An "Illinois man," Michael Finton, who changed his name to Talib Islam and somehow misunderstood his new, peaceful religion to such a degree that he actually thought it had something to do with murdering infidels. Now, how could he have gotten such a crazy idea?
An update on this story. "Man sentenced to 28 years for plotting to bomb federal courthouse," by Terry Frieden for CNN, May 9:
Washington (CNN) -- An Illinois man who tried to blow up the federal courthouse in Springfield two years ago was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison, the Justice Department announced.Michael Finton, 31, who went by the name Talib Islam, pleaded guilty in a courthouse in East St. Louis to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
The charge stems from an incident in September 2009 when Finton, then 29, parked a truck which he believed contained about one ton of explosives near the courthouse in Springfield.
What he didn't know was that the man assisting him in the operation was an undercover FBI agent, and that the material in the truck was inert.
When Finton tried to trigger the explosion from a cell phone at a safe distance, he was arrested.
"Michael Finton is one of a number of young Americans over the past two years who, under the influence of a radical and violent ideology, have sought to carry out acts of terrorism in the United States," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Todd Hinnen at the Justice Department....
Gee, Hinnen, what ideology could it have been? And what is being done to stop its spread?
"under the influence of a radical and violent ideology" yes what a good description of the core teachings of mainstream islam...
It's good to be back and more engaged on the discussions here.
28 yrs? good stuff.
What is it going to take before Islam is outlawed as a terrorist organisation in it's own right? It is shocking that our politicians are so stupid that they cannot see an ideology which is arguably far worse than naziism for what it is, but then again, until something horrific happens to one of their family members or in their cosy little exclusive villages or gated communities they will continue to poke their fingers in their ears and shout "LALALALALALA" at the top of their voices whenever the slightest possibility that it Islam itself is the problem comes up.
I don't think the Ku Klux Klan is outlawed in the U.S. I think you have to ban behaviors. Can you imagine if some of their tracts were presented in school, where they claimed they were uniters, patriots, maybe with a little "to each his own" thrown in?
Parents would and should be outraged...allowing the organization itself to contribute to the propaganda that gets presented to their children, leaving out the violent history and human rights violations and racism.
No, we need to attack the behaviors so Islam finds no home. I am struck by Zhudi Jasser's comment during the debate, as he asked Robert, "What are Muslims to do, then?" when presented with the idea that Mohammed's activities should be laid bare for all to examine, which he called "demonizing".
Mr. Jasser, I respect your efforts, but it is your task to give those Muslims something else to think about, or advise them that in America they will hear truth. They will not be sheltered and lied to about Mohammed like they are in other countries. It is your job to tell them that no one in America is going to be arrested, imprisoned or executed because they say things about Mohammed that are hard for them to hear, or are "insulting". It is your job to educate them about the hard course of liberty, which allows us to ignore others' criticism and believe how we like anyway. Just ask the Mormons if criticism of their belief system has been a challenge, and ask a Christian who debates an atheist to defend his faith.
It might be harder to defend Islam because of Mohammed, and if that strips your faith matrix bare and causes it to drip acid that drives your children from Islam, then it is your fault. You have chosen...poorly (Nod to Monty).
You grew up hearing how nice Islam was and how wonderful and worthy of respect Mohammed is from your family and mosques. They were lied to their whole lives, and have no reason to go looking for Mohammed's activities. They probably rejected Al Banna and Qutb (I know you're Shia but you get the point) and Khomeini because their assertions about Islam's bloodlust were uncomfortable.
Now you know. Yet you cling. Do not resign your own children and these youth you are "educating" to perpetual ignorance, nor of embracing of a man who was not worthy of respect, except by the bloodthirsty, thin-skinned and supremacist among you.
If some want to remain Muslim after knowing what this man was and did, then I am happy to have them in the U.S. Anyone who follows U.S. law and doesn't commit sedition or treason is more than welcome in my country. I don't have to like what you believe in. I expect you to be able to handle the truth, though.
Very well put winoceros. Know one has to believe, think, hear, or say the same thing to live in the United States. But if we choose to life here we must obey the local, State and Federal laws. You (we) must agree to keep our constitution and civil law in place as written. If you wanted to live under Sharia law or native teachings of Islam. Then you should live in such a country.
The United States should not have to change one single word of law to accommedate imigrants. That wouldn't be fair to those whom have come into this country for the last 261 years. Those whom came here legally and obeyed our constitution and laws. Those whom gave up a great deal to live in this new country called the United States of America.
If that doesn't sound fair? Perhaps you should leave before you end up in prison here for 25 years or worse. Islam is what it is. It was written 1400 years ago, and is suppose to be the words of Allah through Muahammad. I do not submit to that. I should not be forced to follow or be a part of Islam and neither should my countrymen or country. I'll continue teaching the words of the Holy Bible in my house and in my country. But I will obey the law of the land aswell. In my world the two are almost always compatable.