Sen. Allen Clarifies Views on Daniel Pipes
Press Action
Saturday, October 04, 2003
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/allen10042003/
Below is another exchange between a constituent of Sen. George Allen, a Republican from Virginia, and the senator over President Bush’s controversial nomination of Daniel Pipes to the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace. In August, Press Action published a previous exchange on the topic between Allen and his constituent.
In this new exchange, Allen informs the constituent that he wants to clarify his views “in light of statements and writings of Mr. Pipes that have recently come to my attention thanks to you and others.” Allen said certain writings and comments made by Pipes have caused him “great concern” because they are “insensitive and wrongful characterizations of both Arabs and Muslims around the world.”
On Oct. 1, Bush submitted to the U.S. Senate his official nomination of Pipes to the institute’s board for a term set to expire in January 2005. This past summer, Bush used his constitutional authority to appoint Pipes to the board while the Senate was in recess. In the letter below, Allen explains that it is unlikely that the Senate will vote on Pipes’ appointment, thus allowing Pipes to serve at least through the end of his term.
Senator George Allen
U.S. Senate
204 Russell Office Building
Washington DC 20510-4024
Dear Senator Allen:
Thank you for your letter of September 16, 2003.
I sincerely hope that there has been a change of your mind concerning Mr. Daniel Pipes, who has been appointed to the U.S. Institute of Peace. It is clear that Mr. Pipes’ views are anti-Muslim and anti-peace. He is always trying to link Muslims to violence and generalize from actions of specific individuals to religious and ethnic communities. For example, he put substantial effort to tie the sniper case to Islamic fundamentalist terrorists, even though there is no evidence of such links. Such attempts to blame everything on the Muslims is a deeply flawed position, reminiscent of intellectuals servicing some of the worst regimes of modern history, and contrary to the respect for fundamental individual human rights.
Mr. Pipes’ unquestioning support for Israeli occupation of Palestine and its occupation policies in the West Bank and Gaza, which includes collective punishment, the excessive use of force, and the application of torture on prisoners, does raise serious questions about him and his ideology. His appointment is contrary to the Institute’s mission to promote peace and stem violence around the world. Therefore, you should do everything possible to rescind his appointment.
I hope that you will, in your capacity as a U.S. senator, firmly and resolutely oppose the encroachment of fundamental individual rights and basic liberties that is being carried out under the present administration and U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft. I strongly urge you to join the peace movement that is calling for an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq. The occupation of Iraq is an affront to the sovereign rights of the people of Iraq. It also poses a serious and grave danger to our security, our economic well-being, and any prospect for peace and the rule of international law.
Please note that I shall post this letter and your reply to my earlier letter in www.pressaction.com, a website edited by my colleague Mr. Mark Hand, and published from Virginia. I believe that the publication of correspondence will be useful to your constituents and all other residents of Virginia.
Sincerely,
A Constituent
September 16, 2003
Dear Constituent [name withheld],
You recently received a letter from me regarding Daniel Pipes to the U.S. Institute of Peace. I would like to clarify my views in light of statements and writings of Mr. Pipes that have recently come to my attention thanks to you and others.
Certain writings and comments made by Mr. Pipes cause me great concern, as they are insensitive and wrongful characterizations of both Arabs and Muslims around the world. As you may know, Mr. Pipes was made a recess appointment in late August of this year, thus a Senate vote did not occur, nor is it likely that one will occur in the future. I will be closely monitoring the role of Mr. Pipes while he serves at the U.S. Institute of Peace to make sure his actions are representative of the Institute’s mission to promote peace and stem violence around the world. This mission can only be accomplished if those carrying out the Institute’s mandate are adhering to principles of equality and religious tolerance.
Most importantly, I believe our freedom to worship and pray as we please is one of our most cherished fundamental individual rights. I like to remind people that my philosophical hero, Thomas Jefferson wrote in his Statute of Religious Freedom, “… that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” I strongly believe that America’s ardent protection of religious freedom is a foundational human right and we must be vigilant in making sure religious intolerance does not find its way into our civil institutions or our society.
It is important for our government to highlight the diversity of beliefs held by all Americans. I was pleased to see the U.S. Postal Service re-issue the Eid postage stamp last year. Issuing a postage stamp that celebrates the two most important festivals, or eids, on the Islamic calendar is an appropriate way for our country to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions Muslim Americans make to our society. I will suggest that the U.S. Postal Service reissue the Eid Stamp during the coming celebration of Ramadan.
I appreciate the opportunity to make clear my opinion on this issue and appreciate your comments and thoughts. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I look forward to hearing from you in the future on this or any other matter of interest.
With warm regards, I remain
Sincerely,
George Allen