STATE DEPARTMENT President Bush has avoided repetition of a term that angered Muslims.
Responding last week to the foiling of an alleged plot to blow up flights between Britain and the United States, Bush said, "This nation is at war with Islamic fascists."
That triggered immediate objections from the Council of American-Islamic Relations, and another objection today from the government of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement after its weekly meeting, the Saudi Cabinet "warned against labeling Muslims with accusations of terrorism and fascism."
Bush didn't repeat the reference to "Islamic fascists" at the State Department today, referring instead to "individuals that would like to kill innocent Americans to achieve political objectives."
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The Presidents full statement while visiting the State Department:
President Discusses Foreign Policy During Visit to State Department The State DepartmentWashington, D.C.
August 14, 2006
"Q As far as terrorist cells inside the U.S.?
THE PRESIDENT: Any time we get a hint that there might be a terrorist cell in the United States, we move on it. And we're listening, we're looking, and one thing that's important is for us to make sure that those people who are trying to disrupt terrorist cells in the United States have the tools necessary to do so within the Constitution of the United States.
One of the things we better make sure is we better not call upon the federal government and people on the front lines of fighting terror to do their job and disrupt cells without giving people the necessary tools to disrupt terrorist plots before they strike. And that's what we're doing here in this government.
And that's why the Terrorist Surveillance Program exists, a program that some in Washington would like to dismantle. That's why we passed the Patriot Act, to give our folks the tools necessary to be able to defend America. The lessons of the past week is that there's still a war on terror going on and there's still individuals that would like to kill innocent Americans to achieve political objectives. That's the lesson. And the lesson for those of us in Washington, D.C. is to set aside politics and give our people the tools necessary to protect the American people.
Thank you. "
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Shoura Chief Wants Bush Apology
by P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
"JEDDAH, 21 August 2006 — Shoura Council Chairman Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid yesterday called for a public apology from US President George W. Bush for linking Islam and Muslims with fascism and terrorism.
The chairman was referring to a recent statement by Bush branding Muslim extremists “Islamic fascists.” He also warned against deliberate smear campaigns targeting Islam, saying they would have dangerous consequences.
...
“We demand a public apology for this falsification as it came from an influential political figure and received wide publicity,” Al-Madinah Arabic daily quoted Bin-Humaid, who is also imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, as saying. Bush’s statement provoked worldwide Muslim protests.
The Saudi Cabinet last week warned against linking Islam with terrorism and fascism without considering the history of Islamic civilization. “Fascism is a product of Western culture,” a Cabinet statement said.
...
“The problem with the phrase is that it attaches the religion of Islam to tyranny and fascism, rather than isolating the threat to a specific group of individuals,” said Edina Lekovic, spokeswoman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles. She said the terms cast aspersions on all Muslims, even the vast majority who want to live in safety like other Americans.
...
In his statement, Bin-Humaid said the attack on Islam and the Prophet would only strengthen Muslims’ faith in their religion. He urged Muslim governments and organizations to take effective steps to prevent attempts to spread hatred of Islam and Muslims.
Bin-Humaid said it was the growing popularity of Islam that had provoked enemies to launch smear campaigns."
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C.A.I.R. doth protest too much
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