In a May 12 editorial, The Washington Times wrote that President Obama is “kowtowing” and “pander[ing]” to Islam because of the administration's decision to treat Osama bin Laden's body in accordance with Islamic customs while burying him at sea. The Times also wrote that "[b]y constantly emphasizing how bin Laden's sea burial was in 'conformance to Islamic requirements,' Obama officials communicated that the president is more concerned about placating the feelings of Muslim extremists than securing closure for the American people."

Further, in a separate May 12 editorial, the Times again accused Obama of “pandering to Islam,” writing: “President Obama is trying to hit the reset button on his outreach efforts to the world's Muslims. He would do better to focus on aggressively promoting freedom rather than pandering to Islam.”

From the Times' May 12 editorial, headlined, “An appropriate burial for bin Laden? White House panders to Islam by honoring terrorist”:

A Zogby poll released Wednesday shows that one in five likely voters thinks Osama bin Laden is still alive. Despite this public-perception problem, the Obama administration continues to hide photos and video of bin Laden's demise, instead reiterating that his corpse and burial were “taken care of in the appropriate way.” At a Pentagon briefing, a senior Defense official stated vaguely that bin Laden was handled “using the appropriate procedures and rituals.”

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The families of those slaughtered by bin Laden might not be happy to learn that the Obama administration may have considered it “appropriate” to ask Allah to “pardon” al Qaeda's evil overlord. Or to petition him not only to let him into paradise but to give him a nice, big house when he gets there, with a better family and wife (or wives). How will those families feel about the fact that this sociopath got a better burial than many of their dead loved ones?

All of this highlights President Obama's knee-jerk habit of kowtowing to Islam. By constantly emphasizing how bin Laden's sea burial was in “conformance to Islamic requirements,” Obama officials communicated that the president is more concerned about placating the feelings of Muslim extremists than securing closure for the American people.

From the Times' May 12 editorial, headlined, “Obama: Freedom or Islam?; White House panders to Muslims instead of pushing American values”:

President Obama is trying to hit the reset button on his outreach efforts to the world's Muslims. He would do better to focus on aggressively promoting freedom rather than pandering to Islam.

The first round of outreach - kicked off by Mr. Obama's June 2009 speech in Cairo - was a spectacular failure. Opinion polling on sentiment towards the United States in countries with Muslim majorities showed an initial burst of enthusiasm, followed in 2010 by a collapse. In some cases, Muslim approval of America fell to levels lower than during the waning days of the George W. Bush administration.

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The United States is not at war with Islam, but neither should our nation be promoting it. America has traditionally advocated the principles of freedom of conscience and individual liberty, concepts that are in dire need of support in most Muslim states. Taking an unadulterated stand for freedom in the Middle East would be the most gutsy move Mr. Obama could make.

Previously:

Wash. Times' Obama Derangement Syndrome Extends To Bin Laden Death