U.S. Funding Foreign Mosques (or "I Knew Obama Was A Muslim!!")

This article being bandied about by every conservative blogger and news outlet is getting very tiresome. And, unfortunately, it seems to be gaining steam. The senseless proliferation of the overstated implications of the funding of mosques is astounding to me. So, to bring some balance to the discussion...

First, the AFCP (Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation) was founded in 2001 under our glorious, godly President George W. Bush. And under Bush there was a lot of money donated to restore/preserve mosques and Islamic texts. Below is a link to the AFCP so that you can verify what will follow.

Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

2001~ $14,942 for the preservation of Islamic texts; $14,500 to restore a mosque. For a total of: $29,442. Total AFCP payout for the year $2,858,662.

2002/2003~ $25,345 for mosque renovations; $24,475 repair for a Muslim mausoleum; $24,945 for restoration of a mosque/madrassa; $14,446 for mosque preservation. For a total of: $89,211. Total AFCP payout for the year $3,454,710.

2003/2004~$16,650 to preserve Islamic manuscripts; $33,310 to preserve a mosque. For a total of $49,960. Total AFCP payout for the year $2,344,815.

2004/2005~ $23,375 for exhibition of Islamic manuscripts; $9,345 to document Islamic heritage; $31,931 to restore a mosque; $16,100 to preserve Islamic culture; $31,015 for restoration of a mosque. For a total of $111766. Total AFCP payout for the year $3,261,251.

2005/2006~ $25,000 for preservation of Islamic texts; $24,000 to restore a mosque; $24,125 to restore a mosque; $24,700 to restore yet another mosque; $22,500 for a survey of Islamic architecture. For a total of $120,325. Total AFCP payout for the year $4,464,113.

2006/2007~ $25,589 to restore mosques; $60,600 to restore a mosque; $106,110 to restore a mosque; $37,676 to restore a madrassa. For a total of $229,975. Total AFCP payout for the year $5,026,328.

There was no information for 2007/2008 or 2008/2009.

Please bear in mind that these projects for mosques and Islamic texts and cultural preservation are only a small fraction of the overall money being spent.

Now I will agree that the government should not have been spending this money when we are having to borrow money from China, but to use this as an argument against Obama or to prove that Obama has Muslim sympathies is ridiculous; unless one is willing to admit that Bush also was a Muslim/Muslim sympathizer.

To my patriotic friends I say, Do not become sidetracked with this non-issue! That is exactly the kind of thing the government is hoping for so that we won't be watching what is really going on.