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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Keith Ellison CAIR and Hamas - A vote for Ellison is a victory for Hamas the Wahhabists and The Nation of Islam

Keith Ellison CAIR and Hamas - A vote for Ellison is a victory for Hamas the Wahhabists and The Nation of Islam

November 3, 2006

MIM: In a letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council Keith Ellison claimed his decades long association with the virulently anti semitic Nation of Islam (which he disingenuously claimed lasted 'only' 18 months) was a lack of judgement, and that he had not 'adequately studied their views'.

Ellison's self phony repudiation of the Nation of Islam in the letter to the JCRC . is more proof of his brazen lying about his past. In a recent article, which appears on his campaign website he mentions Malcolm X , who advocated killing white people and the violent overthrow of the United States, as a man who preached peace - in the same sentence as Martin Luther King. Could it be that Ellison not only doesnt read the mission stateement of the groups which he joins (see the text of the NOI manifesto"What Muslims Want below) and also doesnt read his own writing or his website?

It is also worth noting that in Keith Ellison's campaign site list of issues, the only T word mentioned is transgender -not terrorism. He ranks advocating gay marriage as one of the priority issues on his website,while at the same time, lambasting his opponents for making the banning of it part of their political agenda!

Ellison invoked Malcolm X (who worked as a male prostitute before leading the NOI) as an example of a preacher oof justice in a piece entitled: "On the Issues: "Gay Lesbian and Transgender Issues".

"...Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X (not to mention Nat Turner) were preachers. Their priorities were clear: "Let Justice roll down like a mighty stream." They both took instruction from that section of Matthew 25:44 which enjoins believers to feed the hungry and thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and visit those in prison. So, in light of this tradition, where should we rank banning gay marriage on our list of priorities?.." http://www.keithellison.org/issues-glbt.htm

MIM: Here are a some examples of the kind of justice which Malcolm X preached and his views on the electoral process.

"...The white man believes you when you go to him with that old sweet talk, 'cause you've been sweet-talking him ever since he brought you here. Stop sweet-talking him. Tell him how you feel. Tell him how -- what kind of hell you've been catching, and let him know that if he's ready to clean his house up, if he's not ready to clean his house up, he shouldn't have a house. It should catch on fire and burn down..."

MIM: Malcolm X's speech "The ballot or the bullet" sums up Keith Ellison's anti American political platform and explains his courting of groups outside the mainstream by what Ellison playing on their perceived alienation by those whom Ellison calls the "religious conservatives".

"...No, I'm not an American. I'm one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy. So, I'm not standing here speaking to you as an American, or a patriot, or a flag-saluter, or a flag-waver—no, not I. I'm speaking as a victim of this American system. And I see America through the eyes of the victim. I don't see any American dream; I see an American nightmare..."

These 22 million victims are waking up. Their eyes are coming open. They're beginning to see what they used to only look at. They're becoming politically mature. They are realizing that there are new political trends from coast to coast. As they see these new political trends, it's possible for them to see that every time there's an election the races are so close that they have to have a recount. They had to recount in Massachusetts to see who was going to be governor, it was so close. It was the same way in Rhode Island, in Minnesota, and in many other parts of the country. And the same with Kennedy and Nixon when they ran for president. It was so close they had to count all over again. Well, what does this mean? It means that when white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House and who's going to be in the dog house..."

The political philosophy of black nationalism means that the black man should control the politics and the politicians in his own community; no more. The black man in the black community has to be re-educated into the science of politics so he will know what politics is supposed to bring him in return. Don't be throwing out any ballots. A ballot is like a bullet. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket..." http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/065.html

MIM: Ellison's letter to the JCRC is below for more information go to Powerline News "Keith Ellison for Dummies'.

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015415.php

Powerline News reports:

"After he unexpectedly won the endorsement of the DFL nominating convention for Minnesota's Fifth District congressional seat on May 6, Keith Ellison faced a serious problem. The problem was how to deal with his well-known involvement with the Nation of Islam. Had Ellison not managed to dispose of the problem, his candidacy would likely have been irreparably weakened in the competitive DFL primary field.

