Having been born to a Muslim father, it is “universally understood” that Obama himself was born a Muslim. In an article entitled, “President Apostate”, a New York Times op-ed contributor explained:

As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother’s Christian background is irrelevant.

Of course, as most Americans understand it, Senator Obama is not a Muslim. He chose to become a Christian, and indeed has written convincingly to explain how he arrived at his choice and how important his Christian faith is to him.

His conversion, however, was a crime in Muslim eyes; it is “irtidad” or “ridda,” usually translated from the Arabic as “apostasy,” but with connotations of rebellion and treason. Indeed, it is the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit, worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive).

The author is Edward N. Luttwak, who is a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS, as it’s referred to, is headed up by a Deputy Secretary of Defense under Clinton. Its Chairman of the Board of Trustees is former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn. The group was also a sponsor of the Iraq Study Group.

Via Ace.