Welcome to this morning's debate between Asim Ghafoor and Suhail Khan: "The Race to the White House". Let us begin the debate...
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Moderator
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What is the stance that Al Gore and George W. Bush have on foreign policy? Could the representative for the Democratic side and the Republican side discuss their respective candidate's view on this issue.
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Asim
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For those who saw the second debate, which thankfully covered a series of questions on foreign affairs, you have some idea of the stark differences in both agendas.
Gore stands for continuing the role of policeman for the US state department and military. There have been thin barriers erected between these two lines of engagement, and a third has lately emerged, mostly in the context of the debate on free trade with China.
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Asim
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Gore believes that an effective foreign policy will engage all three institutions- diplomacy, military and busnenss. But the underlying factor for Gore is that we should try setting the agenda based upon American values on free markets, labor and environmental protection, human rights and democracy.
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Asim
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It's not a perfect world, and, as the events in the Middle East just in the last few weeks prove, it's not a stable world.
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Suhail
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Assalamualaikum! First, I'd like to say I'm thankful to Allah (SWT) for the opportunity to jooin you all this morning, and special thanks go to my good friend Asim Ghafoor for joining me in this important discussion. Also, thanks go to Br. Haroon for all his hard work.
The violence in Palestine has served to remind us, as a Muslim community, that we must be diligent in protecting our Mosque and in protecting the homeland of of ur brothers and sisters. Too much blood has been shed and I fear more will be if we do not use our influence here in the US to bring justice to the world, especially Palestine.
I believe, on balance, Gov. Bush would be teh better candidate to at least give us some hope for a peaceful Palestine. He has said the status of Jerusalem is to be negotiated. He has a record of being more inclusive and willing to talk to Muslims and Muslim Americans as evidenced by his endorsement of teh "secret evidence" legislation in the first debate, and if family is any indication, his father was teh last President to predicate foreign aid to Israel on a halt to the settelment activity, something on which the Clinton-Gore administration has been woefully silent.
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As-salamualaikum!
First, I'd like to say I'm thankful to Allah (SWT) for the opportunity to join you all this morning, and special thanks go to my good friend Asim Ghafoor for joining me in this important discussion. Also, thanks go to Br. Haroon for all his hard work.
The violence in Palestine has served to remind us, as a Muslim community, that we must be diligent in protecting our Mosque and in protecting the homeland of of ur brothers and sisters. Too much blood has been shed and I fear more will be if we do not use our influence here in the US to bring justice to the world, especially Palestine.
I believe, on balance, Gov. Bush would be the better candidate to at least give us some hope for a peaceful Palestine. He has said the status of Jerusalem is to be negotiated. He has a record of being more inclusive and willing to talk to Muslims and Muslim Americans as evidenced by his endorsement of the "secret evidence" legislation in the first debate, and if family is any indication, his father was the last President to predicate foreign aid to Israel on a halt to the settelment activity, something on which the Clinton-Gore administration has been woefully silent.
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Moderator
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What is the stance that each candidate has concerning secret evidence?
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Asim
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While I see the difference on Palestine that may have been stated on certain occasions, the platforms of both parties and the statements by both in the second debate were identical on the issue of a unified Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and telling the Palestinians to stop the violence from the last few weeks, respectively. Will the real Goerge Bush please stand up?
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suhail
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Vice President Gore, by contrast, has been a staunch hawk in defense of the most extreme elements of Israel. His record is a long one; in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and as VP, he has been a defender of the hard-line in Israel who makes no apologies, as seen in the second debate, of his unwavering support for Israel, regardless of policy. He proudly credits his hawkish stance on his chief advisor, Marty Paretz, a known supporter of Israel's most extreme elements. This adminstration has never halted aid to Israel, it has never said no to the settlements, and its peace efforts have been a sham. Former Congressman Paul Findley, a long-time friend of the Muslim-American community and of global justice, has published a remarkable essay on why Muslims must support Governor Bush. The facts are clear for Muslims, and while we have a way to go, Gore would be a step in the wrong direction.
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Asim
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Gore spoke at a rally in Michigan last week where he expressed his concern over the current policy on denying bail based upon secret evidence. While he has not committed to enacting the current bill before Congress, he has promised a review and changes, presumably quicker and better than the current DOJ "review".
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Asim
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I think I was asking for it, but, seriously, Gore's own Vice President is anything but a hawk on the issue. Sen. Lieberman received an award from the American Muslim Council for his service to the community. He is credited with getting Arabs and Muslims access to the Clinton-Gore Administration, and will continue that record. To imply that Gore will be held hostage to his advisers when he has, albeit lately, met with Arab-Americans and will likely appoint people from the community is unfair.
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Moderator
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This question is for the Republican side: Do you think that Bush's tax cut plan will be effective if elected to office or not? Why?
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suhail
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Br. Asim brings up the issue of the US as the world's policeman. Well, unfortunately, this policeman has been something of a bad cop. The greatest scnadal of the Clinton-Gore legacy, and there have been many, was not the shocking behavior of President Clinton and his abuse of interns, etc. and VP Gore's unwavering defense of the President, but rather this adminstration's silence when it came to the horrible genocide in Rwanda. Over 800,000 innocent civilians were murdered, by machete, and the US and the world stood by. This administration should have supported Kofi Annan's efforts to stop the massacres but Clinotn and Gore did nothing. The same may be said of the violence in Sierra Leone. The wonton bombing of Afghanistan, of Sudan and the continued murder in Iraq (while admittedly began by President Bush) has become the sole activity of the US, acting without support from the UN or the Gulf War coalition in defense of Kuwait. This must stop. We need a change in policy and this may only come through a change in leadership.
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Asim
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On education, some Muslims may ask why Gore opposes vouchers. He feels that any plan to take resources from public schools without any tangible compensation, must be avoided. Let's face it, while we all support Muslim schools, most of our kids will be in public schools, so we have to work towards making them the best, and Gore is committed to that, even by way of charter schools, which provide a good alternative for the Muslim community.
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Moderator
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This question is for the Democratic side: Do you think Clinton's mistakes have tarnished the reputation of Al Gore?
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suhail
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On secret evidence, the facts are clear. The Clinton-Gore administartion and Janet Reno have imprisoned 23 Muslims without due process. A bipartisan coaliton in the House and Senate have opposed this, and Bush was the fisrt come out against the use of secret evidence.
On tax cuts, I believe in fairness. All should recieve a tax cut, and all who pay taxes should get a refund. Further, I would rather trust Muslim-Americans to have their own money in their own pockets for use in their families, not the federal government.
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Asim
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We must take the bad with the good. This cop was a blessing for Bosnia and Kosova. It's true we weren't all things to all people, but Gore is committed to keeping the hope that we can and will continue to intervene in such situations.
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Asim
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On lifting Iraqi sanctions, I am not sure if either administration is better for the community, but the world has begun to undo the blockade of Iraq in positive ways, and Gore has the flexibility to work with changing that.
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Moderator
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Well, that is all the time we have for this discussion. We thank both Asim Ghafoor and Suhail Khan for participating in today's debate. Insha Allah, we can have future discussions like this one before the upcoming elections. It was a great opportunity to hear what types of questions we should be asking not only of the Presidential candidate, but all elected officials. As-Salaamu Alaikum.