Ellison chose to deal with the problem by writing an audacious letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council on May 28. In the letter, Ellison staked his campaign on three assertions: That his involvement with the Nation of Islam was limited to a period of 18 months around the time of the Million Man March in 1995, that he was unaware of the Nation of Islam's anti-Semitism and that he terminated his involvement with the Nation of Islam when he became aware of it. "http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015415.php

Keith Ellison, CAIR and Hamas

By Robert Spencer

Keith Ellison (D-MN) is shaping up to be the first-ever Muslim member of
Congress, and the mainstream media is treating his candidacy as a huge
human-interest story and a triumph of multiculturalism. The Christian
Science Monitor gushed that "when Keith Ellison arrives at the Karmel
Square, one of Minneapolis's Somali malls, a rock star might as well be
walking by the bustling stalls of bright fabrics, jewelry, phone cards, and
videos." It quoted Larry Jacobs of the Center for the Study of Politics and
Governance at the University of Minnesota exulting: "You think of the
stereotype of Minnesota -- Garrison Keillor and white Norwegian farmers. The
first Muslim congressman coming from Minnesota? It says a lot about the
changing face of the United States and Minnesota."

Of course, not all is rosy: the Monitor notes that "conservative bloggers"
and Ellison's Republican opponent, Alan Fine, have raised questions about
Ellison's alleged ties to the Nation of Islam, as well as about a number of
unpaid parking tickets that led to the suspension of his drivers' license.
But the Monitor doesn't mention the most troubling aspect of Ellison's
record: the support he has received from the Council on American Islamic
Relations.

Journalist Joel Mowbray has been virtually the only journalist who has
pursued this connection, exploring in a recent column "Mr. Ellison's
seemingly tight connection with Nihad Awad, co-founder of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whom he met almost two decades ago at the
University of Minnesota." Mowbray reports that "Mr. Awad headlined a
fundraiser last month that the campaign estimates netted $15,000 to $20,000,
and in July, and it appears that CAIR's co-founder bundled contributions
totaling just over $10,000. (The campaign issued a terse denial on the
latter point, though it refused to explain away overwhelming evidence to the
contrary.)" Faced with this evidence, Ellison's backers have "attempted to
paint attacks on the candidate as overtly partisan or even bigoted. A
Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist, for example, recently suggested that Mr.
Ellison is under attack solely for being Muslim."

What is so troubling about Ellison's connection with Awad and CAIR? Mowbray
quotes the assessments of two leading Democrats: Senator Dick Durbin of
Illinois has declared that CAIR "is unusual in its extreme rhetoric and its
association with groups that are suspect." New York Senator Charles Schumer,
once said that CAIR "has ties to terrorism" and that Ellison's supporter
Awad has "intimate connections with Hamas." Mowbray establishes the latter
point from Awad's own mouth, quoting his 1994 statement: "I'm in support of
the Hamas movement."

Awad himself responded to this in an AP story about Ellison's candidacy: "I
don't support Hamas today," he explained. "My position and CAIR's position
is extremely clear -- we condemn suicide bombings. We are mainstream
American Muslims." AP reporter Frederic Frommer added that a Republican
charge that Ellison had received "financial support from a self-identified
supporter of Hamas" was a "reference to Awad's 1994 statement that he
preferred Hamas to the Palestinian Liberation Organization. In an interview,
Awad said that was before the group engaged in suicide bombings and was
designated a terrorist organization by the State Department."

But of course, saying flatly that "I am in support of the Hamas movement" is
not simply stating a preference for Hamas over the PLO. In any case, if Awad
supported Hamas before 1994, it is useful to examine what that means. I have
here preserved the old Hamas website's "glory record" of attacks against
Israelis - the terrorist organization's own record of its murderous actions.
Here are some of Hamas' self-described exploits from before 1994:

3. Boureen Operation: The militant Hamdan Hussein Al:najar, a member of
Hamas, killed the Israeli settler Ya'coub Berey using a big rock as his
weapon. The militant was shot down as a martyr after he had ambushed an
Israeli patrol using the dead settler's weapon....

