The strange case of Houssein Zorkot, and its implications. The featured article at FrontPage today (news links in the original):
Houssein Zorkot, a third-year medical student at Wayne State University in Michigan, was arrested on September 8 at Hemlock Park in Detroit. He was wearing camouflage makeup, black clothes, and carrying an AK-47 assault rifle; he reportedly had to be tasered by police when he was arrested. His website features photographs of the Ayatollah Khomeini and a great deal of pro-Hizballah material. Most ominously, on the day he was arrested he uploaded onto his site an image that included a photo of a soldier holding a rifle, with the caption, “The Start of My Personal Jihad (in the US).” Underneath in Arabic was Qur’an 9:20: “Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s way are of much greater worth in Allah’s sight. These are they who are triumphant.” The Arabic for “striven…in Allah’s way” is jahadoo fi sabil Allah, which in Islamic theology refers in particular to jihad as warfare.The start of Zorkot’s personal jihad will have to wait; he is being held on $1 million dollar bond. But his case carries some troubling implications. According to Michigan’s WLNS, police say that on his website Zorkot claims to be a member of Hizballah. If that claim is true, was his abortive personal jihad in Hemlock Park ordered by Hizballah leadership? If so, and if Zorkot had succeeded in murdering anyone in the park, his attack would have been the first known strike by Hizballah on U.S. soil. Even though unsuccessful, Zorkot’s attack, if it was a Hizballah project, would signal an end to the terror group’s policy of not staging attacks in America because the reaction to such an attack would hinder the group’s freedom of action here. Last April, Thomas Fuentes, special agent in charge of the FBI’s International Operations, explained that Hizballah wants to “maintain a low profile by engaging in criminal activity [but] not direct attacks….They’ve not been enthusiastic about doing it on US soil because of the attention and reaction that would occur.” But if Zorkot went to Hemlock Park on Hizballah orders, those days are over -- and Americans can brace themselves for more Hizballah operations here.
It may be, of course, that even if Zorkot really is a Hizballah member, he was not acting on orders from the organization, but was freelancing when he took his AK-47 to Hemlock Park. Police and FBI officials have not given any indication as to whether or not Zorkot was on their radar screen before the incident last week, or whether or not they knew him to be affiliated with Hizballah – if indeed he is. And a third possibility is that Zorkot is, contrary to his claim, not a Hizballah member at all.These possibilities are no less ominous than the first, for they would place Zorkot among the growing list of Muslims with no known connections to any terrorist group who suddenly go on a murderous rampage. Some of these recent incidents include Naveed Afzal Haq’s July 28, 2006 shootings at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. After forcing his way into the building, Haq announced, “I’m a Muslim American; I’m angry at Israel,” and then began firing, killing one woman and injuring five more. Two months earlier, a twenty-two-year-old Iranian student named Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar drove an SUV onto the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, deliberately trying to kill people and succeeding in injuring nine. After the incident, he seemed singularly pleased with himself, smiling and waving to crowds after a court appearance on Monday, at which he explained that he was “thankful for the opportunity to spread the will of Allah.” Officials here again dismissed the possibility of terrorism, even after Taheri-azar wrote a series of letters to the UNC campus newspaper detailing the Qur’anic justification for warfare against unbelievers, and explaining why he believed his attacks were justified from an Islamic perspective.
Neither Haq nor Taheri-azar were members of any terror group. They had never done anything to come to the attention of law enforcement officials before. Law enforcement attention, meanwhile, has been focused almost exclusively on known members of terror groups, with scant attention given to the ideology of Islamic supremacism and jihad that can inspire any lone individual to wage jihad on his own. Taheri-azar’s painstakingly detailed arguments demonstrate that the Qur’an’s exhortations to warfare can still be lethal whenever taken seriously by Muslims. Muslims who profess to reject jihad violence should have no problem combating, in cooperation with non-Muslim authorities, the ideology that fuels it. Yet FBI Director Robert Mueller recently revealed, according to journalist Bill Gertz, that “the FBI has no counterideology response other than its ‘outreach’ to Muslim-American communities so they ‘understand the FBI’ and address ‘the radicalization issue.’” Gertz noted that “Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff also said nothing is being done domestically to battle Islamist extremist ideas.”
This is a battle that must be fought. Whether or not Houssein Zorkot proves to be among their ranks, it is highly likely that there will be more freelance jihadists. The American Muslim advocacy establishment, for all its anti-terror protestations, have not, even now six years after 9/11, instituted comprehensive and transparent programs in American mosques to teach against the jihad ideology. Such programs will not end the possibility of freelance jihadists, but at least it would be a beginning, and a most welcome show of good faith from some organizations whose commitment to anti-terror efforts has come under increasing suspicion.
