Posted on 05/24/2006 8:54:58 AM PDT by Dark Skies
The response was typical from the local office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): Ahmed Bedier, the director and a spokesperson for CAIR’s Central Florida Council stated,
“Obviously, if they had recently arrived here and they are from Saudi Arabia, they may not be familiar with American rules and laws. They might have thought it was some kind of public transportation.”
CAIR’s usual response any time authorities detain or question Muslims or Arab nationals in the US who are suspected of potential terrorism planning came about when two young Saudi nationals, Mana Saleh Almanajam, 23, and Shaker Mohsen Alsidran, 20, both of Tampa, boarded a Florida high school bus with local students one morning. The bus driver who radioed police was notified by alarmed students on board when they noticed the Saudi men behaving strangely and one wearing a long trench coat on a very hot day and profusely sweating. A half hour later they were removed from the bus by a sheriff’s deputy and interrogated. Almanajam and Alsidran are both reasonably fluent in English according to acquaintances and Florida State University language instructors and should know the difference between public transportation and a school bus.
So was this just a mistake or another example of our State Department, Saudi Arabia’s best friend, at work?
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spokesman J.D. Callaway explained,
“the men were speaking in Arabic, they were making funny sounds, it was very unusual. It was alarming for the students on the bus.”
Callaway described them as “cagey and evasive” as they answered questions.
“The men told authorities they were from Morocco because they worried Americans fear Saudi Arabian men.”“They told authorities they are enrolled at the English Language Institute at the University of South Florida. The defendants gave several versions of the reason they took a school bus to a high school, “ said Callaway.
Excuses changed from their seeking to enroll in an English language program at the high school even though they already were in one at the University of South Florida, to they just wanted see a US high school or just for “fun.”
In 2001, after information came out that most of the hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi nationals, the visas of most Saudi students in US colleges were revoked sending them home. But Almanjam and Alsidran were admitted recently to a US college thanks to the US State Department once again allowing 21,000 Saudi national to flood US campuses after pressure from US colleges seeking Saudi tuition money. That figure is roughly equal to the number here just before 9/11.
These two men were initially charged with trespassing by local prosecutors and already had a bond posted and CAIR to speak on their behalf, but after further deliberations the bond was revoked and Homeland Security has begun investigations into their cell phone communications and documentation (anyone hear the ACLU screaming?). Further interrogations revealed the two had planned the bus invasion the night before and knew what they were doing.
One law enforcement official involved in the case described the two Saudis as “very cocky” in their dealing with authorities. And why shouldn’t they be? Surely someone at State will respond to appeals from the Saudi consulate along with help from CAIR. Meanwhile, the government has scheduled these two Saudi students for an immigration hearing so thankfully they are still in custody in federal lockup and will probably be deported since these aren’t the sons of some fabulously wealthy sheiks.
But don’t bet on it.
Even though they were in the country as “students,” subsequent information has also revealed they were not qualified as such, needing to complete a course in English at FSU to even apply. Apparently the US State Department is so intent on allowing Saudi “students” into the US they are even admitting those ill-equipped to follow a normal required course of study. Perhaps all a Saudi “student” needs to get a State Department visa is the ability to fly an airplane, no need to know how to takeoff or land. As mentioned, several of the hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi “students” who overstayed on student visas. The US State Department just doesn’t get it—or doesn’t want to.
Long trench coats on hot days and heavy sweating are something security forces tell bus drivers to look out for in Israel to prevent suicide bombings on buses. Was this a dry run or an experiment to see how easily access to school buses could be attained? In any event, the government has scheduled these two Saudi students for an immigration hearing With no bail and thankfully they are still in custody in a federal lockup.
The first World Trade Center attack in 1993 proved to al Qaeda and its terror allies the need for preparation and dry runs before launching a successful mission. This event needs to be scrutinized as potential training and preparation for what may lay in store for high schools across the US. Our high schools and children are and will be one of our most vulnerable targets not just by indoctrination in the classrooms and textbooks, but for physical attacks as well in the case of terrorist attacks.
Leave it to the US State Department to leave open any possibility of another 9/11 when it comes to admitting Saudi “students.”
Frankly, I can't think of a thing they could do that would get a very severe response from us. The left and the media have become so pro-terrorist that the press and the pols would just find a way of excusing it - and besides, Iran and the other state actors are busy building deniability, so it can't be traced to them. We'd just have a day of mourning or two and get on with life. And the terrorists know it. There's going to be no cost to them or their countries now, thanks to the left.
Just posted a response to ElGato answering similar thoughts. See post #40.
Sounds like you too are intrigued by the fact that they entered on the sub's day...
Because when Saudis blow something up, ya gotta invade somewhere.
"Americans fear Saudi Arabian men"
Bwahahahah yeah, we sure do...keep thinking that.
You think so? I bet there would be commissions, hearings, calls to bring the perpetrators to justice for their crimes, etc., and ultimately nothing. As far as I'm concerned I'll know that we are serious about fighting terrorism when we round up every last one of these "students" and send them back to whatever god-forsaken wasteland they came from, and get serious about monitoring what "imams" are saying, and what is going on in mosques.
For more info on the liklihood of attacks on our children and our "government" schools, see: http://www.schoolterrorism.com/timeline.html
I am suprised that we have not had an attack at a school or hospital by now.
Think about it. If you wanted to shut the country down just prove that our children and old people are not safe and the country would freak.
I have a teenage son (9th grade) and we have discussed this and went through several possible attack plans so he and I would know what to do and where to go after each.
Great post!
"I'm glad someone besides me sees that association."
I saw it too. Don't worry, there are many who do.
"As far as I'm concerned I'll know that we are serious about fighting terrorism when we round up every last one of these "students" and send them back to whatever god-forsaken wasteland they came from, and get serious about monitoring what "imams" are saying, and what is going on in mosques."
Amen.
Maybe a school bus attack will turn the tide- a sad commentary.
I noticed a little mention in this article that they had apparently admitted to planning it "the night before." I think it was definitely planned, but I doubt that they just started the night before. Unless they were just lucky in hitting a sub (which is a possibility), they had been watching the busses or had somebody on the inside.
I couldn't agree with you more. The whole situation is extremely disturbing...
Totally agree. The un-CAIR people are a menace to our whole country.
bump
I'm afraid they are biding their time and putting assets in place awaiting the day there is a dem in the White House again. They know Bush will come after them and they know almost no one else will.
There are still a few "Goth" types running around. I saw a gal dressed that way last weekend at Chili's in Central Texas. No trench coat though. I was also in Florida last week and I can say it was pretty warm. But I don't think the Goth types let that stop them.
As far as the age difference, have you dropped by your local high school, especially in the lower socioeconomic areas, lately. You see lots of beards and partial beards. To my eye, the guy with the beard looks younger than the beardless one. I could see him as high school age, but the other one would be a bit of a stretch. Still, the driver likely wasn't paying all that much attention.
The EUropeons are being over-run by Moose-limbs and we're being invaded from Mexico and points south
I guess we had first choice ;-)
and we are all just lying back and taking it.
Yes! American high schools are ideal targets. They are chaotic , insecure and overcrowded. When they hit one of our schools they will be much better armed than the Columbine killers.
Couldn't agree more. Nice tagline.
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