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April 24, 2008

Virginia Muslim police sergeant who tipped off jihadist gets probation

Let's see. He hindered a counterterrorism case, may have tipped off the jihadist more than once, and checked to see if his own name was on the terror watch list. For that he gets six months probation, from a judge who clearly has no idea whatsoever of the larger issues involved in the case. Will he retain his job with the police? Is anyone concerned that he may again aid jihadists who are waging war against the United States? Is anyone with any influence asking these questions at all?

"Probation For Sergeant Who Misused Databases," by Tom Jackman for the Washington Post (thanks to Cindy):

A Fairfax County police sergeant was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Alexandria to two years' probation for his admission that he checked police databases for someone who was the target of a federal terrorism case.

Sgt. Weiss Rasool, 31, initially faced up to six months in jail, but federal prosecutors urged U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry R. Poretz to consider as much as a year of jail time after Rasool took a lie-detector test last week and "was not fully compliant" with the test procedures. Prosecutors also said in a motion filed with the court that FBI agents "do not believe that he has been truthful."

Before sentencing, Rasool stood and wept as he admitted breaking the law.

"If I could turn back time, I would maybe do things different," he said. "It was an error in judgment. I never intended for things to turn out this way. I don't know what to say to you or anyone. . . . I admit I made errors of judgment. But I never intended to put anybody's life at risk."

The police sergeant said after the sentencing that he hopes to remain with the Fairfax department. A misdemeanor conviction does not automatically disqualify him from continuing with the force. Rasool remains on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Fairfax police said.

In June 2005, when federal agents had a Fairfax man under surveillance, the man apparently asked Rasool to check the license plates of three vehicles he thought were following him. Rasool's lawyer described the man as a member of Rasool's mosque.

According to court records, Rasool checked the databases and left the following voice-mail message for the man:

"Umm, as I told you, I can only tell you if it comes back to a person or not a person, and all three vehicles did not come back to an individual person. So, I just wanted to give you that much."

The three vehicles were undercover FBI vehicles, according to a letter from the FBI filed in court yesterday, and Rasool's message "likely alerted the subject of the FBI investigation which had a disruptive effect on the pending counterterrorism case." Prosecutors said the vehicles were listed with a leasing company, which an experienced officer might have known was an indicator of law enforcement vehicles.

The target was arrested in November 2005, then convicted and deported, according to court filings in Rasool's case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanine Linehan said that the target and his family were already dressed and destroying evidence at 6 a.m. when agents arrived to make the arrest, indicating that they had been tipped off. The target's name and the charges against him have not been disclosed.

In October 2007, the FBI confronted Rasool about his computer inquiries on the man's behalf. According to a brief written by Linehan, Rasool denied knowing the man. When presented with the recording of his message for the man, Rasool admitted checking the databases, Linehan wrote.

Linehan also noted that Rasool made computer inquiries about himself, through the National Crime Information Center system, about 17 times in 18 months, purportedly to see whether his name appeared on the terrorism watch list. His lawyer, James W. Hundley, said Rasool checked the database because of increased scrutiny of Muslims in the United States after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.[...]

Poretz told Rasool that some of his conduct "appears to strain credulity, to this court." But he declined to consider a sentencing range of six to 12 months in jail and gave Rasool credit for "acceptance of responsibility," a key factor in federal sentencing guidelines.

The magistrate judge then offered a stern analysis, saying: "What we have here is a defendant doing stupid things. What we have here is a credibility issue as to the defendant." But he found no evidence that Rasool intended to disrupt the federal investigation.

He placed the sergeant on two years of supervised probation and fined him $1,000.

Posted by Robert at April 24, 2008 7:42 AM
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How moderate is this officer? I'd love to know his involvement in the local mosque and what he thinks of the law of islam over the US Federal and State laws.

Poretz told Rasool that some of his conduct "appears to strain credulity, to this court." But he declined to consider a sentencing range of six to 12 months in jail and gave Rasool credit for "acceptance of responsibility," a key factor in federal sentencing guidelines.

Has the judge the faintest concept of Taqqiya? Guess not. Judge, you just got worked. You shouldn't be on the bench if you're that myopic.

Posted by: Abu_Lahab [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 8:10 AM

"The target [of the terrorism investigation, the man tipped off by Weiss Rasool] was arrested in November 2005, then convicted and deported, according to court filings in Rasool's case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanine Linehan said that the target and his family were already dressed and destroying evidence at 6 a.m. when agents arrived to make the arrest, indicating that they had been tipped off. The target's name and the charges against him have not been disclosed.

In October 2007, the FBI confronted Rasool about his computer inquiries on the man's behalf. According to a brief written by Linehan, Rasool denied knowing the man. When presented with the recording of his message for the man, Rasool admitted checking the databases, Linehan wrote.

