Watson: Dear CAIR

Longtime Jihad Watch reader DC Watson writes this letter to the Council on American Islamic Relations:

Dear Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR): Asalaamu-Alaikum. You know, for a decade now, it seems you've worked hard to gain respect for Muslims in America. Yet many unflattering articles have been published about your organization. These have provided facts about your activities and statements you've made, including your criticism not only of Americans exercising their right to free speech, but also of American governmental policies. They've also pointed out some questionable ties some people in your organization seem to have with terrorist groups. All this has brought scrutiny to your doorstep.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=6473
http://frontpagemag.com/articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=9981
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1312388/posts

This column isn't about the Muslims in America who are decent and peaceful Muslims; it's about your approach to American society.

Although you have harshly criticized the American government, you still call meetings with its officials -- not to address strategies to improve your relations with the American people, but to express your concern that so many Americans have negative views of Islam. Instead of working to help Muslims integrate and coexist with non-Muslims in America, it appears that you've taken the back door approach with the State Department. Are you hoping to stifle the right to free speech in America, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment?

While your organization's name includes the word "relations", one would be hard pressed to identify your efforts to improve relations with the American public. Since the Cornell University poll was recently conducted and published, which announced that 44% of Americans would limit Muslim civil rights, you have done nothing to earn the trust of the American people. Instead, you've once again called on the American government to resolve the "nagging issue" of "Islamophobia."

http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec04/Muslim.Poll.bpf.html

http://www.prnewswire.com

Why the government entertains your organization is anyone's guess. Perhaps they're simply keeping their friends close, and their enemies closer. But whatever the reason, government officials must be aware that at least part of the friction between Muslims and the American public can be blamed on your name-calling, insults, and intimidation tactics.

Sure, America has its share of easy-going, kindhearted people. That's a wonderful part of our culture. America also has its fair share of "smash mouth" heavy hitters, who are not intimidated and will not play the Dhimmi under any circumstances.

Will you also dismiss my words here as "hate speech," or "Islamophobia"?

But what about the hate speech coming from Muslim "guest speakers" on
college campuses, Imams in American mosques, and Islamic educators in
madrassas, funded from abroad, who preach hatred for Americans, Jews,
Christians and Western culture while standing on American soil?

Some of our campuses have opened their arms to Muslim speakers who have attempted to spark a revolution against the United States, assisted by radical college professors who seem to believe everything is America's fault. This is sedition, and it should be closely monitored and dealt with appropriately.

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/39658.htm

http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=83762

Although members of your organization have made very clear their defense for arrested and convicted terror suspects, as well as their intention of establishing an Islamic United States in public and on the record, you call on the government and media to refrain from publishing or airing statements or programs that are negative of Islam, or call for the firing of employees that make such statements.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=6473

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/888598/posts

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c172.html

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/news1/an010929-14.html

http://www.anti-cair-net.org/press_021_03

What about the ruckus your organization created over the Fox series "24," and the fact that a Muslim family in America was depicted as a terrorist cell? Why should the star of the series, Kiefer Sutherland, have to ask Fox viewers to keep in mind that the American Muslim community stands with America in its war on terrorism?

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1310486/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1328033/posts

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/004986.php

Three questions:

1) Do you at CAIR honestly think that Americans aren't intelligent enough to understand that not all Muslims are terrorists?

2) Are you at CAIR telling the American people that even with the raids on mosques and Muslim charities, and terror-related convictions inside American borders, that Islamic terror cells simply do not exist here, and never did?

3) If this is the case, should we visit you at CAIR every time another terror arrest is made in the U.S., holding you responsible? Is that what you're telling us?

Rather than focusing your energy on a television show, shouldn't the behavior of prominent Muslims be more of a concern to you, since you focus so diligently on how American Muslims are perceived?

Just days ago, a Muslim speaker named Amir-Abdel Malik-Ali, announced as "a specialist in international politics," gave a speech at the University of California at Irvine. He offered the following commentary while standing on American soil:

"And we have to sacrifice too, while we live here, in Am-ri-ka. The belly of the beast. The number one imperialist in the world. But, let's call it a state, ok? And then you go get some Uncle Tom Palestinian leaders to fall for this okey-doke. Two state solution is off the table. No. One state. And check this out! One state majority rules. Us, the Muslims."

