CAIR Calls RFDAH Out

Well its official, CAIR knows who I am. RFDAH got mentioned in
this CAIR press release for being in their banquet.
I'll take this as a badge of honor, I think CAIR intends it as a warning.
Either way, they cared enough to go digging.


http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS247776+28-Oct-2009+PRN20091028
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) today distributed an editorial, entitled "Islamophobia
Machine Targets American Muslims," outlining what the Washington-based Muslim
civil rights group says is a campaign by "extremists of all stripes who
coordinate and cooperate in a relentless effort to demonize Islam and deprive
American Muslims of their civil rights."

CAIR distributed the editorial through ISLAM-OPED, a syndication service
designed to offer an American Muslim perspective on current political, social
and religious issues. ISLAM-OPED commentaries are offered free-of-charge to
one media outlet in each market area. Permission for publication will be
granted on a first-come-first-served basis. (Contact: CAIR National
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726,
ihooper@cair.com)

---

CAIR: Islamophobia Machine Targets American Muslims
Nihad Awad
WORD COUNT: 1187

[Nihad Awad is national executive director for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), the nation's leading Muslim civil liberties organization. He
may be contacted at nawad@cair.com.]

"Are you a believer?" asked the participant in a Capitol Hill gathering of
Islamophobes and Muslim-bashers who -- according to conference materials --
were seeking to promote "freedom of speech and religion."

When CAIR's intern answered, "Yes, of course," the conference participant --
whose card indicated he works for "Encountering Islam Christian Ministry" and
obviously thinking "believer" meant something other than Muslim -- replied,
"Good, because we want to cut their [Muslims'] necks off."

Just one hour later, the officially-registered intern was asked to leave the
conference, which was held in the U.S. Congressional Auditorium, because "some
of the panel members do not feel comfortable with you being here." So much for
freedom of speech and religion.

Before being ejected, CAIR's intern heard one audience member seek advice from
a panelist as to how American Muslim rights could be "curtailed," given the
fact that "unfortunately" Islam itself cannot be outlawed.

But not to worry -- one of the speakers at the Washington, D.C., conference
does advocate outlawing Islam in America. That speaker, David Yerushalmi,
works for one of the other speakers at the conference, Frank Gaffney Jr.

Other panelists included anti-Islam hate blogger Pam Geller, who has appeared
at Muslim-bashing events with Gaffney and with another conference speaker,
Florida House of Representatives Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Hasner recently
hosted an appearance by extremist anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert "ban the
Quran" Wilders in Florida, which was co-hosted by the hate blogger and
promoted by another conference panelist, Tom Trento of the Florida Security
Council.

Does all this make sense? It does if you understand that there is an
"Islamophobia Machine" made up of extremists of all stripes who coordinate and
cooperate in a relentless effort to demonize Islam and deprive American
Muslims of their civil rights.

The list of attendees at CAIR's recent sold-out 15th annual banquet in
Arlington, Va., further illustrates how the Islamophobia machine works.

Two of those who purchased tickets for the banquet were notorious Islamophobes
with histories of Muslim-bashing and associations with hate groups.

Among the 750 Muslim community members and activists, interfaith leaders and
diplomats from Muslim-majority nations who heard addresses by speakers such as
Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs of Progressive Faith Foundation
were the two "moles" -- a hijab-clad representative of an anti-Islam group and
a "counterterrorism consultant" who claims Thomas Jefferson only owned a Quran
"so that he could know his enemy, so he could confront them, know them, kill
them."

The consultant, John Cosgrove, made that claim weeks earlier as he protested
the "Day of Islamic Unity," during which thousands of American Muslims
gathered for prayer on Capitol Hill. Cosgrove is head of the Virginia chapter
of the anti-Muslim hate group called the United American Committee (UAC). He
was one of the main opponents of the expansion of an Islamic school in
Virginia.

In 2007, the head of the UAC called Islam a "cult" and said terrorists are
"honest" Muslims. He also stated that anyone who believes Muslims are not the
"enemy" is "incredibly ignorant or a simple-minded fool."

SEE: GOP Women's Group Promotes Anti-Muslim Hate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnLAsDOknU8

Hijab-wearing mole number two, Christine Brim, is senior vice president for
policy and program management at the Center for Security Policy. She was asked
to leave the event after being observed surreptitiously recording the banquet
speeches, despite earlier being given legal notice that such recordings were
prohibited. Instead of speaking to security personnel, Brim immediately fled
to the hotel's exit. (CAIR's dinner was an open event with media present.
Unauthorized recordings are prohibited only to prevent abuse by those who
have, in the past, sought to smear the speakers by distorting their words.)

Brim, along with Cosgrove, was an opponent of the Islamic school in Virginia.

Her group and its President Frank Gaffney Jr. actively promote the racist and
anti-Islam ideology of David Yerushalmi, the center's general counsel, who has
advocated outlawing the practice of Islam in America and permanently closing
all U.S. mosques.

SEE: Center for Security Policy Staff
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/staff.xml

In a 2007 commentary headlined "War Manifesto -- The War Against Islam,"
Yerushalmi called for a "war against Islam and all Muslim faithful." He wrote
in part:

"On the so-called Global War on Terrorism, GWOT, we have been quite clear
along with a few other resolute souls. This should be a WAR AGAINST ISLAM and
all Muslim faithful...At a practical level, this means that Shari'a and
Islamic law are immediately outlawed. Any Moslem in America who adopts
historical and traditional Shari'a will be subject to deportation. Mosques
which adhere to Islamic law will be shut down permanently. No self-described
or practicing Muslim, irrespective of his or her declarations to the contrary,
will be allowed to immigrate to this country..."

Another such "manifesto" called for making "adherence to Islam" punishable by
a 20-year prison term.

