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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > CAIR's banquet fetes their minions as precursors of the 'Congress of the United States of Allah' - UAE - Saudis see returns for funding

CAIR's banquet fetes their minions as precursors of the 'Congress of the United States of Allah' - UAE - Saudis see returns for funding

November 21, 2006

Keith Ellison, The Wahhabist Choice For Congress

By Beila Rabinowitz, Director - MilitantIslamMonitor.org & William A. Mayer, E & P PipeLineNews.org

November 5, 2006 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - Keith Ellison [aka Keith Hakim, Keith X Ellison and Keith Ellison Muhammad] the DFL candidate for Minnesota's 5th Congressional district, presents a revealing insight on his website.

Under the heading "Crime and Safety" Ellison states that, "I have been to too many funerals of young people to be anything but a strong supporter of law enforcement, but I also believe it must be balanced by other factors."

Perhaps by "balance" Ellison was referring to his call for the release of Sara Jane Olsen aka Sister Soliah, a member of the urban guerrilla Symbionese Liberation Army [the group which kidnapped Patty Hearst] who had pled guilty to placing bombs underneath two LAPD police cars .

Or maybe it's Ellison's support of cop killers Assata Shakur and Mumia Abu-Jamal?

Is Ellison's committment to "balance" the root of his agreement with Nation of Islam bigot Joanne Jackson's statement that Jews are, "the most racist white people" or his work with gang-leader Sharif Willis who murdered Minneapolis Police Officer Jerry Haaf?

Balance is really at the heart of the "Keith Mohammed X Ellison" candidacy, since the Minneapolis and national press have studiously avoided any semblance of it, refusing to tell people the honest truth about Mr. Ellison.

If they won't, we certainly will, try this on for size Mr. Ellison.

Ellison was not only a member of Louis Farrakhan's rabidly anti-Semitic Nation of Islam, friendly with people who murdered policemen and those who have been engaged in domestic terrorism but he is the choice of the Saudi Wahhabist lobby in his run for Congress and has actively courted groups with Islamist sympathies, with ties to organizations like Hamas and those who believe that the U.S. Constitution should be replaced with Sharia law.

The one word which is glaringly absent from Ellison's campaign website is "terrorism."

This should not be surprising since Keith X is being financed and endorsed by a group which aids and abets it; the Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR], a Saudi funded front group for Hamas which Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes has characterized as "'moderate' friends of terror."

Last year CAIR was named as a defendant in a 9/11 terror lawsuit by the family of FBI agent John O'Neill, who died in the WTC attacks.

Members of CAIR and some of its officers now reside in jail on terror related charges.

CAIR's spokesman Ibrahim Hooper supports the abolition of the U.S. Constitution and the imposition of Sharia law. Towards that end, this year alone CAIR received $50 million dollars to launch a nationwide PR campaign for polish the rather tattered reputation of Islam.

According to the Arab press:

"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."

Eager to show their Saudi handlers that they are getting a return for their investment, CAIR executive director Nihad Awad [who personally gave $2,000 to Elison at a Florida fundraiser which netted him a total of $50,000 in Islamist money] and board chair Parvez Ahmad lashed out at Ellison's critics dismissing them as "a handful of right-wing bloggers, agenda-driven commentators and political operatives," while declaring:

"We are proud of our personal donations to Ellison's campaign. He has proven himself to be an effective legislator and his commitment to social justice is worthy of admiration. We believe his election will send a powerful message to the world about America's commitment to religious inclusion and tolerance."

In addition to the being supported by the Saudi funded Council on American Islamic Relations, Ellison has another wealthy and influential Arab endorser, the Arab American Leadership Council PAC, whose treasurer James Joseph Zogby [the brother of the pollster, John Zogby] is also the founder and president of the American Arab Institute.

The AALC PAC is the political arm of the AAI which received Saudi funding to promote the interests of the "Wahhabi Lobby."

