Tuesday, November 15, 2005

ISNA Cleared In Senate Investigation

The Islamic Society of North America which is based in suburban Indianapolis has evidently been cleared in an investigation conducted by the the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, so says the Indianapolis Star.

A U.S. Senate committee found nothing "alarming" in the financial records of the Plainfield-based Islamic Society of North America and nearly two dozen other Muslim groups the committee reviewed searching for terrorist connections.

"Of course we were sure that nothing would come out with regard to ISNA, but it is good to see that they have come to that conclusion as well," said Louay Safi, executive director of an Islamic Society program that develops new Muslim leaders.

On one hand, this is good news. It certainly doesn't make me a bit happy to have to post on the negative aspects that involve Muslims in this country. But on the other hand, I would caution those that would become too elated with this. This is an investigation of financial records only. It has no bearing on any other investigations that may be under way at this time.

"We did not find anything alarming enough that required additional follow-up beyond what law enforcement is already doing," U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who heads the committee, said in a statement. "If something in the future does cause new concern, we will continue the investigation."

This is indicates that law enforcement is still keeping a close eye on the organization. And, wisely so.

"We cooperated with their investigation. We provided records. I am glad to hear this has been concluded," Safi said.

That's nice. And they are to be commended for this.

But what would really make me and many others more comfortable, is to hear some condemnation of the heinous acts of the Salafist Jihadists that are hell bent on destroying western civilization, as we know it. What I want to hear is, official public condemnation for groups like Hamas, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the others that are committed to the destruction of the Jewish nation and race. I would also like to hear them condemn states like Syria and Iran that openly support international terror. I would love nothing more than to see them do this, instead of just offering condolences when tragedy strikes at the hands of those that call themselves, Muslims. (Check their website, I won't link to them.)

So until all of this happens, I will remain very skeptical of these so-called "moderate" Islamic groups. You can safely assume that I will not be swapping spit in the shower with any of them, anytime in the near future.

Safi said he understands that the terrorist threat requires the government's vigilance. But he said it is disheartening how innocent Muslim organizations have been "smeared" in this process.

The Senate investigation was widely reported, casting doubt on the Islamic Society at a time many Muslims in the United States were viewed suspiciously because of the terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Arsalan Iftikhar, national legal director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the Senate Finance Committee had gone on a "fishing expedition" that did nothing but reinforce the idea that Muslims are guilty until proven innocent when it comes to terrorism accusations.

"Unfortunately," Iftikhar said, "I think this is indicative of federal law enforcement's dragnet against the American Muslim community."


Safi, at least on the surface, is stating publicly that he understands. But still, he gets his dig in. And as you see, CAIR is always in the shadows using situations like this, as propaganda opportunities. CAIR will do whatever dirty work needs to be done, any time there is perceived discrimination towards any Muslim.

Bottom line:

If they want me to believe their true sincerity, they need to show me more. They need to condemn the heinous killers, work with us to root and weed out the reprobates that have "hijacked" Islam, and teach only peace, in their mosques. Not just once, not just twice. But by doing it consistently, making it a way of life, and not as a smoke screen or lip service.

Rest assured, I will not settle for one damned thing less.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let me take on the roll of the devil's advocate for a few minutes, LA. But I'll do that with the caveat that I happen to agree with your point of view on 99.99% of occasions.

When a white teenager murders the parents of his girlfriend, do we hear an outcry among other white teenagers that the act was heinous?

No.

When a black person commits a capital offense, do you hear an outcry among other blacks?

How about when a Christian, a Hindu, or an atheist does a bad thing, do other Christians, Hindus, or atheists speak out against the commission of such offenses?

No.

So then, is it possible that most mainstream Muslims simply do not see "terrorism" as having anything to do with them, individually or collectively? I guess I'm asking, in a very verbose way, are we expecting something more from the Muslim community than what we demand from other segments of our society?

S/F

Always On Watch said...

