Wow! A Moderate Muslim Encouraging Cooperation with Authorities?

I couldn't believe it when I read this:

Rodwan Saleh, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, said the enthusiasm of recent converts can be exploited by some extreme groups. And though he did not know Maldonado, Saleh said the man may have been steered to the darker sides of Islam.
Blog and Internet message-board posts indicate Maldonado's eagerness to learn Arabic.

"As new people accept Islam, they need to have someone who truly teaches them the essence of the religion," Saleh said. "Someone who is now highly spirited or naive or ignorant, someone can really take advantage of that."

Saleh said he encourages any Muslims who know Maldonado or his circle of friends to work with authorities.

"It is our duty to be cooperative so this does not happen again," he said. "If there is any recruiting through him or someone else, we need to know."

Rodwan has been to the White House.

Thus when President Bush invited religious leaders of different faiths to Washington, D.C., for the National Day of Prayer for the Katrina Victims, he also invited Rodwan Saleh, President of Islamic Society of Greater Houston to represent the Muslim faith. As Rodwan Saleh has aptly put it, the humanitarian work done by the Muslim community was a calling of their own faith but it is gratifying to find out that it has also imparted a desired image to the public at large. Therefore, we should look at the Presidential invitation as recognition of the positive role that Muslim community plays in the American society.

I think much work remains to be done on that score, Rodwan, but I thank you for speaking out so plainly about the Maldonado case. You interest me. Let's learn a little more about you, hmmmm?

He's not into profiling. In Are Middle Eastern Terrorists Posing as Mexican Immigrants he allows that it makes Muslims feel inferior.

He's involved with the Katy Mosque and it's pig-racing neighbor.

He's happy about non-denominational chapels at airports.

He's an engineer who was laid-off by Compaq and became a small business owner. Buying and running a restaurant down the street from Compaq and across the street from where the Champions Forest Mosque was being built.

He won't look at the Mohammed Cartoons, he considers them blasphemous.

He believes the desecration of the Koran to be on the level of the desecration of the American Flag. He fails to note the lack of deadly riots accompanying the desecration of the American flag.

He deals with Mosque personnel issues.

He is respected.

He is a hitter when it comes to bringing in the CAIR donations.