Ismail Royer, a former employee of Hamas-linked CAIR who served “more than 13 years on firearms charges connected to his work helping others get to a militant training camp in Kashmir,” that is, to a jihad terror training camp, sells a good deal of snake oil in this article. Its last few paragraphs are given over to Royer to explain how various Muslims convicted on terror charges are actually harmless. The whole Associated Press article, in fact, is devoted to trying to lull the public into complacency over the release of 50 “homegrown violent jihadists” into the general population.
In reality, this story shows up the wrongheadedness of the entire approach to the global jihad threat so far. These jihadis have been treated as criminals, and since their sentences for criminal activity are ending, they are going to be released. But in fact, they are enemy combatants in an ongoing war, and the idea that they should be released onto the streets of the United States should be unthinkable, especially in light of the fact that absolutely nothing has been done or will be done while they’re in prison to disabuse them of their jihadist sentiments. To attempt to do that would be “Islamophobic.”
“Should springing of US terrorism convicts alarm Americans?,” by Deb Reichmann, Associated Press, August 6, 2017:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of convicts serving time in U.S. prisons for terrorism-related offenses are due to be released in the next several years, raising the question whether that’s something Americans should fear….
Among the incarcerated, according to the Bureau of Prisons, are 380 linked to international terrorism and 83 tied to domestic terrorism. A Congressional Research Service report said 50 “homegrown violent jihadists” were to be released between last January and the end of 2026.
And more are entering prison.
Former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump in May, had told Congress that the bureau had more than 900 active investigations related to Islamic State and other extremist activity in all 50 states.
Most of those convicted of terrorism-related crimes are held at the high-security U.S. penitentiary in Florence, Colorado, and federal prisons in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Marion, Illinois. Some are in for life, but the average sentence is 13 years. That means most will walk out of prison with years of freedom ahead.
“There were people I was with in prison who you’d be happy to have as a neighbor because they were normal, reasonable people,” said Ismail Royer. He was released last December after serving more than 13 years on firearms charges connected to his work helping others get to a militant training camp in Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan territory claimed by India and Pakistan.
“The guys that I’m really, really concerned about are the loose cannons,” Royer said.
Royer grew up in a Catholic family in suburban St. Louis. By the time he was 21, he had converted to Islam and was fighting alongside fellow Muslims in Bosnia. At 31, he was serving a 20-year sentence.
Today, he lives in the Washington, D.C., area, works for the Center for Islam and Religious Freedom and wants to help nonextremist Muslim-Americans find their footing in American society.
Behind bars, Royer got to know inmates arrested for only loose ties to terrorism. But he also met Richard Reid, the al-Qaida “shoe bomber,” and John Walker Lindh, an American captured in Afghanistan while fighting with the Taliban.
Some were ensnared in sting operations, Royer said, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others were up to no good; Royer said he was happy the FBI arrested them.
“At any time, the loose cannon might go to the convenience store and cut off somebody’s head. You just don’t know. These guys are very problematic,” Royer said while eating grilled cheese at a hotel not far from the White House. “I don’t want them as my neighbor. You can’t sit there and talk to them and tell them that their views are mistaken.”…
Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University’s School of Law, doesn’t think the public should panic. Those released will face months to years of supervision. Phone calls and online communications are monitored. Travel can be restricted. Weekly meetings with counselors can be required.
“We’re not talking about 9/11 perpetrators,” Greenberg said….
Royer, who served time in Terre Haute and elsewhere, offered some examples of those in line for release and their place on the terrorism spectrum.
One inmate, he said, was a former computer programmer from Yemen who was arrested for stealing proprietary software and trying to market it as his own. The inmate claimed he told U.S. officials he would give them the names of al-Qaida followers if they let him go.
“He lied to them. He didn’t know anyone from al-Qaida. He just told them some names and very quickly they found out that he was full of crap,” Royer said. “He went to prison for lying to the FBI and they put him in the terrorism unit.”
A second inmate was picked up selling night vision equipment to a U.S. law enforcement official posing as a member of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Royer said the inmate was trying to make a buck. He was charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group and ended up in the terrorism unit at Terre Haute.
