Once Katherine Kersten started writing about MAS, CAIR and other Muslim ‘civil rights organization’, it was predictable that someone would write that Kathy was an ‘Islamophobe’. That eventuality happened in Friday’s Strib in this op-ed by Ahmed Tharwat. Here’s a sample of Mr. Tharwat’s propaganda:

From the “flying imams” fiasco at the airport, to the cabdrivers facing off with the Metropolitan Airports Commission about transporting alcohol, to the current flurry of articles about plumbing adjustments to accommodate foot-washing at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Kersten’s interest strikes me as paranoia, or even out-and-out phobia.

Allow me to utterly destroy Mr. Tharwat’s complaint against my friend. First, Kathy’s writing about the defiant cabbies pointed out how the Muslim American Society (MAS), a front group for the Muslim Brotherhood, was part of a much bigger agenda:

Omar Jamal, director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, thinks he knows why the society is promoting a “no-alcohol-carry” agenda with no basis in Somali culture. “MAS is an Arab group; we Somalis are African, not Arabs,” he said. “MAS wants to polarize the world, create two camps. I think they are trying to hijack the Somali community for their Middle East agenda. They look for issues they can capitalize on, like religion, to rally the community around. The majority of Somalis oppose this, but they are vulnerable because of their social and economic situation.”

Based on that information, it’s pretty difficult to say that Kathy’s writing was based on paranoia or “Islamic-phobia.” It sounds more like Kathy exposed MAS’s political agenda. (continue reading post »)

Based on this response, I’d answer that CAIR is definitely in full backpedal. We have Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, and Gerry Nolting. We also owe Katherine Kersten a debt of gratitude, too, for her WSJ op-ed. Here’s why I think CAIR is in full backpedal mode:

CAIR characterized the Becket Fund’s letter as “misleading” and based on false allegations against the imams. In his letter to Becket Fund for Religious Liberty President Kevin J. Hasson, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:
“The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) would like to respond to your open letter dated March 23, 2007, regarding Shqeirat et. al. v. US Airways Group, Inc. et. al.
“We trust that the Becket Fund and CAIR share the same objective of upholding the Constitution and preventing violations of religious and civil rights.
“Unfortunately, your letter was misleading and mischaracterized the lawsuit brought against US Airways by the six imams. It appears you believe the false allegations promoted by irresponsible and unaccountable parties on the Internet that the imams and their lawyers intend to target “ordinary citizens” who were simply reporting suspicious activity.
“Mr. Omar Mohammedi, the attorney representing the imams, has repeatedly asserted that this is not the case. The only individuals against whom suit may be raised in this litigation are those who may have knowingly made false reports against the imams with the intent to discriminate against them.
“The imams will not sue any passengers who reported suspicious activity in good faith, even when the ’suspicious’ behavior included the imams’ constitutionally-protected right to practice their religion without fear or intimidation…”

This is patently false. (continue reading post »)

In a first of its kind lawsuit, CAIR (Council on America-Islamic Relations) attorneys are representing the so-called “Flying Imams” in suing both US Airways and passengers. The suit stems from an incident that occurred on a US Airways’ flight in November 2006, from Minneapolis to Arizona, on which six Islamic Imams were reported to have stood up on the plane and prayed loudly, took seats that were not assigned to them (reminiscent of the 9/11 hijackers’ locations) and requested seatbelt extensions (which can be used as weapons) when they were neither required nor justified. They are also reported to have made anti-American and pro-Saddam Hussein and Osama bin-Laden comments. The actions of the Imams were not only overtly menacing but, seemed designed to instill fear amongst their fellow passengers. Several passengers, including at least one who speaks and understands the Arabic language, reported the Imams’ behaviors to flight attendants. The Imams were, subsequently, removed from the flight.

