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September 21, 2010
Fade Away, Bubba
How very civilized of Bill Clinton to suggest that "much or even most of the [Ground Zero mosque] controversy... could have been avoided, and perhaps still can be, if the people who want to build the center were to simply say, 'We are dedicating this center to all the Muslims who were killed on 9/11'" (see below).
Question for Mr. Clinton: Would that dedication to "all the Muslims who were killed on 9/11" also include the Muslims who were piloting the planes?
As to people being "free to practice their faith," here's another question for Mr. Clinton: What if their faith calls for the killing of those outside that faith? Still think they should be free to practice their faith?
If only Mr. Clinton had utilized some of those smarts he's so generously sharing with us today, while he was President of the U.S., he could've smashed al-Qaeda in its infancy and spared us all a whole lot of hurt.
You had your chance, Bubba, you blew it, now fade away.
DNAinfo-manhattan local news | September 21, 2010
Bill Clinton Endorses Muslim Center Near Ground Zero
Bill Clinton suggested that the Islamic center near Ground Zero be dedicated to the Muslim victims of 9/11.
By Julie Shapiro, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
Lower Manhattan - Former President Bill Clinton strongly supports Park51, the mosque and community center planned near Ground Zero, he said in an interview posted on YouTube Sunday.
"I believe people should be free to practice their faith," Clinton told Steve Grove, YouTube¹s head of news and politics.
"What the Muslim group wants to do is to build a community center near Ground Zero," Clinton continued. "It¹s clearly a decision for the city of New York to make. The mayor supports it and they¹ve gotten the requisite approvals, so I think they ought to be able to do it."
Clinton also had a suggestion for the builders of Park51.
"Much or even most of the controversy could have been avoided, and perhaps still can be, if the people who want to build the center were to simply say, 'We are dedicating this center to all the Muslims who were killed on 9/11,'" Clinton said.
Dedicating the center to the Muslim victims would show that "not all Muslims are terrorists," Clinton said, and it could help unite all the family members of 9/11 victims in a common cause of remembrance. Many 9/11 family members have been outspoken in opposition of the center.
"We¹ve all forgotten: There were a lot of Muslims killed on 9/11," Clinton said.
Clinton¹s comments were part of a larger 25-minute interview with Grove. The question about Park51 was submitted by a San Diego resident.
Original article and YouTube video here.
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"Mr. Netanyahu is one of the most media-savvy politicians on the planet. On Friday he appeared live via video link on 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' taking the host’s alternately sardonic and serious line of questioning with gazelle-like alacrity."
~ Anthony Grant, jourrnalist who has written for many major newspapers and worked in television at Paris and Tel Aviv, interviewing former PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, at the outset of Mr. Netanyahu's new book (more here).
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