“The only concern with him is that he’s a hustler,” Royer said. “That’s not to say that it’s not a crime.”
rubiconcrest says
The article did say near the beginning …. ‘There’s no easy answer.’ … no easy answer unless we’re willing to examine the underlying ideology driving these activities and deal with it as a national security threat instead of a criminal matter.
EYESOPEN says
Well, that won’t be easy, since those [pretending?] to be deaf, dumb and blind to the evils of izlam (sic – on purpose) are apparently very content to remain that way:
“House REJECTS proposal to study “Islamic religious doctrines” that could be used by terror groups” by Pamela Geller – on July 15, 2017
http://pamelageller.com/2017/07/house-rejects-islamic.html/
AHumanBeing says
WORLDWAR3. Its already begun . To late for griping to do any good. Signing off —–
Keys says
Greenberg said: “Those released will face months to years of supervision. Phone calls and online communications are monitored. Travel can be restricted. Weekly meetings with counselors can be required.”
Idiot ! Who does she think is paying for this bs ! Someone to monitor his phone calls and counsel him, etc.
More unproductive bureaucracy; more entrenched government jobs to vote for the party that gives away everything for nothing in return except votes; more diminishment of American prosperity…….
HugoHackenbush says
I’m confused. If these are American citizens then they are guilty of treason. If guilty of treason they should have been executed. It is disrespectful of their religion to have NOT executed them as they have been denied their religious right to paradise via jihad. Now they could commit further sins and unless expiated by further jihad could end up among “the people of fire”. By what authority does the federal government put these people at risk for sent to the hellfire? Where are the ACLU lawyers?! Why are they not addressing this religious injustice?!
Wellington says
“We’re not talking about 9/11 perpetrators,” Greenberg said……..
Uh, not a good approach. Best to assume that we are. Be prepared and all that. After all, we are dealing with adherents of the worst religion ever created by man.
endislam says
Deport every one of them. Just because they went to prison does not mean they are no longer murderous jihadis.
abad says
Deport them all to Syria. They are not wanted here.
gravenimage says
50 “homegrown violent jihadists” to be released in US between now and 2026
…………………
What could possibly go wrong? sarc/off
Sarah says
Anyone convicted should be expelled, banned from life from ever returning – and agreements should be put in place across the West, so that the ban extends to their ever visiting or emigrating or seeking asylum in any other Western nation for the rest of their life, without exception, without change. No matter what story or proof they can later offer up as grounds for seeking asylum or emigration or visiting ANY Western nation.
Then. Expel every single last family member related to them whether by blood or marriage. Same rules – ban for life, no exceptions, no access ever to any other Western nation. And that ban extends to any future children or any future family members that marry into the wider family.
Given how interrelated they tend to be, expelling one Jihadi, will knock out 20 or 30 (easily) family members with them.
These Jihadists are not keeping their ideas silent from their families. They are hearing the same kind of criticism against the West – within their families. They are receiving love and support from their families. Some families openly know of the crimes that are being committed and are planned to be committed.
When the entire extended family is rounded up and kicked out, without exception, without any loopholes to be exploited – and the entire family and all future generations are permanently banned from the West overall – watch how FAST this all dries up.
They want the welfare too badly. They want the healthcare. The education. The housing. The freedoms, rights and opportunities. The selfish bastard’s all want what the West offers – while they hate us for it and secretly plot for our downfall. Its pretty dumb thinking really. Because if the West ever fell to Islam, they’d be losing all that sweet sweet welfare, education healthcare, housing, freedoms, rights and opportunities very quickly. Islam cannot produce successful societies – its proven that in the last 1400 years. Even the richer states – they only have the wealth they have, by relying on the West BUYING their resources. When the West doesn’t exist to buy it- they will fall down too.
Kick every last one out. I don’t care if they have kids with spina bfida, or elderly grandparents with dementia, or multitudes of family members who are otherwise good people who may even be completely innocent and unaware of what is going on within their own family.
It sends a message. It teaches a lesson. And it enforces change.
And if they cannot handle that, then they’re all free to emigrate to any of the 50+ Islamic cesspits dotted around the world, anytime they wish. We should be paying them handsomely to encourage their departure, on the condition of, once they leave, they are never allowed to return, for any reason, whatsoever.