First, the obvious is that Islam continues to grow in its influence in western nations, even in the United States. And just as obvious, that's not good news. What's perhaps a little more subtle is this: Bush is certified lame duck by virtue of the November 2006 elections, and anything that Bush wants done must more or less first be cleared with the Democrats in the House and Senate. So, it's to be expected that the Republican lame duck would choose protected minorities to fill open positions, in the belief that a woman, black, hispanic, etc, cannot be beaten-down by political opponents in public as easily as a white male.
So, what am I ultimately getting at? This move indicates to me that Muslims have become a certified protected minority in the United States. Who could have guessed that 9/11 would have ever grown into a public relations benefit for Islam, and in only five years.
Ithaca-37