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Canada's DFAIT

Reader comment on item: Canada's Muslims Provide "Strategic Advice on Relations with the Muslim World"

Submitted by Sheri (United States), Apr 14, 2006 at 13:46

I just received Mr. Pipes' weblog. He is a rare beacon of light and we cannot allow him to be alone without becoming involved in his support. His weblong about DFAIT included a link to their main website and I've just sent them the following e-mail (and you should do the same):

Dear DFAIT,

David Mulroney is misguided in his placing strategic importance in the FMCG and allowing this group to have major input in the decision-making process governing Canada's relations with Muslim communities for the following reasons:

1) Muslims will from now on have a special say with regard to Canadian foreign and trade issues touching on Muslims.

(2) The privileging of Islam proceeds apace, with Muslims in at least four Western countries giving "strategic advice on relations with the Muslim world."

(3) This is a terrible mistake. Belonging to a certain group should not give one special authority in dealing with that group, and especially not in a governmental context.

(4) The only person yet to be charged with an offense under Canada's new Anti-Terrorism Act is Mohammad Momin Khawaja; and he was, at about the time of his arrest, a computer consultant for DFAIT.

(5) One can only guess at the intellectual environment of FMCG but one of the individuals mentioned as a player in it, Crystal Procyshen, wrote a strident article against Israel in 1997, "JERUSALEM! What is the TRUTH? Travel and Truth:A Volunteers' Experience in Palestine."

I've always thought of Canada as a country of common sense but the recent decisions by Mulroney appear ominous. The mandate for FMCG continues to be: to serve as a clearing house and focal point within the Department for issues concerning relations with the Muslim world; build the Department's policy capacity on this subject; and take the lead in providing timely, strategic advice on relations with the Muslim world, and the lead in creating a policy framework for our overall approach to this subject. As such, the FMCG should be consulted at headquarters and by posts on the broad range of issues affecting Canada's relations with Muslim communities, including public diplomacy efforts, and will take the lead in coordinating the Department's response to many of them.

Canadians, be careful.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Sheri Whalen
Submitting....

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Reader comments (16) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
With friends like Canada... [61 words]TedApr 22, 2006 05:5043801
Sent to Stephen Harper, PM of Canada [476 words]Katherine McleanApr 17, 2006 21:0443432
Figures...a special anti-semite group to give "advice" to the PM? [51 words]J.S.Apr 18, 2006 15:0343432
It is time for all Christians to take a stand for Christ [125 words]Bev RoseApr 24, 2006 22:5343432
Ok OK [249 words]Katherine McLeanApr 17, 2006 19:0243424
Tell us about Mecca [26 words]Melvin A. FechterApr 16, 2006 19:2443326
Canadian Crystal Procyshen - more Canadian than we realize [219 words]Nabil ShwarmaApr 16, 2006 09:2943294
Canada's DFAIT [364 words]SheriApr 14, 2006 13:4643189
DFAIT [22 words]KamApr 16, 2006 08:3243189
And when I thought Canada was waking up... [151 words]van der LeyApr 13, 2006 00:0543085
HISTORICAL DECISION BY CANADIANS- HISTORY WILL BE WRITTEN IN GOLDEN WORDS [67 words]Iraqi BoyApr 10, 2006 02:2042827
Bienvenue a Canada Welcome to Canada Salam Aleykum fi Kanada [247 words]Nabil ShwarmaApr 9, 2006 12:2242794
Good Point [197 words]VijayApr 9, 2006 07:4442786
Great Decision by canadian Govt. [45 words]Muhammad_jesus_moses_adamApr 9, 2006 04:2642779
Muhammad_jesus_moses_adam [67 words]Anubhav SinghApr 10, 2006 04:4742779
Where is the... [49 words]AlanApr 9, 2006 03:4542777

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