Posted on 08/16/2002 3:30:08 AM PDT by GOPcapitalist
An Austin Review investigation has revealed that U.S. Senate candidate Ron Kirk has employed an anti-Israel activist who has defended terrorist groups and is friends with American Taliban John Walker Lindh. The Review has also learned that Kirk has received numerous campaign donations from individuals linked with terrorism and anti-Semitism, one of whom also violated U.S. export laws by shipping sensitive technology to Libya and Syria.
Kirk's recently filed campaign report shows payments to a Steven L. Hyland, Jr. of: $1133.22 for "payroll expense" and three separate payments totaling $638.30 for "postage and delivery." Hyland has a long history as an anti-Israel activist and apologist for terrorism. Hyland resigned his position with the Kirk campaign only days after the Review broke this story on its website in early June and the story was picked up by WorldNetDaily, The Hotline, and ABC News.
In early June, The Review called Ron Kirk's campaign office and was connected to Hyland, who hung up on us after being asked to comment on his anti-Israeli activism and connection with Walker Lindh. The campaign's media office failed to return our call, so it was not possible to determine what role Hyland played in the Kirk campaign, including any role in developing Kirk's Middle East policy.
Hyland, a former UT-Austin student in Middle Eastern Studies, wrote a June 23, 1995 op-ed piece in The Daily Texan attacking the Clinton administration for urging other nations to join a US embargo against Iran. Hyland declared, "The U.S. government labels Hizbollah and Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations, but they are really freedom fighters defending their rights in Lebanon and Palestine."
In another Daily Texan op-ed on July 14, 1995, Hyland stated, "to say a lot of Israeli actions and policies are Nazi-like is appropriate." In an August 24, 1995 Texan piece, he blamed Israel for terror bombings in West Jerusalem in Tel Aviv, which occurred while he was visiting Jordan for unknown reasons. Concerning these bombings, Hyland concluded, "Unfortunately, this tragic event highlights the vicious circle of killing that
Two years later-on March 1, 1997-The Daily Texan published a letter-to-the-editor penned by Hyland in which he defended a UT campus protest by the militant Palestine Solidarity Committee. Hyland helped organize the protest, which blockaded the West Mall, obstructing students from passing through to get to their classes. Hyland's letter harangued a Jewish student who had defended Israel's right to exist, stating, "Avital, stop making an ass of yourself."
In May of 1997, Hyland signed an online petition, which described Israel as "a major link in the world network of repressive regimes" and characterized Zionism as a racist ideology. In the summer of 1998, at a time when the U.S. State Department had warned U.S. citizens not to visit Yemen because of anti-American violence (site of the later bombing of the USS Cole and an acknowledged al-Queda stronghold), Hyland felt comfortable traveling there, purportedly only to study and teach Arabic at the Yemen Language Center. There he became a friend and classmate of John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban.
Hyland was interviewed by Associated Press reporter Marge Mason concerning his relationship with Lindh and was quoted in several AP stories. Hyland's comments seem to conflict. In the January 16, 2002 AP story, Hyland was an apologist for Lindh:
"Steven Hyland met Lindh in 1998 while both studied abroad at the Yemen Language Center. Hyland said he's bothered by the severity of the charges Lindh now faces. 'I am concerned for the kid,' Hyland said from his Texas home. 'He was a very naive kid, and now 31/2 years later he is looking at 60 years incarceration.'"
However, despite Hyland's claim that Lindh was na´ve, he told the same reporter a day earlier in the January 15 AP report that Lindh was an ideologue. Hyland said of Lindh, "This is an individual whose idealism led to ideology and he lost all ability for pragmatic thought."
In addition to employing Hyland, the Review has learned that Kirk has received numerous donations from leaders of the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) who have links to terrorism.
First, "Ishan Elashyi" (also spelled "Elashi") is identified on campaign donor lists as having given $500.00 to Ron Kirk's campaign for mayor of Dallas on April 24, 1995. In September of last year-just four days before the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon-Elashi's international export privileges were revoked by the Commerce Department, which alleged that he had been illegally shipping computer equipment and technology to Libya and Syria. In February of this year, Elashi was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly continuing these illegal shipments, this time to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. If convicted on all charges, Ishan Elashi could be sentenced to 60 years in jail and fined $3,000,000 dollars.
