Posted on 11/19/2001 3:58:05 PM PST by Ironword
President George W. Bush listens to Iman Abdullah Muhammad Khouj (L) as Bush hosts a traditional Ramadan dinner at the White House November 19, 2001. The White House called it an unprecedented gesture by the U.S. president, who emphasizes that the war in Afghanistan is not a war on Muslims. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Monday November 19 2:51 PM ET
Courting Muslims, Bush to Take Part in Ramadan Dinner
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) sits down with ambassadors from Muslim countries on Monday for a traditional Ramadan dinner as he courts Islamic support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
The White House called it an unprecedented gesture by the U.S. president, who emphasizes that the war in Afghanistan (news - web sites) is not a war on Muslims. ''We're a nation of many faiths,'' Bush told reporters before the dinner, which is part of a broader public relations campaign by the administration aimed at blunting criticism of the air strikes, which Washington refused to halt during the Muslim holy month.
``Out of this war had come a recognition of the importance of building relations with Muslim states, with Muslim countries,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) said. ``This is part of that.''
The White House expects 50 ambassadors from Muslim nations to gather in the East Room on Monday evening for prayers. Bush will join them afterward to break the sunrise to sundown fast with the customary Iftar meal in the State Dining Room.
Fleischer said it would be the first Ramadan dinner held at the White House and attended by a U.S. president. The Clinton administration had organized similar events at the State Department.
``The president, in his remarks, is going to talk about the importance of faith and the importance of tradition,'' Fleischer said. ``He will note how important the month of Ramadan is and the importance of respect for all.''
The Ramadan dinner follows criticism that the Bush administration has not been paying enough attention to the public relations side of its war on terrorism and the Taliban.
It comes as U.S. bombers struck at Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan and around Kunduz in the north, in a drive to track down Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the Saudi-born militant accused of masterminding the Sept. 11 hijack attacks, and to defeat his long-time protectors, the strictly Muslim Taliban.
Fleischer defended Bush's decision to press forward with the military campaign during Ramadan.
``I think most American Muslims want to defend this country, too. It's their country as well. And they're very pleased to see that the president has been resolute in taking action to protect this country,'' Fleischer said.
In addition to the Ramadan dinner, the State and Defense Departments will hold high profile meetings with Muslim leaders and business executives to highlight the Taliban's oppression of women in Afghanistan.
First lady Laura Bush said in a Reuters interview on Monday that a post-Taliban government in Kabul should ``absolutely'' include women. The Taliban barred women from working outside the home, attending school or leaving their homes unless accompanied by a husband, father, brother or son.
Also on Monday, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew Natsios gave Bush a progress report on U.S. efforts to rush food and other humanitarian aid to the Afghan people before the onset of winter.
``The White House is setting a table, not only for ourselves domestically, but for other nations, for the starving and the hungry of Afghanistan,'' Fleischer said.
Wow! You're right! I wonder what he's thinking...
So's Tex-Mex . . .
I think the two Muslims are praying . . . Bush and Powell have that "Oh s%#@" kinda look.
That's fine with me, I enjoy life in our civil society. But if these folks are invited to pray to a nonexistent, ritualistic deity in the White House, then so should the Wiccans, the witches, the Satanists, etc.
Why did I listen to Pop?
-penny
If that were the case, they wouldn't have come to the White House.
When David ordered the census contrary to the will of God, the people reaped the whirlwind.
I looked for the menu ... like the one served for Putin ... "mesquite barbecued tenderloin and pecan pie" but couldn't find it.
2 Kings 1:10
Only if they are Christians.
One has to laugh at these creeps pretending to a "peaceful" religion. In their homelands, Christians are butchered by their governments daily, and these fellows stateside never say boo about it.
Had to look that up. Hmmmmmmmm . . . . "Their foot shall slip in due time."
I wish he'd quit buoying an irrational, copycat, ritualistic, false religion.
You just had to remind me of that, I was already worried...
-penny
Lighten up. You are being a bit obnoxious on this thread IMO. In any event, you are just going to have to get used to the fact that the White House will have prayers of those other than Christians.
I suppose you're right. After all, when Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world, he offered ALL, none excluded, because they were in this time his to give.
Bush Honors Islam Holy Month
Updated: Mon, Nov 19 8:34 PM EST
By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Reaching out to the world's Muslims, President Bush hosted a Ramadan break-the-fast dinner Monday at the White House.
