Posted on 01/09/2012 3:33:25 PM PST by Olog-hai
A former US Army soldier has been charged with trying to help Somalia's al-Shabab militant group.
Craig Baxam, 24, was arrested by Kenyan authorities in December as he tried to cross the border into Somalia.
An affidavit released by US prosecutors alleges that he planned to offer several hundred dollars to the militant group, which has links to al-Qaeda, and to serve as a fighter.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors say. …
Mr. Baxam joined the army in 2007 and was trained in intelligence and cryptology.
He previously served in Iraq, returned home and then re-enlisted. He was deployed to South Korea for one year beginning in August 2010.
The affidavit alleges that he converted to Islam secretly after reading an Islamic website while serving in Korea.
Traveling to Somalia held appeal for Mr. Baxam because he wanted to live in a country where he believed Sharia law held sway. He no longer believed he could live in the US, prosecutors say.
The only places that were acceptable, according to the affidavit, were Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan, part of Somalia controlled by al-Shabab, and in the southern Philippines.
Mr. Baxam is quoted as saying he wanted to die "with a gun in my hand", and that he would be happy to die defending Islam.
When told that during interviews with the FBI that al-Shabab encouraged beating people who were seen in the street during prayer time, Mr. Baxam allegedly replied, "That is awesome". …
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
What ever happened to executing traitors?
His sympathies may lie elsewhere than the US gov’t, but I’m not sure he should be convicted as a traitor yet. What did he actually do to harm this country? His intentions are only speculation. I am not impressed with the simpletons our government keeps arresting as traitors. The potential harm they could do to this country is small. But we don’t call Bill Clinton a traitor even though there is clear evidence he sold secret material for campaign cash. I’m tired of this parade of patsys.
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