Islam probed: Heshem that is

ACT for America ^ | 1 February, 2008 | Jerry Gordon & Claudia Rosset

[brityank]

Islam probed: Heshem that is

February 1, 2008
comment by Jerry Gordon

What is that careworn expression: "oh what a tangled web we weave, when we first begin to deceive". That is what eventuated after the journalistic endeavors of former Wall Street journalist and now resident sleuth at the Foundation for the Defense of democracy in Washington, Claudia Rosset pressed the Pentagon on inconsistencies in Defense Muslim outreach aide, Heshem Islam's resume. As we posted on this rapidly developing story, the DoD puff piece on Heshem Islam, the Muslim outreach aide to Deputy Defense Secretary England, who accused Pentagon Islamic Law and Jihad military doctrine expert Stephen Coughlin of being a "Christian zealot with a pen" went 'poof' and disappeared off a website.

Bill Gertz who has been in the forefront of l'affaire Coughlin disclosures had this account of the bafflegab by the flacks at the DoD about why the profile of Heshem was taken down.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said "that piece was taken down in an attempt to reduce the rhetoric and the emotion surrounding this issue while we try to determine the facts."

The Pentagon does not comment on such personnel matters, he noted. "That said, we are looking into the matter and trying to reconcile conflicting statements."

But Gertz goes on with this twisted tale to press home and offers some interesting tidbits about Islam's prior views that are disturbing.

Mr. Wensing could not explain why Mr. Islam said in his biography that he was on a freighter sunk by an Iranian torpedo in the Persian Gulf when there is no record of the ship being sunk.

According to his 1992 master's thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School , Mr. Islam is highly critical of Israel and the influence of American Jews on U.S. politics, noting that U.S. ties to Israel have harmed relations to other states in the Middle East .

Some unidentified DoD person gave us a laugh when they commented:

One Pentagon official suggested that any security concerns about Mr. Islam are misguided, noting that someone in his position would have to face a background check.

Now, how is the FBI going to do a background investigation of Mr. Islam in Cairo, Baghdad and other fleshpots in the Middle East, when they don't have the qualified translators and the addresses of persons of interest to contact. This is complete taqiyyah by a dhimmi Defense official. L'affaire Coughlin, as we said gets curioser and curioser.

Inside The Ring, Washington Times, February 1, 2008
By Bill Gertz

The Pentagon is looking into conflicting statements about the background of Hesham Islam, a special assistant to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England who was the focus of a dispute with a Joint Staff counterterrorism analyst.

Mr. Islam faced tough questions about his background posed by veteran journalist Claudia Rosett, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who covered the United Nations oil-for-food scandal with Iraq . Last week, Miss Rosett took the Pentagon to task by uncovering serious discrepancies about the Egyptian-born Islam that no one at the Pentagon seems willing to answer.

Writing in National Review Online, Miss Rosett revealed that certain claims about Mr. Islam's background don't fit.

Shortly after she wrote about the discrepancies contained in a Pentagon-written article on Mr. Islam's background, the Pentagon removed the biography from its Web site, DefenseLink.mil.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said "that piece was taken down in an attempt to reduce the rhetoric and the emotion surrounding this issue while we try to determine the facts."

The Pentagon does not comment on such personnel matters, he noted. "That said, we are looking into the matter and trying to reconcile conflicting statements."

Mr. Islam has come under fire from supporters of Stephen Coughlin, the Joint Staff analyst on counterterrorism whose contract was not renewed. The action followed a meeting between Mr. Coughlin and Mr. Islam several weeks ago when the two clashed over Mr. Coughlin's views on the Islamic law roots of terrorism.

After refusing comment to Inside the Ring, Kevin Wensing, a spokesman for Mr. Islam, now says that reports in this space that Mr. Islam called Mr. Coughlin a "Christian zealot with a pen" did not take place during the meeting.

Queries to other Pentagon officials familiar with the issue said the phrase was used by Mr. Islam after the meeting, not during it.

No action was taken against Mr. Islam, a Muslim adviser and confidant of Mr. England , for the anti-Christian comments. Mr. Islam could not be reached for comment.

Miss Rosett tried - and failed - to get straight answers from Mr. Wensing about why Mr. Islam claimed that when he was 7 his family was bombed by Israeli jets at his home in Cairo , when there is no evidence the Israelis bombed the Egyptian capital during the 1967 war.

Also, Mr. Wensing could not explain why Mr. Islam said in his biography that he was on a freighter sunk by an Iranian torpedo in the Persian Gulf when there is no record of the ship being sunk.

According to his 1992 master's thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School , Mr. Islam is highly critical of Israel and the influence of American Jews on U.S. politics, noting that U.S. ties to Israel have harmed relations to other states in the Middle East .

One Pentagon official suggested that any security concerns about Mr. Islam are misguided, noting that someone in his position would have to face a background check.

