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Former military interrogator: Building NYC Islamic center would help fight al QaedaBuilding an Islamic community center near the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York will "deprive al Qaeda of its No. 1 recruiting tool," a former United States military interrogator in Iraq said Wednesday. "The No. 1 reason foreign fighters came to Iraq was Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo," said Matthew Alexander, the author of "How to Break a Terrorist," referring to the notorious U.S.-run prison in Iraq and the detention center for foreign fighters at the U.S. military base in Cuba. "Symbols do matter," Alexander said, arguing: "What's going to end the conflict is defeating al Qaeda's ability to recruit." Alexander was speaking to reporters on a conference call in defense of the controversial project that has been labeled the "ground zero mosque." Liberal Christian and Jewish leaders also participated in the call, organized by a group called Faith in Public Life. Opponents of the plan to build the community center say it is too close to the site of the 9/11 terror attacks, and is an affront to the memory of those who died in the al Qaeda strike. But Lisa Sharon Harper, the head of New York Faith & Justice, said backing the project was a chance to put into action Jesus' commandment to love your neighbor. And Simon Greer, the head of Jewish Funds for Justice, cited the first-century Jewish thinker Hillel, who demanded: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am for myself only, what am I?" He said Americans were doing a pretty good job on the first question - being for themselves - but he questioned whether they were doing as well by their Muslim neighbors. "Are we for them? If not, what are we?" he asked. Also on Wednesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched a series of commercials designed to fight what it called growing Islamophobia. One in the series features a Muslim firefighter who was among the first responders on 9/11. Opponents of the New York Islamic center are "trying to tell the world and tell Americans that Muslims do not belong here. That Muslims are the others, when we are in fact, all Americans," said Nahad Awad, executive director of CAIR. "They're trying to portray Muslims as foreigners. This is a dangerous repeat of history. If it's allowed, it's going to hurt all of us," he said. Security expert Andrew Bacevich of Boston University insisted in the Faith in Public Life conference call that the United States was not fighting the Muslim world. "We are not engaged in a war with Islam – and were we to be engaged in a war with Islam, we could not win," he warned. But Pamela Geller, one of the earliest and most vocal opponents of the New York Islamic center, said that there were both religious leaders and security experts on both sides of the debate. And, she said, the organizers of the project "have already shown that they don't care for their neighbors at the ground zero site. They have zero regard for the hurt feelings that this mosque has provoked. Why is it always incumbent upon non-Muslims to accommodate and show neighborliness to Muslims, but this impulse is never reciprocated?" she demanded. "We are not calling for no mosques to be built anywhere. We're just asking Muslims to take account of non-Muslim feelings regarding ground zero. They have, in response, spit in our eye," said Geller, of the group Stop the Islamicization of America. And she completely rejected the former interrogator's argument about undercutting al Qaeda. "Actually, the mosque at ground zero would be a huge recruiting tool for Islamic jihadists and supremacists: there are thousands of triumphal mosques built on the sites of churches, synagogues and Hindu temples that were destroyed by jihadists, and absolutely no 'mosques of reconciliation' built on the sites of Islamic jihad attacks," she told CNN. "Which, then, is more likely? That the mosque will be viewed as a monument to jihad victory, as so many others have been, or that it will be seen as the first-ever 'mosque of reconciliation?'" she asked. The project in question, officially known as Park51, is slated to include a variety of facilities, including a prayer room, a performing arts center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces. It is due to be located two blocks from the World Trade Center. A source familiar with the project told CNN's Allan Chernoff Tuesday the structure is being planned as an 11-story building. It will cover 120,000 square feet - 10,000 feet of which would be designated for the Muslim prayer space. The developer is considering the possibility of an interfaith education/meditation/prayer space as well, the source said. It will be built on property the center already owns, two blocks from where the World Trade Center was destroyed by Islamic extremists on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed more than 2,700 people. |
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WAKEUP is all I can say.
OK, step back and let them build it. Your Ignorance and stupidity will be paid for by the future generations. It is not the question of fear but reality. Most of the American people are good in general and very tolerant but at the same time ignorant of some facts.
Stop the money ! you stop Al-quida!! Who is giving the bad guys money??
Liberal Christian? LOL Never knew there was such a thang. This interrogation guy should just let the good people of NY decide what's best for them.
