Author:
Publication: Fox News
Date: September 28, 2001
URL: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,35384,00.html
Since the terror attacks against
the United States, President Bush has been flanked by Muslim leaders in
an attempt to reach out to what many have perceived as moderate members
of the Muslim community.
According to a videotape obtained
by Fox News' Rita Cosby, however, some of the Muslim leaders involved attended
a Washington, D.C. rally last year where known terrorist organizations
were given support.
One of the leaders invited to appear
with Bush was Abdurahaman Alamoudi, the president of the American Muslim
Council. Three days after the hijackings, Alamoudi joined Bush at a prayer
service dedicated to the victims of the attack.
On the videotape of last year's
rally, Alamoudi says, "We are all supporters of HAMAS," the group that
supports installing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel and
that has taken credit for numerous suicide bombings in Israel.
Alamoudi also adds on the video
that he supports Hezbollah, the group the U.S. Navy credits with several
anti-U.S. attacks, beginning with a 1983 suicide truck bombing of the U.S.
Embassy in Beirut.
In fall 2000, Hillary Clinton's
campaign for Senate returned a financial contribution from Alamoudi because
of his ties to HAMAS.
Also invited to the prayer service
attended by Alamoudi after the attacks was Muzzammil Siddiqi, the spiritual
leader of the Islamic Society of Orange County. At that service, Siddiqi
prayed: "keep our country strong for the sake of the good."
Only a year earlier, Siddiqi was
an organizer of the rally where Alamoudi expressed support for HAMAS and
Hezbollah. Then, Siddiqi said, "The United States of America is directly
and indirectly responsible for the plight of the Palestinian people. If
you remain on the side of injustice the wrath of God will come."
In a phone conversation with Fox
News, however, Siddiqi says he was not aware of all the speakers at the
rally and doesn't support the extremist viewpoints some expressed.
"I don't support Hezbollah and HAMAS.
I don't support any terrorist groups. Terrorism is not what Islam teaches,"
Siddiqi said.
It seems likely that the White House
knew of the viewpoints expressed by Alamoudi and Siddiqi before the clerics
were included.
"The intelligence Community has
known for sometime the association of Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, and Mr. Alamoudi
and their association with terrorist organizations," former Secret Service
officer Ron Williams said.
White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer
emphasized that inviting the clerics did not mean the president saw eye-to-eye
with them.
"I don't think it would surprise
anybody that the President often has meetings to discuss a whole host of
issues with people that he may not agree with everything they may have
said in the course of their lives or careers," Fleischer said.
Reaction is coming quickly from
Capitol Hill. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, R-N.Y., released a statement to Fox
News saying, "The words spoken by these clerics are very disturbing and
certainly give the appearance that they back violence and terrorism. If
they have had a change of heart, I would demand that they denounce all
terrorists including HAMAS. And, if not, they should be treated like the
terrorists they are."
Alamoudi and Siddiqi are not the
only questionable guests to the White House, intelligence sources tell
Fox News.
Sources say that a man based in
the White House and working as the White House's liaison to the Muslim
community is the son of a man who helped raise money for a Muslim leader
connected to Usama bin Laden.
Fox News' Rita Cosby contributed
to this report.
