Front Page Magazine, May 26, 2003:
Though the word Islamic appears in its title, authentic religious ends are absent from CAIRs activities. Rather than working to improve the training of imams and muftis, they mobilized them for political goals. In this way, they sought to introduce extremist activities based in the Middle East into the American heartland. But they did not run candidates in U.S. elections on a pro-Hamas [!] ticket. Rather, they lobbied behind the scenes to demand special consideration for their agenda by media and government. They did not make open claims for Muslim causes. Rather, they stressed ‘sensitivity’ to ‘Muslim feelings.’ They did not propose meaningful political discussion or interfaith dialogue. Rather, they complained about injuries allegedly done to Muslims, which must be recognized and apologized for before any dialogue takes place. They purported to know the feelings and opinions of all Muslims, and arrogated to themselves the right to speak for all Muslims.
CAIR has also engaged in extensive campaigns of personal defamation and intimidation targeting dissenters against extremist control over American Islam. Its methods are anything but subtle, usually featuring peremptory demands and even threats to other public organizations, and until recently it was notably successful. Although its Islam is Wahhabi, it sought to represent all Muslims in their relations with America as if practicing religious diplomacy comparable to that of the Vatican, the worldwide center of the Catholic Church.
A lot of claims that it is Wahabbi but over the years all of its efforts have been to benefit Shiite Iran.