Americas first Muslim cabinet member?

[lord of the mark]

Zalmay Khalilzad, of Afghan heritage, a Sunni Muslim, and apparently one of the more competent members of the current admin, is being nominated for the post of ambassador to the UN, a cabinet level post.

AFAIK this would make him the first muslim cabinet member in the US.

Congrats to him, and to American Muslims.

[Arrian]

Shush, don't tell Ned!

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

:tass:

[aneeshm]

, and congrats to him.

[LordShiva]

Is he the guy who was ambassador to Afghanistan?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Is he the guy who was ambassador to Afghanistan?

The same.

[Tattila the Hun]

Who cares? 1st this, 1st that. First Muslim with one leg amputated due to a landmine, First mother of twelve, First person to have had a Lasik-surgery.

All the same, self-important, pork-mongering bastards.

Though, I wonder, if a muslim senator gets lots of stuff to his district, is it still pork?

[LordShiva]

[Arrian]

One might as Joe Lieberman (though I don't know if he
keeps kosher).

-Arrian

[Ned]

LoTM, you actually have no concerns?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Arrian


One might as Joe Lieberman (though I don't know if he
keeps kosher).

-Arrian

He does. He belongs to Orthodox shuls (both in Ct and in DC) and is observant of shabbat and kashrut, AFAIK.

I was at the Kesher Israel, the shul he prays at in DC, on the week Gore nominated him for VEEP. It was very odd, the secret service guys (who were attending, AFAIK the first of a long chain of Jewish Shabbat services) couldnt hustle him into a car after the service, since he doesnt ride on shabbat. Instead they hustled him the street (to a friends house, I think).

QOTM congratulated Haddasah Leiberman on that occasion.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Ned
LoTM, you actually have no concerns?

I'm more surprised that aneeshm apparently has no concerns!

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ned
LoTM, you actually have no concerns?

I have lots of concerns. Is the current weather a sign of global warming? How close is Iran to a bomb? How much trouble will I have setting up my new router? How will POTM do on her biology test? Will the Dems be foolish enough to impeach? Etc, etc.

Did you mean concerns about Khalilzad? No, none in particular. Hes been competent, and has done his level best to advance US interests in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some have accused him of leaning a bit toward the Sunnis in Iraq, but I think that was not out of line with admin strategy at that point. I get the impression he can deal with both neocons and "realists" and will fit in well with either a Rice or Negroponte led for pol team.


I particularly look forward to the first time he casts a veto of an anti-Israel resolution.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Geronimo


I'm more surprised that aneeshm apparently has no concerns!

If LOTM says he is sound, that's enough for me.

LOTM

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by aneeshm


If LOTM says he is sound, that's enough for me.

LOTM

I am unworthy, sir.