Islam activists outraged over biblical engravings

An organization that has attracted the interest of the FBI because of its alleged Hamas terrorist links is outraged over revelations that some of the gunsights mounted on weapons used by the U.S. military contain a biblical reference.

CAIR headquarters in Washington

"The use of military equipment with hidden Bible references sends the false message to Muslims worldwide that we are at war with Islam," stated Nadhira Al-Khalili of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in a prepared statement. "In addition, these sights are a potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces, endanger our troops and alienate our Muslim allies.

"They should we (sic) withdrawn as soon as logistically possible," the lawyer added.

As WND has reported, lawyers for a former Air Force special agent who conducted a private undercover probe of CAIR have turned over to federal authorities thousands of pages of internal documents that allegedly confirm the D.C.-based Muslim group's role as a front for terrorist groups that seek Islam's domination over the U.S.

The FBI served a subpoena for the documents.

As WND reported, FBI agents entered the law offices of Cozen O'Connor in the nation's capital Nov. 24 with a warrant to obtain 12,000 pages of documents gathered by P. David Gaubatz and his son Chris in a daring six-month undercover penetration of CAIR. The younger Gaubatz served as an unpaid intern for the group that was designated an unindicted terrorist co-conspirator in the trial of the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, the largest terrorist-finance case in U.S. history. Chris Gaubatz says he was able to collect the documents after CAIR leaders asked interns to shred them.

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The subpoena suggests the federal government wants to see the papers as part of its interest in CAIR, its founders and their Hamas terrorist links.

Among the documents, which are cited in "Muslim Mafia" by WND Books, is evidence CAIR works behind the scenes to mislead and deceive the FBI on behalf of terrorism suspects and has cultivated Muslim moles inside law enforcement who have tipped off FBI terror targets.

Now CAIR has issued a statement regarding the contractor providing parts to the U.S. military, condemning it for sending "a negative message to the Muslim world." The parts are "a potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces," CAIR said.

CAIR urged the Pentagon to pull the gunsights from use. The company, however, preempted Pentagon action by announcing it would voluntarily stop the engravings.

The controversy erupted after reports confirmed Trijicon, a manufacturer from Wixom, Mich., for years has included a biblical reference on its gunsight products. Last year the U.S. Marine Corps bought some $66 million of the products, including the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, which is illuminated with tritium.

The company said founder Glyn Bindon started doing the engravings more than two decades ago. Bindon, a Christian, died in a 2003 plane crash.

Company spokesman Tom Munson said, "It's not something we make a big deal out of. But when asked, we say, 'Yes, it's there.'"

ABC reported one engraving was 2COR4:6, apparently a reference to 2nd Corinthians 4:6. The Bible verse says, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

There are several other engravings.

A company statement released by a communications company said, "Our effort is simple and straightforward: to help our servicemen and women win the war on terror and come home safe to their families."

The company said it wants to provide both state-of-the-art technology as well as "the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation."

The Pentagon previously confirmed the engravings do not violate U.S. military rules forbidding proselytizing in Iraq and Iran.

U.S. Central Command spokesman Maj. John Redfield told the Associated Press, "This situation is not unlike the situation with U.S. currency. Are we going to stop using money because the bills have 'In God We Trust' on them? As long as the sights meet the combat needs of troops, they'll continue to be used."

CAIR has made an issue of other images on government property, including during the 1990s when it protested the image of Muhammad among the "lawgivers" on a frieze in the U.S. Supreme Court building.

As WND reported, the frieze by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, above the justices' bench, features figures from Hammurabi to John Marshall and includes Muhammad, positioned between Charlemagne and Justinian, holding a Quran in one hand and a sword in the other.

CAIR protested in 1997 that the image reinforced "long-held stereotypes of Muslims as intolerant conquerers."

Responding to the complaint, then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist told CAIR the image could not be changed and explained that swords also were used throughout the court's architecture as symbols of justice.

"Altering the depiction of Muhammad would impair the artistic integrity of the whole," Rehnquist wrote. "Additionally, it is unlawful (under the U. S. Code) to remove or in any way injure an architectural feature in the Supreme Court."

But the federal government revised tourist literature at the court to reflect that instead of being the "founder" of Islam, Muslims believe "'the divine word of God ... was revealed to Muhammad.''

"Muslim Mafia," co-authored by David Gaubatz and Paul Sperry, asserts CAIR is acting as a front for a conspiracy of the Muslim Brotherhood – the parent of al-Qaida and Hamas – to infiltrate the U.S. and help pave the way for Saudi-style Islamic law to rule the nation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: WND needs your help in supporting the defense of "Muslim Mafia" co-author P. David Gaubatz and his son Chris against CAIR's ongoing legal attack. Already, the book's revelations have led to formal congressional demands for three different federal investigations of CAIR. In the meantime, however, someone has to defend these two courageous investigators who have, at great personal risk, revealed so much about this dangerous group. Although WND has procured the best First Amendment attorneys in the country for their defense, we can't do it without your help. Please donate to WND's Legal Defense Fund now. Thank you.