Wait, I'm confused...was it Al Qaeda or the Islamic religion that attacked the towers? If the whole Islamic religion hijacked the planes, then this makes sense but otherwise, it's blaming millions of people for the actions of a few, isn't it?
Whoa there!!! Don't be bringin' your logic and reason to this religion wrapped hate fest!!!
Islam existed in India since 1200s.
Even ex Indian President is a Muslim and thousands of Muslims hold positions of power and authority. But four months back Muslims chopped the hand of a college professor per the verdict of an underground SARIAT court. The militants had planned 14 courts in the state of Kerala. So tolerant Islam is a foregone conclusion.
@Michael
And Cuccinelli just passed an "advice" down in VA that will effectively shut 17 out of 21 clinics that offer abortions and/or family planning services, effectively bypassing Roe v Wade, we're not exactly doing too well on the whole shadow legal system aspect now are we?
This mosque is being built for Americans, in America. The first amendment does not say freedom of religion except for the ones you find offensive or threatening. This is what we are supposed to stand for and indeed strive for in this country, personal freedoms. If we are willing to compromise our freedoms for some sense of security in the end we will lose both.
CNN, the reason that people don't believe media any longer is that you report statements such as Gellar's without any regard for whether it's truth or a lie. Where is the proof that the following statement is remotely true:
"Actually, the mosque at ground zero would be a huge recruiting tool for Islamic jihadists and supremacists: there are thousands of triumphal mosques built on the sites of churches, synagogues and Hindu temples that were destroyed by jihadists, and absolutely no 'mosques of reconciliation' built on the sites of Islamic jihad attacks,"
@Marty
People like Gellar don't care, and fact-checking them in articles is pointless. They're all about the soundbite, and being the loudest voice in the room – accuracy, or even reality, are irrelevant
It's like every other FUD campaign there is.
And she's an outright liar on another one of her comments: "We are not calling for no mosques to be built anywhere"
Oh yes she is, vociferously
Just sayin'
Seems to me if this site is to be considered for "reconciliation", go back to your countries where your religion tolerates chopping people's head off and stoning people to death, prove to the US that you "reconciled" in your countries of origin, establish a record for tolerance there that you can hold up to the world, then perhaps in 10 or 15 years, after you have a track record, then perhaps your request can be considered. Muslims havent shown the world anything but violence.
this center is being built for Muslim terrorists just as much as any Christian church was built for pedophiles
@ZinCA
Filter ate my original post
There are several online Qur'ans, but you need one that gives the Hadiths as well ... and each one of them is likely to have a slightly different translation if it includes explanations of concepts in the text itself. I'd *suggest* http://www.submission.org and you find a second one side by side for comparisons of the translations, then you can make your own mind up (this is the one I pasted from).
And I know others will have other suggestions to give you too.
@ Kate
"But they [9-11 survivors & families] are the only ones with a right to demand either way. Not you, not I, and certainly not the politicians who have jumped on this in order to appease their respective "bases" and gain votes." – Kate
My point exactly. It took you a while, but you got there.
@Lois
I was there long before this thread ever kicked off
Just sayin'
I'll not play the CNN filter game any longer. CNN can stuff this religion.blogs site where sunlight will never reach.
CNN, would you kindly fire whoever programs your "decency" filter? I tire of "awaiting moderation" that never comes.
Or I'll just put a network block in on the blogs sites to avoid possible future irritation, as I've done for a number of your cross site advertisements when malware visited from them.
@Wzrd1
If you've ever seen the comments moderation screen in WordPress, you'd understand why no-one ever looks at it ... it's an unholy mess (pun intended)
As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] ... it is declared ... that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever product an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.... The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation. - Treaty of Tripoli, signed by John Adams
The only people who want to block the NYC mosque are the agents of Al Qaeda, aka "Teabaggers."
“Why is it always incumbent upon non-Muslims to accommodate and show neighborliness to Muslims, but this impulse is never reciprocated?" WHY? Come on. Give us an answer. I wonder WHY they won’t answer? Why do you think??? And why is no answer okay with us? Are we really tolerant, or did we inherit a weakness?
We don’t have to Guess what’s going to happen here. Let’s just watch (and if only we could learn from) the progression of Sharia Islamic law in Canada and Britain. In twenty years, will the US’ current selectively-tolerant leftists’ children cry “hypocrite,” “bigot,” “s3xist” to Muslims? Not in public, that’s for sure. And is this what so-called moderate Muslims really want? Sounds like it – from the silence I hear.
