The Americans being held in Pakistan on possible terrorism-related charges were arrested in a house linked to militants in an eastern Pakistani city; Sargodha is home to a major air force base and is a known pocket of militant insurgency. Pakistani police reports suggest they intended to get terrorist training there and join with the Taliban to fight against American troops in Afghanistan.
American Muslims arrested by Sargodha Police Department on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. From left to right: Waqar Hussain Khan, Ramy Zamzam, Umar Farooq, Ahmad Minni, Aman Yemer. (AP Photo/Sargodha Police Department)
Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, was born in Virginia.
Ramy Zamzam, 22, was studying at Howard University to be a dentist — he maintained a 4.0 grade-point average.
Umar Farooq, an accounting student at George Mason University, was born in Sargodha.
Ahmed Minni, 20, was born in Virginia.
Aman Yemer, at 18 the youngest of the five, was born in California.
The young men grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. They had been friends for years. Some were in college now. Some had jobs. Some had Facebook pages filled with friends.
I know this town well. You couldn't find a more all-American city; Alexandria is closely related to the founding of our country. I have many friends throughout Fairfax County who I often visit during military-related business trips to the DC area. They are loyal readers and often contribute to STORMBRINGER -S.L.
Their families insist they never revealed a hint of extremism. Families and friends portray them as innocent, decent citizens. Neighbors used terms like "good guy" and "friendly" to describe the young men.
Facebook page disappeared from the Web:
Zamzam's bewildered Facebook friends set up a special page asking for help finding the missing students and praying for their safe return. Postings on the page earlier in the week said the Facebook friends were trying to raise awareness about the five men who "have been missing for some time now." By Friday 11 December, that Facebook page disappeared from the Web after the students turned up arrested in Pakistan on possible terrorist-related charges.
Not Trusted by the Taliban:
The group appeared to communicate online, and Pakistani investigators say they visited web sites that showed attacks against the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Those internet connections may have led them to Pakistan, where they reportedly met with representatives from the al-Qaida-linked Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group in the southeastern city of Hyderabad and from a related group, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, in Lahore. Pakistani officials say the men were also in contact with a Taliban recruiter.
But their efforts to join the jihadi fight were rebuffed, because they were not trusted.
Shock and Disbelief at Alexandria Mosque:
In northern Virginia, family friends, including fellow worshippers at the Islamic Circle of North America's small chapter mosque — a converted single-family home tucked into their residential neighborhood — can't believe what they're hearing about the students.
"They had jobs, they were in school. They were normal kids," said the families' lawyer, Nina Ginsberg.
Friends in Shock, Plead for Families' Privacy:
"I know they're very sad," said Dr. Essam Tellawi, a volunteer at the mosque who fills in sometimes as the imam. "It's very hard to hear about your son is missing."
Analysis: We Are Under Attack.
We're seeing it over and over again; there's a common thread going on here: young men of Middle-Eastern origin, above average intelligence, born and/or raised in the West of immigrant families; in a case of confused loyalties decide to go to war against their own country:
Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Hasan.
The 7/7 London Bombings of 2005
Glasgow Airport Terror Attack, June 2007.
This is a part of the phenomenon I have coined Self-Induced Jihad Syndrome.
- Sean Linnane
..
Americans?
ReplyDeleteI disagree that these are Americans.
They dont look like Americans.
They dont have American names.
In fact I can not pronounce their names or even guess how to say them.
Even if they were born here, they are FOREIGNERS.
We need to stop giving people citizenship just because they were born here.
Remember that it took Spain 700 years to rid itself of Muslims.
We should not allow any Muslims into our country.
Like to admit it or not, a state of war exists between freedom-loving Jews, Christians and non-muslims everywhere. This false religion called islam is nothing more than a plan for world domination through conversion or death of every non-muslim on the planet.
ReplyDeletePC killed the troops at Ft. Hood.
Osama/Obama... same same, GI, same same....
We have the same problems across the pond my friends, although a pig born in a stable does make it a horse...SAS ENGLAND
ReplyDeleteI know that this country was founded on the idea of religious freedom, but I feel that we must draw the line at muslims.
ReplyDeleteHow can we allow them in when their goal is to kill us??
I agree with Stormbringer: it must be done right each and every time.
ReplyDeleteLet those accused American citizens go to trial for treason and such other offences they may be charged with. If convicted, hang them. Should another country, e.g., Pakistan or India capture and charge them, let the law takes it course there.
For those "landed" immigrants who engage in treasonous acts, revoke their "landed" status and exile them.
And so on...
Stormbringer states,"A) We must wait and see what the facts are before we make judgements. I am not saying NOT to make judgement...."
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to stand for what is RIGHT?
I agree with you Stormbringer, at a basic level, BUT, when are we going to stand up and fight for what is right?
Haven't we seen enough evidence of the pandemic of islam? When the CDC declared H1N1 as a pandemic; there was a clarion call for action! A call for action because H1N1 could have a deadly outcome. They made this decision because to NOT make a decision would have put lots of people at risk.
Now to segue into islam; haven't we seen enough evidence that this so called religion is WRONG? We need to formulate an action plan to repulse this bad belief system. One of the basic tenets of this belief system is the belief of "world domination"! Sounds a lot like Nazi Germany!
When are we going to be able to strip this belief system of it's religious cloak and show the world that it is actually a World Government?
OK sorry, running out of air, gotta catch my breath....
Should we carry on as if our world is all white picket fences....or should we start to strengthen our resolve, strengthen our defenses, strengthen our safety?
Steve