Joe Kaufman asks some tough questions of Ahmed Bedier, the Communications Director for Florida CAIR, concerning Sami Al-Arian and reports to us in FrontPage, with thanks to EPG.
Ahmed Bedier, the Communications Director for the Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida) and the Director of CAIR’s Tampa office, was being featured in a panel discussion on U.S. security and civil liberties in Miami, so we hopped in the car and headed south. The speakers’ panel, which took place June 18, 2005, was being sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Besides Bedier, the event included a Florida State Representative, someone from Homeland Security, an ACLU rep and a Haitian advocate.Each participant took his/her turn at the podium to speak. You could tell, by the reactions from the crowd to the various speakers, where the audience’s sympathies lied. While Bedier, the ACLU rep and the Hatian advocate received much applause, the State Representative got a couple polite laughs and the Homeland Security agent found mostly cordial silence. This was basically a CAIR-skewed audience.
Bedier’s speech was a rail against the Patriot Act. He stated, “The editors of Esquire Magazine recently wrote, ‘If there’s one thing that always comes out of a terrible tragedy, it’s really dumb legislation.’” He said that “Muslims in America have been made the scapegoats in the witch-hunt that ensued [after 9/11].” He blamed September 11th on the U.S. government. He stated, “The bottom line is the Patriot Act is not working. And to simply give the power to renew it – it’s not the tools. The tools are you have to have better intelligence. The people that failed on 9/11 was the government.”
After the speeches, it was announced that the panel was going to take questions. I didn’t waste a moment; I quickly made my way to the mike up front.
KAUFMAN: “This question is for Ahmed Bedier from CAIR. When the media looks for a quote concerning Sami Al-Arian, they go to you. My question is, how did you become the spokesperson for the leader of the North American faction of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, one of the co-founders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad? And if [Al-Arian] is found guilty in the trial he is in right now in Tampa – where you’re from – will you, if he is found guilty, will you then still like this man and support him?
Bedier then proceeds to bob, weave and duck the question. Read it all.
"KAUFMAN: “This question is for Ahmed Bedier from CAIR. When the media looks for a quote concerning Sami Al-Arian, they go to you. My question is, how did you become the spokesperson for the leader of the North American faction of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, one of the co-founders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad? And if [Al-Arian] is found guilty in the trial he is in right now in Tampa – where you’re from – will you, if he is found guilty, will you then still like this man and support him?"
More Americans need to be like KAUFMAN
"He said that “Muslims in America have been made the scapegoats in the witch-hunt that ensued [after 9/11].” He blamed September 11th on the U.S. government. He stated, “The bottom line is the Patriot Act is not working."
Sounds like it is working.
Several things jumped out at me from the article. At the end of the session, Bedier had his hired man take photos of Mr. Kaufman, presumably a way to intimidate him. In the last few years, I have attended several public affairs events sponsored by the League of Women Voters. In two sessions, it was clear that the members of the League were not independent presenters but definitely had a point of view and favored certain speakers over others. Finally, when will CAIR be totally discredited? Will Mr. Nawash and Mr. Norquist, with their close ties to the White House, be able to promote their "Free Muslims" organization into the favorite Muslim group, called on by the media and government agencies like the FBI?
I also have to wonder why not TV is covering this trial, not even Fox. Are they afraid of lawsuits...or what gives?
>>"... The people that failed on 9/11 was the government."
...and let me guess: radical Islam had nothing to with it?
I actually sounds like Mr. Bedier is advocating a limited goverment, a la T. Jefferson. Lets start by 86-ing any government body spending our tax money on racial preferences... oops, I meant "civil rights".
Great observation, PJ. Gretta is all over it if it involves celebrities or sex, but here we have a case of moslem sedition, treason and terrorism and we get nothing. Is daily 24 hour live coverage from Aruba really necessary?
Here is a quote from CAIR that should be burned in the brain of every last American citizen:
“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of Scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”
Omar Ahmad – co founder of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Finally, when will CAIR be totally discredited?
Posted by: maryrose
When enough Kaufmans come forward.
Will Mr. Nawash and Mr. Norquist, with their close ties to the White House, be able to promote their "Free Muslims" organization into the favorite Muslim group, called on by the media and government agencies like the FBI?
If not enough Kaufmans come forward
I also have to wonder why not TV is covering this trial, not even Fox. Are they afraid of lawsuits...or what gives?
Posted by: PJ
REALLY!!!!
Here is a quote from CAIR that should be burned in the brain of every last American citizen:
“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of Scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”
Posted by: Madzionist
That's NOT ALL that should be burned into their minds!
009.123 O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you.
047.004 Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers in fight, smite at their necks. [Behead them!]
005.051 O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors {authorities]: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them for friendship is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.
Where is "Fair and Balanced" Fox?
..."Muslims in America have been made scapegoats after 9/11..."
They are not scapegoats. They are the enemy, plain and simple. They are the enemy of all of us. Let's fight them in every possible way. Expose the cult for what it is: Evil, filthy, oppressive and murderous.