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| Soddies still funding US Islamists |
| 2005-12-13 |
| Despite a wide-ranging FBI investigation, groups aligned with al Qaeda and financed by Saudi Arabia continue to operate in the United States. Law enforcement sources have told Congress that the Bush administration has allowed Riyadh to provide financial aid to institutions that promote Islamic extremism and fund al Qaeda operatives. They said the administration has sought to avoid a confrontation with Saudi Arabia and jeopardize both energy and intelligence cooperation with the Arab kingdom. "There's no question about it that had we been talking about another state sponsor, these organizations would no longer be operating in the United States," a source said on the condition of anonymity. Despite strong evidence of supporting Islamic extremism, the Muslim World League continues to operate in the United States. The organization has two offices in this country—one in northern Virginia and the second in New York City. Organization chiefs have been charged with helping Saudi nationals—including supporters of al Qaeda—enter the United States on false pretenses. Over the last three years, the league's office in Virginia was twice raided by the FBI. The last time was in July when its current U.S. director, Abdullah Al-Noshen, was arrested for immigration fraud and is now awaiting trial. The assistant director, Khalid Fadlalah, was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to lying on immigration documents to enable Al-Noshen to work in the United States. The Saudi-backed organization has helped to fund Islamist haters in the United States, including an organization named Dar Al-Arqam Islamic Center in Arlington, Va. Earlier this year, the spiritual leader of Dar Al-Arqam was convicted on charges of conspiring to wage war against the United States. Dar Al-Arqam and MWL share the same address. The administration has also not stopped Saudi Arabia from funding Muslim organizations in the United States. Law enforcement sources acknowledge that at least 80 percent of mosques in the United States have been essentially taken over by Saudi Arabia, which has provided funds and imams to the houses of worship. The sources said that over the last year the administration has become more tolerant of Saudi funding and operations in the United States. They said the State Department as well as the U.S. intelligence community has warned that any crackdown on al Qaeda-aligned groups linked to Riyadh would damage or even sever security cooperation with the Arab kingdom. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 Despite strong evidence of supporting Islamic extremism, the Muslim World League continues to operate in the United States. The organization has two offices in this country—one in northern Virginia and the second in New York City. The administration has also not stopped Saudi Arabia from funding Muslim organizations in the United States. Law enforcement sources acknowledge that at least 80 percent of mosques in the United States have been essentially taken over by Saudi Arabia, which has provided funds and imams to the houses of worship. The sources said that over the last year the administration has become more tolerant of Saudi funding and operations in the United States. They said the State Department as well as the U.S. intelligence community has warned that any crackdown on al Qaeda-aligned groups linked to Riyadh would damage or even sever security cooperation with the Arab kingdom. Dan, do think this article has full credibility, or is it in part hyped by some ax grinders? |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-12-13 01:05 |