Ranks Of West Point Muslims Grow

Muslim Cadets Have Increased From One 10 Years Ago To 30 Today

(CBS)  Since Thomas Jefferson signed legislation creating West Point Academy more than 200 years ago, it has often had to move with the times – admitting the first African American cadet and letting in women, reports CBS News correspondent Russ Mitchell. Now it's coping with another new challenge.

The serene Hudson Valley campus, with its history, traditions and ceremonies, has given birth to some of America's greatest wartime leaders. But now, even as the U.S. Army is fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, West Point finds itself training a new generation of leaders – some with a surprising background. They are American Muslims.

"Muslims of West Point are unique in themselves because they are going to be the leaders of tomorrow…of platoons, companies, battalions and maybe even of the whole Army itself," Imam Asadullah Burgos tells Mitchell.

Asadullah Burgos is the Imam at West Point, where he has seen the number of Muslim cadets grow from just one 10 years ago to more than 30 now. This fall West Point dedicated a prayer room solely for use by Muslims.

Two of the Muslim cadets are Faraz Bala and Shuja Kazmi. Bala, a junior from Seattle, hopes to work in military intelligence. Kazmi is a former combat medic who has already served in Iraq.

When asked what is difficult about being a Muslim at West Point, Kazmi responds: "I think the toughest part may be trying to educate people about the religion and break any stereotypes that might exist."

In the past there have been reports of hazing of women and minorities at West Point but Muslims don't seem to have faced anything like that, reports Mitchell.

Both Bala and Kazmi know too well that if they are sent to Afghanistan or Iraq there's a very good chance they will be fighting against Muslims.

"Just like in out previous wars it's been Christian on Christian in World War I and World War II," says Bala. "This was isn't about religion – our mission there is just providing security."

"It's wrong for it to happen," says Kazmi when asked what he thinks of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq carrying out car bombs and beheadings. "That is something as a soldier you try to stop."

But not everyone finds it easy. Imam Burgos says some Muslim cadets have sought guidance over their personal conflict about going to war.

"We are taught to save humanity not destroy humanity," says Imam Burgos. "So that is a conflict. A conflict within our souls, within our own selves. A conflict we have to deal with regardless of what faith we're from."

West Point does not actively recruit Muslims. In fact, it never asks the religion of anyone applying to the academy.

"That’s the big thing with society today," says Faraz when asked if he feels like an American Muslim soldier – American first, Muslim second. "We would like to separate things into categories but sometimes it's just more complex than that."

[styker1224]

I want to commend these West Point Muslim grads.

Apparently by reading some of these hateful posts and seeing Cramer's racists jibe, it seems that intrinsic hate remains as relevant as ever.

As one female historian said: Many whites like (myself included) to think of themselves as tolerant, but true depths of their feelings towards black and brown people comes to the surface under the guise of anonymity. Hmmm.

[styker1224]

MissAmerica,

I love your cowering under this goofy name...you male, warmongering chauvanist.

It is neocons like yourself why we find ourselves stuck in Iraq!

You say "Muslims attacked America on 9/11." 19 did, but a billion did not!

Where were you when the US gov't attacked and killed Muslims in Lebanon (supporting Israel with US navy resulting in the barrack bombings), Iran (supported Saddam and gave him chemical weapons as I recall), Iraq (500,000 killed via sanctions), and in Palestine! Did you ask yourself then "why they hate us?"

You're a sicko and you're logic twisted.

[olebd]

Die or be killed by those who don't like what you believe. That's not the way I want to go.

[olebd]

Amen to that!!!

It's sad that some still live in a bubble and can't see beyond the charity/acceptance this country has offered to so many in the past.

[missamerica4]

olebd

If the people who love this country do not defend America there will be no hope. The majority are asleep, a large percentage of the rest are naive and just stupid.
It is for those who see the danger to defend our way of life. Many will not wake up until they or their loved one dies.

[missamerica4]

RandalDS

I would be careful if I was you. You and Timmy McVeigh share the same belief.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh#Motivations_for_the_bombing

"McVeigh claimed that the bombing was revenge for "what the U.S. government did at Waco and Ruby Ridge."
"McVeigh was considered by many an anti-government extremist,"
In 1998, an imprisoned McVeigh penned an essay that criticized US foreign policy towards Iraq as being hypocritical. (sounds like you )
"If Saddam is such a demon, and people are calling for war crimes charges and trials against him and his nation, why do we not hear the same cry for blood directed at those responsible for even greater amounts of %u201Cmass destruction%u201D %u2014 like those responsible and involved in dropping bombs on the cities mentioned above? "
Yep, sounds just like you. The hate America, blame America first gang.
You sure you were not related to him ? Sounds like a carbon copy.

