Muslim Group Takes Issue with Bush's Use of "Islamic Fascists"

August 10, 2006

Source: MSNBC

Wire Service: Reuters

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14290351/

On August 10, 2006 Reuters reported, "U.S. Muslim groups criticized President Bush Thursday for calling a foiled plot to blow up airplanes part of a 'war with Islamic fascists,' saying the term could inflame anti-Muslim tensions. U.S. officials have said the plot, thwarted by Britain, to blow up several aircraft over the Atlantic bore many of the hallmarks of al-Qaida. 'We believe this is an ill-advised term and we believe that it is counter-productive to associate Islam or Muslims with fascism,' said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group. 'We ought to take advantage of these incidents to make sure that we do not start a religious war against Islam and Muslims,' he told a news conference in Washington. 'We urge him (Bush) and we urge other public officials to restrain themselves.' Awad said U.S. officials should take the lead from their British counterparts who had steered clear of using what he considered inflammatory terms when they announced the arrest of more than 20 suspects in the reported plot."