“About a week later, another individual ‘who attends an Islamic Center in another state’ told authorities McCormick ‘expressed a desire to travel to Syria to “fight for Allah,”‘ the affidavit states. The 26-year-old attempted to justify his extremist ideologies, the individual told authorities, by quoting and citing various religious doctrines, although ‘he did so incorrectly.'”
It’s good that people from the Islamic Center turned in Kevin McCormick, but how did he cite Islamic doctrines “incorrectly”? We are constantly told that jihadis have an incorrect understanding of Islam, but explanations of how it is incorrect are rare and vague. This also leads to other questions that never get answered: if Kevin McCormick’s understanding of Islam, as well as that of other jihadis, was incorrect, where did he get it? Why was the Islamic Center not able to disabuse him of his misunderstanding of Islam? And why do all jihadis misunderstand Islamic doctrine in exactly the same way?
“‘Jihad Is the Way to Go’: Connecticut Man Charged With Trying to Fight for ISIS,” by Seamus Hughes and Pilar Melendez, Daily Beast, December 19, 2019 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
After tips from Islamic Centers in two different states, authorities arrested a Connecticut man they allege attempted to travel overseas to join the Islamic State.
Kevin Imam McCormick, 26, was charged on Oct. 21 with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization after a months-long FBI investigation and allegedly pledging his allegiance to ISIS and its leader in a video.
“I do like, I do like ISIS because Abu Musa was like my hero, I cry when I watch that video,” he said during one conversation with an FBI informant, according to court documents unsealed Thursday….
According to the federal affidavit, the FBI was first alerted to McCormick, a former truck driver, on Aug. 24, when members from another state reported that McCormick had stated “we should support ISIS” and “Jihad is the way to go.” The community members also told authorities McCormick had asked about “circumcision and wanted a doctor that could help him with the procedure.”
About a week later, another individual “who attends an Islamic Center in another state” told authorities McCormick “expressed a desire to travel to Syria to ‘fight for Allah,’” the affidavit states. The 26-year-old attempted to justify his extremist ideologies, the individual told authorities, by quoting and citing various religious doctrines, although “he did so incorrectly.”…
Authorities also state that after McCormick was fired as a truck driver in September, he attempted to purchase a firearm and a knife—but was declined after he admitted to a sales clerk the weapons were “not for an animal.”…
On Oct. 12, the former truck driver allegedly attempted to fly to Jamaica, but was denied boarding by the Department of Homeland Security. Shortly after that encounter, he met with an FBI informant and expressed his desire to travel to Syria “in order to join ISIS,” according to the court documents….
“I’ve been ready for quite a long time now. I just need help to get out of here. I just, if I could get to the Muslim country,” McCormick allegedly told the second FBI informant through a secure encrypted app, before stating, “We’re living in this horrible place, like I can’t do it. I have to go fight…I can like feel it in my arm, my heart, like because I know how well I can fight..Because I got brothers dying..I know that they need my help bro.”…
In the presence of an FBI informant, McCormick recorded two videos on Oct. 19 pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic State leader, one in English and the other in his native language of Jamaican Patois, authorities said. Al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. military operation one week later….
McCormick’s Facebook profile, which is still active, has signs of his support of jihadist ideology. A week before his arrest, he posted a video of an alleged Islamic State prison break in Syria with the comment, “ALLAHU AKBAR!!!!”
He posted a picture of U.S soldiers three days prior, calling them “kuffars,” or nonbelievers. McCormick used the same description to comment on a news story about the Taliban and U.S. peace talk negotiations.
Last summer, he complained about American Muslims, posting on Facebook: “The Muslims in this country are Americanized not real Muslims.”
McCormick also posted anti-Semitic conspiracy memes about the Rothchilds controlling all the world’s banks and a news story about an Israeli strike against Syria with the comment, “damn jews.”…
mortimer says
Kevin McCormick liked the teachings of ISIS ? Well, so do the top professors at Al Azhar University and the leading sheikhs of Saudi Arabia … ISIS follows pure Wahhabism.
