Posted on 03/02/2009 1:09:01 PM PST by chuck_the_tv_out
The revelation that the FBI planted a spy in a Southern California mosque was explosive news in a Muslim community that has long suspected the government of even broader surveillance.
Muslim-American organizations have demanded an inquiry. Some say the news has rattled their faith in American democracy.
Despite the reaction, former FBI agents and federal prosecutors say spying on mosques is still one of the government's best weapons to thwart terrorists and that the benefit to national security is likely to far outweigh any embarrassment to the agency.
"What matters to the FBI is preventing a massive attack that might be planned by some people ... using the mosque ... as a shield because they believe they're safe there," said Robert Blitzer, the FBI's former counterterrorism chief.
"That is what the American people want the FBI to do," he said. "They don't want some type of attack happening on U.S. soil because the FBI didn't act on information."
One of the most-heralded U.S. terrorism convictions, for example, grew out of the work of an informant who spent months inside a New Jersey mosque and derailed a plan to blow up New York City landmarks. Radical Egyptian cleric Omar Abdel Rahman was sentenced to life in prison in 1995. He was also the so-called "spiritual leader" for the men convicted in the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center.
"A lot of what happened was planned in the mosque," said Andy McCarthy, who was lead prosecutor on the case. "The recruiting went on in the mosque, a lot of the instruction went on in the mosque. We even had gun transactions in there."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Obama will put an end to that.
Why NOT go where the terrorists get their marching orders?
Don’t you realize that mosques are Saudi funded “embassies” for the Islamic empire? This is an international incident. The Empire will not be pleased.
They’re perfectly welcome to out the terrorists in their midst themselves and thus show us that they are on our side and not worthy of FBI resources.
Muzzies mad, too bad, so sad.
Never forget 9/11
Remember the lone bodies jumping from the buildings?
I don’t give a rat’s rear what the Muslims want.
If they WANT to live in our nation - they will follow the laws.
I recall the KKK being upset that the FBI was watching them, too. In fact, all terrorist organizations dislike being scrutinized by the FBI, why would Islam be any different?
Tough! Clean up your own house or it’ll be cleaned up for you.
And as soon as it becomes apparent that the Amish are behind the vast majority of terrorist attacks, I’ll be in favor of planting operatives in their churches. Stereotypes are born for a reason.
This should have a PMS warning - Permanent Muslim Snit
“rattled their faith in American democracy”
Tell them to join the club -
There’s a good chance they can get the not-yet-qualified president to stop all of this harrassing behavior.
Do not worry there will be no more.
“{something or other} upsets Muslims”
In other news: “Dog bites man”.
Real news would be something like: “Nothing Upsets Muslims Today”
lol. I can almost hear him saying
“ah have here in mah hand the world’s tiniest violin...”
This is the real reason they object to having law enforcement agents inside the mosques. When the terrorist plans are discovered and thwarted, they feel embarrassed. Not embarrassed because they are ashamed of the terrorists. Embarrassed because the plans were stopped. That the terrorists were caught and thwarted makes the "Arab street" feel impotent, even in America.
In any group with an insider-outsider attitude, even those with no part in violence identify with the power exerted when someone from their group kills lots of innocent people. There's even a special thrill in knowing that the terrorists have violated not only the law of the hated overlord (whoever it is), but of God Himself. Think about it: How powerful do you have to be to defy God? Wow! From the comments I hear, publicly and privately, I can only conclude that the Moslem's "inner Moslem" walks a little taller when he reads about a jihad atrocity in the newspaper.
No, I don't buy the idea that they believe killing innocents is right, just because the Koran says so. They speak and act like children who relish getting away with evil.
Similarly, recall how many Irish-Americans identified with the IRA while it was well known that the organization was on the Soviet payroll, and that IRA "soldiers" were kneecapping and killing not only British soldiers, but also Irish-Catholic civilians who had a family member in a rival IRA faction.
I think this might be called "the swaggering cowardice of crowds." The solution is to spy on them and hang their leaders. The other "heroes" will quickly fall into line.
“Similarly, recall how many Irish-Americans identified with the IRA while it was well known that the organization was on the Soviet payroll, and that IRA “soldiers” were kneecapping and killing not only British soldiers, but also Irish-Catholic civilians who had a family member in a rival IRA faction.”
so true.
“I think this might be called “the swaggering cowardice of crowds.””
good term. yours?
“The solution is to spy on them and hang their leaders.”
if only.
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