'Moderate' friends of terror: Daniel Pipes lists sins of Council on American-Islamic Relations

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations presents itself as just another civil-rights group. "We are similar to a Muslim NAACP," says spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. Its public language - about promoting "interest and understanding among the general public with regards to Islam and Muslims in North America" - certainly boosts an image of moderation.

That reputation has permitted CAIR to prosper since its founding in 1994, garnering sizeable donations, invitations to the White House, respectful media citations and a serious hearing by corporations.

In reality, CAIR is something quite different. For starters, it's on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. One indication came in October 1998, when the group demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy," finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims."

The same year, CAIR denied bin Laden's responsibility for the twin East African embassy bombings. As Hooper saw it, those explosions resulted from some vague "misunderstandings of both sides." (A New York court, however, blamed bin Laden's side alone for the embassy blasts.)

In 2001, CAIR denied his culpability for the Sept. 11 massacre, saying only that "if [note the "if"] Osama bin Laden was behind it, we condemn him by name." (Only in December was CAIR finally embarrassed into acknowledging his role.)

CAIR consistently defends other militant Islamic terrorists too. The conviction of the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing it deemed "a travesty of justice." The conviction of Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind sheikh who planned to blow up New York City landmarks, it called a "hate crime." The extradition order for suspected Hamas terrorist Mousa Abu Marook it labeled "anti-Islamic" and "anti-American."

Not surprisingly, CAIR also backs those who finance terrorism. When President Bush closed the Holy Land Foundation in December for collecting money he said was "used to support the Hamas terror organization," CAIR decried his action as "unjust" and "disturbing."

CAIR even includes at least one person associated with terrorism in its own ranks. On Feb. 2, 1995, U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White named Siraj Wahhaj as one of the "unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators" in the attempt to blow up New York City monuments. Yet CAIR deems him "one of the most respected Muslim leaders in America" and includes him on its advisory board.

For these and other reasons, the FBI's former chief of counterterrorism, Steven Pomerantz, concludes that "CAIR, its leaders and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups."

Nor is terrorism the only disturbing aspect of CAIR's record. Other problems include:

Intimidating moderate Muslims. In at least two cases (Hisham Kabbani and Khalid Durán), CAIR has defamed moderate Muslims who reject its extremist agenda, leading to death threats against them.

Embracing murderers. CAIR responded to the arrest and conviction of Jamil Al-Amin (the former H. Rap Brown) by praising him, raising funds for him and then denying his guilt after his conviction for the murder of an Atlanta policeman. Likewise with Ahmad Adnan Chaudhry of San Bernardino, Calif.: Disregarding his conviction for attempting murder, CAIR declared him "innocent" and set up a defense fund for him.

Promoting anti-Semitism. The head of CAIR's Los Angeles office, Hussam Ayloush, routinely uses the term "zionazi" when referring to Israelis. CAIR co-hosted an event in May 1998 at which an Egyptian militant Islamic leader, Wagdi Ghunaym, called Jews the "descendants of the apes."

Aggressive ambitions. As reported by the San Ramon Valley Herald, CAIR Chairman Omar M. Ahmad told a crowd of California Muslims in July 1998, "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth."

CAIR's real record is one of extremism. North American Muslims themselves are beginning to discover - and the government, leading media, churches, and businesses should follow - that CAIR represents not the noble civilization of Islam but an aggressive and radical strain similar to that which led to the suicide hijackings last September. CAIR must be shunned as a fringe group by responsible institutions and individuals throughout North America.

We in America, I'm not certain we're contemplating a worst case ground conflict with Iraq, Syria, and Iran, largely because I don't see the preperations. And that's where the enemy resides.

I admit, I don't want to get involved with Iran, it sounded a couple years ago like there was a generation gap that was threatening the fundamentalists...I'd like them to sit this out based on their history of enmity with Iraq. Syria is Israel Chow, and bon Appetit. I guess I'm repeating myself when I say that my concern is with missions and lunatics that are already deployed with improvised WMD's or worse. It sounds like Germany was playing Hostile-Youth Hostel for the 9/11 murderers. One thing I can agree with you on(I think) is that if the control link to real planners like Zawahiri is kept severed, then the foot soldiers are not going to be as successful as 9/11. God Willing, they'll ALL trip stepping off a curb and take out a mailbox or something. If we can get a real curriculum of how they were trained...Cyanide fabrication sounds like a common elective, we can guess the kind of improvised operations the lowlife infiltrators are likely to come up with while brainstorming around their tea sets(or at stripper clubs if they emulate Atta). That's the kind of background info I'd like to see the press step up to provide...What kind of shopping lists would these yokels know to order? How much cash are they likely to have on their person? Yada Yada

Okay, back to the Wahabbi home base question. In September, when the sun is low, we go into Iraq like the finger of God...Bunkers are no shelter/Hiding in the cities doesn't work because too few civilians are killed by precision bombs to turn Europe into an effective restraint on the US and Brits. The Saudi's turn up the volume on their Fatwas against Israel and the US...Mass protests erupt in all Islamic Populations. Maybe thats the time to tidy up our list of future deportees(and evaluating our foreign aid budget based on the quality of security provided our overseas personnel by host nations)...Pinpoint the provocateurs in the Mosques and demonstrations for surveillance. Again we see the advantage of a slow buildup...Waiting through summer allows more translators to graduate to help with the massive wave of new domestic Humint and Sigint generated by reactions to the "Genocide" in Iraq being perpetrated by the Israeli-loving US(smile when you say that). I think Bush is playing it cool with the Saudi's despite the Mullahs' rhetoric. Its possible that letting the Wahabbi's vent for 4 months might steal their thunder when the sky starts falling on Bagdad. It also allows time for coalitions to fall apart and economies to falter>(ie separating the targets from the chaff)...

So I'm back to thinking the INS restructuring had better be smart and quick, because rush hour is approaching. A good Bush paraphrase...The terrorists chose when to start this, but WE will end it at a time and place of our choosing. Or at least we'll pick when and where to strike the next blow, anyway.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.