Kevin McCormick’s understanding of Islam appears to be well-endorsed by leading Islamic scholars:
-Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, a scholar of Islamic law and graduate of Egypt’s Al Azhar University said, ““It can’t [condemn the Islamic State as un-Islamic]. The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar’s programs. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic? Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world [to establish it]. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities, and teaches things like not building churches, etc. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya [extracting tribute from religious minorities]. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?”
-Egyptian political writer Dr. Khalid al-Montaser revealed that Al Azhar was encouraging enmity for non-Muslims, specifically Coptic Christians, and even inciting for their murder: “Is it possible at this sensitive time — when murderous terrorists rest on texts and understandings of takfir [accusing Muslims of apostasy], murder, slaughter, and beheading — that Al Azhar magazine is offering free of charge a book whose latter half and every page — indeed every few lines — ends with “whoever disbelieves [non-Muslims] strike off his head”?
-Egyptian journalist Yusuf al-Husayni said that “The Islamic State is only doing what Al Azhar teaches… and the simplest example is Ibn Kathir’s Beginning and End.”
– “… researcher A. Kadir Yildirim … warned that “extremist religious discourse has a sizable following (in Arab countries).” In Jordan, for example, the Islamic State’s genocidal “caliph,” Abu Bakri al-Baghdadi, “has the most influence of all religious leaders.”
– Sheikh Adul al-Kalbani (former imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca), has said that the Islamic State (ISIS) group follows the same brand of Islam as officially espoused by Saudi Arabia.
“We follow the same thought [as ISIS] but apply it in a refined way,” he said. “They draw their ideas from what is written in our own books, from our own principles.”
The cleric said that “we do not criticise the thought on which it (ISIS) is based”.
Over the years, Sheikh Adel al-Kalbani has said that the Islamic State is a “true product of Salafism”.
gravenimage says
+1
elee says
++1
James Lincoln says
When an adult voluntarily converts to Islam, jihad often follows.
Hmmm…
But I guess that I just stated the obvious…
gravenimage says
Yes–Kevin Imam McCormick (I wonder what his Muslim name is?–is just being true to his vicious new faith.
Glad he was caught before he could murder anyone.
Wellington says
Understanding Islam correctly, and thereafter acting upon that understanding, is an imperative of the first order.
By now, most every sensible adult human being (this leaves a lot of humanity out of course) should know this and also that any further excuses for Islam are intellectually bankrupt of anything even remotely defensible.
My overall take: Nowhere is it written that a religion cannot be bad or, in the alternative, nowhere is it written that mankind would never get a major religion that is simply awful.
Proceed from here, I would argue, and understand that Islam is extra nefarious to mankind because it has continued to exist through the ages down to the present day PRECISELY because it functions as a major religion, and thus parasitically takes advantage behind this religious veil of all those who believe in freedom, and all those who believe in another religion (or no religion), and all those that think that a Golden Rule should apply to everyone.
Yes indeed, Islam pushes the boundaries in many respects—and virtually entirely for negative purposes. So, the solution is to proceed from the realization that mankind is such a fuck-up that it can actually end up with a major religion which is rotten to the core. Free societies are particularly not prepared to deal with this reality but deal with it they must. The very continuance of liberty depends upon it and it will certainly (count on it) serve as an “experiment” in how much free societies can allow an enemy of liberty, as Islam surely is, to exist amidst free societies.
What is key in all this is accurate identification. Accurate identification of Islam MUST conclude that a major religion can be rotten to the core and especially the free portion of humanity has to deal with this reality—constitutionally, legally, socially, economically, etc. of Mo’s extremely warped creed which still (unfortunately to be sure) has traction to this day.
Ah, life is a screw-up at times. No better example than the long-lived life of Islam. Front and center example, I would posit, of this verity.
An enormous burden is Islam. An enormous mistake. Arguably none greater in human history. Time for a beer and some fine pork product like BBQ ribs. Sorry to go on so long but my blood was up. Couldn’t help it. And Merry Christmas to everyone, especially all those offended by this greeting.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“Accurate identification of Islam MUST conclude that a major religion can be rotten to the core…”
Yes, Islam is a religion – as well as an always potentially violent political totalitarian ideology. Absolutely rotten to the core. NO redeeming value.
