July 1997:
Canadian Intelligence Learns of Militant Recruitment Effort in Canada -
In July 1997, Islamic Jihad operative MAHMOUD JABALLAH receives a fax from AHMAD SALAMA MABRUK, a member of Islamic Jihad’s ruling council living in AZERBAIJAN. Canadian intelligence has been closely monitoring Jaballah since he arrived in Canada in 1996 (see May 11, 1996-August 2001) and they learn the contents of this fax while monitoring him.
Mabruk’s fax gives guidance on how to recruit new operatives. Jaballah responds by telling MABRUK and THIRWAT SALAH SHEHATA, another member of Islamic Jihad’s ruling council, that he already has recruited some people affiliated with the MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD. Furthermore, THEY HAVE CANADIAN RESIDENCE PAPERS, they have been tested, and they have proven reliable. He says it is time for them to be briefed about their duties.
MABRUK replies that he is pleased and that these new recruits are very much needed. [Canadian Security Intelligence Service, 2/22/2008 pdf file]
Perhaps not coincidentally, it will later be reported that also in 1997, Canadian intelligence begins a large-scale investigation of Islamic militants in Canada that will eventually be formally named Project A/O Canada. [Globe and Mail, 3/17/2007]
January-August 1998:
Saudi Businessman Pays Money to Al-Qaeda Front
SAUDI ARABIAN businessman Yassin al-Qadi pays US$1.25 million from an account in Geneva to a company called MARAM, an ISTANBUL-based terrorism front founded by al-Qaeda chief financial officer Mamdouh Mahmud Salim (see November 1996-September 1998). The transfer is not direct, but is made through an unidentified person the US later says is an al-Qaeda operative.
Writing in 2004, the Wall Street Journal will call this “THE STRONGEST DOCUMENTED LINK TO DATE BETWEEN THE TERROR ORGANIZATION AND SAUDI FINANCIERS.” HOWEVER, lawyers for al-Qadi, who the US will designate a terrorism financier after 9/11 (see October 12, 2001), will say that the money is not used to buy arms, but is spent on low-cost housing at a religious education facility.
The final recipient is said to be the Al Imam University in Sana’a, YEMEN, whose alumni include, for example, “AMERICAN TALIBAN” John Walker Lindh. The university’s rector is Sheikh Abdul Mejid al-Zindani, who fought alongside Osama bin Laden in the anti-Soviet jihad, heads the MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD in YEMEN, and, according to a memo obtained by the US Justice Department, discussed with bin Laden the use of charities in Pakistan as a front for terrorist attacks. [Wall Street Journal, 4/2/2004]
The Saudi rich are the untouchables.