[Articles from: The Guardian, Los Angeles Times]

Bush Appoints Anti-Muslim To Peace Role/Bush Picks Controversial Scholar for Peace Think Tank

Bush Appoints Anti-Muslim To Peace Role
by Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
August 23, 2003

A Middle East expert who has written dismissively of diplomacy and holds views to the right of the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was yesterday named to the board of the US Institute of Peace.

The largely honorary appointment of Daniel Pipes, a gift of President George Bush, has outraged Democratic senators, American Muslims and Arabs, liberal Jews and a large portion of the academic community, who say his opinions are not conducive to peace.

The manner of Mr Pipe's appointment is likely to deepen the sting. Mr Bush exploited the summer recess to avoid a congressional vote on his selection. But as a recess appointment, Mr Pipes will serve less than 18 months rather than the normal four years.

Mr Pipes would not comment until his appointment was formally announced but he has been no stranger to controversy, especially since the September 11 attacks.

As a frequent commentator, he has warned that America's Muslims are the enemy within and called for unrestricted racial profiling and monitoring of Muslims in the military.

From his own thinktank in Philadelphia, he has also clashed with fellow scholars, who say his Campus Watch website has initiated a witch-hunt against those he views as critics of Israel or lacking in patriotic zeal.

Within the community of Middle East scholars, he is regarded as extreme. He opposes the "road map" for the Middle East, as he opposed the Oslo peace accords, and objected to efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority.

Bush Picks Controversial Scholar for Peace Think Tank
by Paul Richter
August 23, 2003

The president avoids a Senate confirmation battle by appointing Daniel Pipes, accused by some of anti-Muslim views, during a recess.

In a statement issued from Burbank, Wash., where he was visiting, Bush called Pipes a well-respected scholar. Pipes has support from such groups as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Anti-Defamation League.

Pipes, who has taught at Harvard University, is a former official of the State Department and the Pentagon and a columnist for the New York Post.

A USIP official acknowledged that the institute worked with several Islamic scholars and researchers "who have said it would be very difficult to continue with the group if Pipes were chosen."

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which had campaigned against Pipes, called the White House decision "baffling. . .Why would they go ahead with the appointment of a hard-core anti-Muslim bigot in the face of overwhelming opposition and in a move that will harm America's image and interests worldwide?" Hooper asked.