Hmmm... it looks like the terrorists and extemists "distort the
idea of jihad" ... perhaps when they were jihading against the
Soviet Union, with US help, that was undistorted jihad. I don't
particularly like seeing distorted or undistorted jihad in action.

Bush refers to Chapter 5, verse 32 of the Koran - "The Table" -
as saying that killing an innocent human being is like killing
all of humanity, and saving the life of one person is like saving
all of humanity.  Well, yes, it does say that, but also says
"except as a punishment for murder or other wicked crimes" which
are not specified. 

5:33 continues ... "Those that make war against Allah and his apostle
and spread disorders in the land shall be put to death or crucified
or have their hands and feet cut-off on alternate sides, or be banished
from the country".

While Bush speaks of the "spirit" and "compassion" of Islam, and
"understanding", Allah, in Surah 5:49 tells "believers"
to "take neither
Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another.
Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number.
Allah does not guide the wrongdoers."

------------------------------------------------------------------

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2005

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT IFTAAR DINNER
The East Room
7:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Thank you. Welcome to the White
House. This is the fifth year in a row that it's been my honor to 
host an Iftaar in the State Dining Room.

Our distinguished guests represent the millions of Muslims that we're
proud to call Americans, and many Islamic nations are represented here
that America is proud to call friend. We welcome the representatives
from many countries with large Muslim populations. I want to thank you
all for coming to celebrate an honored tradition of the Muslim faith,
and wish you a, "Ramadan Mubarak."

I want to thank those in my administration who have joined us. I want
to thank the Imam for joining us today, and thank you for leading us
in prayer after these short remarks. I want to thank all the
ambassadors from the Organization of the Islamic Conference. I welcome
other members of the Diplomatic Corps. And I want to thank the Muslim -
- American Muslim leaders who are with us today. Thanks for taking
time out to celebrate this important dinner.

Ramadan is the holiest time of the Muslim year. According to Islamic
teaching, this month commemorates the revelation of God's word to the
Prophet Muhammad in the form of the Koran. For more than a billion
Muslims, Ramadan is a time of heartfelt prayer and togetherness. It is
a time of fasting and personal sacrifice. It's a time to give thanks
for God's blessings through works of charity.

One Muslim leader said: "It's a national and Islamic obligation to
assist one's neighbors when they are in need." The American people 
saw that spirit as we recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
The world sees that spirit, that compassion of Islam, through the
countless acts of kindness following the recent earthquake in
southeast -- in South Asia. 

[...]

As we work together to defeat the terrorists, we must be very clear
about the enemies we face. The killers who take the lives of innocent
men, women, and children are followers of a violent ideology very
different from the religion of Islam. These extremists distort the
idea of jihad into a call for terrorist murder against anyone who 
does not share their radical vision, including Muslims from other
traditions, who they regard as heretics.

Their strategy will fail. Many Muslim scholars have already publicly
condemned terrorism, often citing chapter 5, verse 32 of the Koran,
which states that killing an innocent human being is like killing 
all of humanity, and saving the life of one person is like saving 
all of humanity. I appreciate those of you here who have joined 
these scholars in rejecting violent extremists. And I believe the 
time has come for all responsible Islamic leaders to denounce an 
ideology that exploits Islam for political ends, and defiles your 
noble faith.

I have great confidence in the future of this nation, and in the
future of the Muslim world. I have been inspired by the courage of
people in Afghanistan and Iraq, where Muslims are celebrating Ramadan
in two of the world's newest democracies. I believe that people of
every religious and ethnic background have the right and the desire 
to be free. And I believe that the spread of freedom and justice and
tolerance in the broader Middle East will lead to the peace that we
all seek.

As we celebrate this special Iftaar, we renew the ties of friendship
that bind all those who trace their faith back to God's call on
Abraham. We recognize the many hopeful works we have achieved
together. We look forward to learning more from each other in 
the years ahead.

I'm so grateful that you joined us today. I wish you a blessed
Ramadan, and may God bless you all. (Applause.)

END   7:08 P.M. EDT

(end transcript)

Source: U.S. Department of State...
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005
&m=October&x=20051017204147sblebahc0.9566156&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

Cheers, Steve..

---