Study By President’s New Envoy to Muslim World Made Case for Using Islam More to Combat Terrorist Ideology*
EmailAs ABC News was first to report, President Obama over the weekend announced that he was picking to serve as special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Rashad Hussain.
Hussain is currently in the White House counsel’s office and has been a Department of Justice trial attorney, a staffer for former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.
This week some media outlets – Politico, Fox News, the National Review – have focused on whether Hussein in 2004 said at a Muslim Students Association conference protested the prosecution of Sami Al-Arian.
In 2006, Al-Arian, a Florida professor, entered into a plea agreement in which he admitted conspiring to help people associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group designated terrorist by the US government in 1995. Al-Arian admitted that he hid his associations with Palestinian Islamic Jihad by lying to some people, and that had been associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad during "the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s."
Two years before that, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs reported that Hussain called Al-Arian’s case one from a series of "politically motivated persecutions” and that the case against Al-Arian was being "used politically to squash dissent."
Hussein denied being the one who made the comments, and the editor of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Delinda Hanley, later edited the quotes out of the story because, she says, Al-Arian's daughter, Laila Al-Arian, actually made the comments attributed to Hussain.
The then-intern at the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs who wrote the report said she stands by her original story.
Of arguably much more consequence and relevance to Hussain’s thinking is a paper that he co-authored for the Brookings Institution in August 2008, titled “Reformulating the Battle of Ideas: the Role of Islam in Counterterrorism Policy.”
Co-written with Al-Husein N. Madhany, Hussain argued in the study that the US embrace the “hearts and minds” part of the war on terrorism by embracing Islam.
“Rather than characterizing counterterrorism efforts as ‘freedom and democracy versus terrorist ideology,’” they write, “policymakers should instead frame the battle of ideas as a conflict between terrorist elements in the Muslim world and Islam.”
They argued that using the terms such as “Islamofascism,” “Islamic extremism,” and “jihadists” only serve to help terrorists in their attempt to usurp Islam. They argued “the use of these terms also threatens to alienate the Muslim world by implying that the use of violence against innocent populations is somehow an ‘extreme’ interpretation of something found in Islam.”
(A better term would be one used by President George W. Bush on September 20, 2001, a “radical network of terrorists.” Or, they suggest, “Al Qaeda terrorists,” “Hamas terrorists,” or even “Binladinists.”)
Hussain argued that is simply not the case, that the term jihad has been twisted by members of al Qaeda and others. Jihad, they say, “is often used to denote one’s self-struggle to do good and avoid evil (jihadal-nafs), but in certain circumstances and under certain conditions, it describes the religious obligation to defend, militarily if necessary, Islam and Islamic lands. Jihad should not be mistranslated as ‘holy war,’ a term which would be translated into Arabic as ‘al-harb al-muqaddasa.’ No such term or concept exists in the shari’ah.”
In fact, many Muslim scholars have issued edicts stating that Islamic law is contrary to acts of terrorism; Hussain says that the US and other Western governments need to do more to publicize these edicts so as to win the battle of ideas.
“It is precisely these types of religious rulings—which by design receive the broadest possible support from Muslim leadership representing nearly all Muslims —that will prove most effective in countering terrorists that mischaracterize Islam in advancing their agendas.”
They conclude, “If the United States and its allies, however, alienate Muslim communities by defining terrorism as a part of Islam, and if the global counterterrorism coalition does not seek to frame its counterterrorism message within the context of Islam, not only will the battle of ideas be increasingly difficult to win, but the long-term prospects for freedom and democracy, however they are defined, may also become impossible to achieve.”
Hussain’s scholarship here is forceful and without question there are those who will disagree with it. But it does not reflect the thinking of someone who excuses terrorist acts in any way. It is the voice of one who sees Islam and terrorism as antithetical, and is pushing to have the US government make that case more convincingly to the Muslim world.
Or, as he put it: “Any effort that aims to eliminate the spread of terrorism that improperly invokes Islam as its justification must reject labels that make mainstream Islam a part of the problem and instead implement strategies that involve mainstream Islam as a prominent element of the solution.”
-jpt
*This post was updated after Hussain admitted being the one to have made the 2004 comments, once presented with a transcript of the event.
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
Wow. Jake spends 3 of the first 5 paragraphs giving attention to what the man didn’t do . . . what kind of journalism is that?
