Are US high schools to become targets of terrorism?

The American Thinker ^ | 5/24/2006 | Lee Kaplan

[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.”

[pawdoggie]

I'm still trying to figure out why this school bus driver let these 2 on in the first place. FINALLY someone posts the most obvious question!

Obvious answers, bus driver inattention; bus driver fear. In either case, new procedures and additional training required immediately.

[subterfuge]

These fiends are expert at appearing harmless while plotting murder and death.

I honestly don't think so. I think they naturally appear so buffoonish they *seem* to be harmless. Once in awhile they're able to complete a mission, imo.

[khnyny]

"I'm still trying to figure out why this school bus driver let these 2 on in the first place.
Umm, they probably weren't all the much different in age than the typical high school student. Nor dressed more strangely than many of those.'

You're right, they were at the bus stop and sort of "blended in". The most important point that I read elsewhere though, is that the bus driver was a SUBSTITUTE driver and not familiar with the regular riders. I think she handled the situation admirably and did exactly the right thing under the circumstances.

[milford421]

"As far as the age difference, have you dropped by your local high school, especially in the lower socioeconomic areas, lately."

Yes, as a matter of fact...I have.

Seems we both agree about the trench coat dress...

"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."

That's true.

" Still, the driver likely wasn't paying all that much attention."

Agreed. Please see livius post #51. I hadn't been aware of the fact that this was pre-planned. Renders the matter all the more insidious.

[milford421]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=9ed7b367-7e8e-4720-a99c-6d5a1a26bf88&k=63766

Thought you all would be interested in this article regarding testimony from DC sniper Lee Malvo. Didn't print the entire article, but here are pertinent points:

"They planned to place explosives on school buses in Baltimore, kill a Baltimore police officer and then set off explosives packed with ball bearings at the officer's funeral."

"When Malvo asked Muhammad why, he said, "For the sheer terror of it - the worst thing you can do to people is aim at their children."

Muhammad's goal was to raise money to set up a terror camp in Canada to train kids (homeless kids) to be terrorists, to "shut things down".

[DoctorMichael]

They are:

1) Pedophiles
2) Terrorists
3) Both 1 & 2

[El Gato]

The most important point that I read elsewhere though, is that the bus driver was a SUBSTITUTE driver and not familiar with the regular riders. I think she handled the situation admirably and did exactly the right thing under the circumstances.

Indeed she did. The only thing better would have been if she could have forced them off the bus herself, at gunpoint. But of course being armed would not be PC, and would in fact be in violation of the law. The Israelis arm at least some of their teachers, and I suspect their bus drivers as well.

[Taffini]

bump