Politics

Thank President Obama for Closing Guantanamo

Published

January 22, 2009

Abu Reem

Yes, we have to still maintain caution in our optimism, but it is also a good idea to sometimes put aside negativity and cynicism, and appreciate positive and healthy news.

The Muslim’s attitude must be composed of a mixture of healthy optimism balanced by the sense of reality that we are indeed in a really messed up world. Let’s applaud the positive steps, and constructively criticize the negative ones.

President Obama’s first call as president was to the Palestinian president (positive regardless what we think of Abbas), and there are more hopeful signs that our cautious optimism for Obama may not have been a bad bet. He also chose George Mitchell as Middle East envoy (hat-tip CAIR alert), someone considered to be much more balanced in his views (a far cry from the neocons like Abrams that Bush chose). If you can’t get over the bitterness to see this flicker of light, then please move on to another post, and let those who are positive feel the vibes of hope.

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See the following courtesy Danish S. and PLEASE take one minute to thank President Obama:

Today President Obama signed an official Executive Order to:

Close Guantanamo Bay within this year
Halt all prosecution of Gitmo inmates in military tribunals for 120 days so all cases can be reviewed
Stop all torture immediately and mandating immediate adherence to the Geneva conventions
Close all secret CIA prisons around the world
Stop secret renditions to countries that allow torture (which include many Muslim majority countries)

SOURCE: CNN

This is in addition to (via Executive Order):

Open to the public all Presidential records of Bush and Cheney (presumably to hold them accountable):
Meeting with military commanders to reiterate his commitment to pulling troops out of Iraq in 16 months
Freezes pay for senior Presidential staff
Signs into law tough ethics guidelines for White House staff and members of his administration

In the first 48 hours of his Presidency, Obama has began to unravel the tyranny and fear mongering created by the Bush-Cheney administration in the past eight years and to restore the standing of America around the world.

Muslims were the ones being disproportionately effected by almost all the laws that Obama has repealed in his first two days.

Let’s face it: we are always the first to complain: “Obama never visited a mosque”, “Obama removed a hijabi from his rally”, “Obama could’ve done more to condemn anti-Muslim rhetoric”, etc.

So let’s also be the first to express our gratitude when something is done right.

It only takes a minute to write a short thank you note to our new President and commend him on what he’s done right so far:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

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Related Topics:Guantanamo Middle-East obama

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Abu Reem

Abu Reem is one of the founders of MuslimMatters, Inc. His identity is shaped by his religion (Islam), place of birth (Pakistan), and nationality (American). By education, he is a ChemE, topped off with an MBA from Wharton. He has been involved with Texas Dawah, Clear Lake Islamic Center and MSA. His interests include politics, cricket, and media interactions. Career-wise, Abu Reem is in management in the oil & gas industry (but one who still appreciates the "green revolution").

67 Comments

Amad

January 22, 2009 at 10:32 PM

Aright… I did it.

A thank you note for taking baby steps towards reversing 8 years of horror.

Reply
///

January 22, 2009 at 10:55 PM

My dad who isn’t a big fan of Obama mentioned at dinner table ”lagta hai kuch kar hee le gaa” …”seems like he might do something…”

I am not a blind follower of Obama, but give the credit where its due! Its indeed a positive step!

Reply
iMuslim

January 22, 2009 at 11:12 PM

Actions speak louder than words… so I will hold judgement of Obama and his presidency until real action takes place. I am praying for success. Allah never lets the believers down; their every affair is good. Allahu akbar.

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Danish S.

January 22, 2009 at 11:19 PM

Amad, jazzakAllah khayr for posting this and bringing attention to it.

Alhamdulillah there’s been a lot of positive feedback and tonight CAIR also sent an action alert essentially mentioning the same thing.

After thanking Allah SWT, let’s not forget to thank our new President for this positive step and fulfilling some of his main campaign promises.

BarakAllahu feekum.

Reply
amad

January 22, 2009 at 11:26 PM

waiyak Danish, good recap from you! I also added the blurb about George Mitchell as Middle East envoy, which is a gigantic leap from where we were with Bush.