Just taking a stab here, but oh how I wish some of my fellow Anglo-Americans could work out their internal anger against their fathers and their fathers’ religion without destroying our democracy!
Most of the comments on this post associate Al Queda with Islam. Is there no extreme Christians? David Koresh?
Another post criticized muslims for killing each other. What about the KKK's stance on Catholics? Is that not the same thing!
My point. There are extremist in all facets of religion and life in general. Taking down or at least trying to educate extremist is better solution then pointing the finger at an entire religion.
Keyboard Cowboys such as "Marc L from NY" and MANY others here have an amazing propensity to somehow voice their so-called expertise on a religion where their only insight is from message boards / blogs / Pamela Geller. This is the fascinating part of our culture, where if one reads something on the Internet, well then it MUST be true!
I'm a Muslim, live in the U.S., speak perfect English (b/c I am English), and could be your next door neighbour. We might even be friends, have been to Uni together, BBQs or be co-workers. I wouldn't have to tell you what my religion is b/c it's my business, not yours. Yet somehow, you and all the Geller-types want to paint us all with the same AQ brush. This makes about as much sense as me labeling every Christian as a Klansman. However, I don't b/c I’m educated (by which I mean beyond high school). On the other hand, a fear mongered individual looks for a cause such as this type of thread and is forced to comment on a religion they have no ACTUAL knowledge of.
OH WAIT, breaking news...James Lee decided to take hostages at the Discovery building today. Let me check his Face book page, see if I can find his religion and start a slanderous campaign of hatred toward his kind! Why? Because "they're all like that!"
I do have to dispute the implied need for a college education or almost any education because I know someone with downs syndrome and she said quite clearly "we should all just be nice". That pretty much covers it doesn't it?
We had somebody just like you where I work, they came across as the nicest of people, until it was found out that him and his family were involved in plotting terroist activities. Hey, even terroist can be nice to your face when you aint the target of their terrorist activities.
@Skeetz
Wow, you worked with one of those those fine upstanding law-abiding peaceful Christians, the Hutaree! You must feel so privileged!
Just sarcastically sayin'
@Skeetz
Really, you worked with someone "just like me?" I'm impressed. The Geller brush even reached your work place. That means you know everything about me, and in turn, all Muslims. I love this dialog. Guess what? I work with 300K people just like you at the world's largest financial institution. I've now elevated myself to being as knowledgeable as you. I will scour the blogs in my relentless pursuit to "inform" the planet on my expertise on all things Christianity. Perhaps go as far as form a fear mongering site. I shall call it IncreaseJewnessInAmerica.org, because after all, by buying into Pamela Geller's fear campaign, you realize you're saying love/support Jews, but a true patriotic red blooded American is to hate Muslims.
On a serious note, I might as well go on record by saying that unlike Muslim-hating-misinformed-message-board-trolls, I was at the WTC when the 1st plane hit.. Made it home. Assisted the State Police with their search for all local area Mosques. Then spent the rest of the day collecting passengers from the ferry terminals and taking them home. A week or so later, I had the misfortune of attending funerals for the 3 friends I lost in the attack (and commuted into the city with that day). I'm not patting myself on the back. Only illustrating the point about how much you know me, or people "just like me."
@Skeetz
Really, you worked with someone "just like me?" I'm impressed. The Geller brush even reached your work place. That means you know everything about me, and in turn, all Muslims. I love this dialog. Guess what? I work at a company with 300K people just like you and can now say that I've elevated myself to being as knowledgeable as you.
On a less sarcastic note, unlike the Muslim hating misinformed message board trolls, I was at the WTC on 11-Sep-01. Made it home. Assisted the State Police with their search for all local area Mosques. Then spent the rest of the day transporting passengers from the ferry terminals and taking them home since all roads along the waterfront were closed to the public. A week or so later, I had the misfortune of attending funerals for the 3 friends I lost in the attack (and commuted into the city with that day). I'm not attempting to tout my own horn. Only illustrating the point about how much you know me, or people "just like me." All the generalizations being thrown around lately about Muslims only highlight the bigotry/fear/hatred/intollerance.
Pamela Geller is a nut job.