[olebd]

And how passive and naive are we in the U.S. as we waste time debating on racial profiling (against Muslims acting suspicious on airplanes)as we still try to accept everyone (allowing Hezbollah chapters to operate in the U.S. as well as all the Saudi schools operating in this country that teach from anti-American textbooks)

Considering amnesty for anyone who crosses over a U.S. border.....(radical Muslims can slip through just as easy as anybody else.)

Enough is enough. Someday soon I hope we wake up and realize it's better to be cautious than dead.

[missamerica4]

cont:
2. Why were we attacked?
"Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2. We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats as there were no provocations by any of the presidents or their immediate predecessors, Presidents Ford or Carter."

3. Who were the attackers?
In each case, the attacks on the US were carried out by Muslims.

He continues:And finally, name any Muslim countries throughout the world that allow freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal rights for anyone -- let alone everyone, equal status or any status for women, or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world.

I look forward to your answer.
Please do read the entire letter. It is vital that we unite.
France has waited to long. They cannot contain their muslim population as you saw in the riots .
Muslims have shut down Spain and holds Spain hostage now.
Pavel Kohout, an associate of the Center for Economics and Politics in Prague, believes that Europe's cultural passivity and naive ideas will be its downfall:

[missamerica4]

RandalDS

Ever heard of MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) VERNON CHONG ?
Here is his bio. As you can see he is well qualified to judge our current situation. MUCH better than you or I.
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5000

Now read his letter.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006012403719

This WAR is for REAL!
"To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WWII)"
.1. When did the threat to us start?
Many will say -September 11, 2001. The answer as far as the United States is concerned is 1979, 22 years prior to September 2001, with the following attacks on us:
Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
Beirut, Lebanon Embassy 1983;
Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military complex 1996;
Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy 1998;
Dares Salaam, Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
Aden, Yemen USS Cole 2000;
New York World Trade Center 2001;
Pentagon 2001.
(Note that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide"

2. Why were we attacked?
cont:

[randalds]

An even better example is that thousands of Americans are murdered every year by other Americans. Certainly many more times then are killed by terrorists. Using your logic missamerica we should all renounce being Americans because a tiny fraction of Americans are evil murders. That is the EXACT same thing.

[randalds]

missamerica, your contention that Islam is a religion of hate that preaches destruction of America shows how little you know about it. I would venture to say that the very few Muslims who believe that are fewer in number then the number of white supremacists who call themselves Christians, yet you don't hear people denouncing Christianity as a religion of hatred. And don't give me your garbage that you don't see the analogy, because even though I disagree with you I doubt that you're so stupid as not to see the meaning.

99.999999999999% of Muslims want nothing more then to live a life of peace and yet you expect them to denounce their religion because of a tiny fraction of a percent that are bad? Do you realize how bigoted that is? That like them demanding that you renounce Christianity because some Christians hate other people and want them dead. It IS the exact same thing!

[olebd]

I'm curious, are there any positive examples of Muslims reaching out to help others (non-Muslims) that anyone can credibly site?

In the interest of humanity, can you also site what contributions Muslims have made to science, medicine or other invention for the betterment of mankind?

What is positive about the saying "Death to America?"

Why should America remain accepting to all Muslims after 9/11? Is the Jihad over?

[missamerica4]

fabrun2

I am very sorry that you are offended by some post. Let's be fair. You know your son we do not.
What we do know is that he chooses to associate himself with people who have vowed to destroy this country, and kill all unbelievers.
I associate myself with being Methodist but you can believe that if the leaders began promoting killing all non Methodist I was denounce that religion as a false religion, A religion of hate. I would not only leave but would do everything I could do to warn others not to join them. I would expose them at every turn.
There have been a few who have spoken out and told what they were taught, that all unbelievers are infidels. The live in fear for their lives.
I think we can learn a lesson from France. Remember the riots there? Muslims didn't get what they thought they deserved. Did it bother them they were destroying private property, hurting people who had no stake in their problem? Nope, just rampage and burn and kill.
But we should not worry about your son? or Muslims ?
Print a cartoon as they do all the time about christians, demos, repubs, Satanist, everybody. Who riots ? Muslims.
If your son wants to serve this country it should be easy. He can start be renouncing a religion who wants to kill Americans.
I know of no other religion that actually teaches that deception is ok in the course of spreading their cause. Taquika (sp) but you know what I mean.

[sy2502]

This soldiers' actions will speak for their good or bad faith. There have been some cases of muslims in the military that defected to fight with their muslim brothers against the US, and it is a matter of fact that muslims feel their loyalty goes to their religion first, not to their country, as we saw in Great Britain. So it is only fair to have some misgivings about having large numbers of muslims in the military. But again, only their actions will ultimately show where their true loyalties are.

