Tariq Ramadan allowed in

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week signed papers allowing Islamic leader Tariq Ramadan to reapply to enter the United States. He had been denied a visa in 2004 when he sought to take up a position on the faculty of Notre Dame University.

The State Department spokesman explained that: "Both the president and the secretary of state have made it clear that the U.S. government is pursuing a new relationship with Muslim communities based on mutual interest and mutual respect."

Now, what's curious about this is that the visa denial was originally explained as a "prudential revocation" based on regulations that bar terrorists and their associates as well those who incite others to violence. Reportedly Ramadan was linked to Djamel Beghal, 36, one of six persons to be tried of attempting a terrorist attack against the U.S. embassy in Paris.

Notre Dame has since filled its position with somebody else, so we'll have to wait and see what Ramadan does. But it's curious timing: Clinton is making nice to Ramadan in the midst of the firestorm over State's failure to revoke the visa of undie bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.