Excerpt from:
Bush Meets with American Sikh, Muslim Leaders

By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent

Washington -- President Bush held separate meetings at the White House September 26 with American Sikh and Muslim leaders as a reminder to the American people to avoid prejudice and intolerance in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

... In his meeting with a group from the American Muslim community, Bush said he was honored to welcome to the White House "my fellow Americans, Arab Americans, Americans who are Muslim by faith, to discuss ... what our country is going to do to make sure that everybody who is an American is respected."

He contrasted the teachings of Islam which he said are "of peace and good," with the al Qaeda organization which he said is "an organization based upon hate and evil."

He said that the outpouring of support for the United States following the September 11 terrorist attack "has come from all corners of the country, including many members of the Muslim faith. And for that I am grateful."

The American Muslim community "has been very supportive and cooperative with all efforts to win the war on terrorism, and the President is very appreciative of that," Fleischer said.