Reply
mulsimah

January 22, 2009 at 11:46 PM

salaam

Im not so sure Brother Amad… I mean I read on huffingtonpost that there is some section in the order where he can reorder torture when he wants and .. ..why will it take one yr to close?

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AnonyMouse

January 23, 2009 at 12:15 AM

I have my own thoughts about all the excitement over Obama’s latest actions, but insha’Allah will keep it for another time if/when I can compile those thoughts coherently… in the meantime, iMuslim summed up my feelings perfectly.

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mulsimah

January 23, 2009 at 1:43 AM

ok the order sais you cant torture in any prison. so does that mean immediately? but how can you stop immediately.. bc people are put in isolation and thats torture.. so do they have a plan to put them somewhere else? change their daily routine?

i also wonder why obama is siding with bush when it comes to wiretapping

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mulsimah

January 23, 2009 at 1:44 AM

after saying all that.. I do believe we should thank him for the order.. it was much needed

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sincethestorm

January 23, 2009 at 2:05 AM

I can’t imagine what the innocent detainees will feel when they step foot on free land. Seven years + a yr waiting is a long time to wait for relief from hardship…I can’t imagine that. Insha-Allah. If Obama does pull this off, I truly believe that this is the answer to someone’s dua for relief from hardship.

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sis

January 23, 2009 at 2:50 AM

masha Allah a positive step! Jazak Allahu khairan for sharing.

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Roberta

January 23, 2009 at 5:54 AM

at the very least, he’s better than Bush so far, right?

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Mohammad

January 23, 2009 at 7:56 AM

UPDATE: Let’s emphasize what Obama is actually saying about why he can’t close Guantanamo right away. Here is his answer when asked if he’d close Guantanamo in the first 100 days:

It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize and we are going to get it done but part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom who may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication. And some of the evidence against them may be tainted even though it’s true. And so how to balance creating a process that adheres to rule of law, habeas corpus, basic principles of Anglo American legal system, by doing it in a way that doesn’t result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up.

What he’s saying is quite clear. There are detainees who the U.S. may not be able to convict in a court of law. Why not? Because the evidence that we believe establishes their guilt was obtained by torture, and it is therefore likely inadmissible in our courts (torture-obtained evidence is inadmissible in all courts in the civilized world; one might say it’s a defining attribute of being civilized). But Obama wants to detain them anyway — even though we can’t convict them of anything in our courts of law. So before he can close Guantanamo, he wants a new, special court to be created — presumably by an act of Congress — where evidence obtained by torture (confessions and the like) can be used to justify someone’s detention and where, presumably, other safeguards are abolished. That’s what he means when he refers to “creating a process.”
Amazingly, when discussing the same topic, Obama vowed that “we will send a message to the world that we are serious about our values.” How? By creating a new court just for accused Islamic radicals that allows us to use confessions and other evidence that we obtained through torture? That sounds like exactly the same “message about our values” that we’ve been sending.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwa…1/11/centrism/
__________________

Reply
Mohammad

January 23, 2009 at 7:57 AM

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/01/11/centrism/

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mulsimah

January 23, 2009 at 10:53 AM

kewl! everyone I encourage you to thank him plz! even if you are not so sure about him or have doubts.. because he is getting alot of pressure and hard talk from people who oppose what he did.. and obama seems to be someone who works under influence.. so I reallly encourage all to take the action alert CAIR has asked and thank him.

also there is a new article on msn news about how ‘obama abruptly ended the ‘war on terror’ chek it out

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mulsimah

January 23, 2009 at 10:54 AM

anther reason to maybe believe him is because when hewas senator he has helped the guantanamo lawyers and let them use his office and stuff..so he maybe serious about this

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Ammar

January 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM

On another note, has anyone (Amad etc) looked into getting this more attention: http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004lmt&srPos=1&srKp=087&srS

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ibnabeeomar

January 23, 2009 at 11:20 AM

alhamdulillah this is a good first step. i am still a bit cautious though because what will actually happen to the detainess there has still not been decided

