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The terror cell in Portland was particularly noteworthy because for years, Mike Hawash had seemed to be a comfortable member of American society. But even he was susceptible to the call of jihad ideology. This just underscores the crying need for honesty and reform from American Muslim groups. From the LA Times, with thanks to Nicolei:
The last three members of the so-called Portland Seven terrorist cell were sentenced Monday for trying to join the Taliban shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.Palestinian-born Maher "Mike" Hawash, 39, expressed remorse for his actions and pledged loyalty to the United States before he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Two brothers, Ahmed Bilal, 25, and Muhammad Bilal, 23, were sentenced to 10 and eight years, respectively. Neither made a statement.
In the fall of 2002, federal investigators indicted six Portland-area Muslims on charges of conspiring to wage war against the United States. The seventh member of the cell was arrested later.
Hawash — a former software engineer — was the first of the group to plead guilty to a lesser charge of conspiring to help Al Qaeda and the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan. In exchange for a lighter sentence, he became the government's crucial material witness and testified against the others.
"I reiterate my acceptance of full responsibility for this act. I do not blame anyone else," Hawash said in a statement to U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones.
"This act was done by me in a highly emotional state and was completely out of my character. When the media began to point at Muslims, I couldn't believe it…. I did not believe that the Afghan people had anything to do with this.
"I am still proud to be a U.S. citizen, and I regret my actions," Hawash said. "I wish to ask forgiveness from my family, my friends in this community and the people of the United States."
At the time of his arrest, Hawash was working at Intel Corp. — so well-liked by his colleagues that they began a "Free Mike Hawash" campaign.
"From the beginning, Mr. Hawash has been a mystery to the court," Jones said before handing down the sentence. "How a man of such extreme success could commit this act … I don't know."
Jones concluded by saying he was convinced that Hawash would "never commit a criminal act" again.
The Bilal brothers also pleaded guilty to conspiring to help Al Qaeda and the Taliban and to firearms charges in exchange for dismissing the main charge of conspiracy to wage war against the United States.
Daniel Feiner, the lawyer for Ahmed Bilal, said his client believed he was doing the right thing at the time but later concluded it was wrong and had been preparing to turn himself in when he was arrested.
The younger brother, Muhammad Bilal, was merely following his older brother's lead, according to his lawyer.
Muhammad Bilal's attorney Andrew Bates said: "My client is an ordinary person, 21 years old at the time of this misadventure. Like all 21-year-olds, he was seeking his path."
In November, two other members of the Portland Seven were sentenced to 18 years in prison. Patrice Lumumba Ford, 32, and Jeffrey Leon Battle, 33, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. Only Ford and Battle refused to cooperate in the investigation.
The only woman in the group, October Martinique Lewis, was sentenced in December to three years in prison after she pleaded guilty to wiring money to help the group. Investigators say the accused ringleader, Habis Abdulla al Saoub, 37, was killed in October during a Pakistani raid of an Al Qaeda encampment.
The seven got to know each other during gatherings at two local mosques: the Masjid As-Sabr in southwestern Portland and the Bilal mosque in nearby Beaverton, Ore.
They came to call themselves "Katibat Al-Mawt," which prosecutors said loosely translated to "squad of death."
Nothing loose about it. That's what it means.
Court documents that depicted the seven as a loose-knit group who studied books and films on jihad and participated in firearms and martial-arts training before the Sept. 11 attacks. Members expressed interest in becoming martyrs.The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, whose Taliban government supported Osama bin Laden, prompted the six men of the group to join the fight against U.S. forces.
In October 2001, they traveled to China, where they tried several times to cross into Pakistan but failed because of visa problems and heightened Chinese security. Most of the group eventually returned to Portland.
Posted by Robert at February 10, 2004 9:30 AM
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Interesting article and just further confirmation that while many successes have been achieved in fighting against the threat of militant Islamic terrorism, it is still very real and very much a danger to the western societies.
Hearing John Kerry running around saying the threat of terrorism is exaggurated is enough to make my blood boil. Clearly he has fallen asleep at the wheel as has half of this country. I'm afraid another 9-11 type attack is the only thing that will reawake some of these clowns from their political stuper.
