Alamoudi, friend of presidents; Alamoudi, America's leading moderate Muslim; Alamoudi, primary exponent of the American Muslim community, confidant of those who cherished his friendship for its power to bring Muslim votes their way. From AP, with thanks to Teri:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A prominent Muslim activist who admitted participating in a Libyan plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s crown prince was sentenced Friday to the maximum 23 years in prison for illegal business dealings with Libya.Abdurahman Alamoudi, 52, pleaded guilty in July to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from high-ranking Libyan officials while serving as a go-between for them and Saudi dissidents.
While Alamoudi was not charged in connection with the alleged scheme to kill Crown Prince Abdullah, prosecutors cited the plot as reason for him to receive the maximum sentence.
“This conduct is so base, so reprehensible that this defendant deserves every day of prison that this court will impose upon him,” government attorney Steven Ward said.
Defense lawyer Stanley Cohen asked for leniency and Alamoudi said he was sorry.
“Your honor, I regret my involvement in everything,” Alamoudi said before U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton imposed the sentence.
That's funny: so do I. I regret that he ever had the ear of Clinton or Bush. I regret that he was ever a player in Washington.
Defense lawyer Stanley Cohen asked for leniency and Alamoudi said he was sorry.
This is why I hate lawyers.
"Bush administration officials sought to portray the prosecution as a victory in the war against terrorism."
Is it me or is the above statement by Jennifer C. Kerr of the Associated Press clearly biased and ridiculous?
It is obviously a blow to Jihadists who previously were allowed to operate with impunity within the United States. Of course, there is no way to know the full extent of Islamist infiltration here in America, but there is no doubt that it is extensive.
Alamoudi had access to the political arena, despite his suspicious activities. This type of willful, optimistic ignorance enables Muslim operatives to adopt a "prove it" attitude which when coupled with PC affords them an undeserved benefit of the doubt. This flys in the face of common sense.
Unfortunately for Mr. Alamoudi, his guilt was proven as he will now be confined for quite some time in addition to having his citizenship revoked. Hopefully, he will be deported to Libya in two decades.
Grover Norquest is an example of how Islamists use influence of the politically connected to gain access to our political, military and educational institutions.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/articles/readarticle.asp?ID=11209&p=1
Joe Bananas: I don't hate lawyers. As a translator (Chinese-English), I find they pay well, and it's fun to deal with a lawyer and speak of him as "my client".
I wonder what all the bigwigs who once feted Almoudi are thinking now that he's doing time for involvement in a plot to assassinate the Sa'udi crown prince. Shall we start taking odds on when Tariq Ramadan falls afoul of anti-terrorism laws, now that he's getting his visa?
Kepha1- What??? Tariq Ramadan is getting his visa???? Another possible outrage. Please give details!!!
"9/11 signaled the last gasp of Islamism rather than the beginnings of its global challenge."
So says Sadik J. Al-Azm, who admits he felt a sense of schadenfreude on 9/11.
http://bostonreview.net/BR29.5/alazm.html
With the conviction of Alamoudi as well as other Muslims that have have found Grover Norquist to be their influential conduit that helped them gain influence at levels all the way up to President Clinton, as well as President Bush.
Is it now possible that Norquist is beginning to walk on egg shells? Certainly over the years he has apparently snuggled up to Islamic influences that do not have the best interests of America in mind. One wonders why this individual who once championed so many very American and conservative causes is contantly defending Muslims, who have ties to what can be called none other than a totalitarian movement that is trying to influence and undermine America`s resolve to fight terrorism in this country and abroad.
Has Norquist sold out for money and power? What else could it be? His constant support for the muslims who have demonstrated their hostility against America in various nefarious forums continues to be more than suspect.
Time, and time again he has been warned by those who knew him best in regards to his stands. He has been an advocate for the dismantling of the Patriot Act, He has called for the dismissal of Attorny General Ashcroft, and continously criticized those who investigate Islamic organizations as racist and Islamophobes.
Mr. Norquist has apparently forgotten his roots. Could the influence of Saudi and Wahabbi money have corrupted him to a point where he is so immersed in his stance now that he has become trapped by his own self induced brain washed position?
The quaking duck may possibly emerge after this conviction of his friend Alamoudi among others of his ilk.
Speaking of idiotic statements by journalists, how about this opening sentence from an article in today's NY Times:
Many detainees at Guantánamo Bay were regularly subjected to harsh and coercive treatment, several people who worked in the prison said in recent interviews
Apparently, they would prefer it if we sent the Jihadists to "Camp Cupcake" with Martha Stewart.
A very tangential comment, but I have not seen it anywhere and I would like to put it up here.
The story of Allekema Lamari, whose remains were recently identified in Madrid. Here is the CNN Story on Allekema Lamari
Lamari was a key figure in the Madrid bombing, but the story indicates, he should not have even been on the streets.