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/01/22/the-guantanamo-challenge/

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Miako

January 23, 2009 at 11:28 AM

They need to decide where to put the inmates, before and possibly after trial. Marine Corps Vet Murtha says they can put GITMO prisoners in his district (my own note: It’s FREEZING up here! how unfair that they’re all in sunny Cuba! — just a bit of humor, not to trivialize their suffering, which has been undue and extreme)

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Atif

January 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM

assalamu’alaykum
Regardless of what they do with the current inmates, at least we know that there won’t be new people coming in to such a place…right??

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Mohammad

January 23, 2009 at 1:06 PM

I think many people are missing the big picture and gettting caught up in the burecratic jargon. Yes, Obama is closing Guantanmo. However, understand that the U.S. will replace that with another facilitly, perhaps even on American soil. I was speaking to my international realtions professor and she shared the same sentiment. The reality is that the main difference between Obama and Bush with deference to Gitmo is that the former wishes to eradicate it and replace it with something which will be very similar (if not exactly the same or even worse) in most respects.

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Amad

January 23, 2009 at 1:32 PM

I think Mohammed if you don’t see any significant differences between what Obama has done (and there is not just Gitmo) and what Bush did in 8 years, then we really don’t have a base to converse on. I added all the necessary disclaimers about the need for caution, and I think you should allow us to feel good about the baby steps taken.

I also believe you failed to read my request that: “If you can’t get over the bitterness to see this flicker of light, then please move on to another post, and let those who are positive feel the vibes of hope.”

It would be nice if we could JUST focus on positives for once. Because when we talk about negatives, no one seems to remember the positives…

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Driss

January 23, 2009 at 1:53 PM

I for one i am very optimistic about Obama – it’s not going to be all fruit and roses because as president he also has the responsibility to defend the country and to me there is no denying that some of the people who at Guantanamo were involved in actions against the US and some of them have gone back to Al Qaida (albeit not that many as republicans would make us believe).
On israel and Palestine, i am pretty sure you are going to see some changes compared to Bush but do not fool yourselves if you think America’s relationship to Israel is going to change. Israel is like the 51st state and all the suppor the US gives it will continue because without a doubt, it is the biggest ally of the US in the region and strategically that region is very important to the US because of its oil. For me i say fine, take the oil but stop killing people – and i assign responsibility to organizations that put their civilians at risk too (i’m sure you know whom i’m talking about).
So yeah, there will be not that many changes when it comes to Israel but there will be some – for complete change the muslims have to wait until there is a new superpower but who knows by then Israel will be allied to that superpower too.

Reply
coffee

January 23, 2009 at 3:17 PM

Obama is smart on so many levels for ordering the closure of Guantanamo. It has been a long time coming

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Mohammad

January 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM

One of the problem with the positive argument is that people start taking a liad back approach, and stop fighting for injustice. We need to ask questions such as what does Obama mean by creating a process as he mentioned on ABC with Stephnoplous. As for the significant differences arguments, please go ask experts in international realtion if they see the steps taken thus far to be different. I have and they all agree that they are analgous.

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SoS

January 23, 2009 at 6:05 PM

Br. Mohammad, let’s hope people do stop fighting for injustice

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AbuZakariyya

January 23, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Obama’s gift to Pakistan, please thank him for that as well:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/23/pakistan.missile/index.html

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R

January 23, 2009 at 7:05 PM

You can thank him for this as well:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Two suspected U.S missile attacks killed 18 people Friday in Pakistan just east of the Afghan border, security officials said, the first such strikes since the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Reply
- Amad
  
  January 23, 2009 at 7:20 PM
  
  Use the contact link, and express your angst against this action.
  
  I think we have to realize that we are not getting Prophet Obama. With Bush you would still have the bombing PLUS you would have everything that Obama overturned. Do you see the difference?
  
  That was the point of the post. Appreciate the good. And when it is time for wrongful actions, then criticize.
  