"Ghassan Elashi"-Ishan's brother-is identified on papers filed with the Secretary of State's office as one of four principal incorporators of CAIR in Texas. Ghassan has also been identified as a principal of the Richardson-based internet service provider InfoCom Corporation. His brothers Ishan, Bayan, Basman, and Hazim are either principals or employees of InfoCom.
At the same time Ishan Elashi was being arrested for his violations of export restrictions (early September, 2001), InfoCom's offices were being raided and it's assets frozen by the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. NTJTTF's asset-freezing order cited a $250,000 investment in the firm made by Nadia Marzook-Ghassan's cousin, and wife of Mousa Abu Marzook.
Abu Marzook is a senior commander of the Islamic terrorist group HAMAS. From his current residence in Syria, Abu Marzook openly advocates and celebrates suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.
Ghassan Elashi has also been identified as a primary incorporator of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP). His brother Basman has been identified as IAP's President, and IAP was founded by none other than Mousa Abu Marzook. IAP has reproduced and distributed Hamas's charter (which calls for the total destruction of the State of Israel) across the United States, has produced training material for terrorists on how to interrogate suspected "collaborators," and has even sponsored a Hamas-affiliated music troupe whose theme song includes the lyrics "We Buy Paradise with the Blood of the Jews."
Ghassan Elashi is also as a principal of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF). Mousa Abu Marzook found HLF and provided $210,000 in start-up capital. HLF was outlawed and it's assets frozen by President Bush on December 2nd, 2001. At a Rose Garden ceremony the President explained that:
"Hamas has obtained much of the money that it pays for murder abroad right here in the United States, money originally raised by the Holy Land Foundation. The Holy Land Foundation is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt charity based in Richardson. It raised $13 million from people in America last year. The Holy Land Foundation claims that the money it solicits goes to care for needy Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used by Hamas to support schools and indoctrinate children to grow up into suicide bombers. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is also used by Hamas to recruit suicide bombers and to support their families."
"Majida M. Salem" is listed giving $100.00 to Ron Kirk on April 25, 1995. The address Salem provided in making his donation has been linked by federal authorities to the aforementioned terrorist sugardaddy Ghassan Elashi.
Kirk's contributors' connections to Middle East terror go further. "Mohammed Suleman"-currently a board member of CAIR-DFW-donated $50.00 to Ron Kirk on May 1, 1995. Only eleven days after September 11, federal agents arrested a deported to Jordan an HLF employee named Ghassan Dahduli. Dahduli-a former head of IAP-has acknowledged being friends in the 1980s with Wadi El-Hage, a close associate of Osama bin Laden. Hage was convicted in 1998 and sentenced to life in prison for his role in the U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa. Dahduli's name and phone number were found in Hage's diary-which also made reference to a "joint venture" between himself and HLF. At the time of Dahduli's arrest, Kirk donor and CAIR-DFW board member Mohammed Suleman expressed concern and support for Dahduli, and argued against his deportation.
"Ghulam Warriach"-a current and longtime CAIR-DFW board member-hosted a dinner in honor of Ron Kirk in August of 1995. This event occurred under the auspices of the Dallas Muslim Council, of which Warriach was both founder and President. The omnipresent Ghassan Elashi-incorporator of InfoCom, the Islamic Association for Palestine, the Holy Land Foundation, and CAIR in Texas-is also the Executive Director of the Dallas Muslim Council.
Also honored at the same dinner as Kirk was then Democrat Congressman John Bryant who, after returning to private practice, would go on to become a lobbyist for HLF. Bryant has frequently expressed hostility to conservative-Likud administrations in Israel, and vocally advocated withholding loan guarantees to resettle Russian Jews as a way to pressure Israel to abandon Jewish communities located in the so-called occupied territories.
While CAIR purports to "present accurate information about Islam and Muslims to the general public through communication with elected officials, media personnel, corporate employers, government agencies, schools and universities, religious organizations, and civic groups," the true activities of the group are hardly so innocuous.
According to an article by prominent Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes which is available at danielpipes.org, CAIR has vociferously opposed the Bush administration's freezing of assets held by U.S. Islamic charities that are fronts for terrorist organizations. They have also spoken out against the voluntary interviews of Arabs suspected of having knowledge concerning terrorist activities conducted by Attorney General John Ashcroft's office.
