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[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 8/19/02 ]
Farrakhan: Bush global policies endanger U.S.
By STEVE VISSER Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
The often fiery Louis Farrakhan preached an ecumenical message of love among Christian, Muslim and Jew, but he blasted President Bush as a leader whom the world will fight rather than follow.
"The president of the country seems to be drunk," he said Sunday at the Hillside Chapel & Truth Center on Cascade Road in Atlanta. "He seems to be drunk with the power. This is a greatest country on Earth and the greatest country in the history of the world, but if she is not careful, she will go the way of Rome."
The Nation of Islam leader has virulently criticized American policies in the Islamic world, from the war in Afghanistan to heavy support of Israel. He condemned all violence in both his sermon and an interview with the Journal-Constitution, but he warned that Bush's policies -- especially any war with Iraq -- would alienate the country from the Muslim world and Europe.
Americans should see Palestinians blowing themselves up to kill Israelis as a sign of Israeli oppression, he said, which he characterized as a political, and not religious, issue.
"America is hated now," Farrakhan said. "We need to sit down at the table and dialogue and not slaughter each other."
Farrakhan, who once made headlines for anti-Semitic diatribes, has adopted a more inclusive tone in recent years. His sermon emphasized the common relationship between Christianity, Islam and Judaism and moral issues. He rebuked anti-Islamic comments made by high-profile Christian preachers, alluding to the Rev. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son, who has called Islam an evil religion.
During his sermon, he barely mentioned the congressional race between U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and challenger Denise Majette -- a former DeKalb County State Court judge -- despite being in town to support the incumbent.
In the interview, Farrakhan said pro-Israeli forces have recruited Majette to unseat McKinney -- much like Jewish donors got behind Artur Davis, a Harvard-educated lawyer and businessman who in June defeated U.S. Rep. Earl Hilliard in Alabama. Both Hilliard and McKinney have spoken out for Arab causes.
"When one does that, there is a search for a person of good character and good quality," Farrakhan said. "A fine woman, Judge Majette, was found."
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