CIA Director Announces Visit to Dearborn, Mich.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: DEARBORN, Mich. - A planned visit by CIA Director Leon Panetta to a Detroit suburb with one of the nation's largest Arab populations is drawing criticism.

Panetta announced Tuesday he will attend an invitation-only dinner and speech with 150 leaders of the Arab and Muslim communities in Dearborn on Sept. 16.

But Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells The Detroit News officials chose "entirely wrong night" because it's the 27th night of Ramadan. He said that's when many devout Muslims and imams spend the entire night worshipping in the mosque.

Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn, said he and other community leaders should take the blame, not the CIA. [Source: Chicago Tribune] Associated Press | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Visits Scene of Gay Shooting
PINK NEWS: The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has visited the Tel Aviv gay youth centre where two people were killed last weekend.

Speaking today at the scene, he said the shooting bore "the markings of a terror attack".

Two people, a 16-year-old girl and a 26-year-old man, were killed and 15 were injured when a masked gunman opened fire on the LGBT venue on Saturday.

Police are still hunting for the gunman. The prime minister assured those present the police had his support.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said: "We need to do this and we must bring security back into our lives. This is not just a blow to the gay-lesbian community. This is a blow to all Israeli youth and Israeli society."

He added: "Anyone who has suffered from gratuitous hatred, as an individual or in a group, knows how painful and unacceptable it is. This is something we must uproot from society as much as possible," he added. "I think Israeli society has made progress towards tolerance, and I hope and feel certain that we can make further progress."

The event was closed to the media. It was the first time an Israeli prime minister has visited a gay organisation. [Source: PinkNews] Staff Writer | Thursday, August 06, 2009

Obama in Turkey for First Visit to Muslim Country
REUTERS: ANKARA - U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in NATO member Turkey on Sunday in his first visit as president to a Muslim country.

Obama's visit, on the last leg of an eight-day trip that marks his debut as president on the world stage, is a recognition of the secular but predominantly Muslim country's growing clout and Washington's desire for its help to solve confrontations and conflicts from Iran to Afghanistan.

U.S.-Turkish relationship suffered badly in 2003 when Ankara opposed the invasion of Iraq. But Obama will seek help from Turkey as he pushes a new regional strategy in Afghanistan and as it prepares to reduce the number of troops in Iraq.

Obama's motorcade got plenty of friendly waves from small groups along a route from the international airport to the city center lined with security personnel. A few people waved tiny Turkish flags. Bush got a mostly indifferent response from the public in visits to the Muslim world.

Turkey will not be the venue for Obama's promised major speech in a Muslim capital, but his April 5-7 trip will be a way to emphasize his message of reaching out to Muslims. >>> Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alison Williams | Sunday, April 5, 2009