On Monday, CAIR attorneys filed a “Civil Rights Complaint for Declaratory, Injunctive and Monetary Relief” lawsuit in federal court against US Airways, Inc., John Does (the passengers who reported the Imams behaviors) and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The suit also alleges “Defendants had no legitimate non-discriminatory reason to justify their treatment of Plaintiffs; rather, Defendants based their actions on Plaintiffs’ race, religion, color, ethnicity, alienage, ancestry, and/or national origin.” Note: CAIR and the Flying Imams appear to be asserting that Muslims, in general, have the right (above all others) to do anything and everything they wish on any and all airline flights. Might that also include the rights to wear ski masks, carry weapons and actually hijack planes? Not yet but, the future is unknown. (continue reading post »)

Salena Zito’s column is a great side-by-side comparison of Christianity and Islam. It’s also must reading. Here’s the essence of that comparison:

It was the Muslim extremists who started marching in the streets of London, whipping others into a frenzy to march in other streets, that rocked this city a little over a year ago.

Protesters carrying signs with slogans that read, “Massacre those who insult Islam,” “Bomb the UK” and “Europe, you will pay, your 9/11 will come” lined the streets near Hyde Park.

All of this fervor was in response to editorial cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, first published in Denmark and subsequently run worldwide.

One year later, American film director James Cameron produced a documentary in which he claims to have found the bones of Jesus, a challenge to accepted Christian dogma that Jesus ascended into heaven. Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Without that resurrection, Jesus basically becomes like Gandhi, a really nice guy.

There were no street protests, peaceful or otherwise, from Christian communities around the world. No calls for deaths, beheadings, or 9/11 copycat attacks.

The truth is that the characterizations of Islam as a religion of piece are difficult to sustain when you contrast their reactions to Christianity. It isn’t that Christians have never fought wars. It’s that their disposition on most things is to turn the other cheek. Based on the French riots, the bombings in Bali, London and Madrid, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the constant bombing of Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah, it’s difficult to make a case that the current version of Islam is that of a religion of peace. (continue reading post »)

I just finished reading the Strib’s Katherine Kersten’s article on the lawsuit filed by CAIR on behalf of the six imams who were removed from US Airways Flight 300. If you want the very best reporting on the lawsuit, Kathy’s article is must reading. Kathy’s article points out something that I think might be a tipping point or watershed moment. Here’s what I’m referring to:

But the most alarming aspect of the imams’ suit is buried in paragraph 21 of their complaint. It describes “John Doe” defendants whose identity the imams’ attorneys are still investigating. It reads: “Defendants ‘John Does’ were passengers…who contacted U.S. Airways to report the alleged ’suspicious’ behavior of Plaintiffs’ performing their prayer at the airport terminal.”

Paragraph 22 adds: “Plaintiffs will seek leave to amend this Complaint to allege true names, capacities, and circumstances supporting [these defendants’] liability … at such time as Plaintiffs ascertain the same.”

In plain English, the imams plan to sue the “John Does,” too.

Who are these unnamed culprits? The complaint describes them as “an older couple who was sitting [near the imams] and purposely turn[ed] around to watch” as they prayed. “The gentleman (’John Doe’) in the couple…picked up his cellular phone and made a phone call while watching the Plaintiffs pray,” then “moved to a corner” and “kept talking into his cellular phone.”

In retribution for this action, the unnamed couple probably will be dragged into court soon and face the prospect of hiring a lawyer, enduring hostile questioning and paying huge legal bills. The same fate could await other as-yet-unnamed passengers on the US Airways flight who came forward as witnesses.

The imams’ attempt to bully ordinary passengers marks an alarming new front in the war on airline security. Average folks, “John Does” like you and me, initially observed and reported the imams’ suspicious behavior on Nov. 20. Such people are our “first responders” against terrorism. But the imams’ suit may frighten such individuals into silence, as they seek to avoid the nightmare of being labeled bigots and named as defendants.

Until now, CAIR’s tactics have been to attack nameless, faceless “Islamophobes” and “Muslim haters.” Now they’ve made it personal by suing passengers on that flight. (continue reading post »)

Bottom Line Up Front: Cardinal at the Vatican told the Pope and others that the antichirst is a pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist.

In a meditation preached during the Lenten Retreat for Vatican leaders this week, the outspoken Italian Cardinal Giacomo Biffi warned Pope Benedict XVI Excesses of ecumenism and a tendency of some Catholics to promote vague spiritual goals, rather than stressing the centrality of Christ’s Sacrifice.