Indicating the tight relationship between the two, the Arab American Leadership Council PAC is located in the same building as the AAI. Zogby is regarded as one of the most high profile members of he Arab American Community.

In 2003 the AAI received a $300,000 donation from Prince Alaweed bin Talal, one of the Saudi kingdom's top Wahhabist money-men. Talal also donated $20 million to Harvard University and $20 million to Georgetown University to endow Islamic centers.

Talal's attempt to donate $10 million to New York City after 9/11 was rejected by then mayor Giuliani because as CNN stated at the time:

"the prince suggested U.S. policies in the Middle East contributed to the September 11 attacks."

Why is Talal's support of AAI so important?

Because in addition to his inability to blame the terrorists for September 11, he also supports suicide bombing.

Talal gave $27 million to the Saudi Committee for the Support of the al-Quds Intifada. As the London Times stated in April of 2002, "The committee will continue to provide direct assistance to the families of Palestinian martyrs and those wounded while resisting the occupation."

Of Zogby's Islamist associations Front Page Magazine writes:

"Meanwhile, in Riyadh, James Zogby (who is even slicker than al-Jubeir) appeared as representative of his Arab American Institute (AAI), in a joint presentation with Saleh al-Wohaiby, secretary of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY, an official arm of the Saudi government).

They announced that AAI and WAMY will "take up the cases of some 13,000 Arabs and Muslims, some of whom have been targeted by the U.S. government for possible deportation."

A year after this appearance, the WAMY offices in Virginia [which were registered under the name of a brother of Osama bin-Laden] were raided as part of the Treasury Department's anti-terror funding strike force, Operation Greenquest and closed down.

These are the types of people that Ellison is accepting support from. More importantly this apparently is Mr. Ellison's brand of Islam.

Calling it moderate is simply untrue

Because the media has observed its strict code of multiculturalism, refusing to report on Ellison's beliefs, support groups and odious ties, he has been allowed to run one of the most dishonest campaigns in Minnesota history.

Ellison's most basic denial, that he was not affiliated with Farrakhan's Nation of Islam after 1995, is an obvious lie since the above the above image clearly shows him at a 1998 protest march holding multiple copies of the Nation of Islam's newspaper, "The Final Call" and the image to the right shows him speaking at a Nation of Islam event.

Ellison's dissembling in that regard casts doubt on everything that he says.

Minnesota's voters deserve at minimum to be informed about a candidate's character, the positions he has taken and the nature of those who finance his candidacy.

Mr. Ellison is no exception and we believe that he is running a stealth campaign in which his true self will only be revealed if the state's voters are so unfortunate as to send him to Congress.

If that happens the public will soon observe him reverting to true form, free to pursue his racist politics and anti-Semitism while being in the pocket of foreign funded Wahhabist groups who are committed to advancing the cultural jihad one major step further, promoting their radical Islamist agenda in Congress.

----------------------------




2006 Annual CAIR Banquet
CAIR-DC DINNER SOLD OUT

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/17/06) - Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), CAIR's 12th Annual Fundraising Banquet on November 18th in Arlington, Va., is sold out. No tickets will be sold at the door.

At the dinner, some 1,000 Muslim community members and activists, interfaith representatives and diplomats from Muslim nations will hear addresses by several members of Congress, a representative of the FBI and by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.

Even though the dinner is sold out, CAIR still needs your support. With all the challenges currently faced by the American Muslim community, now is the time to send in a generous donation, become a CAIR member or renew your membership.

DONATE TO CAIR

BECOME A CAIR MEMBER OR RE-NEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

SUBSCRIBE TO CAIR-NET

Saturday, November 18, 2006 | Marriott Crystal Gateway
Registration, 5:00 pm | Program, 6:30 pm
1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Crystal City, VA

*** SPEAKERS ***

First Muslim Elected to Congress to Speak at CAIR's 12th Annual Banquet


Congressman-Elect
Keith Ellison

(D-MN)


Congresswoman
Sheila Jackson Lee

(D-TX)

Amy Goodman
(Democracy Now)

Congressman
Elijah Cummings

(D-MD)

Congressman
Albert R. Wynn

(D - MD)
*** MORE INFO ***
Cost: $65 per person
Email: [email protected] Tel: (202) 488-8787
MIM: According the their Saudi handlers Keith Ellison was 'unable to speak at the dinner and their minions at CAIR issued a press release detailing who was at the event with links to a video and text of Ellison's speech with no mention as to why Ellison did not attend. Given CAIR's track record of deception, they could have touted Ellison as a keynote speaker in ordere to draw a crowd, while knowing all along that his speech was going to be via video.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=404274

WASHINGTON, NOV 19, SPA -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) last night held its 12th Annual Fundraising Banquet in Arlington, Virginia.
At the dinner, some 1,000 Muslim community members and activists, interfaith representatives and diplomats from Muslim nations heard addresses by several members of Congress, a representative of the FBI and by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim ever elected to Congress on November 7, who was slated to give the keynote address was unable to attend tonight s dinner, Instead Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) spoke on his behalf thanking the American Muslim community for their support and urged them to continue to work together with the American community, government officials and their representatives in order to fight terrorism and make the United States a safer country to live in.
For his part, Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD) praised CAIR s leadership, saying: I am very impressed with CAIR s leadership and their involvement in the community.
He said that there must be a balance between security and civil liberties, adding: Regarding Guantanamo prisoners, as Americans, we must adhere to the Geneva Convention to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to appear before a judge.
Rep. Wynn stressed, saying: I am the sponsor of a Hate Crime Legislation. Hate against Muslims is unacceptable. That is truly un-American.
Commenting on the war on terror and the war in Iraq, Rep. Wynn said: We made mistakes. It is time to take a new direction. We cannot win the war in Iraq militarily.
Meanwhile, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad thanked the participants for their support and contribution to the Muslim cause during the difficult times that Muslims are witnessing in the United States.
CAIR is America s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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.
--SPA
--------

First Muslim Congressman Addresses CAIR Banquet

Sold-Out Event Raises More Than $620,000 for Civil Rights Work

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,000 people turned out on Saturday at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) banquet in Arlington, Va., to hear addresses by several elected officials, including Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress.

The event raised more than $620,000 to support CAIR's civil rights and advocacy work on behalf of the American Muslim community. (Another dinner held by CAIR's Southern California chapter (CAIR-LA) over the weekend raised more than $430,000. Some 1,800 people attended that event.)

Elected officials who spoke at the sold-out event included Representative- elect Ellison (D-MN), as well as Reps. Mike Honda (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Albert Wynn (D-MD). Ellison and Jackson Lee offered their addresses by video. Saqib Ali, who was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates (District 39) on November 7, was also in attendance.

 To view Keith Ellison's address, go to:
https://www.cair.com/videos/keith_ellison.wmv
 To view Jackson Lee's address, go to:
https://www.cair.com/videos/sheila_jackson.wmv
 SEE ALSO: Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart Slam Glenn Beck for Questioning
Keith Ellison's Patriotism
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611180006
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611160004

Other speakers included Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persichini, Jr. of the FBI's Washington Field Office, Fairfax County Police Chief Col. David M. Rohrer and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Most members of CAIR's national board also took part in the banquet, which was emceed by Julia Shearson of CAIR- Ohio's Cleveland office.

Several Muslim community members received CAIR Islamic Community Service Awards during the dinner. The annual CAIR Rosa Parks Civil Liberties Scholarship went to Raashida Muhammad of Stillman College.

"We would like to thank all those who, through their hard work and generosity, made CAIR's annual banquet such a success," said CAIR Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed. "Special thanks go to all those who volunteered their time and talents to make the dinner possible."

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: [email protected].

Council on American-Islamic Relations

Web site: http://www.cair-net.org/


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