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Islam and the National Interest
Although written on the letterhead of the Task Force, with all the names of its members affixed thereto, the Report was signed by only two staffers, Yossef Bodansky & Vaughn S. Forrest. Their views, they noted, while not necessarily reflecting those of the other Task Force Members, were primarily intended "to provoke discussion and debate."4 One cannot help wondering why the Republican Task Force elected to provoke "discussion and debate" on Islam and Muslims in this manner and at this time. How would Christians or Jews react to such "discussion and debate" if Christianity and Christians or Judaism and Jews ere the targets of the Task Force, rather than Islam and Muslims? It must be noted that, to his credit, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who co-chaired the Task Force with Bill McCollum,5 later disassociated himself from the Report and expressed "outrage" over the house Task Force's emphasis on matters "which are exactly opposite of those" he believes to be relevant. He also apologized to the American Muslim Council for the Report having gone out under his name without his having the opportunity to preview it; and to demonstrate just how strongly he felt about this "unfortunate incident." Congressman Rohrabacher disassociated himself from the Task Force, declaring, "I will no longer be co-chairman or even a member."6 This demonization of Islam is not only morally reprehensible, it is quite contrary to the interests of the United States, whether those interests be to promote human rights and stability abroad or to stimulate economic recovery at home. Human Rights and U.S. National Interests Some of Israel's supporters have been engaged in fostering the impression that the religion of Islam is a menace, and that those who practice it are violent fanatics determined to terrorize the world. In so doing, they could prompt retaliatory attacks, thus subjecting Muslims around the world to crimes against humanity.7 Such an undertaking is akin to the Nazi campaign of earlier times, one goal of which was to discredit Judaism and those who practiced it.8 The consequences of this effort would be borne not only by Arabs, but also by Africans, Asians, Europeans and Americans who embrace Islam.9 Such a campaign would be contrary to the United States stated policy of advocating respect for human rights everywhere. It would contravene U.S. domestic laws on human rights and U.S. commitments to protect human rights under international law. Clearly, it is important to promote respect for human rights in areas where the United States has strategic interests. Most Americans may not realize that Islam teaches tolerance and respect for human rights. Islam recognizes and reveres the divine origins of all the great religions of the world. The Quran provides: There is not a nation but a messenger has passed among them …10 Also: Mankind are community, and so God Sent [unto all parts of the world] prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed there with the Scriptures the truth …11 In his last sermon, the Prophet Mohammad admonished his fellow Muslims: No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab has superiority over an Arab. No block person has superiority over a white person, and no white person has superiority over a black person. The criterion of honor in the sight of God is righteousness and honest living.12
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