In October 1998, CAIR demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy," finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims." That same year, CAIR denied bin Laden's responsibility for the twin East African embassy bombings. As CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper saw it, those explosions resulted from some vague "misunderstandings of both sides." Pipes points out, however, that a New York court blamed bin Laden's side alone for the embassy blasts.
Following September 11, CAIR denied bin Laden's culpability for the World Trade Center and Pentagon massacres, saying only that "if [note the "if"] Osama bin Laden was behind it, we condemn him by name." Only in December did CAIR grudgingly acknowledge his role.
Pipes has documented CAIR's long record of defending militant Islamic terrorists. It labeled the conviction of the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing "a travesty of justice." Similarly, it called the conviction of Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind sheikh who planned to blow up New York City landmarks, "hate crime." CAIR termed the extradition order for suspected Hamas terrorist Mousa Abu Marook "anti-Islamic" and "anti-American."
CAIR also backs those who finance terrorism. When President Bush closed the Holy Land Foundation in December for collecting money he said was "used to support the Hamas terror organization," CAIR decried his action as "unjust" and "disturbing."
CAIR even includes at least one person associated with terrorism in its own ranks. On Feb. 2, 1995, U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White named Siraj Wahhaj as one of the "unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators" in the attempt to blow up New York City monuments. Yet, according to Pipes, CAIR deems him "one of the most respected Muslim leaders in America" and includes him on its advisory board. In light of this and other evidence, the FBI's former chief of counterterrorism, Steven Pomerantz, concludes, "CAIR, its leaders and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups."
However, Pipes notes that embracing terrorism is not the only black mark on CAIR's record. Pipes reports, "CAIR has defamed moderate Muslims such as Hisham Kabbani and Khalid Durßn who reject its extremist agenda, leading to death threats against them. CAIR also defended a murderer when it responded to the arrest and conviction of Jamil Al-Amin (the former H. Rap Brown) by praising him, raising funds for him and then denying his guilt after his conviction for the murder of an Atlanta policeman."
Similarly, CAIR declared Ahmad Adnan Chaudhry of San Bernardino, Calif., who was convicted of attempted murder, "innocent" and set up a defense fund for him. It seems no Arab can be guilty of a crime in CAIR's slanted view of the world.
Not surprisingly, CAIR traffics in anti-Semitism. Pipes observes, "The head of CAIR's Los Angeles office, Hussam Ayloush, routinely uses the term "zionazi" when referring to Israelis. CAIR co-hosted an event in May 1998 at which an Egyptian militant Islamic leader, Wagdi Ghunaym, called Jews the "descendants of the apes.""
CAIR isn't exactly peachy about Christians either. As reported by the San Ramon Valley Herald, CAIR Chairman Omar M. Ahmad told a crowd of California Muslims in July 1998, "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth."
One of the "accomplishments" listed on the website of the Dallas/Fort-Worth chapter of CAIR is the claim that they have "developed" a "relationship" with Ron Kirk. The question Texans must answer is whether they want an advocate for CAIR's agenda in the U.S. Senate.
IMHO the worst is the Ishan Elashi case - the guy is now officially a convicted terrorist. He's listed on the United States Justice Department website and is up for sentencing in September, but to date not one "mainstream" media source has picked up on his contributions to Ron Kirk's mayoral campaign!!!
Seldom does a report go by however that fails to "mention" Cornyn taking Enron cash years ago, but not one of them will report Kirk's POST 9/11 CONVICTED TERRORIST cash from the Dallas mayoral race. It's biased journalism at its worst.
Texas freepers - please help get the word out on Kirk!
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/PressRel02/elashyi_ple_pr.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALLAS, TEXAS
CONTACT: 214/659-8707
JUNE 19, 2002
IHSAN ELASHYI PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES
United States Attorney Jane J. Boyle announced that Ihsan Elashyi, also known as Sammy Elashyi, age 42, of Richardson, Texas, pled guilty this week in federal court before the Honorable United States District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to several federal charges stemming from a 39-count superseding indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on April 10, 2002. As a result of his guilty plea, Elashyi faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 50 years; a maximum possible fine of $1.25 million or twice the monetary gain to the defendant or twice the financial loss to the victims, as well as a $400 mandatory special assessment. Elashyi could also be ordered by the Court to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes. Sentencing has been set for September 9, 2002.
