Islamic supremacist Ground Zero mega-mosque Imam Rauf starts U.S.-paid Middle East tour

The pro-Sharia, anti-free speech Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf begins his tour on the dhimmi dime. "'Ground Zero' Imam Starts US-Paid Middle East Tour," by Theunis Bates for AOL News, August 20 (thanks to Twostellas):

(Aug. 20) -- The Muslim cleric behind the planned "Ground Zero" Islamic center is in the Middle East, sent by the State Department on a trip intended to smooth relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world while adding to the uproar back home.

A day after arriving in Bahrain, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told The Associated Press today that he hopes his tour would draw attention to the need for America and the Middle East to battle fundamentalism together.

"This issue of extremism is something that has been a national security issue -- not only for the United States but also for many countries and nations in the Muslim world," he said after leading Friday prayers at a mosque in Bahrain's capital Manama. "This is why this particular trip has a great importance, because all countries in the Muslim world -- as well as the Western world -- are facing this ... major security challenge."

What does he mean by "extremism"?

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, executive director of the Cordoba Initiative, greets worshippers inside a Muharraq, Bahrain, mosque. Rauf, the imam leading plans for an Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York, is on a U.S.-funded outreach tour to Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to talk about religious tolerance in America.

Rauf also plans stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Details about the imam's plans in each country have not been released by the State Department, although spokesman P.J. Crowley said Rauf would be giving a series of lectures on religious co-existence and life as a Muslim in America. He added that the imam might also discuss the Islamic cultural center that the cleric's organization, the Cordoba Initiative, plans to build in lower Manhattan, two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he talks about the ongoing debate within the United States, as an example of our emphasis on religious tolerance and resolving questions that come up within the rule of law," Crowley said.

Of course, this is not an issue of religious tolerance, but Crowley is Obama's man.

Rauf's government-funded trip has come in for intense criticism from opponents of the so-called Ground Zero mosque. Earlier this week, Republican Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida and Peter King of New York expressed outrage that the State Department was funding a figure they consider to be a radical. (Rauf has been criticized for refusing to openly condemn the Palestinian extremist movement Hamas).

"It is unacceptable that U.S. taxpayers are being forced to fund Feisal Abdul Rauf's trip to the Middle East," their statement read. "The U.S. should be using public diplomacy programs to combat extremism, not endorse it."

The trip is expected to cost the State Department about $16,000.

However, this isn't the imam's first government-sponsored tour of the region. He traveled twice to the Middle East during the George W. Bush administration and once earlier this year....

Bush shouldn't have sent him out, either.

The State Department also tried to dismiss concerns that Rauf might use the tour to raise funds for the mosque. "This is what we tell anyone who participates in one of our expert trips: They're there to provide perspective on behalf of the United States, and they're not to engage in personal business as part of the program that they're participating in," said Crowley. "He has agreed to that."

And who's checking?

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If they build it He will come....

As well as next month's anniversary of 9/11, there's a more imminent though lesser known Islamic anniversary - the murderous child-rape orgy at Beslan in early September 2004.

Muslim terrorists killed and tortured countless victims. Young girls were raped with gun barrels and other objects. Children were forced to drink their own urine before being executed. And to make matters worse, the MSM tried to cover up all Islamic involvement, and have done so ever since.

Both anniversaries provide grim but necessary 'teaching moments' to educate the American people about Islam. We owe it to the victims to tell the truth and clear through the Islamic lies.

The 9/11 attack wasn't an abberation caused by 'militants' who had hijacked the 'peaceful religion' of Islam. The attack was a direct consequence of standard Islamic teaching on the need to kill Harbis.

Terrorism and intimidation are essential features of Islam without which it cannot survive.

Similarly, the sadism and pedophilia of Beslan stem directly from the example set by the 'Perfect Man', the murdering, child-raping false prophet Mohammed.

In commemorating these anniversaries, we need to avoid just preaching to choir. We need to copy the tactics of the jihadists with their mosques in every town and 'Think Globally, Act Locally'.

The blogosphere is fine for communicating globally with other Islamically Aware bloggers, but to reach the bulk of the people we also need to use local forums, online local news media, social networks etc.

All necessary information is HERE - http://crombouke.blogspot.com/2010/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-islam.html - Go forth and multiply it!

Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer have stated on many occasions they do not hate Muslims. It's that "extremism thing" they have issue with. They should be the ones toting the rock for America in the Middle East, not some confused physicist turned holy man.

The best way to combat extremism is to make sure that Rauf has a one-way ticket.

Waffa Sultan would be a far better choice to send, as an emissary, than Rauf.

Extremist[sic] Failed typing class. I blame IBM.

"This issue of extremism is something that has been a national security issue -- not only for the United States but also for many countries and nations in the Muslim world," he said after leading Friday prayers at a mosque in Bahrain's capital Manama. "This is why this particular trip has a great importance, because all countries in the Muslim world -- as well as the Western world -- are facing this ... major security challenge."

This guy is Rasool Obama +...He thinks it is his job to save the world...For Allah...'A wolf in sheep's clothing come to fool many'...

everything about this episode stinks the place out.
still the cordoba init.,
still in denial,
still our fault- "ongoing debate within the United States, as an example of OUR emphasis on religious tolerance"
the problem isn t in the united states, about religous tolerance, as far as islam, theres been far too much of that already in the US, and it is being abused, by this very individual.
anul his passport while he s out of the US, that would be a start.

Your tax dollars at work.

But let's give Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf some credit........... he didn't intend this, but now Americans have woken up. They are discovering the pure arrogance of Islam and, perhaps more importantly, the complicity of their elected (and unelected) government officials.

Did Rauf over reach? Yes, but that is one of the fatal flaws of Islam. With its myopic world view, Muslims like Rauf cannot think of anything but advancing Islam. Nazis or Communists would not think of rubbing this much salt in the wound, but Rauf is so oblivious to anything but making Islam supreme over all else, he cannot retreat but must advance his sick plan.

This is an important moment for our nation. We have been given the opportunity to see the ultimate loyalty of our politicians and we can act accordingly.

Remember in November.

The State Department also tried to dismiss concerns that Rauf might use the tour to raise funds for the mosque. "This is what we tell anyone who participates in one of our expert trips: They're there to provide perspective on behalf of the United States, and they're not to engage in personal business as part of the program that they're participating in," said Crowley. "He has agreed to that."

What if the Ground Zero mosque and its funding directly relates to the 'perspective' of an American muslim?

For some reason I seriously doubt Rauf will laud the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech & protest in America. Nor will he praise the incredible tolerance Americans have despite the disrespect and contempt American muslims display for such freedoms.

To promote America's religious tolerance is an affront to islamic ideology that demonizes democracy and freedom.

No, his 'perspective' will be how a decadent majority of Americans misunderstand and reject islamic superiority and Allah's laws. And he'll use the Ground Zero mosque to "prove" his point.

If imam Rauf does it right he could become a great sufi saint, credited with bringing new lands to islam. The trick will be to convince the wahhabis on the Arabian peninsula that his offensive islamic cultural center of interfaith dialogue and tolerance can be as successful as other sufi outposts. (the wahhabis will put up the money and even give him all the credit, but eventually as islam becomes strong enough in NY, the hardliners will push the sufis out ..on to new cultural experiences and new lands)
i.e. last month in pakistan two suicide bombers detonated at a sufi shrine, leading to riots as people protested the bombings - 200 killed and injured.
For people searching for reform in islam there should be plenty of Cat Stevens, maybe an islamic version of Rent, or how long before The View has the girls busy learning dervish dancing.

I think it's worth noting that "Imam Feisal," that "Man of Peace," has been entirely absent from the debate on HIS mosque. All these shills from CAIR and the deluded Left are taking his beating--while our State Department (read: Obama) conveniently sends him abroad (on our dime) where he's out-of-sight and reach.

So, what's up with the imam? Can't he man-up and speak for himself? It's hard to imagine he could do worse than islamic-goons like Nihad Awad and Sharif el-Gamal!

Come on, Feisal, this is your deal. Don't be a wuss, step-up to the plate and take your whuppin' like the good muslim you are. Don't be afraid, we just want some "dialogue" with you! Isn't that what you want, Feisal? Hello Feisal, are you there?

"This is why this particular trip has a great importance, because all countries in the Muslim world -- as well as the Western world -- are facing this ... major security challenge."