[brityank]

Some more interesting info on our Islamic Mole.

Never bombed in Egypt, and never torpedoed; and the FBI has qualified this guy for a Secret Clearance? How in the hell did he get into our Navy?

[LiteKeeper]

Do not let this one get away! It must be given the highest possible visibility and attention!

[george76]

Mr. Wensing could not explain why Mr. Islam said in his biography that he was on a freighter sunk by an Iranian torpedo in the Persian Gulf when there is no record of the ship being sunk.

According to his 1992 master’s thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School , Mr. Islam is highly critical of Israel and the influence of American Jews on U.S. politics, noting that U.S. ties to Israel have harmed relations to other states in the Middle East .

[brityank]

Some of us are trying to keep it there, but since I’m saddled with a Senator who thinks investigating the NFL instead of Able-Danger is more important, I’ll need a satchel charge to get his attention.

[SatinDoll]

It was my understanding when I was in NAVSECGRU, that anyone in the Navy who was cleared for duty had an automatic SECRET clearance, because all military matters are considered to be classified as SECRET.

We allow foreign nationals to enlist in the military and some even apply for commissions. All have to undergo a background check. Since my dad and I had both worked in the nuclear power industry, basic background checks had already been performed and I got TSC clearance in 9-weeks.

As to this Egyptian fellow, he was very young when he came to this country and went through college and sought a commission. That’s all I know, and it is really not uncommon. I worked with an engineer from Nigeria, a naturalized citizen married to an American woman, and he was given a Navy commission and served in the Reserve.

[dighton]

What is that careworn expression: “oh what a tangled web we weave, when we first begin to deceive”.

Be it care- or shopworn, Sir Walter is deeply saddened.

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!

[GOPJ]

bump for later

[brityank]

When I went in in 62 before I got my citizenship, I too had a BG check run, but was only given a Confidential clearance. Once I got Naturalized, it was upgraded to Secret — but the BG investigations — both of them — were very detailed, and included folks in my old hometown in England.

[brityank]

I believe it’s called a lack of a classical education.

[pepsionice]

Correct me if I’m wrong...but didn’t this security clearance thing become a major issue in the downfall of that gay New Jersey governor? That guy had hired his male “friend” as the New Jersey state terrorism expert...but the guy was Israeli and not a US citizen. The Homeland Security folks said “No” when he guy came in and everyone thought he was going to get a secret clearance....to attend their meetings. I would have some questions over him actually holding a clearance...unless he has US citizenship.

I’ve worked with several folks who were not US citizens...in the US military...and most of them did eventually have a secret clearance...although it took a fair amount of time to do the background checks.

Based on his comments...I’d be questioning his truthfulness and that alone would be enough to yank the clearance...in a normal situation. If these idiots are stupid enough to keep him around...it probably demonstrates the incompetence of our management team there.

[Marine_Uncle]

There might be an answer. Muslims lie.

[TBP]

We won’t do anything to clean Islamist moles like this character out of our government any more than we did anything to clean out the Communist moles.

[Marine_Uncle]

I should have added on the issue: “One Pentagon official suggested that any security concerns about Mr. Islam are misguided, noting that someone in his position would have to face a background check.” Horse shit. And pardon my French admins., but there are times one cannot take it any more. I have to hit the sack. Do have an great upcoming day.

[SatinDoll]

I remember reading about that messy affair in New Jersey but it was sordid, so I ignored it.

Once upon a time I was working in a cypher locked space when a Air Force sergeant entered and started working across the room. I was told he was a native speaker of Arabic who had been born in Syria.

Many Christians had been persecuted and driven into exile by Hafez Assad’s dictatorship. So I wouldn’t immediately discount anyone from the ME as having honorable reasons to work for the U.S.

Hashem Islam may just be someone who is so agreable that he has won the confidence of people arrogant enough to think their judgement supercedes adequate security precautions. Look what is now coming to light about the Russian agent who won the friendship and confidence of Strobe Talbott. It has happened before and can happen again.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george76.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said "that piece was taken down in an attempt to reduce the rhetoric and the emotion surrounding this issue while we try to determine the facts."

Translation: We want this story to go away fast...CYA!

[Grimmy]

Not only should this Islam fella be under lock and key while his “legend” is given the electron microscope, but G. England’s head should already be on a pike outside the Pentagon as a warning to everyone else.

[forkinsocket]

Thanks for the ping.

Miss Rosett tried - and failed - to get straight answers from Mr. Wensing about why Mr. Islam claimed that when he was 7 his family was bombed by Israeli jets at his home in Cairo , when there is no evidence the Israelis bombed the Egyptian capital during the 1967 war.

I'm going to guess that he claimed this to have an excuse for his anti-Israel rhetoric & to gain sympathy for his positions from his boss & colleagues.

[expatguy]

bttt