6. Bus No. 405 Operation: Militant Ahmed Hussein Shukry, a member of Hamas,
was able to lead an Israeli soldier to a secluded place in Tel Aviv where
the militant hit the soldier with a chisel and killed him on 8 September
1989. The following day, the militant got on bus No. 405 and stabbed the
driver to take over the bus; however, the passengers were able to stop the
militant....

12. Keryat Youval Operation: The militant Mohammed Mustafa Abu Jalala
stabbed four Israelis and injured another at a bus station in Keryat Youval
in Jerusalem before he was arrested by the Israeli forces.

13. Askalan Road Operation: While driving a taxi, the militant Jameel Ismail
Al:baz, a member of Hamas, ran over a group of Israelis waiting on this road
on 19 July 1991....

15. Shailou Operation: A military group belonging to Al Qassam Brigades
attacked an Israeli bus carrying some settlers on their way to Tel Aviv to
participate in demonstrations organized by the extremist party Likud against
the peace process. The bus was completely destroyed; two Israelis were
killed and five more were injured....

17. Eid Al-maskhara Operation: The militant Ra'ed Al:reefy attacked an
Israeli crowd in Jaffa on 17 March 1992. He was able to kill 2 and injure 21
Israelis who gathered to celebrate Eid Al:maskhara, also known as
Al:boureem.

18. Beit Lahya Operation: On the third anniversary of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's
arrest, a group belonging to Al Qassam Brigades attacked an Israeli settler
at Beit Lahya and shot him down then withdrew safely....

21. Carlo Factory Operation: Four militants belonging to Al Qassam Brigades
broke into a citrus packing factory (Carlo) near Nahal Oaz at 2:30 p.m. on
25 June 1992. Three militants stabbed two Israelis while the other was
guarding....

Suicide bombings? No. Terrorist attacks on civilians? Sure. And there are
many, many more on the list dating from before 1994. So are we to understand
that Awad supported such operations and only stopped supporting Hamas later,
although these was no change in its ideology and no change in its taste for
victimizing civilians?

When Awad says that he and CAIR do not support Hamas today, it should be
recalled that in March 2004, when Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin was killed by
Israel, CAIR condemned his killing -- without ever mentioning that Yassin
was the mastermind and director of suicide killings for Hamas: "We condemn
this violation of international law as an act of state terrorism by Ariel
Sharon's out-of-control government. Israel's extra-judicial killing of an
Islamic religious leader can only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence
throughout the region. The international community must now take concrete
steps to help protect the Palestinian people against such wanton Israeli
violence."

When did CAIR stop supporting Hamas? On Monday I searched the CAIR website
for "Hamas." There are three possible searches: News Briefs, Action Alerts,
and Press Releases. Only News Briefs turned up anything at all: an old
article from Haaretz attacking Ariel Sharon.

So if CAIR now condemns Hamas, where is it saying so? Just in the lower
paragraphs of articles about other subjects? We can't even get one press
release about it? Not one Action Alert calling on Muslims everywhere to
condemn Hamas?

Before Minnesotans elect Keith Ellison to Congress, they need to know the
answers to these questions.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=24619