Linehan also noted that Rasool made computer inquiries about himself, through the National Crime Information Center system, about 17 times in 18 months, purportedly to see whether his name appeared on the terrorism watch list. His lawyer, James W. Hundley, said Rasool checked the database because of increased scrutiny of Muslims in the United States after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.[...]

Poretz told Rasool that some of his conduct "appears to strain credulity, to this court." But he declined to consider a sentencing range of six to 12 months in jail and gave Rasool credit for "acceptance of responsibility," a key factor in federal sentencing guidelines."
-- from the article above

A police officer who tips off the target of a terrorism-related investigation is aiding and abetting terrorism. The very idea that he might retain his position is a symptom of a diseased sympathy, an insufficient understanding. It is ludicrous. And two years of probation is an absurd sentence. Ten years of jail, without any reduction in the sentence, should be the minimum for anyone who aids, in any way, those who are being investigated, and with good reason, for support, direct or indirect, of Muslim terrorism.

Posted by: Hugh [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 8:16 AM

From the article:
"Rasool's lawyer described the man [i.e. the suspected jihadi, under federal surveillance] as a member of Rasool's mosque."

Now: what does Islam, classic, traditional Islam, teach about the sorts of relationships Muslims are supposed to have with fellow-Muslims, on the one hand, and with non-Muslims, on the other?

Quran 48: 29 - "those who follow him (Mohammed) are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful toward one another".

Quran 5: 51 - ": O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer..."

Sura (3:118) - "O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people [i.e. Muslims]...".

Ibn 
Ishaq (the sirat rasool allah,'life of allah's prophet', 231 - “Muslims are one ummah (community) to the exclusion of all men. Believers are friends of one another to the exclusion of all outsiders.”

What's an oath to an Infidel police force, serving an Infidel government, compared to the Islam-trumps-all loyalty one owes to a fellow Believer?

And Rasool's tearful protestation, exquisitely ambiguous - "But I never intended to put anybody's life at risk." Ah yes: but WHOSE life? Muslim or Infidel?

Given this passage from the Muslim historian Tabari - "As for one who disbelieves, we will fight him forever in the Cause of Allah. Killing him is a small matter to us” - does anyone want to lay bets?


Posted by: dumbledoresarmy [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 8:20 AM

Here we go again; the lunatics are running more than the asylum. The leniency handed out to this seditionist should be shocking, sadly it isn’t… the overseers of our nation’s security are, out-and-out, nutters.
I always believed those in law enforcement were sworn to serve and protect: undoubtedly, this only comes into play if one is a non-Muslim. Police officers have served hard time for partaking in any criminal activity; one suspects collaborating, aiding and abetting those bent on our destruction is, as the inept judge uttered: “What we have here is a defendant doing stupid things.”
Sad to say; “What we have here is a judiciary doing stupid things.” It’s no wonder terrorists bent on our end remain optimistic. If it is obvious to us, this nation is being overseen by a gaggle of politically-correct morons, which has enabled Jihadists to remain buoyant that they will eventually be successful in their objective; the murdering and maiming thousands of more Americans.

Posted by: ballzack [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 8:32 AM

The real telling of the end of this story will be if this Sgt. is allowed to continue his employment as a law enforcement officer.

If he made such an "error" as this on behalf of a fellow Muslim, what guarantees do we have that he will not commit such "errors" in the future.

He should be fired and should find another line of work. He's not trustworthy for his current position.

But then, this is the United States of America in 2008 and we're at war with the World of Islam for the very survival of Western Civilization. He may get promoted to Chief of Police very soon.

Posted by: INFIDELATLARGE [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 8:36 AM

To contact the Fairfax County Police with a complaint or comment:

Internal affairs commander: IACMDR@co.fairfax.va.us

The Chief of Police: chief@co.fairfax.va.us

webpage for complaints:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/ia_complaint.htm

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 9:06 AM

And how many Sgt. Weiss Rasool's are out there in the police, fbi,cia,nsa etc..? How many of them don't get caught like Sgt. Weiss Rasool?

I know this is happening in the UK, and be certain in Canada, as the need for translaters is high, and also the multi-cults appear to prefer to hire a Muslim for such positions as an officer that can have better relations with the Muslim communities where they work. Hesham Islam is another one.

Infiltrations, exactly what the Ikhwan "project" outlines.

Posted by: Sneakyzionistcrusader [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 9:11 AM
"If I could turn back time, I would maybe do things different," he said. "It was an error in judgment. I never intended for things to turn out this way. I don't know what to say to you or anyone. . . . I admit I made errors of judgment. But I never intended to put anybody's life at risk."

