NBC: (muslim) Soldier accused of trying to aid al-Qaida

msnbc ^ | Feb. 12, 2004 | NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski and NBC News' justice correspondent Pete Williams

[miltonim]

U.S. military and Justice Department officials tell NBC News that a U.S. Army National Guardsman was taken into custody Thursday at Fort Lewis, Wash., and charged with attempting to pass intelligence information to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

The officials said that Anderson was caught up in a sting operation conducted jointly by the Army, the Justice Department and the FBI. Anderson, however, is currently being held and charged only by the Army. Anderson is a Muslim, officials said.

[livius]

The charges weren't "bogus."

He clearly spilled the beans on everybody he was working with - I think spending a few months in the brig at Charleston will make one very eager to cooperate - and has made a deal. One of the interpreters did, too, although I think there's another one who is still refusing to cooperate.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping to Post 94

[Imal]

A Muslim helping al Qaeda? Stop the presses.

[TheBattman]

Treason is punishable by DEATH....

Let justice come quickly!

[OldFriend]

WABC radio running with the story.....no mention of the soldier being a muslim........

[OldFriend]

Today's attack on General Abizaid come from a mosque.

Ought to flatten the mosque with warnings about future attacks bringing the same consequences.

[cake_crumb]

"Can imagine the bad mouthing, cursing of America and Jews you would pick up?"

Don't forget the EEEVEEEEEL Ashcroft, whose a known CHRISTIAN, and especially BUSH a known Christian who was AWOL...and EVERYBODY knows the NG is a haven for thieves and draft dodgers...

[demnomo]

Chaplain Yee--the guy from Gitmo was found innocent? Didn't know that.

When it comes to terrorists and their fervent supporters, I believe the safest course is to view them as guilty until proven innocent. :)

[demnomo]

Re: Yee's "bogus" charges--this is getting interesting...

[Darksheare]

LOL!!!

[livius]

He wasn't found innocent. They kept reducing the charges, obviously to the extent that he provided his cooperation.

The charges are now fairly minor and I don't think he's even come to trial yet, but it was clearly a deal.

[Darlin']

".... Anderson is a Muslim, officials said."

It matters not where they're from, or their life experiences they share a common goal, they hate all "infidels" and want to kill every last one of us.

[Shermy]

All spying-like charges were dropped against him. But they added on, and are pursuing "porn" and adultery charges.

[livius]

That's basically just to get Yee out of the service with a dishonorable discharge.

He gave the investigators what they needed - probably some of his Muslim "brethren" will wipe him out at some point - or in any case, he's no threat because he's never going to be trusted again.

[serurier]

This Spy ! ! ! ! !

How to let the soldier dying for freedom down? How to let the person murdered by the terrorist down ?

[11th Earl of Mar]

His name is Anderson?

Maybe Allah Mohommad Zachari Anderson?

[petercooper]

did they say he was muslim, or just religous?

[TomGuy]

[still no news pic, but this article gives added details]

Fort Lewis soldier charged with trying to aid al-Qaida


The Associated Press



FORT LEWIS — A National Guardsman stationed at Fort Lewis was arrested today and charged by the Army with trying to provide information to the al-Qaida terrorist network, a federal law enforcement official said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Spc. Ryan G. Anderson was charged with "aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaida terrorist network."

It was not immediately known what information Anderson allegedly provided.

Anderson, a Muslim, was being held at Fort Lewis, an Army base near Tacoma.

A message left with the Army's Lt. Col. Stephen Barger at Fort Lewis was not immediately returned. Barger, however, scheduled a news conference at the base this afternoon.

Anderson, 26, is a tank crew member from the National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, a 4,200-member unit set to depart for Iraq. It's the biggest deployment for the Washington Army National Guard since World War II.

Washington State University spokeswoman Charleen Taylor said Anderson was a 2002 graduate with a degree in history.

Anderson converted to the Muslim faith five years ago, the Everett Herald reported last week. He graduated from Everett's Cascade High School in 1995.

The brigade has been training at Fort Lewis since November. Eighty percent of the soldiers — 3,200 — are from Washington state, and 1,000 are from guard units in California and Minnesota.

It includes two tank battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, engineers, support troops, artillery and an intelligence company.

It's due to return in March 2005, and be back under state authority by May 15, 2005.

[cksharks]

Since I am a cajun and the only muslims I have met were in the VA Medical Center your post is kinda f-----g stupid. I bet the nazies first started treating the Jews the same way some on FR try to paint ALL MUSLIMS with the same brush.

[livius]

Smogger, I'm sorry for asking you to post the picture! I wasn't even thinking about the implications at the time.

In any case, I suspect you're probably right.

We'll see. He sounds like an upper middle class kid, from the brief descriptions given of him in the press.