The White House announced today that:

The President has signed the recess appointment of Daniel Pipes of Pennsylvania to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace. The President nominated Mr. Pipes on April 2, 2003.

By signing appointments during a congressional recess, an American president can avoid the Senate's confirmation process.

Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and their Islamist friends, CAIR - The Council on American Islamic Relations and the AMC - American Muslim Council, will be very unhappy.

President Bush's nomination of Daniel Pipes to the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) enraged many Islamists and their left-wing allies. They claim Pipes is a "bigot". Why?

Pipes is one of America’s foremost authorities on the Middle East. He tried to warn the civilized world about the threat posed by Muslim extremism long before 9/11. He's a good man who's just concerned about preserving values like freedom, democracy, and free enterprise. Does this make him a bigot? I think not.

I congratulate Dr. Pipes on his appointment. He will make a difference. He already is making a difference.

I congratulate President Bush for having the guts to stand up to the Islamists and the misguided legions of the politically correct. Score one for the free world!

• Click here for more background on the Pipes appointment.