But their understanding of jihad led these men from Northern Virginia to travel to Pakistan to train to wage war against American troops in Afghanistan. Would any American “moderate” Muslim spokesman care to refute Ramy Zamzam’s understanding of jihad? Honest Ibe Hooper? Brave Ahmed Rehab? The sinister and slimy Salam al-Marayati? The duplicitous and whiny Khaleel Mohammed? Anyone? Anyone? “US suspect in Pakistan defends ‘jihad’ plans,” by Asif Shahzad for Associated Press, January 4 (thanks to all who sent this in):
SARGODHA, Pakistan – One of five Americans detained in Pakistan said their aim was to go to Afghanistan to wage jihad against Western forces, defending their intention as justified under Islam….
Monday was the first time the young Muslims from the Washington, D.C., area have addressed a court after being arrested in early December in the eastern Pakistani city of Sargodha. The case has spurred fears that Westerners are traveling to Pakistan to join militant groups. Pakistani police have said they plan to seek life sentences for the men under the country’s anti-terrorism law.
“We are not terrorists,” one of the men, Ramy Zamzam, told The Associated Press as he entered a courtroom in Sargodha on Monday.
“We are jihadists, and jihad is not terrorism,” he said….
“They told the court that they did not have any plan to carry out any terrorist act inside or outside Pakistan,” said Rokri. “They said that they only intended to travel to Afghanistan to help their Muslim brothers who are in trouble, who are bleeding and who are being victimized by Western forces.”…
Police have not said what the group’s intended target was, but authorities say the men had a map of Chashma Barrage — a complex located near nuclear power facilities that includes a water reservoir and other structures. It lies in the populous province of Punjab, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Islamabad….
Pakistani police and government officials have made a series of escalating and, at times, seemingly contradictory allegations about the men’s intentions, while U.S. officials have been far more cautious. The U.S. is also looking at charging the men — Umar Farooq, Waqar Khan, Ahmed Minni, Aman Hassan Yemer and Ramy Zamzam….