New Bar at Gound Zero

[Pressing-On]

The Cordoba Initiative, which describes its objective on its website as "steering the world back to the course of mutual recognition and respect and away from heightened tensions," is led by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan. The organization lists scores of "supporters" on its home page, including 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, the American Jewish Committee, the Interfaith Center of New York, St. Bartholomew's Church, and the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

The site does not specify, however, whether any of those organizations has contributed financially to the cultural center project.

The organization's website solicits donations by directing donors to a PayPal account, and does not require disclosure of identity other than payment information and an e-mail address.

"If this project were what it was represented to be, which is an exercise in building bridges and a more ecumenical kind of Islam, then there shouldn't be any shroud whatsoever over who is behind it," Andrew C. McCarthy, the former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and author of "The Grand Jihad," tells Newsmax. "The fact that there is an obvious reluctance about saying who is behind it would lead a rational person to think it isn't what it's represented to be."

Asked who is paying for the religious facility, Jasser replied, "That's what I want to know. I don't know. Nobody knows. The organization certainly has not said that they will not take foreign funding. They have had some funding that they [have] gotten, I believe, from a Qatari foundation. So they do take foreign moneys by their previous example. But they haven't answered the question."

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/grou...8/05/id/366712

This person, Jasser) does support what you have said, Twisp, about accepting funding from foreign entities (to be fair), which has been different than other articles I've read.

But, we do want transparency as to where the money is coming from. I don't believe it's legal to require it.

He still seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth to appease both sides by saying, "from the community" and then saying to a foreign source, "from muslim nations", so it all is a bit ambiguous.

But, he is not ambiguous here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTX_l...yer_embedded#!

Starting at 2:54

"As far as the funding, it is coming from our communities. We have members who are at various levels at many of the financial institutions and this is where our support is coming from." - Rauf

Now let's listen at 4:03:

Asks a question about where the cash came from.

"It came from our community." - Raul

"I find that very hard to believe." - Tim Brown, Former NYC Firefighter

"We have people who are very successful members of this community, of the American community, of this financial community." Rauf

Ooops, looks like he has misrepresented himself. Or better yet - Taqiyya - lied. You can do that IF you are protecting Islam.

[Twisp]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Cordoba Initiative leader Imam Rauf had stated that the $4.85 million to purchase the Burlington Coat Factory came “from the community,” as if to indicate local money. Apparently, raising $100 million plus to build a 15-story mosque at Ground Zero just two blocks north of the World Trade Center requires he reach out a bit further, as a report this morning in the New York Post explains:

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has insisted the project he’s spearheading is meant to build bridges between Muslims and other religions, but so far he has not been able to cite any specific sources of funding.

But in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Rauf told the newspaper that funding would come from Muslims in the United States and from overseas.

“We hope to raise it from a combination of gifts from the local Muslim community and perhaps from some combination of bonds or something like that,” Rauf told WABC Radio’s Aaron Klein last week.

http://www.911familiesforamerica.org/?p=4002

Thanks for that supporting article. Nowhere did he insist it was coming only from Muslim-Americans.

That article explains for you, hopefully, that he is expecting funds to come from both Muslim-Americans and from overseas.

Appreciate the further assistance in this. lol

[Twisp]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The Cordoba Initiative, which describes its objective on its website as "steering the world back to the course of mutual recognition and respect and away from heightened tensions," is led by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan. The organization lists scores of "supporters" on its home page, including 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, the American Jewish Committee, the Interfaith Center of New York, St. Bartholomew's Church, and the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

The site does not specify, however, whether any of those organizations has contributed financially to the cultural center project.

The organization's website solicits donations by directing donors to a PayPal account, and does not require disclosure of identity other than payment information and an e-mail address.

"If this project were what it was represented to be, which is an exercise in building bridges and a more ecumenical kind of Islam, then there shouldn't be any shroud whatsoever over who is behind it," Andrew C. McCarthy, the former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and author of "The Grand Jihad," tells Newsmax. "The fact that there is an obvious reluctance about saying who is behind it would lead a rational person to think it isn't what it's represented to be."

