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The White House announced today that President Barack Obama intends to nominate several individuals to key administration posts. Among them is Islam A. Siddiqui for the position of Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Below is Dr. Siddiqui’s biographical information as reported in the press release:
Islam A. Siddiqui is currently Vice President for Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife America, where he is responsible for regulatory and international trade issues related to crop protection chemicals. Previously, Dr. Siddiqui also served as CropLife America’s Vice President for agricultural biotechnology and trade. From 1997 to 2001, Dr. Siddiqui served in various capacities in the Clinton Administration at U.S. Department of Agriculture as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Senior Trade Advisor to Secretary Dan Glickman and Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. As a result, he worked closely with the USTR and represented USDA in bilateral, regional and multi-lateral agricultural trade negotiations. Since 2004, Dr. Siddiqui has also served on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Health/Science Products & Services, which advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and USTR on international trade issues related to these sectors. Between 2001 and 2003, Dr. Siddiqui was appointed as Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he focused on agricultural biotechnology and food security issues. Before joining USDA, Dr. Siddiqui spent 28 years with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. He received a B.S. degree in plant protection from Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University in Pantnagar, India, as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant pathology, both from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Comments
He sounds like a very competent person, and he has a Muslim name. Do we know whether he is a religious Muslim whose first loyalty is to Allah and the Koran? Or is he a secular Muslim whose first loyalty is to the kufr American constitution?
Mo, why do you guys behind Muslim names or identities to further your agenda? Alhamdulilah he is a Muslim and is very well qualified.
To NY Muslim Examiner: Why should a name make any difference? How about answering Mo's question about loyalty? Certainly it is impossible for someone to be loyal to the American Constitution and to Islam at the same time.
There is no doubt of muslims loyalty to American Constitutions. As they born here in our country and they responsible citizens of united states. One of my muslim friend said, Islam forces muslims to follow the law of a land where they live. So muslims loyalty to united states should not be questioned.
It is great to hear that someone can be judged based on his professional merit alone and that his faith does not play a part in it. I'm glad to see Muslims excelling in various fields. It goes to show that not all Muslims are the same.
Chris, it is my understanding as well that Muslims are supposed to follow the law of the land in which they live. Thus, for example, some scholars have suggested that a Muslim man should not have more than one wife in the United States because polygamy is illegal here. It is also my understanding that if a Muslim cannot practice his or her deen in a particular land then he or she should move, if able to do so, to a more agreeable place. These are generalized statements obviously and the details are more complicated.
He is dedicated muslim and loyal to his work too..thats why he is unto that position.
I don't care if he is muslim or not, or what his name might be. My concern is that someone not of domestic birth should not be the chief negotiator for the government in matters directly tied to foreign trade. There is an obvious concern with mixed loyalties.
What is more troubling to me, and what I don't hear any religious perspective, is that a strong tie to poisonous petrochemical producers is not inline with any core deist belief system. All religions recognize an enlightened level of living belief; applying one's ideals to the challenges in this life, as an indication of attempting to live Godly ideals.
Factory farming, feeding our FOOD with inorganic chemicals and the embedded water and petroleum costs sitting on the supermarket shelves should be the focus, and this is what makes the appointment suspect. Regardless of his beliefs, Siddiqui must validate through his actions that he is now a public servant, charged with protecting our agricultural security and safety, and not an industry lacky. Based on his resume, his career choices indicate a willingness to part with the ideals of Islam for worldly advancement.
What rubbish we are discussing here, everybody has his own religion and follow it, but simultaneously we are handling different responsibilities in different fields. Does our religion comes across our work? No? Religion is something the matter between God and his follower what it has to do with worldly resposibilities? Please be broad and leave this poisonous thinking, what we will give to our childrens by this thinking, does anybody imagine that????
Hi Tanveer,
I don’t understand your objection. What’s wrong with a little shout-out to a brother? There was probably a time no-so-long ago when Muslims would not be appointed to many government positions. Look at Congress. There is less than a handful of Muslims serving.
Also, I disagree with you assessment that Islam has nothing to do with worldly affairs. Islamic teachings tell us to do everything with excellence. Islam also teaches us the responsibilities that we have in all facets of our lives—that is why Islam is referred to as a “deen” which has been roughly, but inadequately, translated as “religion”. While Islam may not be pertinent to someone’s career, Islam is certainly pertinent to how a Muslim conducts him- or herself on the job.
This is a matter of great pride for India as well as Uttarakhand.
M S Mehta
merapahad.com
I agree with Farid's commentary. I also believe that his ties to Monsanto Corp. make him unfit to hold political positions, especially ones concerning food and foreign trade. It seems to me like a strategic move to make Monsanto Corp. a lot of money unethically.
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