"What's it going to take for you to 'get it,' a mushroom cloud over Miami?"

Andrew Whitehead of Anti-CAIR has sent this letter to my friend S. I. Rosenbaum, the St. Petersburg Times "journalist," about her recent article about Joe Kaufman and me -- about which I wrote yesterday:

Dear Ms. Rosenbaum,
I’ve read your column, “Are bloggers against hate, or feeding it?”

In your column, you attempt to paint both Joe Kaufman of Americans Against Hate and Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch as something they are not...in short, you use inuendo, unsupported by facts or any real research whatsoever to justify your preconceived notions of what Joe and Robert do.

Your cheap shot at two fine Americans who are standing up and doing something that you so-called “journalists” in the press should be doing is not only an insult to the profession of journalism; it directly endangers our country by blinding unknowing Americans to the threat of radical Islam. The threat is real; it is here; and it will kill you.

As for quoting Ahmed Bedier of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)...do you really know anything about him or CAIR? Are you aware that CAIR’s current executive director is a former spokesman for the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP), an Islamic terrorist group that has direct ties to Hamas? Do you have any idea how many Americans have been terror-murdered in the name of Allah by Hamas? Do you know how many CAIR officials are currently in prison on terrorism charges?

I am proud to know of Joe’s and Robert’s work and to have shared my thoughts with them. I’d rather have the two of them standing behind me than any thousand so-called “journalists.”

May I suggest you visit the website of Dr. Daniel Pipes for another perspective on the threat of radical Islam?

You’d have thought 9-11 would have been a wake-up call to America’s journalists. What’s it going to take for you to “get it,” a mushroom cloud over Miami?

I’m not asking you to take a propaganda line against Islam; I’m only asking that you tell the truth.

Respectfully,
Andrew Whitehead
Director, Anti-Council on American-Islamic Relations (ACAIR)

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14 Comments

Alexandra von Maltzan | January 17, 2006 7:21 AM

All Things Beautiful TrackBack It's All About The Oil Stupid

Hugh | January 17, 2006 9:00 AM

Rosenbaum is simply one more young journalist, who rushes from story to story, whose education has been imperfect (what do you think they teach in journalism schools, after all?), and who was never asked to demonstrate a mastery of subjects relevant to the subjects she covers, because she covers so much.

There is no "test" for journalists. No one has asked the deplorable, and very stupid, exceedingly stupid, Tom Friedman (who gets for one lecture much more than I make in a year, and my distribution-of-wealth-to-the-meritorious heart beats with fury every time I think about it) to pass a general exam on world history.

He writes about economics with no sure understanding of it. He writes about places called "China" and "India" after breathless visits with "folks" in Shanghai or Bangalore.

He writes about the Middle East, his big topic, the topic that brought him fame and fortune, and about which he knows essentially nothiing, a "mere" reporter, who cannot make sense of the facts he once reported -- now it is all me, me, me, Tom Friedman and my, Tom Friedman's, anecdotes about the world.

Think up five questions you might want to ask Tom Friedman about the Middle East. Simple questions.

I'll give you five:

1) What happened in Iraq in 1933?

2) Describe the life of Nuri as-Said.

3) What is a "hadith"? How do Muslims decide which Hadith are authentic, and which are not?

4) Describe the attempts to "reform" Islam over the past 1350 years, and the specific reforms that have been achieved.

5) What is the theological difference between a Sunni Muslim and a Shi'a Muslim? HOw do they differ in their view of non-Muslims?

That's a start.

Anyone think Tom Friedman would achieve a score higher than 0?

Why should young Miss Rosenbaum be any better? She reflects, and is a victim of, the Spirit of the Age.

exposesithlords | January 17, 2006 9:19 AM

This CAIR quote is brilliant when referring to the koran:

"there are hundreds of thousands of verses that talk about peace."

He must have a huge koran compared to me...

He didn't say what they were talking about peace - I mean lots of moslems talk about peace in Iraq - after they have seen every competing moslem sect slaughtered.

It is a shame comedians are too scared to satirise Islam - it would be so easy with quotes like that...

Hugh | January 17, 2006 9:31 AM

Five more questions for the egregious Friedman:

1) Define "taqiyya."

2) What is "naskh"?

3) What is Firdowsi's "Shahnameh" and what conceivable connection does it have with the Berber riots in Tizi-Ouzo within the past decade?

4) Who is Al-Ghazzali? What did he write about Jihad?

5) What did Ibn Hazm write about the property of Infidels?

jay | January 17, 2006 10:25 AM

And after the cloud, the same people whining like Belafonte, will be screaming, "HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?"