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/grou...8/05/id/366712

Thanks for the article. Another good one on this topic. Doesn't really clear up where he insisted funds were coming only from Muslim-Americans, but it was a good read.

[Socialite]

Fine, ignore me

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Socialite

First of all, before many knew anything about the Imam, his funding, etc... they were already outraged. It's dishonest to pretend any of those concerns are the reason for many to hide behind what is basically Islamophobia, or at the least, guilty of grouping all Muslims together as one monolithic group.

However, I do recognize there are some who have made judgements about this matter after obtaining all the information. This includes the fact that the Imam refuses to denounce terrorism (calling it "complex") or Hamas. Further, the proximity of this Muslim Paradise is suspect and very provocative. NYC what it is, it's not uncommon, but definitely provocative for Americans, and I get that. I don't understand the people who say they don't get that.

Originally Posted by Socialite

Fine, ignore me

Good post, I agree!!! I got busy and forgot to respond! LOL!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

But, he is not ambiguous here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTX_l...yer_embedded#!

Starting at 2:54

"As far as the funding, it is coming from our communities. We have members who are at various levels at many of the financial institutions and this is where our support is coming from." - Rauf

Now let's listen at 4:03:

Asks a question about where the cash came from.

"It came from our community." - Raul

"I find that very hard to believe." - Tim Brown, Former NYC Firefighter

"We have people who are very successful members of this community, of the American community, of this financial community." Rauf

Ooops, looks like he has misrepresented himself. Or better yet - Taqiyya - lied. You can do that IF you are protecting Islam.

Originally Posted by Twisp

Thanks for that supporting article. Nowhere did he insist it was coming only from Muslim-Americans.

That article explains for you, hopefully, that he is expecting funds to come from both Muslim-Americans and from overseas.

Appreciate the further assistance in this. lol

Originally Posted by Twisp

Thanks for the article. Another good one on this topic. Doesn't really clear up where he insisted funds were coming only from Muslim-Americans, but it was a good read.

Yea, well, LOL, don't miss the above video. He isn't being truthful.

[Twisp]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yea, well, LOL, don't miss the above video. He isn't being truthful.

It is a good video, which further backs up the point that he believes funding will come from multiple sources.

How did he misrepresent himself or not being truthful? They asked him where the funding is coming from, he said it is coming from multiple communities. At what point was he not truthful?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Twisp

Thanks for that supporting article. Nowhere did he insist it was coming only from Muslim-Americans.

That article explains for you, hopefully, that he is expecting funds to come from both Muslim-Americans and from overseas.

Appreciate the further assistance in this. lol

When Raul stated that the $4.85 million to purchase the Burlington Coat Factory came “from the community,” he was indicating local money.

That is the impression he had been giving, BUT he can twist things with his words, which I've understood he is very good at, because "community" for him could also mean the Muslim world. He is playing both sides. In other words, his words will appease us here and they will appease the Middle East when he is speaking to them.

Hence, he can easily be interviewed, overseas, by Asharq Al-Awsat, and claim the funding would come from Muslims in the United States and from overseas.

He is, emphatic, in the YouTube clip that the money is coming from here, although, as I stated, "community" can be used both ways and very conveniently for him.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Twisp

It is a good video, which further backs up the point that he believes funding will come from multiple sources.

How did he misrepresent himself or not being truthful? They asked him where the funding is coming from, he said it is coming from multiple communities. At what point was he not truthful?

Whatever, Twisp. Are you his proselyte? The use of the forked tongue seems to suit you.

LOL!

[Twisp]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yea, well, LOL, don't miss the above video. He isn't being truthful.

And they have already said that they will be transparent when it comes to fund-raising:

"We pledge to all New Yorkers and all Americans that we'll work under all applicable laws and regulations. By no means will we accept support from persons with anti-American views or agendas."

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/...bref=obnetwork

Sounds like they are going to do their due diligence on this.