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/05/23/10041847.html

Arabs urged to invest in image-building in US

By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter

Dubai: An influential American Muslim group on Monday urged Arab businesses to invest in image-building in the US to secure their long-term interests. "If the image of Islam and Muslims is not repaired in America, Muslim and Arab business interests will continue to be on a downward slide in the US," said Parvez Ahmad, chairman of the board of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The political backlash against DP World taking over management of six key US ports was "really an issue that gets to the core of this problem," he said. Referring to the volatile nature of politics on Capitol Hill, Ahmad said it is "very easy for one person to create the hysteria and have a backlash." The public firestorm over DP World began after New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said he was against an Arab company managing US ports. A US delegation led by CAIR officials yesterday held discussions with Al Habtoor group chairman Khalaf Al Habtoor and other businessmen in Dubai about a $50-million public relations campaign that the US group has launched in the US to change negative public perceptions about Islam. "It is the most ambitious public relations campaign anywhere in the world that the Muslims have thought about to change perceptions about Islam," Ahmad said, calling on Arab businesses to make contributions towards the campaign that will run for five years. "Do not think about your contributions as donations. Think about it from the perspective of rate of return. The investment of $50 million will give you billions of dollars in return for 50 years," the CAIR official said. He said it was important to deal with the image problem in the US because America will "continue to remain a superpower and the largest economy in the world for at least the next 50 years." Former Congressman Paul Ridley, a member of the delegation, expressed concern that a "few voices representing bigotry, racism and ignorance" were able to prevail on public policy on the DP World issue. "I am amazed at these voices of members of Congress. I know they have a better understanding than the words they convey publicly suggest," Ridley said. CAIR, which is located near the US Senate, plans to boost its activities with a new $24-million office building. It has acquired land for a new seven-storey building and is now raising funds to start construction. "This building will provide CAIR $3 million per year in revenues. That will provide enough stability from an operational side," Ahmad said. ----------------------- http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/925 CAIR funder Hamid Ahmad al Rafaie-head of the Muslim World Council who visited CAIR HQ in DC (picture below) Hamid Ahmad al-Rafaie As touched on earlier, Rifaie is the Secretary General of the Muslim World Council/World Muslim Council and also runs the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue [IID] - another Saudi funded bastion of Islamist agitation. Rifaie's numerous public statements prove that he is an extreme fundamentalist and an anti-Semite. In the recent past he has not only proudly admitted being a fundamentalist but he has stated that it is the position of his International Islamic Forum for Dialogue not to conduct dialogue with Jews. Rafaie even denies the existence of Wahhabism and its influence in the Saudi Kingdom. [Editors note: We decided not to correct the numerous spelling and grammatical errors contained in the following quote]. Question: Why is dialogue confined to Christians and excludes the Jews? Rifaie's Reply: "Firstly, in princbiple, dialoghue is held between poarties who are prepared to be committed to the dictates of values and principles, as well as be commite to standards of justhice, debate and proof. Secondly: The Internathional Idslamic Committee four Dialogue has notb restyricted its activities in the field of dialogue to a specfic religious or cultural body. We engage in dialogue with all regarding any lefgitimate issue intended to achieve the best for the human family, provided the other party is committerd to the methodology and standards of dialogue indicated in First above. Thirdly: Any party in the world that lacks commitment to the methodology, standards and values of dialogue and insists on showing disregard to divine standards and civilized norms automatically omits itself from the list of those we condfuct dialogue with. There is no dialogue with those who go against the least standards of respect for human dignity and the values of safe human co-existence. Within the previous context, the Jews, are regarded like the followers of any religion, cult, culture and civilization. We are prepared to conduct dialogue in every legitimat issue aimed at achieving the best for a safe and just human co-exitence with any party among them who shows commitment to the methods, values and standards of dialogue. This excludes those among them who resent the values of dialogue, and of course, such is the habit of most Jews, who insist today on pursuing the policies of conflict, violation of man's dignity and suppression of his rights and factors of his existence in order to achieve the vagaries and ambitions of international Zionism.". 