Was Mariam Taha Thompson vetted properly when she was hired? Almost certainly not. To have probed her sentiments regarding jihad would have been “Islamophobic.” What’s more, the U.S. government and military are still largely committed to the idea that Islam is a religion peace that has nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. This soothing fantasy would have guided even the way suspicions of espionage are handled. It’s a wonder that she has been charged at all.
“DOD linguist charged with giving classified info to Lebanese national with ties to Hezbollah: DOJ,” by Bradford Betz, Fox News, March 4, 2020:
A linguist working for the Department of Defense was arrested last week on charges of giving top-secret information, including details on American intelligence assets, to a Lebanese national with ties to Hezbollah, a group designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization.
Mariam Taha Thompson, 61, who had top-secret government security clearance, was arrested Thursday on the espionage-related allegation at an unidentified U.S. military facility overseas, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors accused Thompson, formerly of Rochester, Minn., of turning over information that placed intelligence assets and American military personnel in danger.
Prosecutors said that during a six-week period starting in late December, when U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, Thompson repeatedly accessed dozens of files, including the names of human assets, their pictures and information detailing what these sources provided the U.S. government.
Prosecutors said that when officials searched her living quarters, they found a handwritten note in Arabic under her mattress with information about DOD computer systems and warning of a DOD target.
Prosecutors said she had given the information in the note to a co-conspirator who worked for the Lebanese government and “has apparent connections” to Hezbollah….
Hindu American says
Mariam Taha Thompson of Rochester, Minnesota…who else do we know who “represents” Minnesota?
Mary says
My thoughts exactly.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Rochester used to be an ideal small city. Two big high salary employers in IBM and the Mayo Clinic, lakes, low crime in a peaceful little city. But that changed. In came the hairy people, and they weren’t happy with what they found in their new homeland. Still aren’t.
Rob Porter says
It occurs to me as a foreigner that as much as we scorn Western Europe for its utter gutless and stupid polities towards Islam and Muslims, some or many Americans, not least in government and thus in the State Department, are just as stupid, clueless and uneducated. Why the devil is Mike Pompeo not introducing an education program led by Robert Spencer?
And in respect of all this DonaldTrump also needs to wake up. That story yesterday of a woman being badly beaten up by a Muslim neighbour from Somalia was shocking and yet some court official informed her that if the vile creature had killed her the leniency toward this criminal would have been no different. What kind of insanity is this? And we talk about Muslim being inbred? Western officials are also the ones who are inbred!
Spiro says
President Trump. does not control the legal system
or have any sayi in state courts
Take a civics class
Also he can not pass or change
any laws
Timothy Rafferty says
Once the democrat communist sneak in policies counter to American interest it is almost impossible to fix. They have embedded operatives within the courts and civil service.
Wellington says
May she rot.
And if only Islam would be very publicly identified as a religion BUT an evil religion, I submit (not meant in the Islamic way) that full tolerance respecting belief in this putrid excuse for a religion could still remain here in America, just as Nazism and Marxism are heinous but nonetheless protected belief systems, but acting upon Islam’s many egregious and wicked directives (e.g., death for apostasy) would be prosecuted to the maximum under the law.
Islam in a free society can be tolerated IF Islam is properly characterized as malevolent and inimical to freedom. Again I assert that it is proper characterization which is key and not the fool’s errand of trying to somehow get Islam listed as not being a religion at all—or being a criminal conspiracy—or, or, or…..
Look, mankind needs to face up to the fact that mankind “got” a major religion which is totally effed up. This is the reality. Islam as not a religion or Islam as a criminal conspiracy, etc. is NOT the optimal approach. Islam as an evil religion is the most efficacious legal, common sense, societal and psychological route to follow. I am certain of this.
Islam does not need to be banned, criminalized, not characterized as a religion, etc. It “only” needs to be accurately assessed as one very messed up, malevolent religion and free societies thereafter, and proceeding on the conviction that freedom does not mean one has to commit suicide in order to demonstrate how wonderful freedom is, will know what to do.
Muslims, ALL Muslims, should be shamed into adhering to Islam. As should be the case with Marxists, Neo-Nazis, anarchists, Antifa followers, et al. Should this occur, liberty will prevail. Nothing more would be needed.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
I am trying to unpack your post, there is a lot there…
Your point number one: islam is an evil religion. That is a true statement.
Your point number two: islam should not be approached as a criminal conspiracy. Some parts of islam are, some parts are not. Certainly the goal of imposing sharia law on US citizens is a criminal conspiracy and should be dealt with as such. The federal government and all 50 states should go on record and ban sharia law.
Point number three: Muslims should be shamed due to their adherence to islam. Agreed.
I think that is going to take a combination of things in order to stop the islamization of the United States.
Luckily we still have the first and second amendments, and a very strong POTUS.
It would also help if we could get the mainstream media are on our side.
Sadly, we seem to be losing the fight in the United States. Mosques are still being built in the United States soil with foreign money and the muslim population is increasing percentagewise.
Clearly, what we are currently doing is not working…
Wellington says
Thanks for your reply, James.
