President Obama names Islamic envoy
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POLITICO 44
Reaching out to Muslims around the world, President Barack Obama used a taped video address Saturday to make the surprise announcement that Rashad Hussain, deputy associate White House counsel, will serve as a special U.S. envoy to the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Obama made the announcement about his pan-Islamic overture to delegates at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, an annual event hosted by the Saban Center at Brookings and the Government of Qatar.
Hussain’s work at the White House focuses on national security, new media, and science and technology issues. Hussain has also worked with the national security staff in developing the partnerships with the Muslim world that Obama outlined in his “On a New Beginning” address in June.
The OIC calls itself “the collective voice of the Muslim world,” working “to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.”
“Appointing a special envoy to the OIC is an important part of the president’s commitment to engaging Muslims around the world based on mutual respect and mutual interest,” an administration official said.
“The special envoy will work to strengthen cooperation between the U.S., the OIC and its members in many areas of mutual interest such as education, entrepreneurship, science and technology, health and opposing violent extremism in all its forms.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton departs Saturday to address the conference in Doha on Sunday before heading on to Saudi Arabia for meetings with the Saudi King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, expected to focus heavily on Iran.
Clinton is one of several senior U.S. officials recently dispatched to Persian Gulf states and Israel to discuss Iran. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is due in Israel on Sunday after recent visits to the region by National Security Adviser Jim Jones and the National Security Council’s Iran strategist, Dennis Ross; CIA Director Leon Panetta, and Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of U.S. Strategic Command.
Since the president’s speech to the Muslim world, the U.S. has worked with the OIC on eradicating polio. Polio remains endemic in three Muslim-majority countries — Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan — and in India, where it disproportionately affects Muslim communities.
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy, an OIC affiliate, issued a statement in September urging health ministries in Muslim-majority countries to intensify polio eradication efforts and calling on parents to have their children vaccinated. Saudi Arabia quickly reconfirmed its intention to contribute $30 million toward polio eradication. Later, the president of Pakistan announced a national campaign to eradicate polio, and named his daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari Benazir, to lead the campaign.
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chalons Party: NA
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Feb. 13, 2010 - 12:20 PM EST
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Feb. 13, 2010 - 1:40 PM EST
They sure ain't getting ready to do the Texas Two-Step or the Hokey-Pokey. We told you America, that he was born and bred a Muslim, too bad 61 million drones were stuck on stupid. Maybe THIS is why he did not want to rush to judgement on Hasan.
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Serendipituous Choco... Party: Independent
Reply #18
Feb. 13, 2010 - 1:58 PM EST
I was wondering if this announcement would bring out the loonies...It certainly did. Interestingly enough, most of them get their reality from Fox, who's second largest shareholder in the parent company News Corp is a Saudi prince. Why are Republicans always so hypocritical? An envoy to the Muslim world makes sense, since our national security benefits from having moderate Muslims succeeding, and the jihadists being pushed to the fringe. We do have an envoy to the Vatican, so having something similar to the Muslim world is not unprecedented.
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Feb. 13, 2010 - 2:02 PM EST
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Read all 94 comments in our forumWho are the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist envoys?
Thought the Hussein was POTUS. This guy, president of the world... global jobs bill? Those in the Muslim world be afraid, be very afraid.
Remember when Obama said he visited 57 states...maybe that was a Freudian slip and these were the 57 states he was referring to?
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Guess Obama's hate America apology tour wasn't enough for Muslims around the world.
Remember when Obama said he visited 57 states...maybe that was a Freudian slip and these were the 57 states he was referring to.
That was the first thing I thought of, nice catch sir.
Thanks, nekid.
Ya'll beat me to it. I'm sure there are a lot more poeple thinking the same thing.
This guy is dangerous, why the hell is he kissing the Muslims butts? It's sad to think that the American young people are so stupid that they believe in this crap. God help us.
.
Oh, great. Now we've got Islamists with national security clearances, access to intelligence and contacts and connections throughout the Sharia world. This Obama fellow is leaving quite the paper trail for treason charges, isn't he? Do you suppose that because he has allies in the Depts. of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, et al, he thinks he is immune from the Day of Reckoning?
So the Muslim man-child has actually visited 57 nations? He makes me naucious!
What do you expect from the Muslim in Chief? Before long, he will sit in a temple in Israel and declare himself GOD, then start his jihad against the Christian nations. This "man" is every bit as sick and deluded as his ruling buddies in Iran.
Was that what happened when he said he "could never turn his back on reverend Wright", then "didn't hear a thing while in the Pews", then, threw him under the bus?
Or was that like the time he couldn't remember starting his career in the home of a terrorist?
Or was that like the time/s he hired professed communists and Mao lovers to be in his cabinet?
Or was that like the time he professed to not have lobbyists in his cabinet, but then filled it with lobbyists?
Or was that like the time he promised to never tax people making under $250K, and has not only done that, but now says he is "agnostic" on the matter?
etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.
Whati, you are a fool if you are still drinking the kool-aid of this narcissist, and quite frankly, the American People KNOW YOU TO BE A FOOL.
Next Obama will push for more Muslims to "visit" America. All part of the plan. Look at France, Great Britian, wherever Muslims become a large part of the population violence, unrest and domestic terrorism ensues. Somebody needs to tell Barry America is NOT a Muslim nation.
OBAMA is the biggest P.O.S. laughing stock president wannabe dictator this world has ever seen.
He does not stop,it makes one think this guy really needs professional help.
Looking back at his video on the 57 states comment,it now becomes perfectly clear that he paused after that comment and was thinking,"The cats out of the bag",but we saw it like he was an idiot,until right now.
He states he is a christian,but he has lied to us from day one,this is simply one more.
The extremeist muslim faith is just that,suicide bombers prove to us they will stop at nothing.I now believe that if Obama did not have the social graces that he did which enabled him to move through our ranks and miraculously become president,he very well would have been a Richard Reid or a FT.Hood mass murder or an underwear bomber.
Hey,guess what we are done with you,you are an idiot who after seeing this still backs him,we are shaking are heads and sneering at you in disbelief.You're a P.O.S. and even the real democrats know to stay away from freaks like you.You are disgusting ana un-american.