Newsweek says it'a a "conspiracy theory" that CAIR is trying to spread jihad

JIHAD WATCH.COM

Journalistic irresponsibility and bias example #281,328,616, from "Know Your Conspiracies" in Newsweek, February 12 (thanks to Daniel). Number Nine on this list of crackpot conspiracy theories comes this gem:

9. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is trying to infiltrate Capitol Hill and spread jihad.

Author Dave Gaubatz alleges that the mainstream group is both connected to Islamist terrorists and international jihad and is working to infiltrate the American government by placing interns on Capitol Hill.
Proponents: Dave Gaubatz, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), Joseph Farah.
Kernel of Truth? CAIR has tried to place interns on Capitol Hill, but as it points out, that's standard practice for advocacy groups of all types and allegiances. There's no proof of sinister motives or an effort to encourage international jihad.

Kernel of Truth? Kernel of Half-Truth is more like it. Newsweek does not see fit to mention that CAIR is an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror funding case -- so named by the Justice Department. It says nothing about how CAIR operatives have repeatedly refused to denounce Hamas and Hizballah as terrorist groups. Also mentioned is the fact that several former CAIR officials have been convicted of various crimes related to jihad terror, and that CAIR's cofounder and longtime Board chairman (Omar Ahmad), as well as its chief spokesman (Honest Ibe Hooper), have made Islamic supremacist statements.

It's all just a conspiracy theory, you see, you greasy Islamophobes. So I guess CAIR is not an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas funding case. And that it has condemned Hamas and Hizballah as terror groups. And that none of its formal officials have been convicted of terror activities. We can relax and go back to sleep, because Newsweek says that everything is A-OK.

Comments on Jihad Watch:

djrz | February 19, 2010 4:32 PM | Reply

I saw this article and my JAW DROPPED.

Did this reporter even READ Gaubatz's book???

Does this reporter even KNOW how to check facts???

Amazing.

gravenimage | February 19, 2010 5:15 PM | Reply

Newsweek has long since jumped the shark, going way beyond even the soft-peddling of Jihad by much of the MSM.

This, from 2007, advises readers that Muslims are "one of America's greatest strengths":

http://www.newsweek.com/id/32868

Their only real problem is "Islamophobic" Americans.

Here, from 2009, is Newsweek telling those concerned about Eurabia that there is nothing to worry about:

"Why Fears Of A Muslim Takeover Are All Wrong"

http://www.newsweek.com/id/206230

Also from 2009 is Fareed Zakaria's infamous cover story, "Learning to Live With Radical Islam"

The article is subtitled: "We don't have to accept the stoning of criminals. But it's time to stop treating all Islamists as potential terrorists."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/187093

At this point, it's not just "living with Islam", but "living with radical Islam". Go back to sleep, you Islamophobes—everything is juuuuuust fine..

traeh | February 19, 2010 5:56 PM | Reply

What is an "unindicted" co-conspirator?

Here's a definition from Wikepedia -- maybe lawyers out there can comment.

An unindicted co-conspirator is a person or entity that is alleged in an indictment to have engaged in conspiracy, but who is not charged in the same indictment. Prosecutors choose to name persons as unindicted co-conspirators for a variety of reasons including grants of immunity, pragmatic considerations, and evidentiary concerns.

The United States Attorneys' Manual generally recommends against naming unindicted co-conspirators, although their use is not generally prohibited by law or policy.[1] Some commentators have raised due process concerns over the use of unindicted co-conspirators.[2] Although there have been few cases on the subject, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed these concerns in United States v. Briggs.[3]

The term unindicted co-conspirator was familiarized in 1974 when then president Richard Nixon was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in indictments stemming from the Watergate Investigation.

So it means the prosecutors are alleging that the co-conspirator was involved in the crime. But for one or another reason, a choice was made not to prosecute.

The definition leaves more questions than it answers

Isabellathecrusader | February 19, 2010 6:29 PM | Reply

With all the dirt on CAIR that Chris Gaubatz provided the FBI last year, there should be plenty to turn that un-indicted co-conspirator into an indicted one. ; )

Slamdunk | February 19, 2010 8:06 PM | Reply

With a Muslim editor/columnist since 2000, it is obligatory for NW to regularly sing "Islam means peace" lullabies to put the Infidels back to sleep, whenever there's a danger of their waking up. Seems to have worked well, so far

JumpingJehosaphat | February 19, 2010 8:25 PM | Reply

Does CAIR ever give it a rest.

http://www.christianadc.org/news-and-articles/464-mayors-christian-remarks-a-hate-crime

Kinana of Khaybar | February 19, 2010 8:42 PM | Reply

To say that something is a "conspiracy" implies there is some secrecy involved in whatever the group is planning. Yet CAIR's advocacy of sharia law in North America is a matter of public record. There is no conspiracy to this aspect of their activities. Their efforts to establish sharia in North America must, from an Islamic perspective, literally be regarded as "struggle" or jihad, since effort expended by Muslims for the cause of Islam is considered a righteous jihad. In addition, CAIR's propaganda campaign against public critics of Islam is itself evidence of their jihads of tongue and pen. (Why do they spend so much time going after Islam critics, while spending no time on reducing tendencies toward intolerant and militant views within Muslim communities in North America?). CAIR shares the goal of Al-Qaeda et al., which is to establish Islamic sharia law and rule. CAIR and Al-Qaeda are part of the same larger project.

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