Oh, wait. Never mind. Been there not too long ago.

Dr. Pepper | January 17, 2006 10:45 AM

The answer to the OQ, for millions of ordinary Westerners as well as "elites", is, alas, "Yes."

GrimReaperxxx | January 17, 2006 11:32 AM

Ms. Rosenbaum must have been the society columnist or must have been in charge of lost dogs or grocery coupons for the Saint Pete Times. Unless she has an agenda, it would be impossible for a responsible journalist to have missed the be-headings, human bombs, etc. But I guess the mentality is akin to asking the rape victim, What did you do to encourage the crime, after all were'nt you asking for it? Maybe Ms Rosenbaum will tell us to relax and just enjoy it when radical jihadists send some sort of WMD to a US city.
Recently, agents of jihad present in the US had to change their procedures and buy prepaid cell phones. The numbers involved indicate that we should be more than a little concerned, people that would wish us harm are living amongst us.
But then, just who are these people that Ms Rosenbaum is defending? These are not outstanding members of our community and add a lot to our community. I quote her own words,"Daniel McBride, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, ...(portion deleted)... especially last May when a member was arrested on terrorism-related charges. (McBride himself is facing criminal insurance fraud charges, but that case is unrelated to his religion.) I guess McBride was listening when an Iman proclaimed that it is OK for "true believers" to do crimes based in fraud, like identity theft angainst non-believers. Nice.

Alarmed Pig Farmer | January 17, 2006 11:33 AM

What’s it going to take for you to “get it,” a mushroom cloud over Miami?

What makes anyone think that'll make the difference?

Once an American city is destroyed, with hundreds of thousands dead, some tentative questioning of Islam might be permitted for the ensuing few days. Tim Russert may even use a sharp voice in questioning his good buddy Ibrahim Hooper. But then Tim will gather himself, apologize to Ibrahim, and offer him a deep massage backstage.

However, destroyed American city or no: the Twin Cowers of Islam As Religion and Moderate Moslem Man must and will be left standing, unquestioned.

CelticCoyote | January 17, 2006 11:49 AM

It is a shame comedians are too scared to satirise Islam - it would be so easy with quotes like that...
Posted by: exposesithlords

I two guys saw on FoxNews this morning who are part of the Axis of Terror Comedy Tour. Their web site is www.axisofevilcomedy.com. These guys were talking about all the MSM bad stuff and how they never show the good stuff -- like iranians baking cookies. Weird!

Carolyn2 | January 17, 2006 11:52 AM

This woman sees herself as the heroic protector of the minority (muslims) against the awful bigots. I really don't know if these people will ever "get it". As long as our institutions of higher learning insist on teaching that the US is evil, and we as the white race are the most evil people who ever populated the earth, I don't see how this attitude will change.

Ironman Hondo | January 17, 2006 12:22 PM

Ms. Rosenbuam is very delusional if she thinks that the Islamics are a peaceful, indiginous people. Mr Spencer and Mr Kaufman are doing a great service for this counrty. Ms. Rosenbuam is just burying her head in the sand with the rest of the mainstream media. The Islamofeces would kill her quicker than they would anyone else. Daniel Pearl is a fine exmple of love that the Islamofeces have for journalists. Unless she sold out to Islam!!! And lately, it seems that our media is quick to do just that!!! And not be ashamed!!! Slam President Bush, but praise
bin Laden. Accuse our military of intimidation,
but praise the insurgents as "freedom fighters"!!!
She wants to put CAIR on a pedestal, then let her.
When "We the People" get tired of the seditous Muslims and send them on their way back to Islamofecesland, she can go with them. That way she can be free of the restrictions of the male dominated culture of America, that only constricts her objectivity because of her gender. May be the Muslims will respect her as a woman. May be they'll treat her as an equal with Muslim men.
Or may be she'll get the full Islamic treatment. Treated as property of Islamic javamen. To be raped at their pleasure. Or may be they'll make her strap on a homicide bombers vest and board a
crowded bus and blow herself up. Or may be they'll just shoot her in the head with an AK 47 for exposing an ankle or something.
Mr Spencer and Mr Kaufman are the true media. Reporting to the world the news. Raw and unbias.
Nuts to fair and balanced!!! (No disrespect to FOX News Channel) Just the facts!!! Thank you Mr. Whitehead for being the great American that you are.

Don Miguel | January 17, 2006 5:24 PM

Hugh:

I have to disagree with you on one point. She is not "a victim of the Spirit of the Age," she is an enabler of it. If she is a victim, it is only as a victim of herself; her inability at clear and critical thinking make her a prisoner of her own ideology.

