer [Bush]'s prominent visit to the Mosque," says the Arab-American pollster John Zogby, referring to the president's September 17 trip to the Islamic Center of Washington....

In fact, the record suggests that he has spent quite a lot of time promoting people openly sympathetic to Islamist terrorists.... According to one intelligence official who recently left the government, a number of counterterrorism agents at the FBI and CIA are "pissed as hell about the situation [in the White House] and pissed as hell about Grover." They should be. While nobody suggests that Norquist himself is soft on terrorism, his lobbying has helped provide radical Islamic groups--and their causes--a degree of legitimacy and access they assuredly do not deserve....

With conservatives, he has emphasized that Muslims are a good demographic fit for the GOP: well-off and socially conservative. "American Muslims look like members of the Christian Coalition," he wrote in The American Spectator this summer. To Muslims, he has promised a sympathetic hearing for their causes.... And he has intimated that Muslim support for Republicans could change U.S. policy toward the Middle East. Appearing on a panel at a 1999 meeting of the American Muslim Alliance, alongside activists who complained about the "Zionist lobby" and Jewish "monopolizing" of Jerusalem, Norquist announced that "[t]oo many American politicians have been able to take their shots at Muslims and at Muslims countries."

But the events of September 11 have cast some of Norquist's relationships in a less flattering light. Consider first the history and recent statements of the American Muslim Council, the organization that presented Norquist with an achievement award, and whose officials attend Norquist-arranged meetings with the Republican hierarchy. In the 1990s it co-sponsored two conferences with the United Association for Studies and Research, which, according to The New York Times, a convicted Hamas operative named Mohammed Abdel-Hamid Salah in 1993 called "the political command" of Hamas in the United States.... In press releases and forums, the AMC has defended the terrorist-harboring Sudanese government against charges that it massively violates human rights and condones slavery. As late as June of this year, the AMC put out a press release entitled "SLAVERY IN SUDAN IS A SHAM.."

The record of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)--which, like the AMC, sends members to meetings organized by Norquist and Saffuri--is no more encouraging.... [Franklin Foer, New Republic, 11/12/01]

http://www.phobot.net/blog/2003-02-15.html

[Miss Marple]

Perhaps this is why the head of the Secret Service was replaced recently. The former guy was a Clinton appointee.

You will remember the stories about agents leaving maps and equipment in cabs and shops, agents getting into fistfights, agents (Muslim) being obnoxious.

I am wondering if Norquist (clueless apparently about the dangers of dealing with these groups) supplied a list, which was checked in a haphazard manner by the gutted SS group. I mean, in the former Clinton White House, they let in almost anyone on the list, including drug dealers, didn't they? They probably got a royal reaming if they questioned anyone.

So, why would they question a list of Muslims?

This information came out once before, and at the time caused a bit of embarassment. I would bet that since that time some personnel in the Secret Service have been replaced. I would also bet that Norquist doesn't have the influence he had prior to 9/11.

[FreeReign]

Sami Al-Arian, a former computer engineering professor at the University of South Florida, had been under investigation by the FBI for at least six years at the time of the June 2001 briefing for a Muslim organization. Numerous news accounts also had said federal agents suspected Al-Arian of links to terrorism.

Have you seen any specific quotes from the FBI on this?

As sourced in the WP article, I can not conclude that Al-Arian was under FBI investigation for at least six years, at the time.....

[FreeReign]

Several pro-Israel and conservative activists had warned administration officials not to meet with the American Muslim Council contingent because the group had courted controversy for years, knowledgeable sources said.

The WP says, that knowledgeable soures said, that conservative activists had warned, unamed administration officials...........................

[TLBSHOW]

The Clinton administration shut down a 1995 investigation of Islamic charities, concerned that a public probe would expose Saudi Arabia's suspected ties to a global money-laundering operation that raised millions for anti-Israel terrorists, federal officials told The Washington Times.

snip:


In that probe, investigators found that checks drawn on a bank account of the International Committee for Palestine had been cashed by people in the Middle East. They said the checks had been signed by Mr. Al-Arian.

Mr. Loftus is seeking an injunction blocking Florida charities, including those headed by Mr. Al-Arian, from transferring "money, weapons, equipment or communications gear" to terrorists.

Mr. Al-Arian has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, calling the Loftus lawsuit a "publicity stunt." His attorney, Robert McKee, did not return calls to his office for comment.

Julie Payne, spokeswoman for former President Bill Clinton, did not repond to inquiries about State Department policy in 1995 during his administration.

Accusations that the Saudi government used charities as front organizations to fund international terrorism are long-standing, first surfacing 20 years ago when U.S. intelligence officials warned Congress that the Saudis had taken over the direct funding of terrorist groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
http://www.geocities.com/johnathanrgalt/Clinton_axed_terror_probe.html

[TLBSHOW]

Clinton White House axed terror-fund probe

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/657740/posts

[TLBSHOW]

He worked with Muslim leaders to engineer [Bush]'s prominent visit to the Mosque," says the Arab-American pollster John Zogby, referring to the president's September 17 trip to the Islamic Center of Washington....

[Miss Marple]

You know, I wouldn't necessarily take Zogby's word for it, since Zogby is a democrat.

I am not minimizing Norquist's involvement, which I think was naive and dangerous.

However, until 9/11 I think a lot of people were under the impression that the Arab terrorists were in other countries, not here. I also note from personal experience that many from the Middle East are quite deft at appearing charming and conciliatory when it suits their purposes.