5/10/2000, Amad Al-Rafaie Rifaie has also called for the establishment of a "world parliament" a radical proposal which would apparently supplant individual governments. It should be noted that Islamists do not believe in national governments, rather they foresee a future in which the globe is dominated by a single pan-national Islamic entity - an Islamic Califate. Below is Rafaie's conceptualization of the organizational hierarchy for his proposed world government. International Court of Justice General Secretary Ass. Gen. Secretaries Secretariat International Security Council World Parliament Economical & Social Council World Center for Economic and Social Studies General Assembly of GOs General Assembly of NGOs Rifaie World Government Source Rifaie World Government Source Ties To CAIR Rifaie's views are well known within Saudi Islamist circles, not only are they well known they represent orthodoxy in that world, so the fact that the anti-Semitic Al Rifaie - the General Secretary of the MWC - visiting the Washington, DC offices of the so-called mainstream Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR] only consumates in deed what already existed as a matter of philosophy. Despite CAIR's repeated claims of moderation they seem to have no problems welcoming an organization with ties to al-Qaeda and led by an odious anti-Semite into their bosom. In the picture to the right, Hamid Al Rifaie is shown visiting what we presume to be the Washington, DC headquarters of the Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR]. Rifaie [front row, red tie to right of center] is shown posing with CAIR executive director Nihad Awad [front row, third from right] and members of the staff. CAIR's hosting of Al Rifaie further exposes the lie that CAIR is merely a "civil rights group" when as a fact they operate as a front group, promoting the Saudi Wahhabi agenda in the United States. "82. The role of CAIR and CAIR-Canada is to wage PSYOPS (psychological warfare) and disinformation activities on behalf of Whabbi-based [Wahhabi-based, DP] Islamic terrorists throughout North America. They are the intellectual "shock troops" of Islamic terrorism. In the years and months leading up to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 these organizations were very effective in helping to ensure that North American law enforcement and intelligence officials were sufficiently deaf, dumb, and blind to help pave the way for the attacks on the United States. The role played by these entities is an absolutely essential part of the mix of forces arrayed against the United States as they help soften-up targeted countries so as to facilitate and enhance the likelihood for a successful attack." - Charge 82 from the 9/11 lawsuit as sourced at - Daniel Pipes, "CAIR Named as a Defendant in 9/11 Terror Lawsuit." - 12/30/04 Al Rifaie's personal - and public relations-wise risky - appearance at the CAIR US office highlights the vital role CAIR plays in promoting the Saudi Wahhabist agenda in North America. Expanding on the Saudi connection, the image of CAIR's Awad meeting with Saudi Prince Faisal [left] further demonstrates the close Saudi CAIR connection which until now has only been documented via written statements to the effect that CAIR was getting funding from the Saudis. A dagger pointed at the heart of Israel, the World Islamic Congress has funded the Intifada Fund [$800 million to "preserve the Islamic character of Jerusalam"] and another $200 million for the "families of martyrs." "...The Arab Summit came out with a final declaration in which they stressed their commitment to firmly challenge Israeli attempt to infiltrate the Arab world, iin [sic] any form, and from now on, to stop opening relations with Israel." Al-Rafaie from IID website, "Congress" link. Headline... Al-Walid Bin Talal donates half a million for CAIR campaign in the USA. The office of the Saudi prince al-Walid Bin Talal announced in a statement it issued yesterday that it offer a donation of USD half a million to finance a campaign organized by the Council of the Arab- Islamic relations [sic] CAIR in the USA in order to defend Islam in the American society. The statement added that the donation which was handed to the council's director general Nuhad [sic] Awad, currently visiting Saudi Arabia..." - 11/19/02, Arabic News Nihad Awad's picture with Prince Al Faisal and Al Rifaie shows that CAIR may have several Saudi benefactors besides Prince al-Walid Bin Talal and Prince Al Turki [who is also reported to have met personally with bin-Laden twice]. http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/021119/2002111910.html Al-Walid Bin Talal donates half a million for CAIR campaign in the USA Saudi Arabia-USA, Local, 11/19/2002 The office of the Saudi prince al-Walid Bin Talal announced in a statement it issued yesterday that it offer a donation of USD half a million to finance a campaign organized by the Council of the Arab- Islamic relations CAIR in the USA in order to defend Islam in the American society. The statement added that the donation which was handed to the council's director general Nuhad Awad, currently visiting Saudi Arabia, will be dedicated to buy 3,000 collections of educational and cultural books about Islam that will be circulated on 3,000 public American libraries. Each collection is composed of 14 books, two aido-visual material. The contribution also includes financing a media campaign