"He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but was released in 2002 when his sentence was reduced due to irregularities in the judicial process."
The common opinion in Spain is that Spanish involvement in Iraq is the primary cause of the Madrid bombing and efforts are underway to 'reach out' to Muslims, even in the judicial system with the importation of some Morrocan judges. But, it turns out, one of the causes of the Madrid bombing was a failure of the Spanish justice system itself. Lamari should have been in prison, but, unfortunately, for the innocent commuters in Madrid on March 11, 2004, he was not.
The common opinion in Spain is that Spanish involvement in Iraq is the primary cause of the Madrid bombing
Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups.
If the Spaniards had any sense, they would realize that the roots of the Madrid bombing go back to 1492.
"Alamoudi said he was sorry"... that's just taqiya.
He "regrets his involvement in everything," because although he was not successful. His statement is taqiyya.
He's really sorry that he got caught and not that he offended humanity and Islam,this guy is now a "Poster-boy" for the Banning of Islam and the Quran being brought into the Schools and Government.
As for the Lawyers:
Q. What's the difference between a dead skunk and a dead Lawyer laying on the road?
Ans. The skunks have skid marks in front of them.
Notice our Muslim friend doesn't jib at getting 'Cohen' a Jewish lawyer to defend him! Okay, so one of the big fish has been caught : how many more are out there?? What about this Grover Norquist, reckon it is time to CHECK his bank accounts including Swiss ones...
Lobo91 says:
"Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups."
LOL
Muslims included!
This is completely OT but i dunno where else to post it-
MSN News are carrying a report that the London home of Akhmed Zakayev, chechen jihadi and adopted pet of Britains old loony left, has been firebombed in an attack early this morning.
Zakayev is apparently unhurt, although reportly shopping for some new trousers (preferably a nice dark brown colour).
He's blaming it on the Russian security forces, although since the 40 day mourning period for Beslan just ended, I think it's likely a lot of russians now living in the UK are out to get him.
It appears that a power play may have been going on between Gaddafi and Abdullah (no formal titles will be given in this post), but other than Gaddafi's perceived "dis" by Abdullah, what is the real agenda for Libya to have the Saudi assassinated?
I found this link (via Jihadwatch.org) to a possible motive:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/News/story?id=169246&page=1
The middle east, per se, is similar to South American Columbia in its goal to dominate.
Their leader partake in any profitable scheme. Drug running, slave running, murder or terrorism.
But, their agenda has a religious backing and how nice for the perps to have an "omnipresent" sanction for their lifestyle.
Arafat received the Nobel prize for peace.
I wouldn't be surprise if Gaddafi will enjoy the same salute.
I may be wrong but I have a hunch (don't laugh) Grover Norquist is a closet Muslim. Check out his photo on this link:
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/image?query=grover+norquist&invocationType=imageTab./aol/remote_form.jsp
Down toward the center of the page Norquist is in that lecturing, finger wagging posture. And what's with the beard? Do you know of any other conservatives in Washington DC that have a close cropped beard?
OT
came across these burning words and just had to put them up at jihadwatch. CK Chesterton writing more than a century ago:
There is in Islam a paradox which is perhaps a permanent menace. The great creed born in the desert creates a kind of ecstasy of the very emptiness of its own land, and even, one may say, out of the emptiness of its own theology. . . . A void is made in the heart of Islam which has to be filled up again and again by a mere repetition of the revolution that founded it. There are no sacraments; the only thing that can happen is a sort of apocalypse, as unique as the end of the world; so the apocalypse can only be repeated and the world end again and again. There are no priests; and yet this equality can only breed a multitude if lawless prophets almost as numerous as priests. The very dogma that there is only one Mahomet produces an endless procession of Mahomets.
Re-read the last line. Go, figure.
Moslem should be encourage to leave the US or be converted to christianity.
Voletti-
A very insightful read from Chesterton! Thanks!
Jihad= Mohamed's ferris wheel. Why, from up top you can see 72 virgins!
I think I heard of State waffling about Tariq Ramadan's visa either on DW or JW.
Moderate Muslims? Remember the parable of the man who loved a beautiful snake and took the snake into his bosom? He fed the snake its favorite foods, cared for the snake, admired its shimmering beauty, and all appeared well. Then, without warning, the venomous serpent turned and bit the hapless man. Weeping as he lay dying, the man spoke to the snake through a gurgling and tightening airway: "Why did you wound me, I was so kind to you", he asked. Smiling if a poisionous serpent could so do, the snake hissed, "Oh, thank you for being so kind, I will miss you so, however, I was just being true to my nature. You must remember that I am a snake, and I was only doing what snakes do."
Can we derive a parallel here? Are moderate Muslins moderate, or are they Muslims?
Could it be that Saudi Arabia is a geopolitical ally of the United States. Yes, before even Israel(Judah) was born. Stabbed a friend in the back lately?
Dr. Phibes:
Great article.