Couple points. 1) paramount matter is proper characterization of Islam as malevolent—pursuing it as a criminal conspiracy is not something I oppose but I do oppose going after Islam first and foremost this way; 2) every new mosque built in America is an insult to the First Amendment and to liberty—I’m not saying mosques should not be allowed to be built or exist but then I would say the same about a new KKK location or Antifa headquarters or an anarchist site, or a Neo-Nazi structure, etc.
I suspect we are in complete agreement on point 2 and I hope you see where my priorities lie due to point 1.
As always, good to hear from you. MAGA2020!
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
Yes, I believe that we are basically on the same page.
Regarding mosques in the United States, I believe that there is more that we can do to protect ourselves:
1, All mosques in the United States should be under surveillance. If the imams are encouraging violence and/or promotion of sharia law, those particular mosques should be closed down – permanently. And the imams should be criminally prosecuted.
2. It should be illegal for foreign money to be used to fund the building of mosques in the United States.
Until 1 and 2 are completed, they should be a complete moratorium on the further building of mosques / islamic “cultural centers” in the United States.
I’m not sure of the legalities of the above, but clearly something more needs to be done.
Best wishes.
David Grisez says
There is a question that can be asked. Was this person who was charged with espionage a Muslim?
gravenimage says
This is not clear–but her first two names suggest it.
esther says
I, too, am curious about what made MIRIAM THOMPSON. Sorry folks, but what is disdainfully called “PROFILING” not all bad.
Lets call it by the modern term——-“vetting” which used to be
used to describe horses and dogs. It has been actually and correctly
determined —-that PIT BULLS tend to be violent and not to be trusted
around vulnerable beings
Vicky says
No, she is a christian. Please do not accuse her based on the assumption that she is Muslim!
gravenimage says
Do you have citations, Vicky? Few Christians would be criminally enabling Jihadists.
Larry says
I am surprised that the government cared, considering how stupid they are.
Keith says
Larry, just remember that we get the government we ask for!
Same the world over. Dumb humans keep electing corrupt stupid people.
Sad really. We deserve better.
Kepha says
Speaking as someone who’ worked way down on the government contracting linguistic services food chain, and who also had a short and inglorious diplomatic career, I know of too many in government who get turned.
But I’ll also say there’s an awful lot of vetting, especially if you have numerous relatives abroad (as I have). I’ve even sat through a couple hours’ worth of interview with an agent about my foreign contacts. I recall diplomatic security telling my cohort that the KGB takes it as a matter of faith that every American has his price–and I’m sure th Guojia Anquan Bu thinks the same.
But there’s also another angle for which the government vetting people fish: can a hostile power use some of your relatives, economic interests, or whatever to maniulate you? As far as I know, Ms. Taha Thompson may well have had a relative in Lebanon or somewhere who might have been vulnerable to Hezbollocks violence. That was one issue over which I was vetted.
Cannoneer No. 4 says
Arabic Linguists from the Lebanese Christian diaspora in the United States were considered as reliable as terps got. Do we know she is Muslim? Was she really a DoD Civilian or a Contractor? If Contractor, which one?
screw u says
Another fine example of how slow the intelligence community. The correct course of action would have been to use this woman without her knowing, to plant false information with the enemy, then send her arse to GITMO for the term of her natural life. After a televised open court trial.
gravenimage says
Defense Dept linguist accused of passing classified info about DoD computer systems and US intel assets to Hizballah
…………………………
How many more like Mariam Taha Thompson are there in our defense and security departments? How many just haven’t been caught yet?
Keys says
Yes, urgent questions that need answers. We’ve already seen what can happen in our military.
And we all know what is said about seeing one cockroach, not to mention iceberg tips.
roberta says
It wont happen, but Im all for swinging this bitch from a rope.
Battle says
How many of US personnel deaths did the alleged aiding and abetting treasonous woman cause?
gravenimage says
Good question.
wpm says
A traitor during wartime should be hung.Islam has said they are at war with us. Their leaders ,their imams ,they scream it on their streets ,they move to our countries and scream it on our streets.They fly planes into our buildings,run us over with trucks and cars ,attack our women our children on our streets everyday in Europe Americas ,Asia and Africa all in the name of Allah.They under the label of “refugee” enter our countries and bleed our social safety net dry of welfare services.
Boromir's Horn says
Before we took him out, praise Allah snort, Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani was reported to be working on a plot to obtain hostages from the American Embassy in Iraq.
Connect the dots Justice Dept. then make an example out of her.
Wilfred says
I’m sure President Donald Trump may not have been apprised of the situation. He would certainly pass a diktat barring all practicing muslims from sensitive military departments. The current President is the most practical & level headed person the US has ever had. His priorities simply focus on the fact of making America great again. His policies will go a long way in benefiting American companies & the military not only in terms of money but also manpower.
jca reid says
Shoot her or hang her. End off. Trump does this & he’ll match FDR’s 4 Terms
OLD GUY says
I call it treason, and treason calls for the death penalty, until we start treating these individuals for what they are we will continue to have this problem. Its simple you can’t trust tases people, vetted or not.