Hiding in Plain Sight (Al Arian at the White House)

Newsweek ^ | March 3rd, 2003 | Michael Isikoff

[Sabertooth]

For George W. Bush, it was just another campaign stop. But for Sami Al-Arian, a University of South Florida engineering professor, it was a golden opportunity. When Bush appeared at Tampa’s Strawberry Festival in March 2000, Al-Arian sidled up to the candidate and had his picture taken.

< -snip- >

Al-Arian’s politics took on a decidedly darker cast last week when federal agents arrested him at his home in south Florida and charged him with being a top leader of one of the world’s most violent terrorist organizations: Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

< -snip- >

Al-Arian certainly didn’t act like a sponsor of suicide bombings. Far from keeping to the shadows, he repeatedly lobbied Congress on civil-liberties issues, made thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to influential members of Congress and renounced violence during appearances on TV talk shows. In June 2001 Al-Arian was invited to a White House briefing for 150 Muslim American activists, at which political director Karl Rove talked about the Bush administration’s "outreach" efforts. A law-enforcement official told NEWSWEEK the Secret Service had flagged Al-Arian as a potential terrorist prior to the event. But White House aides, apparently reluctant to create an incident, let him through anyway. Such access had its advantages. "He always told me the charges were garbage," said Khaled Saffuri, chairman of the Islamic Institute. "When you hear he’s going to the White House, you figure what he’s saying must be true." In fact, federal prosecutors charged last week, Al-Arian carried out his secret terrorist agenda "under the guise of promoting and protecting Arab rights"—making his public profile a critical part of his MO. "It was the perfect cover," said Steven Emerson, a terrorism analyst who has followed Al-Arian for years.

[Torie]

The point that is confusing is how much prior. I also think being one of 150 is different that being one of one. We also don't know just what evidence the SS had. I don't mind you pursuing this story by the way. Let the sunshine in. Bush is a big boy.

[Torie]

Of course Arian found Campbell useful. So what? I suspect Campbell might still hold the same views on secret evidence.

[cyncooper]

So it was a year and a half ago instead of last year. Tell me the consequence on what we've discussed in this thread, of such a mistake. (My calender says you pick nits)

I disagree. It is a huge difference. The visit in fact took place when the Bush presidency was very young--just 5 months old--and before 9/11. A crucial distinction, IMO.

I've added many other points to show the story is a big nothing, but the date is very important to the context.

[cyncooper]

if you can't link one single truth

EXCUSE ME?

Everything I have posted is the truth.

I will decline characterizing your posts.

[Victoria Delsoul]

The very next visit by the son a few days or weeks later ended with him being escorted OUT of the meeting.

For which GW sent a letter of apology. Let me emphasize that, it is the media which is making this implication as you can see on my post #45.

[Miss Marple]

I wouldn't be so hasty to discount the culpability of the Secret Service. They have just had their superior replaced, and there have been several incidents where security has been breeched.

I do not necessarily disount political operatives in the White House, but I am not letting the Seret Service off the hook, either.

[Sabertooth]

This story is presented in a most confusing way. What exactly is the bill of particulars against the Islamic Institute?

This Islamic Institute is cozy with a lot of groups either named as terrorist orgs or under investigation. They've used their WH influence to lobby against anti-terror measures, with mixed success. They've taken donations from the Holy Land Foundation, before their assets were seized after 9/11. The HLF provides funds to the families of homicide bombers, I believe the figure is $13 million so far. Khaled Saffuri, with whom Norquist co-founded the Islamic Institute, is the sponsor of the child of at least one suicide bomber. The Islamic Institute has taken $150,000 in donations from Qatar at the same time the Qataris were chipping into Arafat's homicide bomber fund at $500 a pop.

The Islamic Institute has also received money from the Safa Trust, a suspected terror org., and Saffuri was one of several prominent Muslims who managed to get an audience to complain about the raids on the Safa Trust and others with Paul O'Neill.

There's more. A lot of it's linked up at #64 above.

[Sabertooth]

I don't mind you pursuing this story by the way. Let the sunshine in. Bush is a big boy.

Agreed. Get it out in the open, deal with the problems, and move on. Best course of action.

[Torie]

OK, we have tainted money. Probably most big money circulating in the Islamic community is tainted frankly. What anti terrorist measures have they lobbied against, and when, and what was the rationale? Anything else on the bill of particulars? Is the outfit the clone of CAIR (which is an arm of the Saudis Whahabis who fund it according to Schwartz (I think that is the name of that Jewish Sufi), or can one draw distinctions?

[TLBSHOW]

Do you have information to the effect that Khaled Saffuri of the Islamic Institute no longer has access to White House officials?


That was the link I was referring to the above question.

[TLBSHOW]

Interesting link to the Islam lobby of our government.
Please take note of names like GN and others.

http://www.amconline.org/newamc/convo/

[Amelia]

Unlike them, for me, this isn't about personality conflicts. That's why I wasn't suspended from posting Friday night....The ad hominem is so tacky, don't you think?

Yes, the ad hominem is quite tacky...as are your "catty" little remarks.

[justshe]

******Unlike them, for me, this isn't about personality conflicts. That's why I wasn't suspended from posting Friday night.****

Extremely cheap shot, and you know it.

[Torie]

Not much there actually. The only bit that really annoyed me was the position on lifting sanctions on Iraq. What was Norquist's position on that? I ask you since you have appointed yourself the resident expert on Norquist, so I assume you have a ready link. Thanks.

[TLBSHOW]

Another link with more links notice the first story.

http://www.isna.net/news.asp

[Torie]

Did it ever occur to you that without Norquist, Gore would probably be president now? Just a thought.

[aristeides]

Name one person who has defended Norquist.

Plenty of people here have sure gone overboard accepting Norquist's charges against Gaffney, which I take to mean they defend Norquist. I prefer not to name them.

[Sabertooth]

OK, we have tainted money. Probably most big money circulating in the Islamic community is tainted frankly. What anti terrorist measures have they lobbied against, and when, and what was the rationale? Anything else on the bill of particulars? Is the outfit the clone of CAIR (which is an arm of the Saudis Whahabis who fund it according to Schwartz (I think that is the name of that Jewish Sufi), or can one draw distinctions?

I'm not sure I'd put them at the level of CAIR, I think they're more presentable than that. They lobbied against aspects of the Patriot Act, as I understand things, that were especially useful against Al Arian. So, fortunately the damage in that regard is minimal. However, the meeting with O'Niell at the time Treasury was investigating the possible terror-related finances of their patron, the Safa Trust, in response to that investigation, doesn't smell too good.

Who's going to be convinced if the Safa Trust is cleared?

I'll get back to you on some of the other stuff, I need to get a few things done around here.

Regards.

[Sabertooth]

Extremely cheap shot, and you know it.

Not at all. When those flying around from thread to thread instigating flame wars in an effort to suppress information, kill threads or get them kicked back to the Backroom, and swarm other posters, finally get a dose of their own tonic, I think it's very refreshing for the entire forum.

Perhaps, now, the actual information at hand can be discussed calmly, rather than relentless intimations of dark, conspiratorial motives on the part of those bringing things to light.

[aristeides]

Tampa Tribune series on Al-Arian was in '95. You can read about it in the indictment. I believe USF suspended Al-Arian in '96 because of the FBI's investigation of him at the time (when the charges were eventually dropped, USF reinstated him, only to suspend him again in '01 after he appeared on O'Reilly's show.)