The FBI and CAIR

ABC News has a feature this morning about a quiet pullback by the FBI:

The situation began last fall when the FBI quietly withdrew formal relations with all local chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the largest Muslim American civil rights organizations. The FBI cited "a number of distinct narrow issues" that it has refused to make public.

The story went on to hint that a finding during the Holy Land Foundation trial led to the disassociation but didn't provide much insight. Enter blogs, specifically Jihad Watch:

Holy Land, the IAP, and CAIR: all working for the same goal. "Muslim charity trial may shed new light on terror aid," by David Koenig for Associated Press (thanks to all who sent this in):

(read the link for details). And here's Steven Emerson on the 2007 story. But if we can believe WND (and that's always risky) quoting the Denver Post, Obama has been quietly trying to repair the burnt bridge:

According to the Denver Post, when White House officials heard about the program, it was put on overdrive. So far, 45 Ivy League grads, Fortune 500 executives and government officials have been submitted for consideration. J. Saleh Williams, program coordinator for the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, sifted through more than 300 names as part of the search.

"It was mostly under the radar," Williams said. "We thought it would put (the president) in a precarious position. We didn't know how closely he wanted to appear to be working with the Muslim American community."

Depends on the definition of 'community'. A president has to 'work with' all citizens regardless of faith. The issue here is one of loyalty to the United States versus loyalty to the Qu'ran, and exactly what the latter may entail.