THE REAL TERROR MASTERS Terrorism embraces ethnic 'diversity'

Antiwar.com ^ | 8/15/2003 | Justin Raimondo

[Burkeman1]

In the terrorism business, it seems, diversity is all the rage. What Hemant Lakhani, an international arms dealer of British nationality and Indian ethnicity, Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a Muslim from Malaysia, and Yehuda Abraham, a Jewish-American gem dealer who works out of New York City's diamond district, have in common is that they are all being held in connection with a plot to purchase surface-to-air missiles on behalf of terrorists. Except that the alleged terrorists they were dealing with were really FBI agents and informants, who had been tracking them for over a year in an effort to smoke out the rest of Osama bin Laden's worldwide network.

A leak to the media, however, forced the feds to go public before the trap could be fully sprung, at least according to Newsweek's Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball.

Several aspects of this case are extremely odd, starting with the ethnic "diversity" of the players.

Hemant Lakhani, a.k.a. Hemad, a.k.a. Hekyat – Beginning with his exact name, we get conflicting accounts of just who and what this guy is. By some accounts he's an "international arms dealer," yet his neighbors described him as "Mr. Average" and were shocked when the cops beat down the doors of the Lakhanis' home in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Hendon, a north London suburb. The Guardian and others characterize the 68-year-old Indian-born British national as an amateur in the arms trade, whose last known profession was as a garment trader and the manager of a West End clothing store. Julian Borger disdains him as "a blusterer, rather too anxious to impress on his contact that he is a 'serious businessman' capable of getting hold of 'high-class stuff.'"

Yet in the same newspaper we read:

"A source close to British intelligence yesterday described Mr. Lakhani as a 'known arms dealer' who was thought to conduct most of his business offshore. He put 'feelers' out and 'clearly knew who he was selling the missile to,' the source added, making the point that Mr. Lakhani would not have been involved in a 'blind deal.'"

The internet turns up sparse evidence of Lakhani or what he does for a living.

[Burkeman1]

Debate the article- not the man.

[quidnunc]

Burkeman1 wrote: Debate the article- not the man.

Nah, because of the man the article is bound to be crap.

Dennis never writes anything worth debating.

[doug from upland]

Agreed. When it comes from crap, you have no interest in reading it. I would want to discuss an article by Jeffrey Dahmer as much as by Raimondo.

[Burkeman1]

So you agree with Condi Rice that America was foundd on racism? That was her speech last week and the topic of Raimondo's column? But of course you don't read anything that threatens you.

[Burkeman1]

So America was founded on Racism? That was Rice's speech last week and the topic of Raimondo's column. So you agree with Rice that our Founders were racists?

[Burkeman1]

Just read and debate the article. If it is lies then Freepers should be able to tear it apart on the merits.

[quidnunc]

Burkeman1 wrote: So you agree with Condi Rice that America was foundd on racism? That was her speech last week and the topic of Raimondo's column? But of course you don't read anything that threatens you.

Tell you what, why don't you make a bullet-point presentation for us and save everybody the drudgery of wading through Dennis' turgid tendentiousness?

[Burkeman1]

For your review.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Just how long have you had your Ramaindo habit?

[Burkeman1]

Did you read or hear Condi's speech last week in which she compared our occupation in Iraq to the Civil Rights movement of the 60's? I won't be a "bullet" person. Try actually reading the opposition some time and measuring your views up to theirs?

[Burkeman1]

Much less than I have had my National Review habit which is about 15 years old now. But even then I still read those who opposed me? How long have you been an apologist for the Bush administration?

[quidnunc]

Well, I read about Condoleezza Rice's speech, and what she said was that those opposed to our efforts in Iraqi are racist.

I guess that would include Dennis, what?

[Burkeman1]

By the way- debate the words in the article- not the man.

[Burkeman1]

You agree with that?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[ladyinred]

Debate the article- not the man.

Yes, master

[Burkeman1]

You propose the non sequitur and irrelevant? Is that your position?

[quidnunc]

Burkeman1 wrote: By the way- debate the words in the article- not the man.

But I'd rather rag on Dennis than read his nitwittery.

[Burkeman1]

Yes- that is evident. But Condi called our founders racists in that post and all those who oppose the war in Iraq are now racists as well? Do you agree with such Sharpton tactics? Is Condi's history even close to the truth? Do you care?

[quidnunc]

Dennis' columns are like the stuff in the Weekly World News, only cranks take it seriously.