"CAIR Welcomes Capture of Saddam Hussein"

So reads a press release put out by the most powerful militant Islamic organization in North American, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, now boasting "25 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada." But what's interesting about this press release is how CAIR trips up over itself. Here are the two operative sentences:

• "The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein."
• "As we continue to oppose the war in Iraq, we hope the capture of Saddam Hussein creates a window of opportunity for peace and reconciliation."

So, let me get this straight. The war that removed Saddam Hussein is a bad thing but capturing Saddam Hussein is a good thing? I hope the political philosphers at CAIR will take the time to explain to us how they square this particular circle. (December 14, 2003)

Dec. 17, 2003 update: I was not disappointed. One of the deepest thinkers of the CAIR faculty, its director of legal affairs, Arsalan T. Iftikhar, resolved the seeming contradiction. Here are extracts from his dissertation, "Partly freed: Saddam Is Gone, But U.S. Isn't":

• "I truly felt that our soldiers had accomplished something on that day [when they captured Saddam]."
• "Nonetheless, I have always opposed the war in Iraq and continue to oppose its subsequent occupation."
• "Even though this madman is no longer relevant to Iraqis, Iraq is more of a threat to its neighbors and American interests today than ever before."
• "Even though the capture of Saddam is truly in the best interests of the Iraqi people, many Americans still oppose this war and occupation."
• "Once the elation from Saddam's capture recedes, we will soon realize that even though we have won the battle of his capture, we are still a long way from winning the war."

Now, is everything perfectly clear?

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