They wanted to help "modernize" al-Qaeda -- ironic, considering al-Qaeda's thoroughly un-modern vision for society. "2 N.Y. men charged with aiding al-Qaida," from the Associated Press, April 30:
NEW YORK - Two U.S. citizens were charged Friday with conspiring to provide computer assistance, watches and other support to help "modernize" al-Qaida.
A vaguely worded indictment unsealed Friday in federal court in Manhattan accused Wesam El-Hanafi of traveling to Yemen to meet with unnamed al-Qaida members in February 2008.
The terrorists "instructed him on operational security measures and directed him to perform tasks for al-Qaida," the indictment says. While there, he also "took an oath of allegiance to al-Qaida," it adds.
In February 2008, El-Hanafi bought computer software that allowed him to secretly communicate over the Internet, federal prosecutors allege. That summer, he met with an unnamed co-conspirator and the second defendant, Sabirhan Hasanoff, in Brooklyn to discuss joining al-Qaida, according to the indictment.
The confidential co-conspirator paid $50,000 to Hasanoff, who later traveled to New York City and performed unspecified "tasks for al-Qaida," the court papers say. The papers say that the conspiracy included El-Hanafi purchasing seven Casio digital watches, but doesn't say why.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said the men had schemed "to modernize al-Qaida by providing computer systems expertise and other goods and services." His office declined further comment.
El-Hanafi, 33, and Hasanoff, 34, were to make an initial court appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Friday afternoon.
The watches can be used as timers for bombs.
I dont think they use sundials in Yemen but I could be wrong.
Hint: It's not the timer function they want them for..
They wanted to help "modernize" al-Qaeda -- ironic, considering al-Qaeda's thoroughly un-modern vision for society.
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The only "modernization" is communications and weaponry. Funny how almost any other "innovation"—including brassieres and even falafels—are denounced as Bi'da, and yet any upgrades in the waging of Jihad are always enthusiastically embraced.
The only way you could modernize al-Qaeda is to rip off technology developed by the West, which the Islamic sphere of mankind would have never been capable of developing on its own. The parasitical world of radical Islam continues onwards with no shame, no wisdom and no compassion.
As for the so-called moderate Muslim world, do you not see how pathetic your entire faith is? It can only advance by copying others. It adds nothing, absolutely nothing (other than some interesting abstract art here and there and commentaries on ancient Greek thought which are strictly second rate), to mankind on its own. Give it up and be liberated. No sense adhering to a sick system of thought. After all, who, who knows the truth of things, can deny that Mohammed was a child molester? From that start everything else can only be downhill. Understand Mohammed properly and all of Islam collapses, as it should.
As if flying hijacked jetliners into our World Trade Center and Pentagon weren't modern enough......
Yeah, the Muslims copy and utilize the niceties, the useful weapons and technology of Western inventions, but reject many of it's core values of democracy and science, with equal rights for women, for example, which made the West so much more "useful" in the first place.
And what does Islam have to show for about reasonably functioning societies and personal happiness? Not much, that other faiths can not provide also and better.
Just as Muslims always deny any detrimental influences of Islam on behavior of Muslims, at least in excess of other detrimental influences, we don't believe in much beneficial influence of Islam on behavior of Muslims either, at least not in excess of other beneficial influences.
And not only is Islam not very useful, but Islam is shown to be not truthful either, at least not perfectly and wholly, by many Islam-critics.
So: Why do Muslims cling to it? Because of loved ones, community? Force? Indoctrination? Ignorance? Habit?
What is Islam good for? It's excellent grist for the humor mill.
Two U.S. citizens were charged Friday with conspiring to provide computer assistance, watches and other support to help "modernize" al-Qaida...Wesam El-Hanafi... and the second defendant, Sabirhan Hasanoff...
How long will the West keep playing whack-a-mole with the violent jihadists (whether networking with others or erupting in sudden jihad) who keep popping up out of the pullulation of fanatical extremism that boils throughout the worldwide Umma as Islam undergoes its millennial revival of world conquest in our time? Will the West wait until a certain number of us are mass-murdered before we take rational action against Muslims? How high will that number be? Would it not be more prudent -- have we not the decent self-respect -- to take the proactive action of stripping citizenship of all Muslims in the West and deporting them, along with all their non-citizen fellows, out of the West?
Answer: Yes, it would be more prudent, and would reflect a healthy self-respect for the safety of our own societies, were we to do that. That we continue to be unable is not a matter of constitutions or laws, but a matter of an unhealthy sociopolitical culture the West has developed over the past 60-odd years.