Report From Washington – September 16, 2011

Barack Obama reads 46th Psalm – media loves it / Obama’s Arab Spring brings sharia in the Fall / U.S commission on International Religious Freedom could close / Saudi textbooks still teach hatred of Christians and Jews / Churches aiding mosque with terror ties / A truthful Ground Zero rally / How Muslims view 9-11 / New Muslim attacks in the Philippines / Muslim attacks in Thailand now almost daily
PRESIDENCY 
THE PRESIDENT AT GROUND ZERO – No clergy were allowed at the official Ground Zero memorial service on September 11th, but President Barack Obama read a part of the 46th Psalm, the same Psalm he referred to in Arizona after the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords. The same secularist news media who attacked Gov. Rick Perry for appearing at a public prayer meeting in Texas had not a critical word for Obama’s Bible reading in public. But then, maybe they had the inside word that it was an election year gimmick.  
OBAMA’S ARAB SPRING – The new leader of Libya declared this week that the new government birthed by President Barack Obama and European leaders would have sharia law. Mustafa Abdel Jalil said, “We seek a state of law, prosperity and one where Sharia is the main source for legislation, and this requires many things and conditions.” Just a few days later in Cairo the Israeli embassy was invaded by jihadists as Egyptian police looked the other way. The situation was so dire that Prime Minister Netanyahu called President Obama asking him to talk the Egyptians into protecting the embassy staff, which the Egyptians begrudgingly did. Barack Obama’s plan for the Middle East appears to be surrounding Israel with even more hostile enemies than it already has. THE CONGRESS 
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COULD SHUT DOWN – Ten years ago the Religious Freedom Coalition worked to pass H.R. 1856, the International Religious Freedom Act which created the United States Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The bill had a ten year sunset, which means the commission’s time will expire unless there is a reauthorization. Congressman Frank Wolf, along with Foreign Affairs Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Berman, introduced a bill focusing solely on the reauthorization and reform of USCIRF. The bill passed this week, but now faces a Senate vote. Please ask your Senators to extend the life of the commission.
RELIGION AND CULTURE 

SAUDI TEXTBOOKS STILL TEACH HATE – Saudi Arabia, home to 15 of the 19 terrorist hijackers of 9/11, continues to promote a violent form of Islam through its school system and textbooks, ten years after the attacks. The texts continue to teach students that “the Jews and the Christians are enemies” of Muslims and that Jews are “apes” and Christians are “swine.” Read more

CHURCHES AIDING MOSQUE WITH TERROR HISTORY – Christian houses of worship are lending their parking lots to a radical Washington-area mosque that aided some of the hijackers who attacked the Pentagon on Sept. 11, despite warnings from FBI agents and local anti-jihad watch groups that such brotherly outreach is only helping the Islamic center expand and potentially attract future terrorists. Read more

A TRUTHFUL GROUND ZERO RALLY – A rally was held near Ground Zero and sponsored by Pamela Geller’s Stop the Islamization of America, as a reminder that 9-11 was not just about the victims but also about remembering who attacked us. The rally was a great success. The crowd filled two city blocks, and many brought flags and banners. Speakers included family members of those who died in the 9-11 jihad attack against our nation. Leaders from groups fighting the advance of sharia law in their own nations spoke as well. It was an honor for me to open the event with an invocation.

INTERNATIONAL
HOW MUSLIMS VIEW 9-11 – Muslim demonstrators burned an American flag outside the U.S. embassy in London during a moment of silence to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 jihad attack . Screaming “USA – terrorist state!” Muslims denounced the USA and carried anti-American banners. London police allowed the burning of the American flag but broke up a counter demonstration of pro-American Brits who had brought flowers to the embassy. Story and video 
ATTACK IN PHILIPPINES AVERTED – The Philippines National Police uncovered a plan by Islamic militants to blow up Catholic churches in Cotabato City. Regional police linked the attackers to Al Qaeda who were planning to plant three bombs in Catholic churches. In 2009, six people were killed and dozens wounded when a bomb went off outside Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the same city.