  Reply
AsimG

January 23, 2009 at 7:45 PM

Asalaamu Alaykum Amad.

I just gotta say wow.

why don’t we write an article on how Obama is not killing Muslims in the first 48 hours of office as well?

Oh wait…he can’t say that

I understand where you are coming from, but “thanking” Obama for something McCain or any other presidential candidate would have done (except crazy tancredo and Romney) is a bit ridiculous.

I’m not saying be super negative either, but our standards for praising someone should be a tad bit higher. Abolishing torture and illegal detentions (something majority of Americans have been against) is not something to be applauded, it should be EXPECTED.
(not to mention the MANY times he mentioned he will do it during the campaign)

And this article is also premature. It’s going to take a year for gitmo bay to close, as the Obama administration has states.

Reply
- Amad
  
  January 23, 2009 at 7:53 PM
  
  McCain wouldn’t have done half of what Obama did. But I think when our goal is just to look for negativity, then I am sure we’ll keep finding it.
  
  We’ll just have to agree to disagree then.
  
  Reply
AsimG

January 23, 2009 at 7:51 PM

wow I have lost all sense of grammar…

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AsimG

January 23, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Dismissing my points as typical anti-political Muslim rhetoric will do you no good here akhi. I was heavily involved in Illinois politics and did work for Obama’s SENATE campaign.

Your article is not entitled “thank Obama for closing secret prisons”, it’s titled “thank President Obama for closing Guantanamo”.

Such an action is not worthy of praise because it would have been done by any of those who were running for President except two crazies.

I cautiously clap my hand ONCE for him closing secret prisions, but that’s where it ends.

MSNBC and Muslim politicians are already doing more than enough praise for Obama on this issue.

I’m sure an article discussing the implications of the missile strike in Pakistan would be more informational for us.

Either way, jazakullah khair for the artice.
Asim

Reply
Organica

January 23, 2009 at 10:07 PM

I agree with iMuslim on this one.

But a thank you indeed!

When I heard the news on NPR, it felt good to know that I voted for him :)

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Joyhamza

January 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM

I hope Obama stands up to the expectation – the expectation of being better than Bush at least.

But I don’t think this can be understood without a period of observation. Comparing his action in day 1, day 2 is being hasty. Some diplomatic steps do not say much. I am sure we find many good things Bush did in his first week at office, if not in first month.

I believe both the sides – Obama optimists and Obama sceptics should be careful in how they analyze things so that they do not take things to extreme. Obama optimists should not take every normal dimplomatic good gestures of Obama to mean that he is the new super-hero. The Obama sceptics on the other side, should not take every Islam-unfriendly decisions of Obama to shove it down others’ throats to say “see I told you!”

We expect Obama to be much better than Bush inshaAllah. But he is not a savior, he still is a non-muslim who cares little about islamic cause. May Allah guide him to islam

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Faiez

January 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM

It’s like someone has been kicking you for 8 years and you’ve gotten so used to him kicking you that when he stops you’re so grateful he stopped kicking. He should’ve been kicking you in the first place, there’s no gratefulness to be made except to Allah ‘azza wa jall. Na’mal Mawla wa na’mal maseer

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Abd- Allah

January 23, 2009 at 10:51 PM

Both sides of the argument have a point, but I say lets just wait and see, because time will definitely tell.

“wow I have lost all sense of grammar…”
LOL, I agree! I have lost that sense a long time ago…

Reply
Algebra

January 23, 2009 at 10:52 PM

AMAD
Aslamu-alaikum:
I like this post and especially this comment
“So let’s also be the first to express our gratitude when something is done right.”

Salam

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Siraaj Muhammad

January 23, 2009 at 11:10 PM

This reminds me of an old Chris Rock comedy show where he mentions fathers who brag because, “I take care of my kids,” and he’s like, “What!??! You supposed to take care a yo kids! What do you want, a cracker!?”

Yeah, same thing here, he’s not done something that shouldn’t have already been done. I know there are a lot of politically-oriented brothers who are just waiting for any greenlight to jump on the Obama bandwagon, but just as when you were relieved when Bush took over from liberal-sanction-iraq-Bill-Clinton, I’d say wait for the first term to end before you start heaping praise on him. You make it too easy.

Siraaj

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ibnabeeomar

January 24, 2009 at 12:21 AM

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-pakistan24-2009jan24,0,1219.story

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Syed

January 24, 2009 at 12:25 AM

Thank you for a good act in the right direction.

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Abd- Allah

January 24, 2009 at 12:35 AM

I do remember though the first time Bush got elected as president, most Arabs were excited and thought that he would change things to the better for Muslims and Arabs, but then look how he turned out to be. The best thing would be to remain neutral towards Obama and wait until we see what he does so we can judge his actions without making any assumptions, because as of right now, he hasn’t done much things for us to see where he is headed with his policies. So lets wait and see because right now, everyone is just making assumptions and speculating, and although there is a glimpse of light in the distance, but it might just be some one’s house burning up…

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shahgul

January 24, 2009 at 12:39 AM

I think Obama’s first week is as good as it can get. Don’t expect someone to become the president of America and make a 360 degree turn.
At least he brought balance into the equation.
The best part is he encouraged humanitarian help to Gaza.
A very big step.
Have patience.

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shahgul

January 24, 2009 at 12:45 AM

The problem with a lot of us is that we are not programmed to be grateful. When a storm passes and the sun comes out, we complain that the fences fell. We are not grateful to Allah that the rest of the house was saved.
Being grateful to man is being grateful to Allah. I think it is very important to give credit where it is due. That is justice. At least appreciate his courage in risking his political goodwill in taking these bold steps.

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Amad

January 24, 2009 at 1:29 AM

I guess Siraaj and Abd-Allah you missed the point that Sr. Shahgul made much more eloquently. We are NOT judging Obama’s presidency, its been only a few days!! We are only thanking him for the good things he did, SPECIFICALLY for the good things he did, not for being a “good president”. And we should also specifically send our criticism when he does things that are a continuation of Bush policies. This way we are fair in our praise and our criticism. Is there something wrong with thanking him for stopping future extraordinary renditions, something that maybe one of your family members, you yourself, I or my family member may have one day fallen victim to?

I just WISH we would actually “listen” to the point of the post before trying to bury it in a heap of unrelated chatter? Is justice to the author, to the post, to the human being too much to ask?

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Abd- Allah

January 24, 2009 at 2:06 AM

No brother Amad I did not miss the point, but I would rather wait and see how Obama does OVERALL.
If a student gets 30 questions right out of a 100 questions on an exam, yes he got 30 points but he still failed the exam, and if a student gets 10 questions wrong out of a 100 then he did some mistakes but he still got 90 points and did excellent on his exam. My point is why don’t we wait and see how Obama does OVERALL before any of us jumps to praise him or criticise him. I agree that these are positive steps that he took, but what matters most is going to be his policies OVERALL after he has been in office long enough for us to see where his policies are actually heading. I would say the same thing even if his first few decisions were bad ones, because I do believe that what he does OVERALL is more important. Why can’t we be patient and wait to see what he does in the near future. You never know what he might do in the future, of good or bad, so why not wait before we actually praise or criticise him when he just started his term as president..

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Algebra

January 24, 2009 at 3:10 AM

Aslamu–alaikum:
Correct me if I am wrong, maybe i am just clueless, but i thought we are suppose to show gratitude if we have gone from bad to a better situation. I guess men are SUPPOSE to be the breadwinners, so lets not acknowledge any thanks to them. HEY THATS THEIR DUTY ANYWAY. NO NEED TO BE THANKFUL.

SIRAJ, your argument is faulty. NOTICE i said your ARGUMENT is faulty and not YOU.
salam

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abu abdAllah, the Houstonian

January 24, 2009 at 4:42 AM

bismillah.

