Ignored In Obama Speech: Shift From Bush On Muslim Charities

I credit Spencer Ackerman for being the guy who got me looking for the many ways President Barack Obama applies counterinsurgency strategy to policy and politics. And, over the course of lengthily reviewing Obama's Cairo speech today, Ackerman seems to place Obama's efforts squarely within the COIN genre -- an appeal to the persuadable parties throughout the region that simultaneously frosts dead-enders like the Iranian hardliners. And he did so, as Ackerman notes, without backing down from the stated commitment to Afghanistan or otherwise sounding a note of apology.

Elsewhere, however, Ackerman picks out part of the speech that he feels might end up going underreported, namely, "that Obama indicated he'll relax Bush-era restrictions on Muslim charitable giving."

Cairo, today:

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That's why I'm committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.

Ackerman points out that there's an obvious next set of questions that go to both security policy specifics and broad-strokes politicking:

A lot of work is going to need to go into establishing what exactly Obama means here. Some U.S. Muslim charities have been convicted of funnelling money to terrorist organizations, primarily against Israel. Some of the cases, however, have apparently been created on the basis of illegal surveillance, as lawyers for the al-Haramain charity contest. The issue, however, speaks directly to whether the government will compel American Muslims to choose between different aspects of their identity or embrace them as American citizens.

We'll have to wait and see if this matter ends up getting and substantive attention. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised to see this issue become the grist for the next great paranoid freak-out.

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Comments

[factotem]

Here come commuity donations for terrorism.

[whiteboyblues]

It's a psychedelic freakout man!

[Tulka2]

The first time we saw Obama speak in Iowa, we knew this day was possible. Bless his head. Just in time. Just in time.

[jeanrenoir]

Bless Iowans for making this day possible themselves. The fanatical Hillary dead-enders, who did all in their power, to KEEP this day from coming, were Likudnic neocons within the Democratic Party, like Lady Rothschild. They could see the terrifying handwriting on the wall for AIPAC and Likud just as clearly as you could see it as the dawn of a new day for justice and peace in the Middle East. Thank God that average American small donors in places like Iowa allowed Obama to neuter the control of American national politics by rich AIPAC donor types. Obama's greatest strength has always been appreciating the inherent idealism of the majority of American voters, like the good people of Iowa. The AIPAC types understood that it was precisely Obama's capacity to appeal to this idealism that AIPAC should fear most, because it was clear that Obama could use this idealism to trump the AIPAC-neocon manipulation of the American masses with fear and the desire for revenge, with an appeal to justice. AIPAC knew that if Obama successfully played the justice card, Likud's entire agenda would become politically hopeless in America.

[k6007]

We're all iowans, today.)

[Prakosh]

So far the administration has been reticent to do much second guessing except in the Alaska rulings , but in a recent set of new regulations regarding illegal immigrants, they have specifically said that they will not review those who were already punished under Bush. So I don't see them going back on those who were already convicted. They may change some regulations moving forward but who knows of what those changes may consist.

[wonketteRAWKS]

It says that some of the cases have been based on illegal surveillance, but remember, 0 is not aginst that type of surveillance!

[CigarGod]

Maybe he'll review those 5 guys for a pardon.

[damali]

did somebody say Five Guys? *rubs tummy*

[chaifreak]

OMG This is so big. Zakat is one of the 5 Pillars of Islam. That he even knows about it is light-years ahead of the former Bush pissants. But wanting to make it easier for Muslim Americans to fulfill one of their Pillars... I'm gobsmacked. Kudos to Team Obama.

[JeffyBoy]

I've been VERY critical of our Pres. But I've got to give credit where credit is due. Obama showed real leadership today. He was strong and portryed our country as one who will allow other nations to live without our interfirence. But will still stand for basic human rights, and did it with authority.

GOOD JOB OBAMA !!! Keep it up !!!!!

Jeffyboy

[mnyobpres]

OMG!!! - THEY CAN'T LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE. NOTHING IS EVER TOO PERFECT.

[felisa11]

so now people want to pick apart a statement about people who essentially pay tithes? Not just christians but all religions have there convictions.

[sandpiper1]

Did the Bush regime investigate American Jewish charities to determine where and who the money was going to? I think President Obama was correct to dispense with that bit of unfair legislation which was and is based on hate, racism and bigotry.

[hilary916]

Mormons are supposed to give 10% of their income to the church, and we all know (especially in CA) where that money's been going.

[worldview47]

guess so

[tippydog11]

no really what about abortion and those who do not believe in God? What about gays and their civil rights and they believe it is not a sin? So why are republicans going on on about this and yet find no common ground to work with and reduce abortion instead? Is it not because of some religious faith? Who is forcing who? who is judging who?

[LucieLee]

Whether we like it or not we do have freedom of releigion in this country, and all the perks that go along with it.

[Okieborn]

LucieLee !!
Great Comment !!
Thanks !!!

[Telemachus]

As long as we're willing to tax the fundie churches that meddle in politics, I'm all for it.

[jeanrenoir]

The fundies has been AIPAC's foot soldiers at the ballot boxes of America. AIPAC supplied the dough to brainwash the fundies into supporting Conservative politicians bought by AIPAC to support Likud, and the fundies gave AIPAC the actual warm bodies on the ground without which AIPAC's money would have meant nothing, since the entire Jewish population of America is only 3% of the electorate, and more than half of Jewish voters are liberals, not Likudnics, anyway.

[Mattie]

so you're ok with some religious orgnaizations funnelling money to terrorists. I wouldn't call giving terrorists money a perk. That "perk" , as you call it, could lead to the deaths of innocent people here and around the world, including muslim countries. If you read the article, it stated that some US muslim charities have been convicted of doing this, I don't think they should get that right back.

[Fladnag]

Sad but true: There are many, many instances of people making financial contributions to murderous causes while under the impression -- or while trying to create the impression -- that these are "religious" donations. It is not just Muslims and not just Jews who are guilty of this. Christians have financed bombings in Ireland, murders of doctors, German atrocities in World War II, a long line of misguided, ungodly causes going back to the Children's Crusade and no doubt beyond. These things are wrong, but you don't stop them by stamping out financial contributions to religious causes. You stop them by working on making the causes righteous ones. If our Muslim friends believe they should give money to religious causes, great! Let's help them find some causes that promote justice and peace and charity. Let's do the same for our Christian and Jewish friends. As a wise man reminded us, we share this planet for but a brief moment in time. Let's do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

[jtown]

right on!