Posted by: tierra | February 17, 2010, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Peaceful religions can have violent adherents – we’ve certainly seen that repeatedly all around the world. Jews, christians, muslims, pagans – you name it, they’ve all had violence.
Posted by: tierra | February 17, 2010, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
At last a serious thought-provoking look at this appointee instead of the knee-jerk crazy stuff I’ve been reading.
Posted by: Delinda Hanley | February 17, 2010, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Who cares if Obama picks a militant with
a switchblade in his pocket? We all
trust our President….don’t we? He’s
never lied to us , not once……….
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 17, 2010, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
When Mr. Obama was running for President, he made a big deal about direct talks with the Iranians, and the North Koreans, implying the Mr. Bush was “out-sourcing” or foreign policy.
I would like to ask — Mr. Obama, how are those direct talks going?
Mr. Obama, is it time you call Mr. Bush and apologize for not realizing that it is easier to criticize a president than it is to be one?
Posted by: Quo Warranto | February 17, 2010, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Hi listen me with great tolerance power please!
why don’t the peoples see towards the major issues I mean ” Kashmir Problem ”
who is spreading terrorism? why India could not pay the actual Righs to the deserve peoples since 1947. why had been failure the ” United Nation ” for this hot matter. what would the American government like to say about the Drowns attack and other types aerial on the innocent peoples in Afghanistan, How many peoples have destroyed and homeless from these hidden disaster Attack by America. Is the America gaining good fame from the Muslim world. What is the criteria of American Government now. This is not justice. Who can say it not a Terrorism? please justify who is performing the right job for the humanity in this world thanks!
” May Allah (God) bless all of us and save/protect from all kind of diseases and Sins whatever they are major or minor and visible or invisible forever ! Thank a lot to publish it
with best wishes and regards !
Sharif uddin
Posted by: Sharif uddin | February 17, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
When Mr. Obama was running for President, he made a big deal about direct talks with the Iranians, and the North Koreans, implying the Mr. Bush was “out-sourcing” or foreign policy.
_____________________________________
Source and date for this information please – or did you just make it up?
Posted by: tierra | February 17, 2010, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
So, did Hussain proclaim that a prosecution of a financist of a terror group was “politically motivated” or not? The article claims that the journalist who reported this was mistaken, but provides no other evidence than the denial of Hussain himself. Since when is a simple denial is enough?
I tell you when – when the denialist is the one working for Obama.
Posted by: Hyphenated American | February 18, 2010, 2:45 am 2:45 am
Another government commission to sit around, consume money, to conclude that it needs more time (and money) to conclude anything. And we wonder why we are broke.
Posted by: LibertinTexas | February 18, 2010, 6:07 am 6:07 am
“the Role of Islam in Counterterrorism Policy”
There is a role for Islam?
And terrorism exists?
WOW, a little more “thinking outside the box”.
Y’all vote for another “community organizer”, won’t ya!
Posted by: smartlillena | February 18, 2010, 6:43 am 6:43 am
The first problem I see is that Mr Rashad Hussain was a member of the Muslim Students Assoc. which is a radical group that supports Hamas and is very anti-Semitc.
Should someone like that be close to the President of the United States?
The second problem I see is that he is trying to keep us from naming the enemy. Many of the jihadists groups use “Islam” in their name…for them IT IS a holy war…and they find justification for it in the Koran. To deny anything differently only makes us fools.
Quite frankly, I long ago quit believing that, “Islam means peace” and that “Jihad is a personal stuggle.”
All the evidence is to the contrary.
I am intelligent enough to know that all Muslims do not follow this violent path, but I am sick and tired of Muslims trying to tell me that there is no violent path there! It is there and jihadist are following it!
Posted by: Baileyntx | February 18, 2010, 8:33 am 8:33 am
He’s like the new Van Jones.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 18, 2010, 8:54 am 8:54 am
Yeah, right. Lots of luck with that.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 18, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
“I am intelligent enough to know that all Muslims do not follow this violent path, but I am sick and tired of Muslims trying to tell me that there is no violent path there! It is there and jihadist are following it!”
The violent path does not discriminate–members of any religion can choose to take it. You are erroneously trying to define a large group by it’s extremes. Mainstream Muslims are not our enemies and if you try and say they are you are starting down the violent path yourself. There are a billion Muslims on Earth….how many are violent extremists? Probably no higher a percentage than of Christians who think the violence in the Middle East is a path to the Rapture…that we should have a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other. Real Christians and Muslims and Jews need to avoid the violent path and follow their religious teachings.