Yes, we have to still maintain caution in our optimism, but it is also a good idea to sometimes put aside negativity and cynicism, and appreciate positive and healthy news…

Amad, it’s your article, but i think somewhere in that paragraph should be added the link to the article on the Obama-ordered missile attacks on Pakistan.

i may have been one of the first persons to post a comment-link to the good that Obama did by signing this order against secret prisons, etc., but i think the place to temper that enthusiasm is at the point he uses massive force against targets that do not justify that force.

and i think being honest with Obama is important — he must know that Muslims are one body. one flesh. that we bleed together. and that like any virtuous people, we will support a just police action, one whose aim is to bring suspected criminals to trial. but sending missiles into a village is not a just police action, not even if the police care not one whit for the lives taken. that the civilians in those lands do not turn armed men over to the police — that can only explain police frustration. it cannot justify these missile attacks.

he cannot be allowed to be deluded with the impression that “taken as a whole” he will be perceived as just. if Pharoah had been just in every way except his arrogance to Allah and his actions against the people of Moses, he would have been no less wrong.

as for people who prefer silence — wait and see. i think wait and see does nothing good at all. ask Gaza how wait and see helped them.

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Ihssan

January 24, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Good news indeed!! :)

Reply
mulsimah

January 24, 2009 at 9:48 PM

Abu Graib to reopen with new name and facelift next month

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/24/abu-ghraib-prison-to-reop_n_160593.html

Reply
shahgul

January 25, 2009 at 3:45 AM

I think part of our problem is we are unrealistic. We have all or none. Remember, “Either you are with us or against us?” That was said by a loser. I remember from my childhood the tale of a dog trying to cross a stream with a piece of bread. Half way through the crossing, he glanced down and saw reflected, in the water, a dog with a piece of bread in his mouth. The dog wanted them both, so, he attacked the dog reflected in the stream. He lost both pieces of bread.
May Allah grant Jannah to those who died in Pakistan and compensate people for the loss of property. While, as a Pakistani, I am not excited about the attacks on Pakistan, I think it is hikmah to still express the genuine appreciation I feel by the closing of Guantanamo. The closing of Guantanamo, and the end of war in Iraq will benefit the Ummah in general. While, if they bomb Peshawar, I will perhaps lose a few dozen close relatives. I am prepared to suffer that small loss if in the end, the actions of President Obama benefit the Ummah in its totality.

There is no comparison between the falling of a few bombs or the loss of a few lives to the impending horror of any and all Muslim men (and women) becoming candidates for concentration camps. Of warrentless arrests and secret evidence and fly-by night rendition.
This is a huge first step, and we should register our positive feedback with those who have reversed the tide.

I totally support President Obama in his actions to turn the tide of terror against Muslims. I also appreciate that he is doing so, inspite of having been ‘demonized’ as a ‘Muslim’ and having ties with terrorists himself. I think it took a great deal of courage and confidence and valor on his part to do so.

I am doing this in the Sunnah of Salahuddin Ayyubi, who appreciated the valor of Richard the Lion Hearted, who attacked Salahuddin’s army to take Jerusalem away from him. Yet, Salahuddin, may Allah rest him in peace, sent out his own physician when Richard was ailing.
It is our duty to send out the message of love, peace and goodwill, even on the battlefield. For that is true Islam.

Reply
Abd- Allah

January 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM

“While, if they bomb Peshawar, I will perhaps lose a few dozen close relatives. I am prepared to suffer that small loss if in the end, the actions of President Obama benefit the Ummah in its totality.”
Lets ask these few dozen people if they are willing to lose their lives before we sacrifice them, because if that is a small loss to you, it is a much bigger loss to them, the people who are actually dying! How would you like it if someone said they are willing to lose YOU to benefit the Ummah? One might be willing to sacrifice him/herself for the benefit of the Ummah, but NO one likes it when they are sacrificed by some one else without being asked.

“sent out his own physician when Richard was ailing.”
I don’t see the connection here. How is what Salahuddin did relevant to what is happening now?