What does he mean by "extremism"?
...............

My guess is that he's pandering to Islamic regimes— Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the "Palestinian" Territories—that are considered "insufficiently Islamic" by many of their even more fervent co-religionists.

This seems to be—along with such issues as the Sunni-Shi'ite split, and Arab versus non-Arab Muslims—one of the genuine rifts in the Muslim world today.

Those who believe corrupt Muslim regimes should be overthrown, even at the cost of enormous Muslim on Muslim bloodshed, in order to impose a "purer" Islamic state—and those who believe such Muslim killing of Muslims is itself "un-Islamic", and that no matter how corrupt a Muslim state is, that it should be respected as a *Muslim* state.

Imam Rauf is clearly one of the latter. What does this mean for Infidels? Basically nothing, as these supposedly against "extremism" have no problem whatsoever with those "pure" Muslims channeling their violent impulses into Jihad against the Kufr.

More:

Rauf would be giving a series of lectures on religious co-existence and life as a Muslim in America. He added that the imam might also discuss the Islamic cultural center that the cleric's organization, the Cordoba Initiative, plans to build in lower Manhattan, two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center.
...............

Yeah—he can tell them how "Shari'ah compliant" we are—not that our laws are in any way like the savagery of Shari'ah law, but that he believes (his ground Zero mosque proposal proves it) that we can be pushed into "Shari'ah compliance" in the name of pluralism, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.

More:

The State Department also tried to dismiss concerns that Rauf might use the tour to raise funds for the mosque. "This is what we tell anyone who participates in one of our expert trips: They're there to provide perspective on behalf of the United States, and they're not to engage in personal business as part of the program that they're participating in," said Crowley. "He has agreed to that."

And who's checking?
...............

I have to admit that this is a minor concern of mine—not because I don't imagine he is using this trip to gather promises of money for building his obscene mosque—I'm sure he will be—but because his official "mission" is so appalling all by itself, that there is hardly any way to corrupt it.

"P.J. Crowley said Rauf would be giving a series of lectures on religious co-existence and life as a Muslim in America."

No doubt that Rauf will point out in his lectures the benefit of allowing churches to be built in Saudi Arabia etc. Then he will be able to give them insight on how people of all faiths would be able to worship freely on an equal basis with Islam. No I guess not.

What a bigot he must be to think that he is qualified on the subject of religious co-existence.

I believe this is a repeat from last night, But I made the mistake of turning on CNN with Anderson Cooper 360. John Roberts was sitting in as a guest host. He opened with the Mosque zero story by claiming that CNN had new "FACTS" and "TRUTH" regarding the GZM controversy. He produced no facts, and he produced no truths whatsoever in the puff piece that was clearly designed to malign anyone who disagreed with the mosque. What the reporter claimed was the truth and the facts was a phone conversation with Daisy Khan who claimed that not a single penny had been raised for the Mosque, yep that was John Roberts facts and truth-- I've got a bridge for sale my friends. Whatever happen to good investigative reporters who really used to look into an issue from all sides? It was embarrassing to hear what Roberts defined as fact and truth in the CNN piece.

Bearer Bonds. That's how he'll bring the money in and get away with it. It is foolish to think that he's over there doing anything but collecting money for his mosque.

well maybe something should drop out of the sky on this new mosque!! like it has been said what goes up , can come down!!

Way to fly in the face of first ammendment.

I don't think Rauf needs money. He needs construction workers, plumbers, electricians, glaziers...

Money he has. The blessing of the American people, he has not.

Whoever would have imagined that in just nine short years, it should have come to this........

Among executive-level politicians, only my own New York Governor Paterson -not Mayor Bloomburgullah nor President Hussein - has stepped forward, seen which side the bread was buttered on, and said, "How about locating this mosque elsewhere?" Of course, a number of Reps. like Peter King, and others, have been GREAT, throughout.

ImNoDhimmi wrote:

Whoever would have imagined that in just nine short years, it should have come to this........
..............

I know just how you feel, IND—on a certain level, I'm just so stunned that Muslims would have the unmitigated gall to propose this triumphalist monument at all.

Given what I have learned in the past nine years about Islam, though, I should not be surprised—but I still am.

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