Specifically, according to papers filed in court, Ihsan Elashyi pled guilty to count 3 of the superseding indictment, charging a violation of Title 50, United States Code, Section 1701, et seq. and accompanying sections of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shipping in violation of a Temporary Denial Order; count 14, charging a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029, access device fraud; count 24, charging a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), money laundering; and count 36, charging a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, wire fraud. Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Elashyi has agreed to forfeit several properties: a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe; a 2001 BMW Motorcycle; and three Rolex watches.
Ihsan Elashyi was the founder of Tetrabal Corporation, as well as the principal owner and controlling person. Tetrabal Corporation was located in Richardson, Texas and it sold and exported computer hardware, computer software, and telecommunications equipment. The vast majority of Tetrabal's sales were to customers in the Middle East. Prior to the creation of Tetrabal Corporation, Ihsan Elashyi was employed by Infocom Corporation, a company owned by his brothers. While employed at Infocom, Ihsan Elashyi engaged in similar types of sales and exports as he did at Tetrabal.
The United States Department of Commerce controls and restricts the exportation of goods and technology from the United States by issuing the Export Administration Regulations. Under these regulations, the United States Department of Commerce is authorized to deny export privileges when such denial is found to be in the public interest and to prevent imminent violations of federal law and protect the national security of the United States.
On September 6, 2001, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement issued a Temporary Denial Order (TDO) denying all export privileges to, among others, Infocom, as well as defendants Ihsan Elashyi and Tetrabal Corporation. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce found that Infocom, and the defendants Ihsan Elashyi and Tetrabal Corporation were related entities. This TDO was based on evidence that Infocom had shipped and attempted to ship goods to Libya and Syria without authorization from the United States. The TDO was served on Ihsan Elashyi and Tetrabal Corporation on approximately September 14, 2001 and was published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2001.
Ihsan Elashyi admitted that on September 22, 2001, he and Tetrabal willfully violated the TDO by participating in a transaction that involved exporting, and the attempted exporting, of goods and commodities from the United States to Saudi Arabia, which goods were subject to the Export Administration Regulations of the United States. Specifically, Elashyi, doing business as Tetrabal Corporation, shipped a quantity of computers and monitors to Saudi Arabia.
Ihsan Elashyi admitted that he fraudulently acquired numerous credit cards in other persons' names, without the knowledge of the card holder. Elashyi would then obtain a supplemental card in his own name, ostensibly at the request of the primary card holder. In fact, one such card obtained by Elashyi was an American Express card in the name of a former acquaintance. Elashyi acquired a supplemental card on this account and used that card to make numerous purchases and cash advances of more than $284,000. All told, the investigation revealed that Elashyi fraudulently acquired dozens of credit cards which he used to incur charges exceeding $750,000.
Elashyi also pled guilty to money laundering based upon his having used the proceeds from his unlawful activity to conceal the activities and to enable the scheme to continue. Several of these financial transactions included making payments on the numerous credit card accounts he had fraudulently obtained so that he could continue to use these fraudulent credit card accounts.
As mentioned above, Elashyi engaged in a scheme to defraud Saudi Systems, Inc. of Saudi Arabia. He failed to disclose to Saudi Systems, Inc. that he and his company, Tetrabal, were the subject of the TDO and prohibited from shipping good outside the United States. In specific violation of the TDO, Elashyi negotiated the sale of 119 computers to Saudi Systems, Inc. and faxed a price quotation to their office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He accepted their order and received a wire transfer of $107,385 from Saudi Systems, Inc. to pay for the computers. After he received the funds, Elashyi falsely told representatives of Saudi Systems, Inc. that he could not return their money as his bank account had been frozen by the United States government. Elashyi kept the funds and used them for his own personal benefit and for the benefit of Tetrabal.
United States Attorney Boyle praised the collaborative investigative efforts of the United States Department of Commerce; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; United States Secret Service; United States Customs Service and the Addison Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Jacks, Special Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Garrett of the FBI, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Barry Jonas of the Department of Justice.
# # #
http://www.bxa.doc.gov/press/2002/IhsanElashly6_25_02.html
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2002
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Charges of Exporting Computer Equipment in Violation of a Temporary Denial Order
On June 17, 2002, Ihsan Elashyi, also known as Sammy Elashi, a resident of Richardson, Texas pled guilty in federal court to a charge of exporting computer equipment to Saudi Arabia in violation of a Department of Commerce Temporary Denial Order. In addition, Elashyi pled guilty to several other charges of credit card fraud, money laundering, and wire fraud. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for September 9, 2002.