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shahgul

January 25, 2009 at 11:23 PM

Lets ask these few dozen people if they are willing to lose their lives before we sacrifice them, because if that is a small loss to you, it is a much bigger loss to them, the people who are actually dying! How would you like it if someone said they are willing to lose YOU to benefit the Ummah? One might be willing to sacrifice him/herself for the benefit of the Ummah, but NO one likes it when they are sacrificed by some one else without being asked.

I agree with that. I should have worded it better.

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Abd- Allah

January 25, 2009 at 11:43 PM

MashAllah shahgul, it is rare to see someone admit that they are wrong these days, that is a good quality to have.
May Allah make us all humble enough to admit our mistakes when we see the truth.

Reply
mulsimah

January 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM

dude people quit getting annoying:) just thank the president! maybe the man will be shocked and awwed by so many thanks that might get it in heart to go about doing the right thing!!!!!

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Miako

January 26, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Stand up and say something!
When he does good, say nice things.
When Obama does bad, say sharp things that move him gently to the better path!
But talk, for without words, he cannot know of your thoughts.

Reply
bintwadee3

January 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM

Insha’Allaah we’ll see justice for this: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=6750266&page=1

Reply
What is wrong with you people!

January 30, 2009 at 8:26 PM

Thank Obama for killing 20 civilians in Afghanistan, and for promising to kill more.

Why stop there, let’s sacrifice all the lives of Muslims in all the lands EXCEPT U.S of A, so that Obama can be glorified.

Why stop there either? let’s say “Hail Obama! you are the one to show us the way to Jannah!”

Let’s also say “Do whatever you want with is, we will still thank you!”

While we are at it, let’s also start worshipping him. Why not? If we can run with the speed of sound in gratitude towards him just because he said “we are closing Guantanamo” and hasn’t yet done that, with many questions still dangling over our head like what will happen to the prisoners, are they going to be released or not, so on and so forth, then why not go all the way to the end?

The order hasnt even been carried out yet. One year, and they can change the order in an hour notice. If these prisoners are brought to court in the USA, By Allaah they will not get fair judgement, let alone fair treatment, and I would be waiting to see how many of the authors of this site get up to support those muslims.

By Allaah I ask u, do u people have any mercy towards ur brothers and sisters in Islam? Any, at all??

The ones mercilessly slaughtered in Gaza, while Obama kept silent and swung his Golf club in Hawaii?? Do u have any sympathy for those poor Afghans being slaughtered as Obama sends more troops to increase their slaughter?

“I just WISH we would actually “listen” to the point of the post before trying to bury it in a heap of unrelated chatter? Is justice to the author, to the post, to the human being too much to ask?” – amad

Yes! the death of Gazans and Afghans is unrelated. Yes! it is unrelated indeed. Yes! the closing of one prison, and the subsequent opening of countless others we have no idea about (including the good old ones like Abu Ghuraib) is indeed unrelated.

Do u keep any count of how many civilians they have killed in Afghanistan, as Obama promises more of that?? u people bury urself in the sand of “US media” desert, do u have any idea whats going on the rest of the world? everything u say seems so “bound within the borders of USA”!!

Ajeeb

Did I miss u utter, in this forum, a single word against these murderers??

Did I miss Obama saying: We are not gonna support, finance and help in possible ways Israel in killing the Muslims in Filistine anymore?

How can u say even a single word in support of these SCUMS OF THE EARTH, If u have an atom weight of humanity in ur heart?

I challenge u, the authors of these forums, to sit on your prayer mats in the luxury and comfort of ur homes and ask yourself, what have u done to ur hearts? do u not see how blinded u have become to the sufferings of this Ummah? Do u not feel any pain at all? Do u not see u are dipped a hundred feet in deception of Shaitaan?

Do u not realise that the words u are uttering today in support of these murderers will testify against you on Yawmul Qiyaamah?

Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.
Nay! Surely, they (evil-doers) will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day.
Then, verily they will indeed enter and taste the burning flame of Hell.
Then, it will be said to them: “This is what you used to deny!”

Fear Allah, and fear the evil of ur deeds, and words that have come out from the mind to the public, are indeed deeds.

