Historically, Islam builds a mosque over the site of s destroyed church or synagogue as a sign of conquest. You can see this throughout the middle east.

Why do I have the feeling this is going to turn out to be another distorted version of a totally innocuous story?

Willful ignorance?

The group behind the mosque rising up over the footprints of Ground Zero:

MIM:The American Society for the Advancement of Muslims proclaims their Islamism by name. ASMA promotes jihad through da'wa and the Islamisation of the West by grooming "Muslim Leaders of Tommorrow". At the Saudi backed 2006 MLT conference in Denmark "moderate"Islamists discussions of how to increase Muslim political and social influence was euphemistically termed "bridge building".

The Cordoba Initiative /Islamic Dialogue is lead by ASMA and is also headed by the Imam of the New York Masjid Al Farah. Together with his wife Daisy Khan are trying to put a yuppie face on Islamism. ASMA can be viewed as an American version of Hizb ut Tahrir after an "extremist makeover" where the khalifate idea is has been couched in kumbaya. ASMA's young and contemporary facade makes their radical ideology harder to detect, which poses more of a threat then an overtly aggressive organisation which refers to non Muslims as kuffars. In reality, ASMA members share the same hard line as the radicals and their use of legal and stealth Islamist strategies makes it difficult to thwart their da'wa attempts which are made under the guise of interfaith and tolerance but are actually pushing Islam as the only true religion . An ASMA Q&A reveals the Islamist view that the "perfection" of Judaism and Christianity is found only in Islam and is another example of the concept of all non Muslims "reverting" back to what is presented as the origins of their religions. According to the Islamists at ASMA Abraham established Mecca and even built the Ka'ba.

MIM : ASMA and the Cordoba Initiative's message is clear - a devout Muslim can be a Wall Street broker , CEO, and upwardly mobile professional while living according to shari'a and doing da'wa as is the duty of a ‘Muslim Leader of Tommorrow' under the guise of promoting "inclusivity"aka the the emergence of a modern day Khalifate by exposing non Muslims to Islam and using "integration" to bring Islamist practices and ideology into every facet of political, public, and religious life in the West.

The choice of the name Cordoba is fraught with Islamist symbolism. Muslim in domination in Spain is falsely depicted at the ultimate synthesis between Islamic and Western culture. Jihadists like Osama Bin Laden and Hamas had declared that Spain aka Al Andalus must be "revert" to Muslim rule. Abdul Rauf's message of brotherhood is that of the Muslim Brotherhood i.e. that each Muslim can do jihad through da'wa by projecting Islam in every aspect of their dealings with non Muslims.Note that according to the Imam each Muslim is "responsible to embody the exalted qualities of Islam" and to be instead of trying to be more in tune with Western culture and values, and it is the duty of non Muslims to understand and accomodate them while they promote Islamist interests and ideology as "intermediaries between America and the Muslim world".

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2860

NEW YORK – In a building damaged by debris from the Sept. 11 airliners that brought down the World Trade Center and soon to become a 13-story mosque, some see the bridging of a cultural divide and an opportunity to serve a burgeoning, peaceful religious population. Others see a painful reminder of the religious extremism that killed their loved ones.

The Muslim organizations plan to announce the groundbreaking later this year, possibly to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Khan said

Starting construction on the 10th anniversary on the site of a building damaged in the attack. Not a stretch to see the symbolism there. Captdiggs called it.

If the project "...is intended to foster better relations between the West and Muslims", why build the center there? Isn't that starting off on the wrong foot? There's a big disconnect there. It's not like that's the only place to build a mosque and cultural center.

There's an artist's rendering of the building at the link.

Plan for mosque near World Trade Center site moves ahead

A proposal to build a mosque steps from Ground Zero received the support of a downtown committee despite some loved ones of 9/11 victims finding it offensive.

The 13-story mosque and Islamic cultural center was unanimously endorsed by the 12-member Community Board 1's financial district committee.

The $100 million project, called the Cordoba House, is proposed for the old Burlington Coat Factory building at Park Place and Broadway, just two blocks from the World Trade Center site.

"I think it will be a wonderful asset to the community," said committee Chairman Ro Sheffe.

Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf, who helped found the Cordoba Initiative following the 9/11 attacks, said the project is intended to foster better relations between the West and Muslims.

He said the glass-and-steel building would include a 500-seat performing arts venue, a swimming pool and a basketball court. "There's nothing like it," said Rauf, adding that facilities will be open to all New Yorkers.

Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and a member of the Cordoba Initiative's board, said donations are being sought to pay for the construction.

Khan said the project has received little opposition.

"Whatever concerns anybody has, we have to make sure to educate them that we are an asset to the community," Khan said.

Khan said her group hopes construction on the project will begin by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Once built, 1,000 to 2,000 Muslims are expected to pray at the mosque every Friday, she said.

No one at last night's meeting protested the project. But some 9/11 families said they found the proposal offensive because the terrorists who launched the attacks were Muslim.

"I realize it's not all of them, but I don't want to have to go down to a memorial where my son died on 9/11 and look at a mosque," said retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches - whose son Jim, a firefighter, was killed on 9/11.

"If you ask me, it's a religion of hate," said Riches, who did not attend last night's meeting.

Rosemary Cain of Massapequa, L.I., whose son, Firefighter George Cain, 35, was killed in the 2001 attacks, called the project a "slap in the face."

"I think it's despicable. That's sacred ground," said Cain, who also did not attend the meeting.

"How could anybody give them permission to build a mosque there? It tarnishes the area."

West must act to end jihad: Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

By Frank Walker
March 21, 2004 - 1:52AM
The Sun-Herald

The US and the West must acknowledge the harm they have done to Muslims before terrorism can end, says an Islamic cleric invited to Sydney by Premier Bob Carr.

New York-based Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who impressed Mr Carr at an international conference last year, arrives in Sydney today for two weeks of meetings and public talks.

Speaking from his New York mosque, Imam Feisal said the West had to understand the terrorists' point of view.

In a move likely to cause controversy with church leaders, Imam Feisal said it was Christians who started mass attacks on civilians.

"The Islamic method of waging war is not to kill innocent civilians. But it was Christians in World War II who bombed civilians in Dresden and Hiroshima, neither of which were military targets."

Imam Feisal said the bombing in Madrid had made his message more urgent. He said there was an endless supply of angry young Muslim rebels prepared to die for their cause and there was no sign of the attacks ending unless there was a fundamental change in the world.

Imam Feisal, who argues for a Western style of Islam that promotes democracy and tolerance, said there could be little progress until the US acknowledged backing dictators and the US President gave an "America Culpa" speech to the Muslim world.

His major talks will be at noon on April 1 at St Mary's Cathedral with Cardinal George Pell and Mr Carr, and a public lecture at 6pm at the Wesley Centre in Pitt Street.

Downdinged since the lead over at the Shrieking Harpies this am is "OHHH NNOOOES! MONSTER MOSQUE!"

I see we still have some anti-Muslim bigots hanging out at LGF.

This story is complete garbage. I'm disgusted that people are trying to hype it at my site.

re: #3 stevedecatur

Willful ignorance?

No, more like willful stupidity on your part.

re: #8 Charles

I see we still have some anti-Muslim bigots hanging out at LGF.

This story is complete garbage. I'm disgusted that people are trying to hype it at my site.

Oh they're still here. Gus802 and I noticed a while back that they largely use spinoffs now for posting crap, but every single morning the Muslim haters congregate during the AM Wingnut Wave (approx 4-8 PST).

Omigosh, that memorial looks like a crescent!
Omigosh, that logo looks like a moon and star!
Omigosh, someone's building a mosque!
Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh.....

// getting real tired of this unconstitutional bs. People can build houses of worship where they want in this country, get *censored* *censored* *bleep* over it.

re: #1 captdiggs

Historically, Islam builds a mosque over the site of s destroyed church or synagogue as a sign of conquest. You can see this throughout the middle east.

So does Christianity. Most obvious example: the ancient church of "Saint Mary Over Minerva" in Assisi.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

re: #12 Decatur Deb

Note: that link is to a "Sopra Minerva" in Rome. There's one in Assisi too. The practice is common.

[Link: www.sacred-destinations.com...]

... is the Burlington coat factory now somehow sacred ground? Trying to understand the relevance....