Posted by: Skip | February 18, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
“There are a billion Muslims on Earth….how many are violent extremists? Probably no higher a percentage than of Christians who think the violence in the Middle East is a path to the Rapture…that we should have a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other. Real Christians and Muslims and Jews need to avoid the violent path and follow their religious teachings.”
You are making a moral equivication where one does not exist…
How many Rapture believing Christians do you know of that have flown airplanes into buildings or blown themselves up in a market place?
One percent of a billion is still 10 million people. I have heard that upwards of 15 percent believe in the jihadist theology…that should give you pause. Even in the United States 1 in 4 believe in it according to a poll done a few years ago. That too is a lot of people…amounts to over a million in fact.
Excuse me, but I think I have a rational right to be suspicious, when I am lied to and threatened with terrorism over and over and over again.
I am not a stupid person unlike some who for politically correct reasons will blind themselves to the truth.
Posted by: Baileyntx | February 18, 2010, 11:08 am 11:08 am
As an attack pilot that’s been to Iraq two times and getting ready to go back for a third I think I can safely say that we are at war with, hold on to your seats, islam. I don’t have a PhD but 19 of the 19 9/11 suspects (I put that in for you liberals) were following the tenets of islam. Personally I would outlaw islam in this country. If you want to practice it go to an islamic country. You won’t do that because you’ll get your head cut off. That’s just my two cents, which thanks to the unconstitutionally qualified president, isn’t worth much. I am glad he got elected though. It’s what was needed to wake America up to the socialists that want to destroy our great nation. Actually I hope he gets elected again because then the lesson will be burned into the current generation that is being duped by queer loving pedophile deviants that are called teachers and professors. It’s obvious by our politicians and the aforementioned “professionals” that our country has turned into an immoral, deviant society. I’m surprised that there isn’t a book out titled: The sodomizing of America by obama. I’m sure it’s coming to a school near you.
Posted by: Robert | February 18, 2010, 11:22 am 11:22 am
Not all Muslims cut off heads, but all Muslims follow the quran which teaches to kill those who reject Islam.
The “peaceful” Muslims are here to turn America into an Islamic country and their helper is in the Oval Office.
Posted by: Lou | February 18, 2010, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Robert posted “I’m surprised that there isn’t a book out titled: The sodomizing of America by obama. ”
Nice bit of paranoia there Robert. You are of coarse entitled to your opinion. It is a real pity that you believe the rest of us are also entitled to it because, as you said, it is worthless.
Posted by: Faurtz8 | February 18, 2010, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Personally I would outlaw islam in this country.
Posted by: Robert
now, here’s the ‘right’ kind of American, true and faithful to the constitutional liberties he no doubt shouts for all to hear…. the word ‘outlaw’ is quite revealing in itself..
so, my ‘good american’, after ‘outlawing’ Islam, what will be next? Who’s next on your hate list?
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
outlaw islam.. wake America up to the socialists that want to destroy our great nation….queer loving pedophile deviants that are called teachers and professorsimmoral,.. deviant society.
Posted by: Robert
you would’ve make a great govt official in 1939 Germany, you missed your ‘calling’..
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Mr. Obama, is it time you call Mr. Bush and apologize for not realizing that it is easier to criticize a president than it is to be one?
Posted by: Quo Warranto
I’d like to hear Bush apologize for what he did to America for 8 years
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Let’s face it, he only got elected because he was black.
Posted by: Robert
I rest my ‘case’, the above comment ( among the other drivel ) speaks for itself..
your post was very funny, thanx for the laugh..
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
pedophile deviants that are called teachers and professor
Posted by: Robert
you, perhaps, need to review law journals and cases filed against the Church for the 25+ years..
or you can simply use the ‘internets’
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Look at the hot spots throughout the world. Places with an active terrorist component. From Nigeria to the Philippines, from Chechnya to Kashmir, Darfur, Somalia, Thailand, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, India, Xinjiang China, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, London, Madrid, even Fort Hood Texas…
In each of these instances, Islam incites violence.
It is asinine to compare Islam with Christianity or Judaism and just as absurd to argue that a small few are perverting the whole of Islam.
Posted by: Parker | February 18, 2010, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Islam incites violence
.Posted by: Parker
I can see you’ve never read the Old Testament cover to cover
Posted by: XXX | February 18, 2010, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
“I can see you’ve never read the Old Testament cover to cover”
Thank you for making my point.