in the American media at an average of one publication per week for a period of 52 weeks, dedicated to brief on the life activity of Prophet Muhammad. CAIR is currently holding a campaign to provide 16,000 public libraries in the USA with books about Islam and Muslims aiming at having access to the open- educated class in the American society. ---------------------------------- Report of Muslim World League head visit to CAIR HQ in 2002 http://www.ain-al-yaqeen.com/issues/20020712/feat10en.htm The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, has held a Press Conference, in which he gave a brief on the MWL delegation's tour of the United States of America. Dr. Al Turki said that the delegation had two messages for the American people. "The first message stresses the keenness of Muslims for cooperation to serve humanity and global peace, through shared international responsibility," he declared. The second "stresses that the people of the world face a crisis, the confrontation of which requires a program of cooperation." He stated that the crisis includes violence, poverty, health problems, and disparities in wealth. Dr Al Turki said that the MWL delegation calls for international peace, which requires regulation of the nuclear-arms race. He also noted that the MWL would continue its dialogue with religious leaders in United States. The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, has stressed the necessity of promoting effective coordination among Islamic organisations in the United States of America. During a visit to the Headquarters of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Dr. Al Turki said: "This coordination will achieve the best results for the future of Muslims in the U.S., strengthen relations between them, and highlight the comprehensive principles of Islam." Dr. Al Turki and members of his accompanying delegation conducted a tour of different sections of the CAIR, during which its Director General, Dr. Nihad Awad, briefed them. Dr. Al Turki expressed the League's readiness to offer assistance in the promotion and coordination of Islamic works, and noted that it will establish a Commission for this purpose. The MWL Secretary General also visited the Islamic Centre in Washington, during which he toured the Centre and was briefed by the Director, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Mohammad Fowaj, on its activities. The Secretary General of the (MWL), and his accompanying delegation, visited the League's Washington-based Bureau. They were received by the Director of the Bureau, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Rahman Al Noushan, and other officials. At the venue, Dr. Al Turki met the Muslims who are propagating in the United States under the supervision of the League. Dr Al Turki delivered a speech on this occasion, in which he strongly encouraged distinguished qualifications in Islamic culture, literature and information programs, and noted that the League has patronized 1300 Muslim propagators in the world. http://www.danielpipes.org/blog_pf.php?id=36 Daniel Pipes' Weblog CAIR's Saudi Masters July 5, 2003 A couple of items from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington concerning its support for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are worth noting and pondering. The first dates from August 15, 1999, and is listed under "IDB Approves New Projects Worldwide": President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr. Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ali announced today that the bank has approved a number of new grants for Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries worldwide. These include U.S. $395,000 to build a school in Tanzania, $250,000 as a contribution to the purchase of land in Washington DC to be the headquarters for an education and research center under the aegis of the Council for American Islamic Relations, and $30 million for Islamic associations in India. For those not familiar with the Islamic Development Bank, it appears to be an international institution but is in fact an arm of Saudi foreign policy. The second item, "MWL Delegation In Washington DC," is dated July 8, 2002, and concerns a visit to the American capital by Abdullah bin Abdulmohsin Al-Turki, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) - an organization which, despite its name, is openly a tool of the kingdom. The report indicates what Al-Turki did on July 5, 2002: During a visit on Friday evening to the headquarters of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) he advocated coordination among Muslim organizations in the United States. Expressing MWL's readiness to offer assistance in the promotion and coordination of Islamic works, he announced plans to set up a commission for this purpose. The official Saudi newpspaer, Ain al-Yaqeen, offered a slightly more complete take on Turki's visit to CAIR: The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, has stressed the necessity of promoting effective coordination among Islamic organisations in the United States of America. During a visit to the Headquarters of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Dr. Al Turki said: "This coordination will achieve the best results for the future of Muslims in the U.S., strengthen relations between them, and highlight the comprehensive principles of Islam." Dr. Al Turki and members of his