Posted by: Chris Pobieglo at February 10, 2004 1:21 PMInteresting how the judge commented in sentencing that he couldn't understand how such a successful person could get involved with this. I would like to ask how a person who has been appointed a US District judge could cling to such preconceived notions about who the Islamic terrorists are.
Posted by: David at February 10, 2004 4:02 PM"This act was done by me in a highly emotional state and was completely out of my character. When the media began to point at Muslims, I couldn't believe it…. I did not believe that the Afghan people had anything to do with this."
So he sets out to do what he believes his Muslim brethern wouldn't do.
"Daniel Feiner, the lawyer for Ahmed Bilal, said his client believed he was doing the right thing at the time but later concluded it was wrong and had been preparing to turn himself in when he was arrested."
Right. Or that's what he said after he got caught.
jay
Posted by: Jay Stevens at February 10, 2004 4:17 PMWe all know that the Arabs are hot tempered and can't control their emotions. The sad part of this is that they're going to prison, which means we have to pay for their food, clothing and housing.....
A firing squad or a good strong rope would be a hell of alot cheaper, and probably teach a much better lesson.
Oh they'd have murdered our soldiers alright, they just didn't get the chance. I believe that is all they're really sorry for. When Hawash said that he was still "proud to be an American citizen" the Judge should've ordered his mouth to be washed out with toilet water.
D.C. Watson
man they got sentenced and they will do there time the problem I have is with you. you really come off as a real racist. you refer to stereotypes and generalizations of entire cultures. you must have had a really hard time when they desegregated the schools....
Posted by: joseph at February 10, 2004 8:48 PMJoseph, I have to agree with you. After reading some of your posts, and after debating with you on other issues, I do agree that you do have a problem.
I tried to be nice, but you just keep jabbing....So regarding the problem you say you have with me.......I'm gonna keep right on saying what I think.
And remember this before you throw that racist word around again. Radical Islamists feel that anyone that is Non-Muslim...is an Infidel....and should be killed.
That, is racist.....So before your little fingers start trying to type a logical response to this, you might want to give your next entry some more thought.
You have had nothing to say on this site to this point that even resembles a logical thought process with regard to the Islamists "Jihad", and their hatred for us. You mentioned in another post for all of us not to pick sides in a war between the Chechens and the Russians.
No one did any such thing.....So how about you stop with your jib flapping and start using the grey matter you were given by God......Or did Allah give it to you?
D.C. Watson
Posted by: D.C. Watson at February 10, 2004 10:08 PMyour approach to this "war" is to kill everyone who is the enemy. so how many countries are you going to invade to accomplish this? how do kill all the "evil" people without inflaming more people to take to there cause? once the war has been won how do you
see that the enemey does not come back do you install dictators,secret police, what? do you think everyone wants american style democracy? it sure didnt work for the russians and communism.
the reason i attack you is because you say things that come off really mean. instead of directing your anger towards the terrorists you use generalized wording that sounds like you view muslims as a whole as the problem and that they should be punished as a entire people.
and if you couldnt already tell being that you already have fingered me as a liberal i am also a athiest so in your book im going to hell and the jihadist will probably chop my head off so im probably hated by both...
Posted by: joseph at February 10, 2004 10:52 PMLike i said in a previous post,there are two categories of people who visit this site:
one: people like myself,who are concerned with the muslim 5-th column infiltrating our country,with the potential catastrophic consequences of such infiltration and with ways to counteract such proposition.
And two:people that are on the other side of the barricades ,and just want to check what`s on our infidel mind....
A third categorie,people who do not care about this issue,one way or the other,would not visit this side.
I know what categorie our Joseph falls into!(and it is not the third,otherwise he wouldn`t be here).
Personally, I won't be invading any countries, I like it here, and I don't run our Armed Forces. That call would need to be made by Congress and our Commander In Chief. If you think because I refer to Radical Islam as two legged wildlife, that I'm being mean........By all means..please tell everyone.....
How would you address them?
Do you think they should be flown to Britain and be Knighted by the Queen?