The fact that this beginning has not been made by Muslim groups in the U.S., or called for by government and law enforcement, is yet another manifestation of the pitfalls of ignoring the ideological dimensions of Islamic jihad terrorism. As freelance incidents grow in number, American officials will find the luxury of ignoring the jihad ideology ever more costly.
awww come on man...we all know Houssein is a victim. He probably was discriminated against because he is.....uh. You know the police & feds profile people like him. Its all Bush's fault, if he hadn't gone to war for oil. We know Bush and the evil American corporations were behind the terror attacks, this whole war on terror is a conspiracy against.....its fun being sarcastic sometimes. We all know our boy Houssein didn't mean any harm after all he is a follower of the religion of.....
You can't condemn what you do not believe is wrong.
Gertz noted that “Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff also said nothing is being done domestically to battle Islamist extremist ideas.”
OK, what can be done? My answer is nothing. The justification for jihad is imbedded too deeply for it to be altered. Could an infidel say that Muslims must ignore what Allah and the Profit told them that they have a duty to do? A Christian snake handle cannot be talked out of the practice based on scripture unless somehow the scripture is shown to be inauthentic. See Mark 16:18. All that the states have been able to do is outlaw the practice with limited success. Can we somehow show that Mark was a lunatic? I have read about some snake handlers that gave up the practice, they died after being bitten or drinking poison. Still it continues on a clandestine level.
The passage about snake handling appears only once in the New Testament; the exhortation for jihad is all over the Quran. What Islamic source could a Mufti cite to stop a true believer from following Allah’s commandment? To claim that the Quran must be interpreted in the light of the 21st century is innovation and is not allowed.
Dear Mr. Spencer,
I heard you this morning on my local talk radio show around 8:50 Eastern time. I'd like to thank you for your efforts in the various media. It makes a difference and I realize that it comes at a high personal cost to you.
Also, the local hosts said that you'd be in my area this weekend. Unfortunately I'll be out of town and won't be able to attend your appearance. I'd like to, so that I could personally thank you for your courage and persistence in this - the single most important issue of our time. Maybe someday I'll be able to do that, but until then, remember that you have made an immeasurable impact thus far, even if doubts creep into your mind at the end of the day. It may not be apparent at all times, but this site does make an impact and so do your books, appearances and radio interviews. I have been able, with your help and the resources you've provided, to open the eyes of more than a dozen people at the minimum. Thank you sir.
Neo-cons " we are fighting the terrorists in Iraq so that we don't have to fight them here".
Have news for you guys, the terrorisats are already here and they are homegrown from formaly moderate peaceful muslims.
Pelayo - you may find some ideas here:
http://foehammer.net/2007/06/anvil-spotlight-project-samson.html
I didn't come up with most, but I compiled them in a summary form. The list is by no means finalized.
Plague, do you think that an infidel can accomplish this. Most of what you say can be found here:
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.htm
and for the Bible, here:
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.htm
I have discussed (argued) snake handing and faith healing with people all my adult life and have gotten nowhere. I once new a guy who did not have health insurance because "it would be a sign of a lack of faith." After his child was nearly killed in an accident, he joined the plan and found a new church.
Logic and reason do not work when the subject is religion. Being a true believer requires a suspension of logic and reason in the first place.
One more thing:
Mohammed flying off to heaven from the farthest Mosque and visiting the prophets is no more a stretch than believing that Jesus actually rose from the dead and his body disappeared into heaven, and much later reappeared to Paul.
Mohammed's trip is a fairy tale, but Jesus' resurrection is not?
Pelayo - the targets for a Project Samson type effort aren’t the True Believers. They are instead persons of other faiths and no faith and of those who identify themselves as Muslims for cultural identification, but in reality are moderates, apostates or simply disinterested in the Islamic belief system.
A multi-dimensional effort like Project Samson has elements that go against the hard core and those who would promote and support it materially, true. The primary ideological and theological targets would be all those who are not True Believers. Agreed – the believers won’t be influenced by apologetics or any words anyone has to say. Unfortunately to deal with these 100 million people we’ll have to use other dimensions of a Project Samson effort with goals of either denying them the means, men and material to further the Islamic-Jihadist agenda. Other dimensions work against these people by denying them the acquiescence, ignorance or indifference of the rest of the world. That dimension, in my estimation, is where we can show huge gains. We simply have to get the word out about the means, mindset and agenda. People will come around and it will constrict what jihadis can do and where they can do it to the Islamic world.
If it’s readily available and persons inside the Islamic world can get to the information, we’ll make gains there as well. It’s the 100 million out of a 1.2 billion that won’t be dissuaded but we have hundreds of millions that could be.
When I do my polemical email outreach certain people respond by saying something about the irrationality of all religions. I reply by telling them I’m not trying to convince them to believe anything. I tell them my effort isn’t about convincing them to believe anything. What I’m doing in sending out all the information about the Islamic texts and agenda is this: they need to know what the Islamic belief system teaches and what it allows jihadists to do to reach their goals.
I’m not trying to prove or disprove any Truth. All I’m trying to do is show what Islam teaches and what the Islamists believe. It’s important to know because this agenda threatens our beliefs or lack of beliefs. It doesn’t matter what our beliefs are and what we choose to disbelieve – that’s our right in the Western world and particularly in the United States – instead Westerners need to know Islamic beliefs and the agenda. We need to understand how it threatens us. People need to understand that Muslims are allowed to force others into accepting Islam or being ruled by it. If people understand it’s the duty of believing Muslims to dominate the world, either by killing off opposition or subjugating other belief systems then we’ll have made serious progress. I say ‘you can have any belief you want as long as you do harm other people for it or expect them to follow it or acquiesce to it out of fear Everyone outside the Islamic world needs to understand Islam doesn’t agree with this basic idea.
If we can get the world to see Islam and sharia as big justification machines for world domination then Islam will be mostly kept to the Islamic world. Even there we’ll make inroads into the hearts and minds of those captives who are Muslims-in-name-only. Nothing succeeds like success. If the Islamic world sees that Islam is on the defensive everywhere outside, that it’s frontiers are under assault and that people can come up with 100 reasons why it’s a primitive , superstitious, irrational and rather stupid way of looking at the word, then the momentum will be lost. Then the money weapon and the demographic weapons will not have as much leverage either.
It’s the maps in peoples’ heads that must change for any lasting success in the fight. The maps of non-believers around the world is where I think we can make the most progress. Start with those people outside Islam and it will spread eventually even to believers.
People also say things about evangelical Christianity and how it’s just as bad. I like to say “I’ve watched ‘Jesus Camp’ and agree that those people are irrational and head cases, but I’m not going to worry about them until they attempt to force others into their beliefs. When they do this they cross the line and join the Islamic Jihadists. Until then they’re not the same threat.” I also say “Islam at the core requires believers to fight and to force others into being controlled by their beliefs. Christianity does not. Mohammed was a warlord. Jesus of Nazareth was not. This is the difference. If evangelical Christians begin to kill others they’ll have crossed the line but until then Islam is the threat. It’s the only ‘religion’ that allows believers to kill and coerce non-believers to spread its agenda.”
When any group crosses that line they’re fair game for the rest of us.
I have no experience discussing Islam with Muslims, but I do have a history of debate with Christians. I'm trying to use my experience to apply it to the uphill battle for the Muslim hearts and minds.
"It’s the 100 million out of a 1.2 billion that won’t be dissuaded but we have hundreds of millions that could be."
The 100 million that you cannot dissuade represent the core of the problem. If these rabid Muslims can't be vaccinated, what can we do?
Are we to dissuade the majority and wait while the jihadists simply die out?
Pelayo - Here are some things we can do to counteract the 100 million:
In both the East and West:
Disrupt financial networks funding jihad, seize assets of proven contributors, turn it against the cause
Eliminate all U.S. foreign aid to governments which support implementation of sharia law or which support terrorism or terrorists either financially or in the press or media.
• Egypt
• Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia
• others meeting the criteria
Objective measurements of how the Muslim world combined, aside from patroleum exports, has the GDP of Finland.
Demonstrate materially how Allah favors the infidel over the Muslim
• lifespan
• income
• access to good things in life
• number of universities
• amount of fresh water
• relative physical security of infidels vs. citizens under Islamic regimes
• other objective measurements proving Allah ‘loves’ the infidel more.
In the West:
Use savings in foreign aid to:
• reduce dependence on ME sources of oil
• make more deals with non-OPEC countries
• find new sources of oil
• find new sources of energy
• U.S. government should expedite the adoption of existing energy alternatives
§ awards to private industry
§ the Manhattan project for energy sources
• Western people need to consider implications of their purchases ( big SUV means Saudis have more $$$)
• reduce need - become more efficient
Reduce trade with Islamic regimes to a minimum
• isolate them economically
Containment a la the Cold War Policy revisited
• reduce contact with them culturally
• disallow travel to/from unless diplomatic ( no tourism visas)
• no student visas for countries on the list either.
• find all persons on visas currently in the United States and send them back
• Use the RICO act anti-mafia laws against it Islamic charitable organizations.
Other Islamic practices:
Get groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) people riled up against the halal laws on food - ritualistic slaughter of animals by cutting throats and other ‘mistreatment’ and cruelty to animals.
In the West: put the Qur’an and Ahadith on trial as ‘hate speech’. Even if the effort fails in court - all the hate will be a matter of public record and discussed by people in the West. Dissemination and discussion are powerful weapons
The Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) -
threaten disruption & desecration for terrorist actions vs. the West
We don’t need to destroy mosques and Mecca - just drop pig manure on them from the air. Desecrate all the jihadis hold dear. A ‘dirty Mecca’ removes two of the five official pillars: prayer (in the direction of Mecca) and Hajj
a person can’t be a ‘true Muslim’ if they can’t do the five pillars. This is a real threat to terrorist networks, which can’t be threatened or negotiated with and are ephemeral. Mecca and the holy sites are fixed. To be responsible for the desecration of the principle focal points of the cult of Islam is a serious thing for a jihadi to consider.
Recognize the threat of da’wa (proselytizing, mosque building)
• acknowledge the effect that the Saudi money is having on radicalizing elements in countries around the world
• hold the Saudis accountable for the hate speech they spread
• this is another form of the soft, slow jihad.
Hold Mullahs accountable - go after them
1. Friday sermons in the middle east - memri.org full transcripts and video
2. Madrassas ( Islamic schools) as terrorist factories
3. Inciting Muslims to violence
roles of mullahs in the cartoon riots
threats against the life and property of unbelievers
intimidation and death threats for artists, apostates and skeptics
4. Running the country of Iran into the economic graveyard
5. Keeping their people down in ignorance and irrationality
show - don’t tell - how the Mullahs have ruined the lives of the Faithful
Sixth (unofficial) pillar - Jihad -
Actively battle them everywhere they poke heads up and continue to fight them until they can no longer mount sustained attacks of any scale.
Military Actions
• take away the means to fight
• destroy them
• destroy their havens and refuges
• destroy their material & weapons
• take away the will to fight
• psych ops
• defeating them in battle
Nothing succeeds like destroying the enemy. The jihadis are apocalyptic and won’t be reasoned with. Give them what they want - give them their personal apocalypse now!
Internet Anti-Jihad
• get script kiddies and hackers and pros to disrupt their stuff…
• both malicious and intelligence gathering
• viruses for Arabic character set only..?
• open systems hacking effort…put infidel kids to work in a worthy cause.. they’ll wreak serious havoc.
Define jihadis properly
Try jihadis in military court - not civilian. Jihadis are soldiers of Islam and are sworn enemies to the Magna Carta, the Rights of Man, the Enlightenment, the scientific method, the Western court system, US constitution, the UN universal declaration of rights and every other codified system and document of liberal, Western style governance.
Jihadis are the sworn enemies of Freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience. They are not criminals. Try the captured ones in military court.
Hmmm...well, I give A for effort.
Only a few small problems...
apart from the iraqi aid budget, total FA isn't much.
http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/cbj2007/summary.html
1) $9,330,596,000 doesn't make a huge impact here in the US.
2) private enterprise does a LOT better, and far more efficient job, of oil (much as they are maligned, they still do just that) that big government (big government solves nothing).
3) efforts on oil alternatives are already underway and have been for years now-but it's not like a lightswitch we can suddenly turn on/off-but it IS coming, and by 2013 there will be a HUGE difference, IF...
4) the brownshirts of the eco-gestapo get the hell out of the way, we can start pumping...TOMORROW.
5) and oil itself isn't the real problem, it's lack of refineries, again due to the brownshirts of the eco-gestapo who scare the piss out of the NIMBYs who also don't get it.
As for the immediate pressing concern of the "100 million", that's much easier...SHOOT BACK.
From the article:
I hope that the relevant authorities investigate this attacker's history and links. But it is a necessary precondition for them to give up the "lone crazed gunman" chestnut that is announced immediately after every one of these attacks or attempted attacks, before any investigation has begun.
If they can find a laminated Hizb'Allah membership card in his wallet, great. But if not, that doesn't mean that this was not terrorism, or that he is not a member of Hizb'Allah or some other group. Or not; he may have gotten his directions direct from the original source: the Qur'an. The lack of an official link to a known terrorist group cannot be taken as an excuse for avoiding naming what we all know is happening, and who is doing it, and why.
It will only take the actions of the 10% to get the other 90 interned or deported.
The Goverment may not wish to do it but the People will demand it. Starting with close to 1 Million Service Personell who will not put up with it.
I bet bush will be surprised to learn that there are more jihad groups (and individuals) out there, besides alqaeda, who want to kill us.
lol,...tell me about it mrock`...
I live in the proto marxist state of the peoplez republik of kalifornia...and many of them aren't even jihadists at all-but they are allied with them.