“The Antichrist presents himself as a pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist. He convokes an ecumenical council and seeks the consensus of all the Christian confessions, conceding something to each one.”

“The crowds follow him, except for tiny groups of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants. Chased by the Antichrist, they tell him, ‘You have given us everything except for the one thing that interests us, Jesus Christ.”

“Today, we run the risk of having a Christianity that puts Jesus with his cross resurrection into parentheses. The teaching that the great Russian philosopher left us is that Christianity cannot be reduced to a set of values. At the heart of being a Christian is the personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”

“There are absolute values such as the good, the true and the beautiful. One who perceives them and loves them also loves Christ, even if he does not know it, because Christ is the truth, beauty and justice.”

“There also are relative values such as solidarity, love for peace and respect for nature. If these are given an absolute value or uprooted from or placed in opposition to the proclamation of the fact of salvation, then they become the basis for idolatry and are obstacles on the path to salvation.”

Ouch! “The antichrist presents himself as a pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist.” In other words, he’ll be against all war and conflict, an environmentalist and so inclusive with Christianity that a watered-down, diluted version is what will remain.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Cardinal!

Cross-posted @: Bottom Line Up Front

“I regard Christianity as the most fatal, seductive lie that has ever existed.” —Adolf Hitler, quoted in Larry Azar, Twentieth Century in Crisis (1990), p. 155.

On March 4, the Discovery Channel will air a James Cameron/ Simcha Jacobovici documentary called “The Lost Tomb of Jesus“. The special attempts, with these new “findings“, contradict the idea of Christ’s resurrection and takes massive liberties with other areas of Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition and basic Christian belief.

Not wanting to waste a perfectly good opportunity to contradict 2000 years of evidence to the contrary, Cameron and the usual suspects raise questions about Jesus’ marital status and family status; enter Mary Magdalene and their son Jude. Right……..

The Catholic League issued this statement:

February 26, 2007

JESUS’ TOMB DISCOVERY IS TITANIC FRAUD

“Titanic” director James Cameron and TV-director Simcha Jacobovici are claiming they have evidence of a Jerusalem tomb that allegedly houses the remains of Jesus and his family. Commenting on this is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:

“Not a Lenten season goes by without some author or TV program seeking to cast doubt on the divinity of Jesus and/or the Resurrection. Last April, NBC’s ‘Dateline’ featured the wholly discredited and downright laughable claims of Michael Baigent, and two years ago ABC treated us to a special that questioned every aspect of the Resurrection. Now we have the Cameron-Jacobovici thesis.

“Israeli archeologist Amos Kloner was in charge of the 1980 investigation of the tomb that Cameron-Jacobovici have seized on 27 years later to make their allegations. ‘The claim that the burial site has been found is not based on any proof, and is only an attempt to sell,’ Kloner says. He adds, ‘I refute all claims and efforts to waken a renewed interest in the findings. With all due respect, they are not archeologists.’ Indeed, Kloner has branded their claims ‘impossible’ and ‘nonsense.’ Moreover, he says there is ‘no likelihood’ that Jesus and his relatives had a family tomb. ‘It makes a great story for a TV film,’ he concludes.

“Joe Zias, who spent a quarter-century as an archeologist at the Rockefeller University in Jerusalem, said that ‘Simcha has no credibility whatsoever.’ Zias isn’t shooting from the hip: Jacobovici’s credibility explodes when one considers that he still believes the 2002 tale about an ossuary with the inscription, ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.’ On June 18, 2003, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) condemned this claim as a modern forgery—this was the unanimous decision of a 15-member IAA committee. Agreeing with this decision were Harvard’s Frank Cross and Tel Aviv University professor Edward Greenstein.

“The Discovery Channel aired the 2002 hoax and now it’s back with the Titanic fraud. It’s time the Discovery Channel discovered ethics and stopped with the sensationalism.”