"I appreciate your support" for the war against terrorism, the president said in brief remarks in the State Dining Room before representatives of 53 Muslim nations.
"Tonight that campaign continues in Afghanistan so that the people of Afghanistan will soon know peace," said Bush. "The terrorists have no home in any faith. Evil has no holy days."
The administration's message is a counterpoint to claims made by suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, who accuses the United States of waging a war against Islam.
Several senior officials in the administration attended the event, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, Attorney General John Ashcroft and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Also in attendance were ambassadors and diplomats from throughout the Muslim world, including Rostom Al-Zoubi, the Syrian ambassador, and Hasan Abdel Rahman, chief representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Libya, Iran and Iraq did not send representatives.
Bush said the United States was proud to be playing a leading role in a humanitarian effort to feed the Afghan people at the same time American warplanes bomb the Taliban.
"My administration is committed to help reconstruct that country and to support a stable government that represents all the people of Afghanistan," he said.
Bush bowed his head but did not close his eyes during a prayer offered by Imam Abdullah Muhammad Khouj, who asked Allah to "make us true believers."
Though Bush declined to halt bombing during Ramadan, which began last week, he is emphasizing his administration's humanitarian efforts in the region. Those efforts were the public focus of a Cabinet meeting Monday.
"This good nation is doing everything we can to move enormous amounts of food into the areas where people are likely to starve," Bush said after the session.
On the lawn of the White House, the administration showcased piles of flour, wheat, cornmeal, blankets and coats like those the United States is sending Afghanistan.
"The White House is setting a table, not only for ourselves domestically, but for other nations, for the people of Afghanistan, for the starving and the hungry of Afghanistan," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Bombing in Afghanistan has slowed in recent days, largely because of a scarcity of targets. Asked whether the White House "iftar" - the evening meal that breaks the fast - was meant to stem criticism of the continued attacks, Fleischer said: "I think most American Muslims want to defend this country, too. It's their country as well."
During Ramadan, believers abstain from all food, drink, smoking and other pleasures during daylight. Special dishes are served after prayers in the evening.
For much of Bush's first year in office, relations were poor between him and Muslims, who were offended when they could not secure a meeting with him. Tensions rose in June when Vice President Dick Cheney canceled an appearance with them.
Later that month, a group of Muslim leaders walked out of a White House meeting, angered when a Secret Service officer ordered one of them out of the building. The Secret Service and a White House official later apologized.
Since he began a military, financial and political campaign against terrorists, Bush has gone out of his way to make clear that the effort is not directed at Islam, and to seek the support of Muslims at home and abroad.
But he rejected suggestions that Monday's event was purely symbolic.
"No, it's real," he said after issuing the annual Thanksgiving pardon for a turkey named Liberty. "We are a nation of many faiths."
Bush is apparently the first president to host iftar.
In 1998 and 1999, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addressed State Department meals marking iftar.
In 1999, President Clinton addressed Muslims with a videotaped message in honor of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day feast celebrating the end of Ramadan. First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton led White House celebrations of that holiday several years in a row. Last year, President Clinton met with Muslim leaders to mark Ramadan.
Not to worry. Reliable sources have informed me that the EPA has been summoned to do a total environmental sweep of the White House grounds. EPA has contracted with Terminex, Black Flag, and Raid to ensure that white House grounds will be cleansed before mid-night.
Cheney and Rummy are still sharpening the Eagle's talons, under the watchful eye of W.
Hawks, Perigrines, Falcons, and ground force Wolverines will be doing some serious damage soon.
Merry Bombadan
New Testament also: "avoid things strangled, and meats sacrificed to idols" (a rough paraphrase).
I hope W. didn't eat any of that food.
Why no barf alert on this?
I hear ya, friend, but it is God who declares the victor of battles. God help our troops.
Now Bush and Powell are sticking it to Israel to abandon the West Bank. This stinks.
He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Islam parts ways with Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman.
Ishmael was indeed materially blessed by God, 'tis true, but the promise does not extend through Ishmael, as you note. And the Almighty never titles himself with the name of Ishmael. And that is why Muslims are eternally bent on destroying Jews. They will never be otherwise.
No one is born righteous; salvation is offered through faith in the Messiah. Islam is simply a false religion.
It would seem that the PR strategy makes sense, but your 99.9% figure is WAY off. Try doing some reasearch before vomiting out uninformed statements, hogboy.
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