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US sending NY mosque imam to Mideast
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7742705/us-sending-ny-mosque-imam-to-mideast/
US sending NY mosque imam to Mideast
Matthew Lee, AAP August 11, 2010, 7:27 am
The imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site in New York of the September 11, 2001 attacks is being sent by the US State Department on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East, officials said on Tuesday, in a move that drew criticism from conservative lawmakers.
The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in America and promote religious tolerance, spokesman PJ Crowley said.
He said the imam had been on two similar trips and that plans for the upcoming tour predated the mosque controversy.
"We have a long-term relationship with him," Crowley told reporters, noting that Rauf had visited Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2007 and went to Egypt last January as part of an exchange program run by the State Department's Office of International Information Programs.
"His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well-known and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it's like to be a practicing Muslim in the United States," Crowley said.
Two leading Republican members of Congress, Republicans Ilean Ros-Lehtinen and Peter King, called government sponsorship of Rauf's trip "unacceptable" in a joint statement.
They said he had suggested in at least one interview that the United States was to blame for the September 11 attacks and that taxpayer money should not be used to fund the tour.
"The State Department's selection of Feisal Abdul Rauf to represent the American people through this program further calls into question the administration's policy and funding priorities," Ros-Lehtinen and King, who are their party's top-ranking members of the Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees, said in their statement.
Crowley said that during the trip Rauf will not be allowed to raise funds for the proposed Islamic Centre and mosque near ground zero that has drawn oppositionfrom some who say a mosque near the site is disrespectful to those who died in the terrorist attacks on New York's twin towers.
Crowley said the Obama administration has no position on Rauf's plans, which he termed a local zoning matter for New York. But he acknowledged that the State Department had posted a transcript of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's August 3 speech defending the project on a website that it runs for foreign audiences.
"We posted it because we thought it was useful for people overseas to understand perspectives on this issue," Crowley said. "We certainly support what the mayor was underscoring, which is the history of religious diversity and religious tolerance in his city."
In addition to the original English language version of Bloomberg's speech, the department has posted Arabic and Farsi translations of the remarks in which the mayor adamantly rejected opposition to the mosque.
The mosque, to be located two blocks from the twin towers site, would be part of a 13-story, $US100 million ($A109.06 million) Islamic centre that would feature a 500-seat auditorium, a swimming pool and a gym.
It's a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West.
The mosque has drawn vocal opposition from many relatives of the September 11 victims and local and national Republican leaders, including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, is also opposed.
US sending NY mosque imam to Mideast
Matthew Lee, AAP August 11, 2010, 7:27 am
The imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site in New York of the September 11, 2001 attacks is being sent by the US State Department on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East, officials said on Tuesday, in a move that drew criticism from conservative lawmakers.
The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in America and promote religious tolerance, spokesman PJ Crowley said.
He said the imam had been on two similar trips and that plans for the upcoming tour predated the mosque controversy.
"We have a long-term relationship with him," Crowley told reporters, noting that Rauf had visited Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2007 and went to Egypt last January as part of an exchange program run by the State Department's Office of International Information Programs.
"His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well-known and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it's like to be a practicing Muslim in the United States," Crowley said.
Two leading Republican members of Congress, Republicans Ilean Ros-Lehtinen and Peter King, called government sponsorship of Rauf's trip "unacceptable" in a joint statement.
They said he had suggested in at least one interview that the United States was to blame for the September 11 attacks and that taxpayer money should not be used to fund the tour.
"The State Department's selection of Feisal Abdul Rauf to represent the American people through this program further calls into question the administration's policy and funding priorities," Ros-Lehtinen and King, who are their party's top-ranking members of the Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees, said in their statement.
Crowley said that during the trip Rauf will not be allowed to raise funds for the proposed Islamic Centre and mosque near ground zero that has drawn oppositionfrom some who say a mosque near the site is disrespectful to those who died in the terrorist attacks on New York's twin towers.
Crowley said the Obama administration has no position on Rauf's plans, which he termed a local zoning matter for New York. But he acknowledged that the State Department had posted a transcript of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's August 3 speech defending the project on a website that it runs for foreign audiences.
"We posted it because we thought it was useful for people overseas to understand perspectives on this issue," Crowley said. "We certainly support what the mayor was underscoring, which is the history of religious diversity and religious tolerance in his city."
In addition to the original English language version of Bloomberg's speech, the department has posted Arabic and Farsi translations of the remarks in which the mayor adamantly rejected opposition to the mosque.
The mosque, to be located two blocks from the twin towers site, would be part of a 13-story, $US100 million ($A109.06 million) Islamic centre that would feature a 500-seat auditorium, a swimming pool and a gym.
It's a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West.