Reply
Siraaj Muhammad

February 20, 2009 at 11:49 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/20/afghan.detainees/index.html

More to thank Obama for – seeing the wisdom in President Bush’s policies!

Siraaj

Reply
- Amad
  
  February 21, 2009 at 12:01 AM
  
  I agree that a few of Obama’s actions lately have been disappointing. There was another news article in the NY Times around this. We should definitely make a stink about this, and follow the lead of human rights organization such as ACLU in sending a message to Obama that this is unacceptable.
  
  While this is not justification, I do kind of see why Obama is being so careful about these things… the pressure of making a mistake and letting lose a terrorist who later hurts America will literally destroy Obama. There is no doubt that the pressure and fear of unintended consequences is clouding his good judgement.
  
  On a different note, I was going to write up a post on this, but since you brought up the issue around Obama, I’d like to jump back to the entire discussion about the attacks in Pakistan… who should we really thank? Obama or the Pakistani government?
  
  http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/19/world/worldwatch/entry4812368.shtml
  http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=86145&sectionid=351020401
  
  In the face of clear evidence that the Pakistani intelligence/military and definitely the government is involved with these attacks, how is this different from Turkey’s attack on the PKK for instance? And if Pakistan itself is cooperating, and apparently agrees with the US that they are going after terrorists, then what? Finally, if there are indeed terrorists from Al-Qaeda hiding in this region, and Pakistan too wants to get rid of them, then what? I think the complexity of Pakistani operations should give us some pause… when you have friends like Zardari, who needs enemies? On the other hand, as a Pakistani-American, I do not want my motherland to become a sanctuary for Al-Qaeda or other terrorist organizations (organizations that target civilians, not referring to freedom-fighters like the Uighurs, Uzbeks, etc.). wallahualam
  
  Reply
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed

February 21, 2009 at 1:02 AM

bismillah. i’d like to believe there are silver linings somewhere in that news. i’d like to always find the positive side of events, because all events are part of the Qadr we witness. but i remember from the adhkaar, “wal khayru kullaho biyadayk, wash-sharru laysa ilayk.” and i fear we watch more of the evil that men work on earth. so much so that the one saving grace i know is from the Qur’an, where Allah reminds us that the evil among men will plan and scheme, and all their schemes will be undone by Allah.

la ilaha illAllah. hasbunAllaho, wa Nay’mal Wakeel.

Reply
ibn Habib

February 21, 2009 at 2:29 AM

This article should be used as evidence regarding why individuals who have not studied foreign policy should remain silent. I am assuming that the author has not studied this discipline, based on the ludicrous contentions found in the article; so repugnant are these assertions that they do not even merit a counter response. I am additionally dissapointed by MM, for allowing individuals to post rubbish, least of which is pertaining to their professional career.

I hope the author realizes that they will have to face Allah SWT for what they have written in the article, especially if it is grounded in ignorance- i.e. the individual has not studied international relations; specifically policies of Zbigniew Brzezinski, the most influential mentor to Obama.

I want to see a thank you letter when Pakistan is fully attacked.

Reply
- Amad
  
  February 21, 2009 at 3:00 AM
  
  Yes, ibn Habib, you are absolutely right about your assumptions on the author. Thank you for the edification.
  
  Reply
Siraaj

February 21, 2009 at 3:02 AM

as the old saying goes Amad, better the true enemy than the false friend – at least with the pakistani government, we know what’s there, but as for Obama, we cannot forever make 70 excuses for every broken campaign promise.

Siraaj

Reply
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed (associate)

February 21, 2009 at 3:45 AM

bismillah. Amad, did i only call you a prince before? subhanAllah, i love you for the sake of Allah. may Allah reward your sabr. that last exchange of friendly fire with ibn Habib… :D

(yeah, the big smile is sadaqah. here’s more: :) )

i don’t call this reason for hope: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/washington/21policy.html

Reply
Hassan

May 22, 2009 at 6:10 PM

Spoke too soon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uuWVHT1WUY

Reply
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