Dr. Ben Witherington, a Protestant Biblical scholar, has excellent and comprehensive commentary on his blog, to include: (continue reading post »)

As part of my continuing series on the sponsors for the March 17th anti-America protest in Washington, DC, Here’s what I’ve found out about Mahdi Bray:

As WorldNetDaily reported, the Muslim American Society held a rally last month during which a Jewish activist was physically assaulted and threatened. The event at Boston’s City Hall Plaza was the group’s “Justice for Palestine and Lebanon Protest.” Signs brought by participants included some including some calling for “victory” for the terrorist group Hezbollah and the “Palestinian Resistance.”
In a WND interview, the group’s executive director, Mahdi Bray, blamed the United States and President Bush for the war between Hezbollah and Israel. Bray said that while there are “no clean hands” in the escalating violence, the United States has failed completely. “We have the…capability of doing something,” he said. “Our position is not defensible that we have not used our leverage to obtain a cease-fire.”

Mahdi Bray is a very smooth talker. He’s also anti-semitic. Here’s a picture that offers proof of his anti-semitism:

If that phrase sounds familiar, it should. It’s a combination of two statements which I posted about here.
Here’s what I found on FPA’s website:

10. Divestment, Corporate Boycott, and Ending all Support to Israel: The FPA regards the implementation of a full divestment program in the United States coupled with effective corporate boycotts to be a necessary material formulation of the overarching goal of ending all forms of governmental and private economic, political, and military support to the Apartheid State of Israel.

In other words, Mahdi Bray is seen speaking to a group of people that agree with the FPA. furthermore, FPA thinks that Israel shouldn’t exist because it thinks that Israel is occupying the Palestinian homeland. FPA thinks that Israel doesn’t have a claim to the land that the international community says it owns.
Don’t be surprised if Bray is also associated with Palestine Remembered. Palestine Remembered put together this map: (continue reading post »)

The Left’s obsession with propping up the IPCC report is predictable because the global warming debate is the Left’s religion. This Ellen Goodman column is proof of their obsession with the global warming religion:

By every measure, the U N ’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change raises the level of alarm. The fact of global warming is “unequivocal.” The certainty of the human role is now somewhere over 90 percent. Which is about as certain as scientists ever get.

I would like to say we’re at a point where global warming is impossible to deny. Let’s just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers, though one denies the past and the other denies the present and future.

Ms. Goodman would be wise to understand that we aren’t disputing the fact that temperatures are rising. We’re simply arguing that there’s proof of warm periods and mini ice ages and that these temperature fluctuations are cyclical, not manmade. I’m also disputing the IPCC’s report because there isn’t any critical review of their findings, which means that they’re asking us to trust them. It isn’t only that I don’t trust the UN, it’s that I think Reagan’s old “trust but verify” policy is the right policy to follow. (continue reading post »)

When last we heard from Jimmy Carter, he was trying to limit the damage from his one-sided book. According to this article, he’s criticizing the Simon Wiesenthal Center, saying that they’ve slandered him. Here’s Carter’s shot:

“I don’t believe Simon Wiesenthal would have resorted to falsehood and slander to raise funds,” Carter wrote last month in a handwritten letter to the head of the human rights center that bears the name of the late Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter. The petition does not require payment to be sent, though Carter’s letter suggests it is being used as a fundraising tool.

Rabbi Marvin Hier replied:

“I believe that Simon Wiesenthal would have been as outraged by your book, ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,’ as I was,” Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, wrote in a Feb. 2 response to Carter.

Considering all the controversy surrounding the petition, let’s look at the petition itself and determine if it has merit.

Here are some of President Carter’s key allegations in Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid:Israel’s “occupation and colonialization” of the West Bank and Gaza is the reason there is no peace.

FACT: President Carter deliberately overlooks that in 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak went to Camp David and offered Yassir Arafat 95% of the West Bank, 100% of Gaza and part of the Old City of Jerusalem for a Palestinian State, along with $30 billion in compensation for Palestinian refugees. Arafat’s response: launching the bloody Intifada which targeted innocent civilians in restaurants, malls, schools, and religious services with suicide terror attacks. (continue reading post »)