Yesterday I noted that Pompeo was wrong in saying that Muslim leaders in the U.S. had not condemned jihad terror attacks, since they did issue vague and pro-forma condemnations of terrorism. What they are not doing is anything effective to counter the spread of jihadist beliefs within the American Muslim community — and meanwhile, their circle-the-wagons-and-don’t-talk-to-the-FBI mentality remains, and impedes counter-terror efforts. That is what Pompeo should have criticized; instead, he left himself open to this predictable counterattack from the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
That was careless, but it doesn’t negate the genuine value of what Pompeo said. As Pamela Geller observes, “There is plenty he got wrong, but when have we ever before seen anyone rightfully condemn complicit imams on the floor of the House? That’s a first.”
Indeed, and for that Pompeo is to be commended. What is most noteworthy about CAIR’s outrage over his remarks, however, is that he assured the House that terrorists had “hijacked” Islam and that Muhammad would condemn modern Islamic jihad terrorism. Yet despite the fact that he genuflected to these politically correct fictions — with which Hamas-linked CAIR supposedly agrees as well — that didn’t stop Hamas-linked CAIR from going after him. This demonstrates yet again that there is no one who opposes jihad terror who is acceptable to Hamas-linked CAIR and its allies. When Hamas-linked CAIR targets so-called “Islamophobes” and details all their alleged enormities, some on the Right think that they can avoid this demonization and defamation by highlighting the work of “moderate Muslims” (Zuhdi Jasser, call your office) and talking, as Pompeo did, about how the true Islam is peaceful. But this CAIR attack on Pompeo shows that even they will not be spared. In its “Islamophobia” report a few years back, Hamas-linked CAIR affirmed that there was acceptable and legitimate criticism of Islam and jihad. But the report offered no examples, and Hamas-linked CAIR has never offered any such examples. In reality, anyone and everyone who dares to oppose jihad and Islamic supremacism will become a target for a Hamas-linked CAIR smear campaign. CAIR’s real agenda is not to distinguish legitimate resistance to jihad from bigotry and hatred, but to stigmatize all resistance to jihad as bigotry and hatred, and clear away all obstacles to the advance of that jihad.
“CAIR Asks Kansas Rep. Pompeo to Correct ‘False and Irresponsible’ Attack on Muslims,” a Hamas-linked CAIR press release, June 12:
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 “” /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to correct “false and irresponsible” remarks he made about American Muslims on the floor of the U.S. House yesterday. In those remarks, Pompeo alleged that American Muslim leaders have failed to speak out against terror attacks.
GOP Congressman: American Muslim Leaders are ‘Potentially Complicit’ in Terrorist Acts http://tinyurl.com/ka8lkkt
GOP Congressman Broad-Brushes American Muslims http://tinyurl.com/kwdaobz
In a letter to Pompeo today Corey Saylor, the director of CAIR’s Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia, wrote:
“We are writing to address your June 11, 2013, remarks on the House floor alleging that Muslim leadership has failed to condemn or act against terrorism. These remarks are false and irresponsible. You opened your comments by saying, ‘Mr. Speaker, it’s been just under 2 months since the attacks in Boston, and in those intervening weeks, the silence of Muslim leaders has been deafening.’
“In the hours after the Boston bombings on April 15, which occurred at approximately 2:49 p.m., a number of Muslim institutions issued statements whose themes included prayers for the victims, calls for Muslims to assist humanitarian efforts, and condemnations of terrorism.
“These included, but were not limited to, the Universal Muslim Association of America (5:17 p.m.), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (5:53 p.m.), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (7:46 p.m.), the Muslim Peace Coalition (8 p.m.), the Muslim American Society Public Affairs and Engagement (10:52 p.m.), and the Islamic Society of North America (12:09 a.m. on 4/16).”
SEE: CAIR’s Letter to Rep. Mike Pompeo http://www.cair.com/images/letters/Pompeo-letter.pdf
In the letter, Saylor provided links containing dozens of anti-terror statements of the type Pompeo claims Muslims have failed to make.
Saylor concluded his letter by stating:
“It is our sincere hope that you will return to the House floor, correct your remarks, and acknowledge the strong messaging coming from American Muslim leadership that clearly states there is never any justification for terrorism, that denounces violent extremist leadership and is a reliable partner in pushing back against the ideology of Al-Qaeda and its allies.”
NOTE: Also today, CAIR’s Minnesota chapter today called on the Minneapolis Police Department to offer retraining on proper documentation and investigation of reported bias incidents following claims that two recent attacks on Muslims in that city were mishandled.
SEE: CAIR-MN Seeks Police Retraining After Attacks on Minneapolis Muslims http://tinyurl.com/lqucnqm
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/cairtv
CONTACT: CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com