“… and especially the free portion of humanity has to deal with this reality—constitutionally, legally, socially, economically, etc…”
Yes, the free world must deal with this REALITY in the ways that you have outlined. As far as the United States, I would recommend:
-All Muslims who can be legally deported should be deported to their Islamic country of origin.
-The Muslims who cannot be deported should be held to the same legal standards as any other individuals living within the United States. NO exceptions.
-All Muslims should be banned from entering the United States unless they are conducting official government business. During their time in the United States, they should be under surveillance by law enforcement. As soon as their official government business is completed, they are to be returned to their Islamic country of origin. NO exceptions.
-All mosques in the United States should be under active surveillance – and shut down if ANY US laws are broken.
-Bottom line: United States is stuck with about 3.3 million Muslims which represents approximately 1% of the population of the United States. They MUST comply with all US laws. Mosques that promote violence and / or the replacement of US law with sharia law should be shut down – PERMANENTLY.
Wellington, best wishes to you and yours over the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/06/a-new-estimate-of-the-u-s-muslim-population/
gravenimage says
Good posts, Wellington and James.
n says
Thank you, Wellington, for a very fine ‘Christmas card’. Your eloquence cheered me up.
sidney penny says
Super question
“Why do all jihadis misunderstand Islamic doctrine in exactly the same way?”
or
Why do all jihadis from all over the world misunderstand Islamic doctrine in exactly the same way?
gravenimage says
+1
tgusa says
Over the last few years the islamic state has been taking quite a pounding with many many casualties. Why couldn’t Kevin have joined up and traveled to that graveyard earlier? A little late to the party there pal, damn.
elee says
Oh dont worry for him, hell get his chance. Per radio broadcast today ISIS is present entrenched and preparing to rise again. Or he could go join the Taliban, which America for some reason seems eager to endorse as a negotiating partner. Are we going to defeat them and then surrender?
tgusa says
I looks like many of the leaders in the west are in the middle of bringing them here so they don’t have to fight them there.
SemiDave says
How very unfortunate, for as a current popular saying goes, “When you bring there here, here becomes there.”
elee says
Tends to corroborate a statistic I recall, to the effect that the largest portion of jihadists are new converts. Your local mosque vectors a lethal disease……..as does your tax-subsidised prison imam.
Scott Morgan says
Free research paper on Shariah law is available. In 2018 I researched and wrote a 57-page paper on Shariah law that I make available to people free of charge. Merely send me an email at SBMorgan2018@gmail.com and I will send it to you.
gravenimage says
Thanks, Scott.
FYI says
The convert to Christianity or Judaism..
I must subscribe to God’s official commandment system:the 2 chief commandments and the Exodus 20{‘ten’} so I am certainly not free to go around murdering people as that is considered a sin in the Judeo-Christian system.
The Judeo-Christian Law{Judaism AND Christianity}
1}2 CHIEF laws{LOVE GOD,LOVE OTHERS}
1st Chief law of Deuteronomy 6:4-9″Obey God’s official commandments,teach them to your children”
2nd Chief law of Lev 19:18 “Love thy neighbor”:MISSING in islam…!!
2}Exodus 20:1-17 God’s official commandments
Note:WHERE ARE THESE LAWS to be seen in islam:the koran contradicts them!
The convert to islam..
“isn’t this fantastic?”Commandments,what commandments?” allah doesn’t conform to the official commandment system:How convenient is that?Now I can do what I like free of those pesky commandments:murder,commit treason,steal from infidels,indulge in polygamy,get a child bride…isn’t this fantastic?”
No need to OBEY those Exodus 20 laws as allah {“The BEST of deceivers”k3:54}says I am free to
murder k2;191
abuse women k4:24 including commiting adultery with captured women
steal k33:50
lie to promote islam k3;28 etc
No need to love thy Christian or Jewish neighbor when he is an inferior infidel koran 98 v 6 and muslims should not be friendly with them k5:51
Ask yourself if you are a muslim:
WHY does allah teach the OPPOSITE to the Official Laws?
WHERE is the Golden Rule and the Two chief commandments in islam?
MISSING
***Clue*** allah is the “BEST of deceivers” k3:54 and curses Jews AND Christians k9:30
abad says
Let him move to Syria, do NOT allow him to move back to the USA.
Converts to Islam have already forfeited American citizenship.