US State Dept Sends Mosque Imam to Mideast

Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam of the Ground Zero Mosque is going to be representing the United States in the Middle East and the taxpayers of America are picking up the tab. This man will not acknowledge Hamas is a terrorist organization and believes 9/11 was partly caused by US policies. Yet the State Department is sending him to the Middle East? What's he going to do there? Raise more money for the Ground Zero Mosque they want to break ground for on 9/11 and shove it in our face?

You want to gag, read the following paragraph which comes from the Hillary State Department:

“He is a distinguished Muslim cleric,” said State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley. “We do have a program whereby, through our Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau here at the State Department, we send people from Muslim communities here in this country around the world to help people overseas understand our society and the role of religion within our society.”

Guess after Hillary Clinton played up to Arafat's wife, Soho, we shouldn't be too shocked at this, but we are. Why are the taxpayers picking up the tab and why is this man representing the United States? Just a reminder for anyone who thinks Hillary would be different from Obama when it comes to taking sides of the Arab countries over the Israel:

Hillary Clinton kisses Soho Arafat
after Soha's terrorist speech
January 2011 cannot come soon enough for the taxpayers of this Country so all these trips on our nickle can be curtailed. Our Country is in serious financial condition and we have to learn we are picking up the tab for this Iman after learning about the trip of Michelle Obama to Spain which estimates of the cost are continuing to rise and are closer to over $1M than the $375,000K they tried to tell us it cost.

US State Dept Sends Mosque Imam to Mideast
August 9, 2010 - 7:01 PM by: Jake Gibson

WASHINGTON– State Department officials on Monday confirmed Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque, will soon be going on a trip of the Middle East and the U.S. government will be picking up the tab.

The planned construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City has set off a contentious national debate over religious freedom in the U.S., drawing impassioned opposition from some families of 9/11 victims.

Rauf has emerged as a controversial figure because of his refusal to acknowledge Hamas as a terrorist organization, which is how the U.S. government classifies the group. The imam also has been quoted as saying U.S. foreign policy was in part responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

(snip)

Rauf and his partners are preparing to build a $100 million Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero, where on September 11, 2001 two airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists, slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 innocents.

The project, known as Park 51, cleared a final hurdle on August 3rd, when decision by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission cleared the way for construction. The tower could span up to 15 stories and will house a mosque, a 500-seat auditorium and a pool.

The State Department has not yet divulged a detailed itinerary of Rauf’s trip, although Arab media is reporting he will visit the oil rich states of Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi.

“It is to foster greater understanding and outreach around the world, among… Muslim- majority communities,” said Crowley. “We've done this many, many times, with many leading figures… over the past few years.”

The project has also drawn outspoken criticism from Sarah Palin who famously tweeted, “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation. It stabs hearts.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has forcefully defended the project as a symbol of America’s religious tolerance.

Read more: Fox News