The mosque has drawn vocal opposition from many relatives of the September 11 victims and local and national Republican leaders, including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, is also opposed.
But do you not find it all very confusing? I mean, he was thoroughly (supposedly) checked out by both the Bush and the Obama adminstration. So this cannot even be about Republican or Democratic agenda's being served. And I find it hard to believe that neither administration would uncover anything suspicious, or would be willing to send this guy on these trips (he has been doing them on the US gov't behest) since 2007. I just can't figure this out...
Yes its clear enough to me Sara what his agenda is ,he says it himself for all to hear hes not moderate .....
If you're really interested in learning about this guy, watch these videos. This is a former terrorist. He speaks the language. He will tell you what this guy is saying to our enemies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1xtkVMvqo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGUT6X6079s
This one is quite an eye opener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDPMgBmB1s4
Just watch and judge for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1xtkVMvqo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGUT6X6079s
This one is quite an eye opener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDPMgBmB1s4
Just watch and judge for yourself.
Exactly how I feel...if it wasn't for his comments about 911, I too would fully believe he was a true moderate. But I for one have a hard time getting past those. I still wouldn't agree with the building of a mosque there as regardless of whether it was moderate or whatever, I just don't think that is the place. I personally feel the entire area should reflect what happened there...much like what they have done with Pearl Harbor. I guess that is probably not a reality though.
Although I don't question the fact that the threat of terrorist attacks is a real one...as has been proven time and time again, I do think there are certain politicians who do take advantage of that very real fear. I find that somewhat upsetting as it doesn't really help matters.
Although I don't question the fact that the threat of terrorist attacks is a real one...as has been proven time and time again, I do think there are certain politicians who do take advantage of that very real fear. I find that somewhat upsetting as it doesn't really help matters.
hyper sensitive , arent we all ..the loss of 3,000 Americans .... can make you like that ,
Your probably right about this guy being more moderate. I am going to do some homework on this cat and see what pops up. I am sure that after 9/11 Bush did his homework. But this guy did say some insensitive things that really draw a lot of attention his way whether he wanted it or not.
I think in a lot of instances that we as a people have become hyper-sensitive pertaining to issues like this, and it doesnt help when someone says controversial stuff like this guy did.....
I think in a lot of instances that we as a people have become hyper-sensitive pertaining to issues like this, and it doesnt help when someone says controversial stuff like this guy did.....
I did find out that the US gov't has been sending him on these trips since 2007. He was and is considered a moderate. It's interesting because he has been vetted by 2 administrations. There was a fair amount about this guy on CNN last night. Although he has made some rather controversial statements, apparantly he does a very good job of working with young Muslims and helping them avoid extremism. I don't know what to think to be honest. I think what he is doing overseas is a positive, but still have concerns about some of his comments. I think we will be hearing a whole lot more about this man in the following months. He does flat out deny any ties to terrorist organizations, and as I mentioned, was vetted by both the Bush and Obama administrations. I feel pretty confident that both (especially Bush as he was Pres. during 911) would be extremely thorough and more then likely find any ties if they existed. So while I still fully disagree with the building of this Mosque, perhaps this Imam is not quite as radical as I had initially thought. His comments about 911 still bother me a great deal though...I just don't know what to think.
I too would like to learn more about this guy, but Im afraid of what we might find. This guy is certainly outspoken, and has said some outlandish stuff about America, so why our government sent him as a representitive is beyond me. There has to be a better representitive of America within the Muslim faith, there just has to be.
Reportedly he financed the Flotilla that went to gaza recently and he has said on tape that Hammas is not a terrorist organisation,also said America was partly to blame for 9-11..It seems absurd and offensive for the US tax dollar to be funding this trip
I still find this Imam a very confusing individual. He has actually acted in this capacity for quite some time, and has had many "sessions" if you will with young muslim men about the dangers of becoming an extremist. He has claimed some success in this role and that is of course a positive. He also talks a great deal about the fact that the west has not declared war on Islam.
But then he turns around and makes extremely controversial, hurtful and just plain wrong statements about 911 and still has not necessarily publically come out against Hamas. That is what I meant in a previous post about him "speaking out of both sides of his mouth". I would love to know more about him.
But then he turns around and makes extremely controversial, hurtful and just plain wrong statements about 911 and still has not necessarily publically come out against Hamas. That is what I meant in a previous post about him "speaking out of both sides of his mouth". I would love to know more about him.
.Absolutely wrong, whats this administrations real agenda I wonder...
Thank You! WOW!!!
I'm not even sure where to start on how wrong this is. Can you say "separation of church and state"?
Could you imagine the uproar if Bush had sent a Southern Baptist delegation????
Could you imagine the uproar if Bush had sent a Southern Baptist delegation????
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