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=14593_Amrika_the_Belly_of_the_Beast#comments

Hatem Bazian, University of California at Berkeley Lecturer in Islamic studies, delivered a call for an uprising against the United States in April 2004, again on American soil:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2004_05.php

The CAIR website lists an abundance of articles, but no condemnation from you of the statements made by Ward Churchill, Bazian, or Malik-Ali. Perhaps you just didn't have enough information to comment on these matters, as with the genocide in Sudan?

Yet you certainly had the time to research the comments made by one of our decorated American war heroes, did you not? You even made time to speak to the press about him, correct? United States Marine Corps Lt. General James Mattis, who led troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, made statements that apparently offended those bothersome fragile feelings:

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050203/2005-02-03T200920Z_01_N03377963_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-MARINES-GENERAL-DC.html

Of course, this officer, who was obviously defeating Muslim terrorists near the threshold of hell, is a true American patriot. He has fought to preserve our right to free speech. Yet in textbook fashion, you condemn him, and even called on the Pentagon to discipline him. Never mind that this man has won the Bronze Star! He has offended a Muslim group, and now you seek to damage his career. Said CAIR's Nihad Awad: "We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a sporting event. These disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life."

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1425&theType=NR

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=35975&theType=NB

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=36015&theType=NB

Actually, what we don't need, Mr. Awad, is you and your organization
telling us what we need or don't need. The Taliban in Afghanistan committed atrocities for years until the U.S. removed them from power. They hanged people from light posts and cranes, slashed throats, beat and shot women, burned entire families alive, and perpetrated many other horrific acts:

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/11/22/ret.wh.taliban.attrocities/

http://pz.rawa.org/rawa/b-herald.htm

If you have issues with the Taliban's demise and how the General spoke of them, what does this say about you? Instead of criticizing an American who has risked his life so that you can live here in freedom and make your remarks, why don't you and your friends put on the uniform and head to the Middle East to fight Muslim terrorists and terror-sponsoring states?

Intentionally or unintentionally, your comments have provided some insight as to where your allegiances lie. This is disgraceful, since you reside here. Thank God there are no plans to discipline Lt. General Mattis.

It seems that your group also has issues regarding the Guantanamo
inmates. Remember them? They were picked up on the battlefield fighting for the Taliban and al Qaeda against American forces. Why are you so concerned with their detention?

Although your group didn't write these columns, you certainly haven't
backed away from posting them on your website. One column was entitled "I entered the hellish world of Gitmo." Apparently the writer didn't realize that Camp X-ray is a prison, not a resort. Assuming the story is even true, the article mentions a "hot" interrogation room. Tell me, could that room have possibly been near the temperature that two airliners loaded with jet fuel created when they were flown into the WTC towers?

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1406987,00.html

Since you, Mr. Awad, your organization, Hatem Bazian, and Mr. "Am-ri-ka" Amir-Abdel Malik-Ali seem so comfortable with microphone in hand, please consider this invitation. Instead of criticizing America, insulting my fellow American citizens, and questioning our culture while disrespecting American troops, hasn't the time come for a face-off in a public forum, so that your tactics can be addressed properly?

Should we now agree to go head to head in a debate, once and for all, in front of the nation?

Forget about the frivolous lawsuits, or running to the State Department. The Islamophobia play selection doesn't apply here either. I have friends who are Muslim. I've dined on Halal foods, and I keep a statue that my friend Shiehab's family made by hand in Africa.

You've treaded on beloved ground, without kindness. However, I'm afraid the attack dog routine hasn't worked on everyone. I'm not a Middle East scholar, or an expert on Islam, so scoring a decisive victory should be quite easy for you, shouldn't it? The question is, are you game? Let's just settle this. Simply send an E-mail to the following website directors so that we can iron out the scheduling and availability details.

director@jihadwatch.org

faithfreedom3@yahoo.com