Should we send them to New York City for a parade in their honor, then the Mayor can present them with a "Key to the city"?
Or...I know.......why don't we just give them all a 7 day voyage on a Carnival Cruise?
These people are irrational animals, nothing better. Face it, they are out to kill us, if you wanna smootch up to their sand ridden ass cracks, you go right ahead.
Meanwhile, I'll not be changing a thing about my opinions and my hatred for the no good sons of goats that attacked us on Sept. 11th, 2001. If you like them so much, why wouldn't you hitch a ride on one of their flying carpets and take off so you can hang out with them?
D.C. Watson
Posted by: D.C. Watson at February 10, 2004 11:22 PMI wanted to share this with everyone...it was sent to me in an e-mail and I thought some of you would appreciate the humor.
WOULD IT NOT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE OLE' TV TONIGHT AND SEE G.W. BUSH GIVE
THE FOLLOWING SPEECH.....
==================================================================
My fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq's regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days.
It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those
nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.
On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.
To Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Yo, boys. Work out a peace deal now. Just note that Camp David is closed. Maybe all of you can go to Russia for negotiations. They have some great palaces there. Big tables, too.
I'm ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. Pay your tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over to some of
the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.
A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are going to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I'm gonna put 'em?
Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil. Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty--starting now.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.
Some will accuse us of isolationism.
I answer them by saying darn tootin.' Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet.
It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup soccer from
America.
To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought. Drop dead.
God bless America.
Thank you and good night.
Posted by: D.C. Watson at February 11, 2004 12:00 AMHey,D.C.,God bless you!
And GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
Hey, D.C. You forgot the UN.
Any U.S. participation in peacekeeping, nation building, or disaster relief operations must have the unaminmous approval of the Security Council, the approval of the majority of the General Assembly, and the approval of all countries directly involved. (Remember, we dragged NATO, screaming and kicking into Bosnia, after waiting several years for UN involvement.)
You will note that I am not advocating a unilateral withdrawal from the UN.
A good place to spend the money saved is on controlled fusion power research to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
jay
Posted by: Jay Stevens at February 11, 2004 7:48 AMHey Jay, you're right. We have to find a way to not be dependent on foreign oil....you just made a point that has been a long time in mentioning.
That was an e-mail that someone had sent me that I wanted to share.....But back to the oil, for all we've done for everyone....the oil has been held over our heads for way too long.
Like the left, and a few members of foreign societies who as of late have come on this site accusing us of being bullies, this goes to show that if we really were the bullies of planet Earth, we very easily could have just taken over Middle East oil, instead of paying what we pay for it.
Posted by: D.C. Watson at February 11, 2004 8:12 AMadela you seem to spew the most hatefilled crap. you have said that im a terrorist or a terrorist supporter? i do not not support terrorism or radical islam just like i do not support christain fundamentalism or christian crusaders like yourself.... its funny i always hear the right wing go on and on about how we must bring democracy and remove the dictators of the middle east and yet you do not respect the people that your "liberating" there all camel riding muslims in your eyes...
Joseph.....Adela has not said anything out of line. You....going by what you just posted.... have a problem with the right.
I have a feeling that if you don't like the right.....and you continue to post ridiculous remarks......you're going to end up being a very unhappy person. Regarding the remark you made about not respecting the people we've liberated....this is a contradiction in terms, all in the same sentence.
If we had no respect for them, we surely would've let them suffer under these brutal, maniacal, arrogant dictators.
And besides, the true lack of respect is one the side of the ones we liberate. They are ungrateful bastards. Hence, some Iraquis are actually in support of Al Qaida's presence there. We've lost over 500 soldiers over in that shithole of a country liberating them, and yet they find a way to support a terrorist group that's trying to kill the very people that liberated them.....
Like I said Joeseph.....if you don't like what we think and say about the Radical Islamists, rub your genie lamp to summon a flying carpet, and go elsewhere..I for one, am not all that sure you'll be missed.
Actually, I might miss you a little bit....because your remarks set you up for well deserved ridicule.
D.C. Watson
Posted by: D.C. Watson at February 11, 2004 10:51 AM
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