Originally Posted by kerry

In most major US cities, the Gulen movement has an organizational office. They are typically set up as foundations and emphasize Turkish culture. Those offices are responsible for contacting local politicians, academics and professionals who are ripe to hear Gulen's message of 'humanism, science and interfaith dialogue'. These people are offered trips to Turkey where Gulen institutions are visited and the guests are lavished with Turkish hospitality. The 'handler' near as I can tell is responsible for making sure that these people are getting the right message and thinking about Gulen in the right terms. The offices sponsor dinners and speakers where the merits of Gulen are praised and the commitment of the Gulen movement to democratic values is emphasized. Most handlers have a pretty easy job, near as I can tell because most people are easily convinced that Gulen is a Turkish Robert Schuller or Norman Vincent Peale. This is partly the case because the main opposition to Islam comes from conservative Christians or the right wing of American politics. The people the movement targets don't want to be seen as associated with either of these groups.