[TLBSHOW]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush issued an apology Friday over the removal of Abdullah Al-Arian, son of a University of South Florida professor, from a White House meeting of Muslim officials.

"The president is very concerned that an action was taken that was wrong, inappropriate, and the president apologizes for it on behalf of the White House," press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

A uniformed Secret Service officer ordered Al-Arian, a congressional intern and Duke University senior, to leave a briefing Thursday of Muslim officials. Al-Arian's father, USF professor Sami Al-Arian, has been entangled in an investigation of terrorists. His uncle is Mazen Al-Najjar, a Palestinian who was jailed for three years on secret evidence the government said showed he had ties to terrorists. He was freed in December.

When Abdullah Al-Arian left the meeting, more than 20 Muslim leaders decided to walk out with him. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849366/posts?page=

[TLBSHOW]

You know I don't take zogbys words for much when it comes to polls...but he isn't telling fibs here.

[habs4ever]

If you haven't heard GN doesn't get WH access, does that means it isn't so? This WH cuts off access and leaves them cold.So, unless you have some proof that you can show us NOW that GN still goes to meetings inside the WH, what is the point of your harping?

I have asked you three times now to provide proof.You don't have any, do you? And because you haven't heard a public condemnation for a longtime GOP activist, that means that his calls still are getting answered from WH bigshots? Get real.

[TLBSHOW]

http://www.amconline.org/newamc/convo/

2000

The reception particularly honored Representatives Tom Davis (R-VA) and John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Grover Norquist (President, American for Tax Reform), and James Zogby (President, Arab American Institute).

A number of Representatives , most of whom have already co-sponsored H.R. 2121, addressed the Muslim audience. Each Member of Congress spoke out against secret evidence, reaffirming their commitment to civil rights, defending justice. All urged the Muslim community to take on a more active role in the political process. Of those in attendance who had not yet co-sponsored the legislation, Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD), announced that she “plans to” support the Secret Evidence Repeal Act. In a dramatic demonstration of the impact of Muslim lobbying and the activities of that day, the House of Representatives voted that

same evening to cut funding from the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the prisoners currently being held on secret evidence. Amendment 19, offered by Representative Tom Campbell (R-CA), deducted $173,480 from H.R. 4690, the Commerce Justice State and Judiciary Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2001, which appropriates funds for the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons

[TLBSHOW]

Good point and thanks but Grover Norquist is the one providing Muslims to The President and if he isn't still doing that can you provide a link where he isn't, as they are all turning out to be the wrong ones. Do tell me he now has no access to do this?

Have you not seen any of Sabertooths posts like this one..

.......http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/848113/posts?page=297#297

I have searched everywhere to find that GN has been cut off from providing very bad advice to The President but can not find it. If you have that proof GN is cut off I would love to see it and the matter is settled.

[Miss Marple]

It would be most helpful if you didn't simply cut and paste every article that mentions Norquist and the GOP.

The point of this is, is Norquist STILL getting access? If not, when was his access cut off? If he is, to what purpose? What type of access? Notes, calls, or meetings? There is a big difference.

[TLBSHOW]

Congressman David Bonior (D-MI), the House Minority Whip, and co-author of H.R. 2121, the Secret Evidence Repeal Act of 1999, spoke to standing ovations at the Saturday Evening Banquet.

Congressman Bonior reminded the Muslim audience that American Muslims have come a long way over the past few years, as was evidenced by Thursday’s vote in the House to cut funding to the Bureau of Prisons for the Muslim prisoners being held on secret evidence. He felt that it was through the efforts of American Muslims that increasing numbers of Congressmen and women signed on to vote for Thursday’s amendment, as well as to H.R. 2121. The next immediate step, he said, is to express our appreciation to those members of Congress who voted in favor of the cut in funding, some at great political risk, and increase the pressure on those who voted against it.

Mr. Bonior also pointed out that Muslim still have a long way to go, and applauded Muslim youth for their interest and commitment to political activism.

Representative Bonior urged Muslims to support religious freedom legislation in Congress and work toward achieving peace in the Middle East and lifting of sanctions over Iraq. He felt the sanctions on Iraq were particularly devastating, noting the tragic affects of the sanctions on the innocent people of Iraq. Mr. Bonior stated that it was time to “wipe the blood from America’s hands.”

.........
from the same link I already provided....convention 2000

........

and this from today....

Indicted Florida professor gave money to Bonior campaign
Macomb Daily / AP ^ | February 21st, 2003 | Staff Writer Chad Selweski contributed to this report


Posted on 02/22/2003 1:53 PM EST by Sabertooth


Eight people, including four U.S. residents, were charged in a 50-count indictment with supporting, financing and relaying messages for a violent Palestinian terrorist group blamed for the deaths of more than 100 people in and around Israel.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849451/posts?page=
........

[TLBSHOW]

The point of this is, is Norquist STILL getting access? If not, when was his access cut off? If he is, to what purpose? What type of access? Notes, calls, or meetings? There is a big difference.

...
Very good points and those are the amswers needed to put this to bed.
I have not seen your points answered anywhere as yet or has Frank J. Gaffney Jr....

[AmishDude]

Hey! Did you notice that Saber posted both articles?

And this one.

And this one.

And this one.

And this one.

And this one.

It's hard to know where to focus my attention.

[TLBSHOW]

I was telling someone the other night that there would be so many that it will make your head spin.