Wonderful: State Department Sending Ground Zero Mosque Imam on 'Outreach' Tour

So much for the canard peddled by White House Spokesthing Robert Gibbs last week that the mega-mosque was some kind of local issue, as if the White House doesn't spend any time meddling in local issues. But if you think outrage against this abomination has peaked then get ready for a fresh round of indignity from New Yorkers and clear-thinking people who think the idea of a mosque a few hundred feet from the epicenter of the 9/11 attacks is a bad idea.

State Department officials on Monday confirmed Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque, will soon be going on a trip of the Middle East and the U.S. government will be picking up the tab.

The planned construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City has set off a contentious national debate over religious freedom in the U.S., drawing impassioned opposition from some families of 9/11 victims.

Rauf has emerged as a controversial figure because of his refusal to acknowledge Hamas as a terrorist organization, which is how the U.S. government classifies the group. The imam also has been quoted as saying U.S. foreign policy was in part responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

“He is a distinguished Muslim cleric,” said State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley. “We do have a program whereby, through our Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau here at the State Department, we send people from Muslim communities here in this country around the world to help people overseas understand our society and the role of religion within our society.”

Rauf and his partners are preparing to build a $100 million Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero, where on September 11, 2001 two airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists, slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 innocents.

The project, known as Park 51, cleared a final hurdle on August 3rd, when decision by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission cleared the way for construction. The tower could span up to 15 stories and will house a mosque, a 500-seat auditorium and a pool.

The State Department has not yet divulged a detailed itinerary of Rauf’s trip, although Arab media is reporting he will visit the oil rich states of Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi.

“It is to foster greater understanding and outreach around the world, among… Muslim- majority communities,” said Crowley. “We've done this many, many times, with many leading figures… over the past few years.”

How about some outreach to the families of 9/11 victims? Do they matter? Is Crowley even aware Rauf is a Hamas sympathizer? Does he even care?

It doesn't seem so.

To be sure, Rauf and Khan have their backers. The State Department hails him as "a distinguished Muslim cleric." But are they truly America's best envoys to a region rife with Islamic extremism -- given, say, Rauf's refusal to label Hamas a terror group or his onetime claim that US policies contributed to 9/11?

The trip could also help Rauf drum up some dubious cash for the mosque. After all, he told an Arabic newspaper that he plans to raise funds from Saudi Arabia and other Mideast nations.

Khan says neither of them will do any "fund-raising," and the State Department says such activity would be barred.

Oh, I'm just sure their activities, paid for by you, will be closely monitored.

I'm thinking the only way to stop this nonsense would be if someone finds a link between Rauf and some tea partiers.

Rich Lowry suggests it's time for the teary-eyed Michael Bloomberg to show some of his special sensitivity. Meanwhile, a Canadian Muslim goes out on a limb. Let's hope she doesn't lose her head over this.