In its Aug. 11 edition, the New York Times runs a lengthy front-page article that points to inadequate PR preparations as the fuse that lit the controversy over plans to build a $100 million Islamic community center and mosque near Ground Zero ("For Muslim Center Sponsors, Early MIssteps Fueled a Storm" by Anne Barnard)Barnard, in her exhaustive piece, faults the mosque's sponsors for failing to anticipate accusations of building a victory monument to terrorism.  While they garnered support from some Jewish and Christian groups, she reports, they did little to engage likely opponents, adding:  "More strikingly, they did not seek the advice of established Muslim organizations experienced in volatile post 9/11 passions and politics."In other words, if there were missteps by the project's sponsors, it was all about lack of adequate public and community outreach in the planning process.Nowhere, however, in an article that, in addition to its front-page...(Read Full Post)