The judge is an idiot. The muslim is not apologizing to the court or his fellow officers, he is apologizing to his fellow jihadists for being sloppy in his intelligence gathering and putting their lives at risk.

Posted by: mike trivisonno [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 9:29 AM

Rasool......? Rasool.....? Oh yes I remember now. He is a Norwegian bachelor farmer from North Dakota............

Posted by: n.a. palm [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 9:47 AM

I will make sure to refer to this article on the Northern Virginiastan blog, http://northernvirginiastan.blogspot.com.

The DC Metro area (which includes Fairfax County) is rife with jihadists and their enablers. Very little surprises me anymore, but this is appalling.

In a May 19, 2005 article on the Northern Virginiastan blog, we noted that CAIR participated in a community forum with Fairfax County Police Chief David Rohrer; Gerry Connolly, Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and representatives from Fairfax County Police Department's Internal Affairs Division. One topic that was raised was the authority of VA law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law. "Chairman Connolly iterated that Fairfax County police officers are not an arm of Federal Immigration enforcement agencies."

Posted by: northernvirginiastan [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 10:32 AM

Northernvirginiastan, you link goes to a Blogger webpage not your site.

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 11:35 AM

As a police veteran, I'd hate to have to count on this guy to back me up. He should be fired, and if possible deported. It's completely crazy that he did not receive a significant jail taerm.

Posted by: MP [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 12:14 PM

"Probation For Sergeant Who Misused Databases"
...............................

Is that how they characterize this crime? There has been a spate of recent cases where employees--nurses, secretaries, file clerks--have accessed medical files of people, most often celebrities, without authorization. This is entirely unethical, and has resulted in quite a number of firings.

What was the motive, though? Not in anyway to minimize the severity of these breeches of trust, but in most cases the intent was idle curiousity, or at most the desire for a bit of juicy gossip. Was Amy Winehouse really just suffering from exhaustion? Is Angelina Jolie really pregnant with twins?--that sort of thing.

The Rasool case was *nothing like this*. He was only incidently misusing a database--what he was doing was aiding a terrorist. And characterizing his search for his own name on terrorism watch lists as no more than a general concern about increased scrutiny of Muslims strains credulity.

Then there is his tearful performance in court, which seems rather underwhelming:

Before sentencing, Rasool stood and wept as he admitted breaking the law.

"If I could turn back time, I would maybe do things different," he said. "It was an error in judgment. I never intended for things to turn out this way. I don't know what to say to you or anyone. . . . I admit I made errors of judgment . . ."

He would "maybe do things different"? He "never intended for things to turn out this way"--what, aiding terrorists, or getting caught? I will be appalled, but not overly surprised, if he is allowed to reamain on the force.

Posted by: gravenimage [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 1:14 PM

Unbelievable!

Posted by: SonofIsaac [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2008 1:34 PM

25/04/08

As a Hindu from India, I find the attitude of the judge surprising. In India, we do not get such verdicts because the judiciary is clear and punitive in serious cases (no political correctness) and the police have a close liaison with the judges. They can have a punishing decision manufactured, by fair or foul means.

Posted by: Thiagan [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 25, 2008 8:41 AM

Compare this to the treatment of Johnatan Pollard who never caused harm to the US, despite what the Iran-aiding criminal Weinberger said (Weinberger got away with his crimes, as did all other Iran-Contra criminals). Pollard aided Israel in bombing the terrorist headquarters, and blew the wistle on US secretly and illegally aiding Saddam, back when Saddam was still a threat. Besides Irangate, there was also Iraqgate, which was never even investigated. This is why the felonious Reagan cult prosecuted him without mercy, breaking a deal with him. And read Paul Sperry's "Infiltration" about a Turkish spy getting away with passing US secrets to Turkey, Pakistan and hell knows who else, protected by the high-powered sociopath Scowcroft. A US Air Force Flying Whore who is totally involved in the spying got promoted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, an honest FBI translator Sibel Edmonds who exposed him got fired from her job, her testimony suppressed and censored by the US government.
JDL, the only armed resistance to jihad in the US: this is who the FBI got tough with. Its leader Irv Rubin arrested and dies a horrible death in jail. US rules it "suicide" claiming Rubin slashed his own throat and jumped from an upper gallery in jail, inflicting a fatal injury on himself. Rubin's second-in-command, Earl Krugel soon dies a brutal death as well, his head smashed with a rock in a prison yard. The US does not bother to rule it "suicide" this time. The JDL is destroyed by the US government who finished El-Sayyid Nossair's and al-Qaida's job on it.
The FBI was a relatively healthy agency until about 7 years ago. Now it, too, is rotten to the core.

Ruslan Tokhchukov, EnragedSince1999.

Posted by: Enragedsince1999 [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 25, 2008 6:33 PM

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