In his book Preachers of Hate: Islam and the War on America, Kenneth Timmerman has a different assessment of ISNA. I got the book at the local library (audio version)--quite an eye-opener.

LA Sunset said...

I think you have asked a fair question. I will try to answer.

I believe there are a lot of white teenagers that would say they that killing a girlfriend's parents is heinous. Some would not. But I think most would.

The same can be said of the black person that committed the capital crime.

Heinous as their crimes may be, their group did not participate in the mass murder of innocent people for a political cause. They are not hellbent on destroying the free world and specifically, the U.S.

As for your question on Christians and other religions, there are radical Christians that think bombing abortion clinics, is good. Many of them would no more condemn that, than I would the beheading of Zarqawi.

But to answer the crux of your question:

"...are we expecting something more from the Muslim community than what we demand from other segments of our society?"

Yes and no.

Yes:

The Hindus, Buddhists, and others are not trying to start a jihad with the non-Muslim world. (The atheists are trying to litigate us all to death, but they are not currently looking for targets to blow up, either.)

But Muslims are. They are the ones that flew the planes into the towers and the Pentagon. They are the ones that have been the highest threat to world peace, not the drug dealer that offs someone to settle a debt.

They are the ones that are now claiming they are being singled out, yet they don't go out of their way to show that they reject this terror on innocents. They are the ones that say that Isla, is the religion of peace, but fail to condemn non-peaceful acts.

So, to answer your question, yes. I do expect them to step forward and do what is right, especially if they call themselves American citizens.

No:

I don't expect all of them to do so, because in their heart of hearts they sympathize with the terrorists. And, in that respect, they probably will never do what is right. And it is those people that I will continue to not give one damn about, when they are accused or investigated. It's no different than the blacks that came to the aid of Michael Jackson, in spite of the fact he never considered himself all that black until he was busted for molesting children. He bleached his skin to be white, but had no use for the black culture per se, until he was being "beaten down by the man".

LA Sunset said...

AOW, I have got to get that book. I have heard so much about it, from you, and him on the radio interviews. If you ever get the inspiration to post something from it on this bunch, I will be more than glad to link to it.

Personally, I don't trust them. Just clearing a financial investigation doesn't impress me.

Always On Watch said...

LA,
This statement from you is important: in their heart of hearts they sympathize with the terrorists.
Add to that the fact that eternal life is tied up with not opposing jihad and that jihad guarantees the best place in eternity, and I think we have the answer as to why "moderates" don't condemn terrorism.

I don't own the Timmerman book, but it's available at the public library. Maybe during Christmas break I can post an excerpt.

In fact, Christians do condemn the bombing of abortion clinics.

Always On Watch said...

LA,
ISNA knows very well how to launder money.

One way to determine what any group is really up to is to research the origins of that group. CAIR is an example.

Always On Watch said...

LA,

To get you started on ISNA...

http://www.frontpagemag.com/
Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=19311 :

...[T]he Islamic Society of North America is a front for the promotion of Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi political, doctrinal and theological infrastructure in the United States and Canada. Established by the Saudi-funded Muslim Students Association, ISNA has for years sought to marginalize leaders of the Muslim faith who do not support the Wahhabists’ strain of Islamofascism, and, through sponsorship of propaganda and mosques, is pursuing a strategic goal of eventually dominating Islam in America.

ISNA provides indoctrination materials to about 1,100 of an estimated 2,500 mosques on the North American continent. Through its affiliate, the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) – a Saudi government-backed organization created to fund Islamist enterprises in North America – it reportedly holds the mortgages of between 50 and 79 percent of those mosques. Through this device, ISNA exerts ideological as well as theological influence over what is preached and taught in these institutions and their schools.


At the top of the above web reference, you can also click on Search, then FPM; enter "ISNA" to bring up more articles.

Also check the search engine @
http://www.militantislammonitor.org/

I'll be on Thanksgiving break for about 10 days, but you might find time to do some research on ISNA while I'm gone.

An expose of ISNA is ripe for the pickin's!