Posted by: Parker | February 18, 2010, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
“How many Rapture believing Christians do you know of that have flown airplanes into buildings or blown themselves up in a market place?”
No, they just voted for Republicans who started a vengeful war on false pretenses which killed untold thousands of Muslim civilians and then gave support instead of doing everything they could to stop it. –not getting off the hook there.
“I am not a stupid person unlike some who for politically correct reasons will blind themselves to the truth”
The terrorists want a wider war. They don’t care who they kill to get it started…they’re blowing up fellow Muslims too…is a huge war what you want? If you’re really smart you won’t play right into their hands.
Posted by: Skip | February 18, 2010, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
To “skip” and “xxx”
I think perhaps I have offended you. For that I apologize. However, my major point is that we (America) are at war with islam, regardless of whether you believe it or not. Will we win? My answer to that is no for way to many reasons to post. Nor does it matter who is in office, why, because, unfortunately, our politicians are more about being “PC” so they can get elected again. While we may have great, irreconcilable political views I think that you would have to agree with me on that point. What would I do if I was king for the day? First I would pull out of iraq, mostly because I’m tired of going there. Then I would get rid of every politician that is not for our constitution. After that I would get rid of activist judges that have shown in their “decisions” that they are against the constitution. I would also put term limits on the judges as well as on the politicians. I would also stop funding welfare, over a 4 year period. I would also stop public school funding. I would privatize our schools. Last but not least I would nuke mecca and medina if we ever have another terrorist attack. I over heard a guy say that iraq was just a war for oil. I’ll put in my plummeting two cents on that on another post since this one probably already getting boring.
Posted by: Robert | February 18, 2010, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
@Parker
You had a good list going there. We need to add a few more though…….
Bosnia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Kenya and the ever popular Israel.
I am sure we have left off many.
In many of the countries that you and I have mentioned, Christians, Jews, and Hindus are literally being murdered, kidnapped or persecuted on a daily basis by Muslims.
Please, do not take mine or Parker’s. Do your own research. Cable and broadcast news do not report many of these events…or…they disguise them as ‘activists’ or ‘militants’ etc.
Events such as chopping the heads off of Christian girls walking to school…or burning alive people in their Christian churches…or chopping the nose off of a Hindu girl. The list goes on and on.
Posted by: Baileyntx | February 19, 2010, 6:01 am 6:01 am
Skip
How silly your statement is. It implies that Democrats are not or cannot be Christians and that they have never started any wars. I believe that would be untrue on both counts.
I would assume you are a big fan of the UN? The UN was created after WWII to keep maniac dictators from killing millions of people again. It has been an utter failure on that count. Keeping these maniacs in check requires force. Ultimately that is the only thing a bully understands. The UN, and France think somehow you can bore them to death with diplomatic talk. What a joke. Trust me…the Iranians are laughing all the way to their nuclear facilities.
Posted by: Baileyntx | February 19, 2010, 6:21 am 6:21 am
wow jake tapper is special – gets inside info from obama admin…”first to report” and then without any due diligence immediately glosses over the cover up of Hussain’s comments defending a convicted terrorist… but wait the Tape-man takes it even further regurgitating Hussain’s bold faced lies about jihad
bravo jako
Posted by: Barney | February 19, 2010, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm
Islam is not talking about peace. Islam is not peace. Islam is justice!. When there is no justice.. dont talk of peace. It is a waste of time and money.
Posted by: jayabdih | February 20, 2010, 11:35 am 11:35 am
“…and instead implement strategies that involve mainstream Islam as a prominent element of the solution.”
I hope that his plan in no way involves promoting Islam !!
Anyone can read the Koran ~ and can easily view those verses that are seen to justify violence ~
Here is a guy who has clearly said ~ he doesn’t remember saying something that he did say ~ and actively called up a magazine to have his comments removed ~ in addition to his denials.
Has the Koran committed to memory ~ and is now suggesting that violence is and never was a part of Islam ~ people will suspect that he has one objective and that is religious.
And the US government in no way should get involved with the promotion of the religion of Islam ~ however much they want to see an end to this terrorism.
From here on this man’s suggestions and motives should be viewed as suspect.
My suspicions are that terrorism for Hassain ruins the image of Islam ~ of which he hopes that someday everyone will follow.
Posted by: Cole | February 20, 2010, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm