Discussing the Holy Land Foundation convictions in Human Events today:
Justice has been served: on Monday, five former officials of the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), once the largest Islamic charity in the United States, were found guilty of funneling at least $12 million of the charity’s funds to the jihad terror group Hamas. Shukri Abu-Baker, Ghassan Elashi (founder of the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations), Mohamed El-Mezain, Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdelrahman Odeh could get sentences of as long as twenty years in prison for providing support to terrorists.This verdict is a huge setback for the Stealth Jihad initiative in the United States, which I chronicle in my book by that name.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, “today, a very complex financial network connects the operations of over seventy branches of the Muslim Brothers worldwide. During the Muslim Brothers' seventy-plus years of existence, there have been cycles of growth, followed by divisions into factions, including clandestine financial networks, and violent jihad groups, such as al-Jihad and al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya in Egypt, HAMAS in Palestine and mujahideen groups in Afghanistan.”
During the first Holy Land Foundation trial last year (which ended in a mistrial), the Muslim Brotherhood memorandum about its “grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within” first came to light. The Holy Land Foundation itself was one of the chief engines of this stealthy effort, enjoying a sterling reputation as a charitable organization while actually acting as a virtual fundraising engine for Hamas.And the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which all too many sectors of government, law enforcement, and the mainstream media routinely consult with and refer to as a “moderate” Muslim group, joined in with some stealth activity of its own. After September 11, CAIR carried a link to HLF on its website under the heading, “Donate to the NY/DC Emergency Relief Fund.” It may never be known how many people gave money to this thinking they were helping the injured and bereaved in New York and Washington, when they were actually giving money to Hamas. In any case, this earned CAIR the designation of “unindicted co-conspirator” in the HLF case.
Andrew McCarthy, who prosecuted the blind Islamic cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, told The Investigative Project: “This is one of the most significant victories the Justice Department has won in the war on terror. Financing is the life-blood of jihadist organizations like Hamas. With the assistance of willing co-conspirators, they conceal their activities and use the Muslim obligation of charitable giving to mask support that is actually channeled to their murderous agenda. Today’s verdicts say, loudly and clearly, that Americans aren’t fooled and won’t tolerate it. As a former federal prosecutor, I am especially proud of the assistant U.S. attorneys who persevered through some real travails in securing justice for the American people.”
Americans aren’t entirely fooled, but that’s not for lack of effort by HLF and its allies.
After the verdicts were announced, the child of one of the defendants, unidentified in news reports, cried out in the courtroom: “My dad is not a criminal! He’s a human!” This was one hint of the strategy that the stealth jihadists and their allies will now pursue: to portray these jihadists as martyrs -- a tried-and-true strategy that has been used for decades, going back to the fog of disinformation that for years surrounded that old Communist spy, Alger Hiss.
William Moffitt, an attorney who represented Sami Al-Arian, the former university professor who pled guilty to aiding another terror group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said this about the Holy Land Foundation defendants: “I suspect that they will be viewed much the same way that Mandela was viewed by the black South African population -- as freedom fighters who have dedicated their lives to the liberation of Palestine.” The HLF trial was, he said, one of many “show trials,” the purpose of which was “to further, in the minds of the public, the so-called ‘war on terrorism.’ There are legitimate terrorist organizations out there. But we’ve tried to make every group that doesn’t agree with us like al-Qaeda.”
Of course, Hamas for several years carried on its website its own “Glory Record,” which recounted the murders of innocent civilians in Israel by Hamas members. To oppose and abhor this is not a rhetorical exercise, nor is it demonizing “every group that doesn’t agree with us.”
To obfuscate what is straightforward is a hallmark of the Stealth Jihad. William Moffitt’s statement is not the last attempt we will see to whitewash the activity of the supporters of jihad in the United States and to portray them as victims, while depicting the real victims and their defenders as evil oppressors. Nonetheless, the HLF verdict is a sign that Americans are waking up to this gambit.
Great news, but the evidence must have been so straightforward and overwhelming that even their shifty lawyers couldn't disguise it.
Now, not to pour more cold water on it, but the $12 million involved is chump change compared to the sums going to various Palestinian factions for alleged humanitarian assistance, in addition to all the arms aid to our "moderate" friends in Fatah. Hamas wound up with many of those arms after its Gaza coup.
Lately, there's the planned tank sales to Lebanon, a government effectively dominated by Syria, Hizbollah and Iran.
Sometimes it's hard to distinguish aid to an outright terror organization from the usual foreign aid, aka jizya.
We will be hearing more and more stories like this in the future.
Christopher Hamilton
The Right Opinion, for the Right Wing
Jewdog,
Have you read all the first trial transcripts?
I have.
When the verdict was in last year and the judge saw it was aqcuttals and a few hung charges he sealed the verdict, fled out of town to visit his masters, then low and behold when he came back suddenly two jurors changed their minds ( wait a minute? The verdicts were in, and then they changed their minds?)
It was not the pre-determined outcome the administration wanted so there was judicial impropriety, an unprecedented delay in reading the verdicts, and then it is highly suspect that someone tampered with the jury during the judge's absence.
This go around, they streemlined their case, picked the right jury, and guided them to the pre-determined outcome.
The verdict in light of the lack of evidence annd all that was produced in the last trial is a suprise to some, but not me.
Seeing all of the pathetic maneuvers the administration went through las year to derail the acquittals this is no suprise.
The problem is this, Red Cross operated under the same license and gave to the same zakat committees, the crux of the prosecution case, that by supplying the zakat committees the HLF somehow became a "terrorist supporter".
The prblem is Red Cross was right there with them.
So it follows, empiracally, that the Red Cross be named and indicted now since their partner in charity has been "magicked up" as a terrorist financier for doing the exact same thing the Red Cross did...gave donations to the Zakat committees in palestine.
Truth, it will come out eventually
Abdullah Mikail
A very noticeable victory against the true islamofacists who hide behind whatever they can to further their battle plan of islamic domination through stealth jihad, terror, murder and intimidation. I have finished reading Mr. Spencer's book titled "Stealth Jihad" and it is an accurate prtrayal of what we in the USA, and the west are up against. This victory is but one of many that must be won against islam. Attention, vigilence and actions will be needed for the duration as the forces of islam are truly revealed for what they are.
Mr. Moffitt's commnets are noteworthy and to be expected. Calling these thugs and liars freedom fighters is ridiculous.May there be many more "show trials" as he called this one. We
must not forget that Palestine was occupied by the Jews long before muslims showed up and the so called palestinians are kept there by their islamic masters, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The situation in South Africa was quite different and to compare the two is shameful, at best. So if we have to called oppressors, racist, islamophobics then so be it. As long as we are stirring and starting to see the truth, that is what really matters. This is far from over but there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
A very noticeable victory against the true islamofacists who hide behind whatever they can to further their battle plan of islamic domination through stealth jihad, terror, murder and intimidation. I have finished reading Mr. Spencer's book titled "Stealth Jihad" and it is an accurate prtrayal of what we in the USA, and the west are up against. This victory is but one of many that must be won against islam. Attention, vigilence and actions will be needed for the duration as the forces of islam are truly revealed for what they are.
Mr. Moffitt's commnets are noteworthy and to be expected. Calling these thugs and liars freedom fighters is ridiculous.May there be many more "show trials" as he called this one.
We must not forget that Palestine was occupied by the Jews long before muslims showed up and the so called palestinians are kept there by their islamic masters, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The situation in South Africa was quite different and to compare the two is shameful, at best. So if we have to called oppressors, racist, islamophobics then so be it. As long as we are stirring and starting to see the truth, that is what really matters. This is far from over but there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Sorry about the double post!
"Seeing all of the pathetic maneuvers the administration went through las year to derail the acquittals this is no suprise."
Posted by: Abdullah Mikail at November 25, 2008 12:28 PM
you cannot "derail" acquittals you dolt. Charges that ended up "hung" in the jury were retried as is customary throughout US jurispreudence history.
awake,
A press release from last year:
“On October 22, 2007, after 19 days of deliberation, a jury failed to convict the defendants of a single charge against them.
However that decision was quickly thrown into limbo when three jurors indicated during polling that they disagreed with the verdict that had just been rendered. U.S. District Judge Joe A.
Fish told jurors, "Your verdict must be unanimous and it's apparent to me from the answers of three members of the jury in respect to my question that the verdicts that I read earlier do not represent the unanimous view of the jury." The jury was ordered to continue deliberations.
Following an additional 45 minutes of deliberation, the jurors informed Judge Fish that they could not reach a unanimous decision, and he declared a mistrial.
In a verdict that was not voided, Mohamed El-Mezain was acquitted on all counts except one, as jurors failed to reach a decision on whether El-Mezain conspired to provide material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. “
“Oct 22 2007, 4:37pm ... Mufid Abdulqader, Mohammad El-Mezain and Adulrahman Odeh, were acquitted of all counts…”
Why were Mohammad El-Mezain, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh retried this year if what you say is true?
You idiot.
Truth
Abdullah Mikail
The Holy Land Foundation was once called the "Occupied Land Fund". In '92 they changed the name to HLF; and at first glance one might think that they were helping Israel fight terrorism, when in fact they are funding terrorism. Very conniving.
Muslim Brotherhood, et al, be damned.
"A press release from last year:"
Link please. You have proven yourself unworthy of taking you at your word.
Sorry Abdullah, guilty is guilty.
There will probably be appeals.
Maybe you can hire yourself out as an expert consultant.
Or donate to the HLF defense fund...
Given their record of financial propriety, your money will be well spent..
... the child of one of the defendants, unidentified in news reports, cried out in the courtroom: “My dad is not a criminal! He’s a human!”
No son, he's a Moslem.
* 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 *
... a few hung charges he sealed the verdict, fled out of town to visit his masters, then low and behold...
A few hung jurors and a beholden low lo. You so funny. You make me laugh real long time.
33:21
Yeah, syntax errors you know.
BTW, tt was a daughter that made the comment.
You aren't by any chance gender confused, are you?
I mean, its a don't ask don't tell life for you anyway, right?
Truth
Abdullah Mikail
Abdullah, lying through his teeth, again!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-02-2117674574_x.htm
Where's your link, Abby??
awake
Lying through my teeth? You poor thing...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/102307dnmetholyreligion.197bed99e.html
You are right though...I did not follow the day to day nor catalogue the transcripts this go around so I missed the motion to dismiss 30 charges against those two defendants.
Don't worry, it isn't over yet...the appeal process will begin and soon it will be in front of an impartial judge who can review all the judicial and prosecutorial misconduct and perhaps overturn this so it can be retried in another venue.
Peace
Abdullah Mikail
Acquitted on "many" charges is not all. Your entire initial supposition, that acquittals were overturned, was based on a false premise.
Your implication that the legal system dubiously acquitted the defendents only to re-prosecute them under double jeopardy and convict them because they are anti-Muslim appeasing the nameless faceless sinster "masters of the administration" was a bald-faced lie.
Let them appeal, for it is their legal right. Just remember, your lies are not acceptable here.
awake,
"Acquitted on "many" charges is not all. Your entire initial supposition, that acquittals were overturned, was based on a false premise."
Wrong.
I provided the link to the news report...you can read, right?
Lies?
Last year Judge Joe Fish...after the unprecedented hiatus and the delaying of reading the verdicts, along with a plethora of other judicial and prosecutorial misconduct, then prodded the jury into re-deliberation and then and only then did they return with a hung jury...
Otherwise this would have been over long ago.
And as much as you over value yourself, you do not determine what is acceptable or unacceptable.
Capiche, Paizan?
Abdullah Mikail
Awake,
As usual, there isn't a whole lot of "deep thinking" coming from AM.
Congratulations on calling him out. AM always has a great deal of difficulty reconciling with the truth.
AM wrote:
"Truth, it will come out eventually"
In this case, it came out rather quickly thanks to you Awake.
Headline:
"Some charges tossed in case against Muslim charity"
SOME
After September 11, CAIR carried a link to HLF on its website under the heading, “Donate to the NY/DC Emergency Relief Fund.” It may never be known how many people gave money to this thinking they were helping the injured and bereaved in New York and Washington, when they were actually giving money to Hamas.
......................
OK--I wasn't familiar with this brazen bit of ugliness. I had thought that it was bad enough that some gave to the HLF in the misguided belief that the money would go to legitimate charities in Gaza and the West Bank, rather than its funding Hamas.
But that the money was being solicited, in part, to benefit American victims of Muslim terror, and then actually was being funneled to Muslim terrorists, is beyond appalling. Every American should be *enraged* at this.
"According to the Federation of American Scientists, “today, a very complex financial network connects the operations of over seventy branches of the Muslim Brothers worldwide."
and guess what.Somebody might want to check the stock market and take a closer look at the volatile companies with a headquarter outside of the USA , most of the time on an island.
Tracing the list of the buyers might be helpful. Just a thought...
The Cool Ghoul
Always high fiving with the girls, are we?
"In this case, it came out rather quickly thanks to you Awake."
The prosecutorial misconduct is a matter of record in the transcripts of the first trial.
Truth
Abdullah Mikail
Posted by: gravenimage at November 25, 2008 3:30 PM
So then you say we should storm the Red Cross offices, arrest everyone, and parade them, tarred and feathered, up and down the avenue to be publically hated because they are terrorist financiers?
Do tell....
Abdullah Mikail
I am not sure what AK's agenda is. I have encountered his comments here for some time but do not have the time to really go into the details. He seems very smarmy and is determined to convince everyone of something, but what?
Is he trying to say that the Jihadists are his heroes, or that they are innocent (despite all evidence), or that Islamization is inevitable, or what?
Does he live in America? Does he want to see America go down in violence? What is this patronising and annoying "truth" he finishes with?
I don't want AM to answer me, as I prefer, if possible, if someone could give me a rational explanation, not some obscurantist, oneupmanship waffle.
"And as much as you over value yourself, you do not determine what is acceptable or unacceptable."
Posted by: Abdullah Mikail at November 25, 2008 3:18 PM
That may be true, but I sure can sniff out your BS in a few seconds and bludgeon you into acknowledging the truth in short order like you were forced to do here on this thread.
PG, AM's agenda in my view is this: he's a jihadist who supports the 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memo about subverting the USA in order to make Islam dominate, but he's playing a game here in trying to make some people think that there is no real danger and that Muslims can get along and be part of American society without any threat to the USA. He probably realizes that there are lots of people who come here just to read and never write comments, and he's hopping to convince or at least put some doubts in some of their heads.
AM,
DUH...what are you trying to say here?? Your comments have been sliced and diced like they always are. Awake and others have your number and you are NOT convincing to anyone accept yorself. Suffering from the "legend in your own mind" illness that strikes so many of your type. Go peddle your BS and blather someplace else.
AM -- your lies are so easy to spot. If these are just "misunderstanders" and hijackers of your precious Islam, then you should be glad that they were caught and that justice has been served, because then there is one less "misunderstander" out there spreading lies about Islam, right? Bunk. Just more BS from Mr. Crap himself. You are upset by this news because you are a hater and terrorist supporter who is angry over this headline.
Full of Crap
Abdullah Mikail
All,
While it's true that AM doesn't offer much in terms of intellectual capacity, he nonetheless offers us a glimpse into the irrational thought processes plaguing islam. And as others have noted, he can serve as entertainment at times.
Observe - when he can't reconcile his beliefs with the truth, he quickly resorts to childish name calling or unsuccessfully attempts to shift the discussion away from his defeated logic.
>After the verdicts were announced, the child of one of the defendants, unidentified in news reports, cried out in the courtroom: “My dad is not a criminal! He’s a human!”
Like the two are mutually exclusive. Go to school, kid, and maybe you won't end up like your douche bag father.
Cool Ghoul wrote:
While it's true that AM doesn't offer much in terms of intellectual capacity, he nonetheless offers us a glimpse into the irrational thought processes plaguing islam.
In this vein, I recommend the following blog post I happened upon in my travels around the interwebs:
http://godscopybook.blogs.com/gpb/2008/02/assorted-link-1.html
It's basically a discussion of Islam's failure to adopt a rational epistemology and I feel this really gets to the heart of the present conflict.
A partial excerpt:
... The great fault of modern Islam is not its having missed the sexual or industrial revolutions, but having missed the epistemological revolution of the thirteenth century. The Islamic world seems medieval in its attitudes and outlook because it is medieval, or more accurately early medieval, in its thinking. ...