Now we know why his vaunted academic findings just happened to whitewash the role of Islamic texts and teachings in encouraging suicide bombings and other violence. “CAIR, Academic Scheme to Inflate Book Sales,” from IPT News, October 6:
University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape, whose research finds religious extremism has a limited role in suicide bombings, is working secretly with a suspected Hamas front to pump up sales of his new book, the Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned. That includes a secret agreement by CAIR to have its chapters around the country to buy them in bulk so they can manipulate the sales to move up the bestseller ranks. Pape is also scheduled to appear at this weekend’s national banquet for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It, is Pape’s latest project touting his thesis that religion is not a prime factor in suicide bombings. Rather, it is a response to occupation, he argues.
That’s appealing to CAIR, which court records show was part of a Hamas-support network in the United States. Prosecutors say CAIR, which touts itself as the nation’s leading Muslim civil rights organization, never withdrew from the conspiracy to support Hamas politically and financially. And the FBI cut off communication with CAIR in 2008, saying it won’t resume until “we can resolve whether there continues to be a connection between CAIR or its executives and HAMAS.”
Emails reviewed by the Investigative Project on Terrorism show Pape reached out to CAIR this past summer, hoping to have the Hamas-front group buy 1,000 advanced copies of his new book. Pape asserted in his emails and other communications to CAIR that the book would advance and reinforce CAIR’s ideological views that it is the occupation of Arab lands that causes suicide bombings. CAIR’s officials responded with enthusiasm to Pape’s thesis and to his proposal for bulk purchases to artificially boost his rankings into the best seller lists.
“Pre-orders are especially helpful,” Pape wrote on his University of Chicago email account, “because they allow the press to increase the advertising for the book when it is published, and so help to build momentum for the message in the book — that ending Western occupation of Muslim countries is the best path for reducing the spread of suicide terrorism.”
Pape did not respond to an email seeking comment. CAIR’s national banquet is scheduled for Saturday evening outside Washington, D.C. In a release, CAIR says Pape will be on hand promoting his book. The release says Pape will participate in a workshop on “Challenging Islamophobia” and quotes CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad:
“This groundbreaking new book offers a powerful educational tool to be used in challenging Islamophobia that is based on the false linkage between Islam and suicide terrorism.”…