Uncle Sam Is Uncle Checkbook, Rebuilding Foreign Mosques
From WSBTV, their investigation found that the State Department is sending millions of dollars to rebuild mosques overseas:
The Channel 2 Action News investigation found a 1,300-year-old Egyptian mosque that was almost flooded by contaminated sewer water that is one of many ancient Cairo mosques and churches that were saved from destruction by the U.S. taxpayers.This is part of a $770 million program to rebuild Cairo's sewer system, paid for by the U.S. State Department's USAID program.
"We are spending money we don't have. This is all on a gigantic credit card right now," said Jared Thomas, a taxpayer advocate.
Millions more dollars have been sent to places like Cyprus. The State Department displays before and after pictures of mosques refurbished with U.S. tax dollars.
"I think it is very hard to explain to the American taxpayer right now whose having an extraordinary time paying bills and making ends meet that this is why we took this out of your paycheck, so we can fund this," said Thomas.
The State Department declined a Channel 2 Action News request for an interview. We wanted to ask why are we using tax dollars to refurbish religious buildings overseas. The State Department did send Channel Two Action News an e-mail saying that they are fighting Islamic extremism by building relationships with Islamic leaders.
Egyptian-American human rights activist Nonie Darwish told Channel 2 Action News anchor Justin Farmer that trying to buy respect in the Middle East only shows our weakness.
From everything I know about Islam, having studied it since 9/11, this is absolutely correct.
Here's the video:
Uhhh forget overseas - people are being arrested on American soil for making movies??????
Link:
http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2012/09/15/the-picture-that-should-cost-obama-his-job/
WTF!WTF!WTF!
Oh - happy Jewish New Year...
Ben David at September 16, 2012 2:40 AM
I think it's reasonable to ask why we are paying to rebuilt Cairo's sewers but having bought into that, I am not that upset that we are protecting a 1300 year old mosque. A 13 year old mosque, no, a 1300 year old mosque sounds interesting.
Islam itself is only about 1400 years old. Who knows, there might still be early fundraising cards stuck among the pews.
jerry at September 16, 2012 4:26 AM
A 1300 year old mosque that was probably a church before the "religion of peace" rampaged through.
Sio at September 16, 2012 4:37 AM
The greatest quote in the article? This: "The Deficit Commission announced it would look at slowing the growth of foreign aid."
Not "cut foreign aid", but just "slowing the growth". That's how we cut our budget! Let's plan massive increases, and the "cut" by increasing less than that. It fools the taxpayers every time...
a_random_guy at September 16, 2012 5:31 AM
Yes, that is baseline budgeting for you. The politicians say they are cutting the new budget by $10B, but that budget was already bumped up by $50B.
Add in that We're giving foriegn aid to freaking China. Who are borrowing from -- China?
Jim P. at September 16, 2012 7:00 AM
"The State Department did send Channel Two Action News an e-mail saying that they are fighting Islamic extremism by building relationships with Islamic leaders."
Sounds like Neville Chamberlain all over again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain
Steamer at September 16, 2012 9:06 AM
The Mighty Douthat.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at September 16, 2012 12:22 PM
I think it is appropriate to rebuild mosques, say, if we bombed them but I don't think that's the case in Egypt.
Though I agree with Jerry, if it is truly a World Heritage piece, it could be worth it.
NicoleK at September 16, 2012 12:51 PM
>> Uhhh forget overseas - people are being arrested on American soil for making movies??????
This is completely bullshit, Ben David. He has not been under arrest, and was in fact given Cerritos, California police protection at his request for his dumb-ass actions. He was being questioned for possible parole violations.
If you are going to be holier than thou, remember one of the commandments is "Thou shalt not bear false witness."
Eric at September 16, 2012 2:54 PM
And Roger Kimball is equally a complete asshole. Read his little dispatch- he never mentions that this man, who is hidihng his face for fear of retaliation, was arrested. He writes: "people are being rounded up at midnight by brownshirted men for making a movie that embarrasses El Presidente."
When you blame the President for everything that happens in this world, not only do you have no credibility but you show yourself to be a lying coward as well.
Eric at September 16, 2012 3:03 PM
And comparing a policeman doing his job peacefully to the Nazis (brownshirts) doing Obama's bidding is despicable, especially coming from a Jew. Asshole.
Eric at September 16, 2012 3:11 PM
I swear to god I heard on NPR the other day that we are in the middle of negoitating the forgiving of billions of dollars that Egypt owes us.ey are so fucking poor that they cant pay us back why are we giving them more money?
lujlp at September 16, 2012 9:30 PM
Luj,
You mean like this idea?
Jim P. at September 17, 2012 1:19 AM
Eric - you took the words right out of my mouth.
sara at September 17, 2012 3:12 PM
I wish they'd send some money to fix the crumbling sewers in my city. Nothing impresses tourists in our most-visited areas like being smacked in the face with the aroma of excrement upon leaving our restaurants...
Mr Teflon at September 19, 2012 9:35 PM
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