accompanying delegation conducted a tour of different sections of the CAIR, during which its Director General, Dr. Nihad Awad, briefed them. Dr. Al Turki expressed the League's readiness to offer assistance in the promotion and coordination of Islamic works, and noted that it will establish a Commission for this purpose. In addition, Prince al-Walid Bin Talal in November 2002 gave $500.000 to CAIR. One can only guess what these discreet and implication-laden notes are hiding, but between funds officially donated and occasional visits from Saudi officials, it's probably correctly to figure that CAIR is yet another instrument of the Wahhabis' foreign aspirations. (July 5, 2003) Jan. 1, 2004 update: Muqtedar Khan stated in an interview posted today that CAIR "recently took 5 million dollars from a Saudi prince." -------------------- http://www.danielpipes.org/article/394 CAIR: 'Moderate' friends of terror by Daniel Pipes New York Post April 22, 2002 The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations presents itself as just another civil-rights group. "We are similar to a Muslim NAACP," says spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. Its public language - about promoting "interest and understanding among the general public with regards to Islam and Muslims in North America" - certainly boosts an image of moderation. That reputation has permitted CAIR to prosper since its founding in 1994, garnering sizeable donations, invitations to the White House, respectful media citations and a serious hearing by corporations. In reality, CAIR is something quite different. For starters, it's on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. One indication came in October 1998, when the group demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy," finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims." The same year, CAIR denied bin Laden's responsibility for the twin East African embassy bombings. As Hooper saw it, those explosions resulted from some vague "misunderstandings of both sides." (A New York court, however, blamed bin Laden's side alone for the embassy blasts.) In 2001, CAIR denied his culpability for the Sept. 11 massacre, saying only that "if [note the "if"] Osama bin Laden was behind it, we condemn him by name." (Only in December was CAIR finally embarrassed into acknowledging his role.) CAIR consistently defends other militant Islamic terrorists too. The conviction of the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing it deemed "a travesty of justice." The conviction of Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind sheikh who planned to blow up New York City landmarks, it called a "hate crime." The extradition order for suspected Hamas terrorist Mousa Abu Marook it labeled "anti-Islamic" and "anti-American." Not surprisingly, CAIR also backs those who finance terrorism. When President Bush closed the Holy Land Foundation in December for collecting money he said was "used to support the Hamas terror organization," CAIR decried his action as "unjust" and "disturbing." CAIR even includes at least one person associated with terrorism in its own ranks. On Feb. 2, 1995, U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White named Siraj Wahhaj as one of the "unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators" in the attempt to blow up New York City monuments. Yet CAIR deems him "one of the most respected Muslim leaders in America" and includes him on its advisory board. For these and other reasons, the FBI's former chief of counterterrorism, Steven Pomerantz, concludes that "CAIR, its leaders and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups." Nor is terrorism the only disturbing aspect of CAIR's record. Other problems include: Intimidating moderate Muslims. In at least two cases (Hisham Kabbani and Khalid Durán), CAIR has defamed moderate Muslims who reject its extremist agenda, leading to death threats against them. Embracing murderers. CAIR responded to the arrest and conviction of Jamil Al-Amin (the former H. Rap Brown) by praising him, raising funds for him and then denying his guilt after his conviction for the murder of an Atlanta policeman. Likewise with Ahmad Adnan Chaudhry of San Bernardino, Calif.: Disregarding his conviction for attempting murder, CAIR declared him "innocent" and set up a defense fund for him. Promoting anti-Semitism. The head of CAIR's Los Angeles office, Hussam Ayloush, routinely uses the term "zionazi" when referring to Israelis. CAIR co-hosted an event in May 1998 at which an Egyptian militant Islamic leader, Wagdi Ghunaym, called Jews the "descendants of the apes." Aggressive ambitions. As reported by the San Ramon Valley Herald, CAIR Chairman Omar M. Ahmad told a crowd of California Muslims in July 1998, "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth." CAIR's real record is one of extremism. North American Muslims themselves are beginning to discover - and the government, leading media, churches, and businesses should follow - that CAIR represents not the noble civilization of Islam but an aggressive and radical strain similar to that which led to the suicide hijackings last September. CAIR must be shunned as a fringe group by responsible institutions and individuals throughout North America.

MIM: What Keith Ellison and the Nation of Islam want - their mission statement from their website:

What The Muslims Want