Obama’s Double Bind on Islam

At this point, there’s little doubt that the proposed construction of Cordoba House, the Islamic community center slated to be built near Ground Zero, has galvanized a good deal of anti-Muslim sentiment here in the U.S. What wasn’t clear – that is, not until today -- was just how pervasive these feelings were.

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll does a great deal to bridge the gap. Its findings, though not altogether surprising, are nonetheless troubling: approximately two-thirds of Americans are against the Cordoba House’s construction, and a full 49 percent now say they have “unfavorable views about Islam.” Only thirty-seven percent classify their opinions as “favorable” – a low not seen since directly after 9/11.

Moreover, despite some variation, majorities from each party affiliation oppose the Muslim center: 83 percent of Republicans are against it, as are 65 percent of independents and 53 percent of Democrats. The number of Republicans who now hold an unfavorable opinion about Islam has shot up since the days following 9/11 – from 42 percent to 67 percent.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration is scrambling to deal with outbreaks of anti-Islamic fervor across the country. In a recently released statement, the State Department warned that a planned Quran burning ceremony in Florida could “inspire retaliatory attacks.” Obama, appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America, called the event “a recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda.”

"You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan," the president says.

Even Interpol, the international police agency, has spoken out on the issue. “"If the proposed Quran burning by a pastor in the U.S. goes ahead as planned, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow,” it said.

So what’s a president to do?

Obama’s in a tough spot here. If he moves to shut down the event, he runs the risk of alienating half of America (though it is true that an “unfavorable opinion” of Islam does not necessarily denote a desire to burn the Quran). He also stands to irritate – potentially even radicalize – other advocates of Church and state separation who may not have initially had a strong opinion.

Still, if he fails to act, the international consequences could be even more treacherous. The risk of retaliatory attacks would increase, as Interpol warned; and America’s favorability across the Middle East and much of the rest of the world would certainly deteriorate.

Asked if the president was planning to directly address Terry Jones, the pastor in charge of the burning, Pentagon Spokesman Geoffrey Morrell said, “I don’t believe they’ve come to any resolution yet.”

They better do it quick.

Byard Duncan is a staff writer for Campus Progress and a contributing writer and editor at AlterNet.

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