FROM ONE NEWS NOW/AFA

'Ground Zero' imam not a moderate


Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 8/19/2010 4:00:00 AMA former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization has monitored Arabic language traffic in Middle East that reveals the controversial "Ground Zero" mosque imam is not a moderate at all.

Walid Shoebat, a convert from Islam to Christianity who is now an outspoken critic of Islam, recently translated an Arabic language interview conducted by Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf. He believes the imam's words should be alarming as they indicate what the world will look like if he gets his way.

The Islam critic explains that the organizer spearheading the Ground Zero mosque outlined his manifesto for the infiltration of secular governments like that of the United States by means of "peaceful lobbying efforts."

"What he is suggesting is to make the governors and the political institutions consult Muslim institutions and Muslim personalities like himself...in the field so as to ensure that the decision-making...reflects the spirit of sharia, to make Muslim personalities so they can begin to influence the government and so they can become consultants to the government," Shoebat reports. "And then they make sure that the laws are within the spirit of sharia Islamic laws."

He points out that Abdul Rauf has already taken a step toward his goal by getting a State Department-funded trip to the Middle East to be an envoy for alleged "peaceful" Islam. (See related article)

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'Ground Zero' mosque - State Dept. funds, Obama's support


Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 8/17/2010 4:00:00 AMA Christian law firm working to stop the construction of the proposed "Ground Zero" mosque says it's an absolute outrage that the State Department is footing the bill for the imam spearheading that project to travel to the Middle East.







The New York Post recently reported that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is set to depart on a multi-country jaunt to the Middle East -- funded by the State Department -- in order to foster "greater understanding" about Islam and Muslim countries in the United States.

But the trip has raised concerns that taxpayers may be helping him with the Ground Zero mosque project's $100-million fundraising goal to erect an edifice blocks away from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 Muslim terrorist attacks that left nearly 3,000 dead.

"Is this the guy that you want building the relationship, considering he repeatedly will not call Hamas a terrorist organization?" wonders Jordan Sekulow, director of international relations with the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ). "He says that the United States is an accessory to the attacks of 9/11. If this is the person that we're going to put on tour, I think our government is insane."

Sekulow is also skeptical about the State Department's claim that Abdul Rauf will not do any fundraising while on his trip.

"He's told the Arab media that he is planning on fundraising on this trip," he points out. "And so not only are we paying him to go spew hatred around the world, we're also paying him to go fund-raise for his Ground Zero mosque. It's outrageous that we would pay for someone to spread hatred around the world, and we're going to take a stand very aggressively against it."

The international relations director adds that the ACLJ intends to take a very loud noise to the American people about this trip. But that comment was before President Obama entered the fray on Friday night.

Backtrack follows endorsement

A Christian law firm that has filed suit to stop the construction of the proposed 9/11 mega-mosque in New York City is outraged over President Obama's support of the project.

On Monday a White House spokesman insisted that politics were not a factor in President Barack Obama's Friday night remarks when he said: "I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan."

The president added over the weekend that he was not commenting on the wisdom of building a mosque close to Ground Zero.

Brett Joshpe is the New York-based attorney handling the case for the ACLJ. He says he would not be surprised if the president does support the Muslims in this controversy. (Listen to audio report)

"In fact I'm quite confident that he supports it," offers the attorney. "Obviously he took a position that sounded very similar to that on Friday night, and it seems on Saturday he already started to backtrack from that position -- and [it's] no wonder: 70 percent of Americans oppose this mosque."

Joshpe says even liberal Democrats are backing away from this because they know it could become a significant midterm election issue. "I think they see that their personal views might be out of sync with their constituents clearly across the entire nation," he suggests. "Well over 60 percent of New York state residents oppose this mosque."



According to the ACLJ attorney, this issue has clearly become "radioactive."







Senate's top Democrat splits with Obama on NYC mosque

Mosque's imam turns down NY governor

Meanwhile, a terrorism expert isn't surprised that the radical imam who wants to build the controversial "Ground Zero" mosque turned down an alternative posed by New York Governor David Paterson. (See earlier article)

Last week, the New York governor announced he would offer state assistance to the group behind the mega-mosque if it agreed to relocate the project to an area farther away from the site where the Twin Towers once stood.

While Paterson pointed out he has "no objection" to the mosque being built a few blocks from the 9/11 site, he added he is "very sensitive to the desire of those who are adamant against it to see something else worked out." He went on to note in a news conference that the mosque does seem to ignite an immense amount of anxiety among the citizens of New York and people everywhere.

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch is not surprised that those in charge of the mosque dismissed Paterson's offer out-of-hand. (Listen to audio report)

"Certainly, if they were in good faith, then they would have accepted Paterson's offer," Spencer suggests. "I thought that was very telling, not the least surprising, but very revealing that they would refuse it. It's clear that they are intent on having it there, and they don't care about all the anger and the hurt feelings, which completely belies their claim that they are doing this for conciliation and harmony."

But the terrorism expert adds that the increased public outcry against the mega-mosque has encouraged him that the fight is not over by any means.