Nariz | January 17, 2006 9:42 PM

Hugh, of your ten questions I was able to answer the first five, and the first two of the last five, but could you fill me in on the last three. I have read some of Ferdowsi's(nee Abdul Qassim Mansur) 60,000 line Shahnameh (how many JW'ers have read anything) but I have no idea of it's connection to the Berber Riots and you need to fill us in on al Ghazali and ibn Hazm (be warned, bring those up in a conversation with a Muslim and they will obfuscate, deny and denounce their authority to speak for Islam).. obfuscation and ad hominem are part and parcel of Islamic "science" and muslims, especially scholars, are taught throughout their years in Madrassa and Islamic Universities, how to obfuscate, confuse, deflect,distract and befuddle the minds of kaffirs.. and they are pretty damn good at it, as it takes strong will and persistence to stay up with them in debate.

profitsbeard | January 17, 2006 9:50 PM

Miami is about 999th down the Jihad Targeting List.

What kind of empty threat is this?

They're more worried about SPF than WMD.

FrontPageMag.com

Books by Robert Spencer

The Muslim Brotherhood in America, by Robert Spencer

Islamophobia: Thoughtcrime of the Totalitarian Future

Muslim Persecution of Christians, by Robert Spencer

The Ground Zero Mosque: Second Wave of the 9/11 Attacks

“My comrade-in-arms, my pal, my buddy.”
— Oriana Fallaci

“Robert Spencer incarnates intellectual courage when, all over the world, governments, intellectuals, churches, universities and media crawl under a hegemonic Universal Caliphate’s New Order. His achievement in the battle for the survival of free speech and dignity of man will remain as a fundamental monument to the love of, and the self-sacrifice for, liberty.”
— Bat Ye’or

“Robert Spencer is indefatigable. He is keeping up the good fight long after many have already given up. I do not know what we would do without him. I appreciate all the intelligence and courage it takes to keep going despite the appeasement of the West.”
— Ibn Warraq

“America's most informed, fearless, and compelling voice on modern jihadism.”
— Andrew C. McCarthy, Senior Fellow at National Review Institute

“Robert Spencer is the leading voice of scholarship and reason in a world gone mad. If the West is to be saved, we will owe Robert Spencer an incalculable debt.”
— Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs

"The consummate Islam critic and expert." — Bruce Bawer

“Over the years, we have become friends, and I have received his assistance on several pieces of legislation I proposed.”
— Former Congressman Tom Tancredo

“Few people are capable of applying scholarship, analytical reasoning, and objectivity to their topic -- while simultaneously being readable and witty -- as can Robert Spencer.”
— Raymond Ibrahim

“A national treasure...The acclaimed scholar of Islam.”
— Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy

“I am indeed honored to call him my friend.”
— Brad Thor, novelist

“A top American analyst of Islam....A serious scholar...I learn from him.”
— Daniel Pipes

“A brilliant scholar and writer.”
— Douglas Murray

"One of my best teachers."
— Ashraf Ramelah, Voice of the Copts

“Thank God there’s at least one man with balls left in the West.”
— Kathy Shaidle, Five Feet of Fury

“I read people like [Mark Steyn] and Bob Spencer and the rest of them, and I say, ‘Boortz, you’re pretending you’re an author. These people really are. They really write some entertaining, some standup stuff.’”
— Neal Boortz

“Robert Spencer is the Stephen King of Jihad.”
— Chris Gaubatz, Muslim Mafia

“Armed with facts and fearlessness, Spencer stands up for Western civilization.”
— Michelle Malkin

“Widely read in conservative foreign policy circles.”
— New York Times

“Widely read in many quarters in Washington.”
— Washington Post

“A canny operative who likely has the inside track on the State Department’s Middle East affairs desk should the tea party win the White House.”
— New York Magazine

“A hero of the American right.”
— Karen Armstrong

"The leading anti-Islamic intellectual in the United States....The go-to Islam expert for the right wing."
— Salon Magazine

“Robert Spencer is an Edward Said turned upside down.”
— Stephen Suleyman Schwartz

“One of the nation's most notorious Islamophobes.”
— Hamas-linked CAIR

"Geller and Spencer are probably the most important propagandizing Islamophobes in the world. These people's voices speak very loudly — not just here in the United States but overseas."
— Heidi Beirach, Southern Poverty Law Center

“Satanic ignoramus.”
— Khaleel Mohammed

“The Likud anti-Christ.”
— Dar al-Hayat newspaper (Saudi Arabia)

“Zionist Crusader, missionary of hate, counter-Islam consultant.”
— Al-Qaeda’s Adam Gadahn, “Azzam the American”