Farrakhan denies he called for an Iraqi victory

0 Comments | Insight on the News, August 12, 2002 | by John Elvin

You may have noticed that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has been on an international tour. He made a bit of a splash upon visiting Iraq. The state-run news agency there reported that Farrakhan said American Muslims are praying for an Iraqi victory in a war with the United States. That comment brought a rapid response from Faiz Rehman, a spokesman for the American Muslim Council. "The mainstream American Muslim community does not consider the Nation of Islam as part of the Muslim community," he told CNSNews.com. He termed Farrakhan's comments "outrageous."

Some conservatives wondered how Farrakhan happened to be traipsing around in Iraq in the first place. The Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) called for a Justice Department investigation of an "apparent violation of the Logan Act" prohibiting interference by American citizens in relations between the United States and foreign countries. Phil Kent, president of the SLF, likened Farrakhan's trip to activist actress Jane Fonda's excursion to Hanoi during the Vietnam War, an incident still charged with anger and disgust in the hearts and minds of many vets and patriots [see "How `Hanoi Jane' Betrayed America," March 25].

Farrakhan, once out from under the lid on news imposed in Iraq, apparently discovered that his remarks weren't playing too well in the American press. He denied "absolutely" that he had called for an Iraqi victory and said he prays that peace prevails on both sides. "I would never ask God to allow the American people, of whom I am one, to be slaughtered in a war or to die in a war for really what I see is a vendetta of our government against Saddam Hussein," he declared, according to a United Press International report.

The truth of the matter probably will never be known, since it pits the credibility of Farrakhan against that of the official Iraqi news agency. Having trucked through Syria, Qatar, Yemen and Lebanon in addition to Iraq, Farrakhan and his entourage dropped in for a three-day visit in Zimbabwe. The Nation of Islam leader had kind words to say about "land-reform" efforts by President Robert Mugabe. Most of the civilized world is of the opinion that Mugabe, having stolen the most recent election in Zimbabwe, is paying off supporters with lands confiscated from white farmers.