Elashyi was the founder and principal owner of Tetrabal Corporation, a Richardson, Texas company that sold and exported computer hardware, computer software, and telecommunications equipment primarily to customers in the Middle East. Prior to the creation of Tetrabal, Elashyi was employed by Infocom Corporation, another Richardson, Texas company owned by Elashyi's brothers. While employed at Infocom, Elashyi engaged in sales and export transactions similar to those made by Tetrabal.
On September 6, 2001, Assistant Secretary Michael J. Garcia signed an order temporarily denying the export privileges of Infocom based on evidence that Infocom had shipped and attempted to ship computer technology to Libya and Syria - countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism by the U.S. Department of State - without the required U.S. Government authorization. Assistant Secretary Garcia also found that Elashyi and Tetrabal were related to Infocom and, on that basis, extended the terms of the Infocom denial order to Elashyi and Tetrabal.
In his guilty plea, Elashyi admitted that, on September 22, 2001, after the imposition of the Temporary Denial Order, he and Tetrabal willfully violated that order by participating in a transaction that involved the export and attempted export of computers and monitors from the United States to Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), formerly known as the Bureau of Export Administration, administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and short supply. Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Regulations. BIS is authorized to deny export privileges temporarily when such action is in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation of the Export Administration Regulations.
Hope that's enough.
As a former Texan, I will send this info to my friends and ask them to 'share' it with others.
In answer to you question, probably not even though it's all been provided to them. The state party chair, Susan Weddington, is an airhead sociallite who thinks being state chairman means getting to attend high dollar political receptions and sit at the head table.
IMHO if the state party had the balls to hammer Kirk on this story his support would evaporate.
The message is simple - Ron Kirk claims he will support President Bush in the war on terrorism. The facts say otherwise.
Then list them...
FACT: Ron Kirk's campaign employs a close personal friend of convicted American-Taliban John Walker Lindh
FACT: In 1995 Kirk ran for Dallas mayor on campaign cash provided by Sammy Elashi. After 9/11 Kirk-supporter Elashi was convicted on federal charges in the anti-terrorism probe.
...that kind of stuff. Kirk's political future will be TOAST the second an ad with all that stuff hits the air.
And that is exactly the problem. The Houston Chronicle cannot seem to run a story about this senate race without mentioning John Cornyn's "controversial" campaign contributions from Enron several years ago.
But when a radical muslim who got hauled off on multi-count felony charges for shipping electronics to terrorist states also happens to be a Ron Kirk donor, they don't dare touch it.
IMHO the state GOP needs to be blasting Kirk left and right on this just like Kirk will predictably try to do with Enron on Cornyn. If they had the guts to do this it would leave Kirk wishing he simply had Enron donors instead of terrorist donors.
The Republican party needs a 100 Lee Atwaters.
Ignored, ignored, ignored, and ignored.
The ONLY Texas media to report it so far is the monthly conservative publication Austin Review, which broke the story in the above article, and our little right wing paper in Houston. World Net Daily supposedly carried it as well, but that's it.
Of course "Enron donates to John Cornyn" stories run in all the major dailies every couple of weeks, but not one has touched Kirk's CONVICTED TERRORIST donors. It's that sickening. I bet Osama Bin Laden himself could be funnelling money to the Dems and the media would ignore it.
Why isn't the Texas GOP taking out ads to inform the public of Mr. Kirk's political affiliations, so voters can make an informed choice.
Because the Texas GOP is headed by a ditzy airhead sociallite named Susan Weddington and the rest of the office can't seem to tell the right hand what the left hand is doing. I also fear that they don't want to be percieved as "overly negative" even if it is known that Kirk takes money from terrorists!
The only way I know of right now to get it out is circulate it to conservatives and let the thing spread from there by word of mouth.
Call in to the local talk radio show if you can - doesn't matter what state - just say you read that the Dem senate nominee in Texas, arguably the closest contested open seat in the nation, has taken money from a convicted terrorist.
And if anybody's under the impression that the Texas race is in the bag, check out the most recent poll from last Tuesday. It has the race at an even split of 46% each.
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