AMERICANS AGAINST HATE CALLS ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CUT TIES WITH MUSLIM EXTREMIST GROUP

(Coral Springs, FL) Americans Against Hate (AAH), after its successful effort to stop a CAIR official from giving a speech in front of Department of Defense: Central Command (CENTCOM), is now calling on the Department of Defense (DOD) to end its association with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

On January 10, 2008, AAH contacted CENTCOM to ask that an event featuring Ahmed Bedier, the Executive Director of CAIR-Tampa, be cancelled on the grounds that CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) had ties to terrorist groups. The following day, the event was cancelled, and AAH sent out a press release praising CENTCOM for taking decisive action.

AAH believes that the Department of Defense needs to take CENTCOM�s lead and end its ties to ISNA, an organization that has been named by the Justice Department as an �unindicted co-conspirator� for a Hamas financing trial that recently took place in Dallas. During the trial, the government proved that ISNA was, as well, an American front for the Muslim Brotherhood.

ISNA has been involved with DOD for over five years as an overseer of the military�s Muslim Chaplaincy program, which is still the case today. This is a dangerous prospect, for while ISNA is involved with DOD, the group�s leaders are also involved with a website, Islam Online, that refers to the U.S. military as the �enemy� and mandates that Muslims carry out violence against American troops. According to the site, �[A]ttacking American soldiers who came to launch war against Muslims is an obligation and Jihad, as they are true invaders.�

AAH calls on the United States military to take the necessary action to purge the Defense Department of anyone connected to ISNA. As well, AAH calls on DOD to give former Islamic expert for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major Stephen Coughlin, back his job, as apparently he was fired for having reservations about ISNA�s and other Islamist groups� involvement with our government. CAIR Watch, a project of AAH, has venerated Coughlin as its latest �Honoree.�

AAH Chairman Joe Kaufman stated, �Our country cannot afford to fight the extremists overseas and, at the same time, embrace the extremists within our shores. All of our enemies must be pursued in the War on Terrorism. CENTCOM did the right thing, when it cancelled the CAIR speech. Now, its time for DOD to follow suit and rid itself of ISNA.�

Joe Kaufman is available for interview. E-mail: [email protected].