[jimmy.andrews]

I can't believe what I am reading in these comments. Have we really become this intolerant? Do these comments represent the views of the US general public? I sure hope not. Call me an idealist, but I'd like to think this Country rises above its' dirty laundry by displaying it. This Country cannot be intolerant because the US IS the world, with well over 90 countries represented as US Citizens, that is approaching and possibly exceeding, a majority amount. Not many, if any, other country can claim this. We are a Superpower because of our tolerance. Nazi's were intolerant, and lost. Japanese the same. England even, being intolerant of the budding independence of one of their colonies, that caused there eventual loss as a superpower status. And now extreme Muslim's are intolerant, and they will lose. So you see, being intolerant will only hurt the US. Please don't label me as a "Peace loving Hippie" because I am not. I support both the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, however I also support a change in strategy. Now about West Point, I feel this is a good thing. We need good American soldiers with the diversity of the world. How can we earn trust and respect from the world if we just have a very narrow military makeup, or Government makeup for that matter? How can we survive as a Country if we see the enemy in every Americans eyes?

[fabrun2]

As the father of one of the cadets in the video, I am appalled at the bigotry and hate on display by some of you on this forum.

My son joined West Point to serve this country. He is willing to put himself in harms way, so bigots like Agnim, Ncolsens, olebd, Missamerica4, Fartknocker2 and others like them can say the hateful things they say. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU, for doubting the partiotism of my son.

I want to thank Grumpas and RandalDS for their comments.

Muslims have always denounced the extremists but some people never listen or see it because they are blinded by their hate of the Islamic religion.

When the enemy attacks you, you do not stop and ask his religion! He is trying to kill you! YOU DEFEND YOUSELF AND THE MEN UNDER YOUR COMMAND.

Soldiers are human too and have feelings. No one likes to kill and enjoy the experience, so there are personal conflicts within all, no matter if you are a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim. If you enjoy killing, you should not be in the Army.

Please keep this discussion civilized and do not attack the religion of 1.5 billion people. Read about the true religion, before you spew hatred.
Thanks for listening.

[hunter10039]

Now-a-days, the SO-CALLED English translations of the Koran, currently available.... are ONLY "SELECTIONS" from that book.

Yet, ...Muslims are supposed to know ...and are being taught in Medrassas, that ONLY IN THE ORIGINAL ARABIC LANGUAGE....is the TRUE meaning of the Q'uran evident.

It should be obvious...that something, that is written in the original Arabic language...and which is CLEVERLY OMITTED from the English "selections"...needs to be hidden "for some reason".

Rhetorical question :

Would that reason be, to decieve people who only speak and read English, to be tricked into false confidence of safety...about the "religion of peace" ???

My husband,(age 75) studied the COMPLETE (Q'uran, Koran)60 years ago, when the COMPLETE translation WAS available in English.

The parts that are cleverly omitted from current English translations ....are those MANY paragraphs... that tell their followers to use ANY RUSE and any means possible....to find a way to DESTROY the unbeliever.

Possibly, the Muslims going to West Point, are unaware of those "hidden" and expunged paragraphs in the English translations, ....because there are many NON-MUSLIMS in the USA who STILL are unaware of it.

This is Because current available copies of "selected portions" in English copies that are now available...do NOT carry completely the same thoughts as the HIDDEN paragraphs, which are NOW ONLY PRESENT in the Arabic version of the Qu'ran

[randalds]

This is great! More proof of how diverse America is. Islam is the 3rd largest religion in the world and we need a better understanding of it if we're going to fight the very tiny segment of it that's violent.

[missamerica4]

Agnim

I agree. It seems we just do not learn.

"We have given military training to muslims and are now paying a deadly price from Afghanistan and Pakistan."

True Bin Laden learned from us.
Before WWII we were collecting metal. It was sent to Japan. We got it back in bullets.
We can see that there is no relation at all to grumpas post at all.
Yes as grumpas say's there are "nut cases" everywhere but that is very different than millions of potential radicals who are dedicated to killing all non-believers.
There are millions like grumpas who will sleep right up to the time that somebody blow the h*ll out of them. Just as we overlooked 20 years of attacks before 9/11 some try to minimize the terrorist intentions even though the terrorist have made clear they intend to destroy America.
grumpas nuts have better sources for info than the rest of us. I have not heard of christians congregating anywhere, beheading and blowing them selves up while yelling Allah whatever and I know of no christian schools teaching their children that another nationality are monkeys. It seems grumpas is a broken record just using any subject to bash religion or Bush.

[grumpas]

Agnim are you really dumb enough to think the same kind of element doesn't exist in Christianity????? Look at Timothy McVeigh! He was in the US military for quite a few years if I remember correctly before he blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City! We have our own home grown terrorist's in the pro life movement, eco movement, anti-government and out and out Christian nut cases! So, why blame the problem on Muslim's???? It exist's in all religions and has for centuries! You have been listening to much to nutty George and his cronies! It's why religion should be kept out of politic's! It causes to many problems!