In a 2006 article for The American Spectator, Yerushalmi wrote: "Muslim
civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization...The Muslim peoples,
those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies."

In another article, Yerushalmi wrote: "Instead of a promise of victory, Sura
24:52 must be made ashes in the mouths of Muslims. A seemingly unending air
control campaign over enemy territory is the way to continually remind the
Muslims of their subordinate status and the impotence of Allah without
becoming mired in the quagmire of counterinsurgency."

He also wrote that he "has staked out an approach which is to Know the Enemy
by declaring the enemy historical, traditional, and authoritative Islam."

Yerushalmi's website once contained the following white supremacist language
as part of its mission statement:

"America was the handiwork of faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost
entirely white, who ventured from Europe to create a nation in their image of
a country existing as free men under G-d."

Other articles on his website made racist statements such as: "There is a
reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to
vote," and "Race matters and affects your intelligence. Jews are the smartest
white people around. Orientals smarter than Whites. Latinos next. Then
Blacks."

Another article stated:

"Is there something unique about the Black American (or, at least the Black
New Yorker) that leads him to murder so disproportionately and to most often
kill and victimize his own?"

Yerushalmi is also the former employer of Dave Gaubatz, his one-time "Director
of Intelligence and Counter-terrorism Studies" and author of a Muslim-bashing
book. In 2007, Yerushalmi's group paid Gaubatz $148,898 for "research."

Gaubatz has a long history of bigotry targeting Islam and Muslims. He has
called Islam an "evil ideology" and a "terminal disease." Along with his past
rhetorical attacks Islam, Gaubatz has called President Obama a "crack head"
and wrote that "a vote for Hussein Obama is a vote for Sharia Law."

It is becoming obvious to anyone who puts all the parts of the Islamophobia
machine together that American Muslims are being targeted by a coordinated and
well-funded nationwide effort to disenfranchise their community and demonize
their faith.

This insidious effort will only succeed if Americans of all faiths fail take a
stand against un-American attempts to divide our nation along religious lines.


---

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization.
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: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina
Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com




SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, +1-202-488-8787, +1-
202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, Amina Rubin, or CAIR Communications
Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com

--
Radio Free Dar al Harb: Every time you listen, a Jihadi cries.

Bring the Pain at:
blogtalkradio.com/radiofreedaralharb
radiofreedaralharb.blogspot.com

CAIR 15th Annual Banquet Quicklook

CAIR had its 15th annual banquet this past Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at the Gateway Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, VA. Located a few blocks from the Pentagon, it is ironic that their venue was the same used to host Arlington County's 9-11 After Action Conference, where first responders and officials from around the country came to learn from Arlington County's repose to 9-11.

All credit to my unnamed supporter, the theme of this year's banquet was the incredible shrinking CAIR. Embassies that attended in the past did not have tables, and though the Saudi Embassy had a table, only two people who may, or may not, have been from the Embassy arrived. Otherwise, it was 6 open seats at the table. Also notably absent were the Jordanian Embassy and the Iranian Interests Section. In doing a comparison between past banquets, far fewer embassies attended this year. However, while its old friends sat out, a new friend, in the form of Libya arrived. The Embassy of Libya had a full table as the Libyan Ambassador to the US attended the event. The Libyan Ambassador received special recognition by MC Mahdi Bray, and a very warm personal greeting from Esam Omeish. Perhaps this video contributed to Omeish's loss in his Dem. Va. Delegate primary loss:



CAIRs gave most of its awards its immediate inner circle. This raises the question of whether or not CAIR could find anyone of note that would actually accept the award. Mahdi Bray received one of their awards, perhaps for good work such as this:


This years banquet had more, and more visible, security. Marriott, Wachenhut, and CAIR staff put on a strong show. Of interest, the CAIR staff acting as security had badges this year, however I could not identify what the big gold shields said. If the shields had police, or special police, on them, they would have been in violation of Virginia law. It could not be determined if the increase in security was due to our video from last year, security required for Jesse Jackson, and or both.



The other big questions is why were Jesse Jackson, and sidekick Rabbi Steve Jacobs, their? Solicitations for the Rainbow Coalition PUSH were made, and as Bray said in pushing for donations for Jackson, "you've got to be a friend, to get a friend." Was Jackson there because CAIR paid for his help in response to the Myrick et al crackdown? Was Jackson just piling on to stay relevant?

Though I never agree with what they say, the speakers this year were worse than last year. Amidst a series of rambling, conspiracy theory, defensive, and half-hearted saber rattling, Larry Shaw stood out as the standout gaffe maker. Larry Shaw made a joke about the FBI sponsoring tables that was not well received due to the tangible paranoia in the room. He then proceeded to make an incoherent diatribe implying the US government was ignoring drug cartels to focus on low level drug dealers. Perhaps the most telling audience participation of the night was when Shaw asked the crowd separately if there were any U.S. military and then first responders in attendance. No one raised a hand or uttered a word. Dead silence.

Robert Spencer received a direct challenge from Mahdi Bray and Muslim Mafia was the target of the bully pulpit for the speakers. A victory in the Flying Imams case was also celebrated.

CAIR's donations that night, approximately $170,000+ helped them meet their quarterly goal of raising $1 million, alleged Bray after a substantially abbreviated fund raising effort by Siraj Wahhaj.

Funniest moment of the night goes not to a speaker, but to the Tiramisu that had alcohol in it. Only the Kafir in attendance recognized that wonderful haram taste.

I am working on scanning copies of the material that handed out at the tables near reception.

I sat with Martin McMahon (CAIR and Saudi lawyer), Arab News reporter Sarah Ferguson, and an Alhurrah anchor and producer. Always strange company at these events.