CHICAGO (FinalCall.com)�Leaders today are demonstrating bankruptcy in the quality of leadership necessary in this time of world crisis, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan declared April 14 to nearly 4,000 people crammed into Mosque Maryam and the adjoining gymnasium of Muhammad University of Islam.

As a result, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians threatens to draw the world into a global war, he said.

�I�m going to do everything in my power to stop this war,� the outspoken Minister told the audience. �If you don�t try to stop it over there, the same will (one day) be at your doorstep,� he warned.

Min. Farrakhan re-emphasized his intention to journey to the Middle East to work as a �peacemaker.� He explained that he has met with many leaders and organizations in the Muslim and Arab world who would be key to helping to bring peace, including Presidents Yasser Arafat of Palestine, Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Libya�s Muammar Gadhafi, Omar Bashir of the Sudan and members of the Hamas and Hezbollah organizations.

When the trip is made, he desires to meet again with Mr. Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, if possible.

�Martin Luther King made a decision to oppose (the Vietnam) war and that decision cost him his life,� Min. Farrakhan said. �I have made a decision to be a peacemaker and to stand against the unlawful slaughter and murder of innocent human beings here in the U.S. and elsewhere.�

The outspoken Minister challenged religious leaders to put their books�Bible and Qur�an�into practice. But he also cited a verse in the Qur�an that Muslim leaders would no longer take the book for guidance, and depend instead on worldly guidance.

�If the leaders in the world of Islam have put the light, the Qur�an, behind their backs, then they are leading their people by the precepts and doctrines of men; and the people can never be satisfied with the doctrines of men,� he said. �Once they have come to call themselves Muslims they don�t want to hear what men have to say. They want to hear what Allah has to say, what God has to say. It is the same with Christians. You want to hear what did Christ have to say.�

Referring to President George W. Bush�s stated policy to remove President Hussein of Iraq and calling to mind the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Preamble of the Constitution, the Minister called on leadership to become real patriots and check the government when it goes astray of its own laws as well as international laws.

�When has it ever been the policy of an administration of the United States to openly remove another man in another country?� he asked. �You have 15 million homeless in America, where�s your policy for the homeless � where�s your policy to put the American people to work, to give health care to people who need health care. That�s what the American people want to hear.�

Min. Farrakhan warned that if President Bush uses the patriotic spirit of the armed forces to move into Iraq, then �young lives will be lost on an outlaw adventure not supported by international law. If he does this he will be a war criminal, but what court will be strong enough to try the President of the United States as a war criminal?�

Only God has the power to check America, he said.

To American leadership, he admonished that God�s demand of leaders today is courage, fearlessness and faithfulness.

�The Apostles (of Jesus) were forced to answer the question, shall I obey God or shall I obey man? You and I are in that valley of decision today,� Min. Farrakhan said. �Putting one�s complete trust in Allah is what�s necessary for a leader to stand up in a time like this.�

Among the distinguished dignitaries from the Muslim and Christian communities to hear the message was former boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. The crowd exploded into applause and cheers when he entered the auditorium and embraced Min. Farrakhan. A smiling Ali, who suffers from multiple Parkinson�s Disease, waved to the audience but did not speak. (See related article on page 2.)

Introductory remarks were made by Nation of Islam International Representative Min. Akbar Muhammad and 7th Region Minister Rasul Muhammad, a son of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Nation of Islam pioneer Charles Sabree introduced Min. Farrakhan. Mr. Sabree first heard the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad through Min. Farrakhan at Boston�s Muhammad Mosque No. 11.

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