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| Home Front: WoT |
| Citizen and illegal alien admit to trying to aid Taliban |
| 2006-11-29 |
| One of two Houston men accused of training to fight with the Taliban pleaded guilty this afternoon in federal court. Kobie Diallo Williams, 33, a U.S. citizen who was a student at the University of Houston Downtown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist a terrorist group. His help included withdrawing cash from an ATM to send to the Middle East. Another man, Adnan Babar Mirza, 29, a Pakistani national who was in the country on an expired student visa, faces similar conspiracy charges as well as three federal weapons violations. Mirza appeared today before a U.S. magistrate judge. Mirza became illegal when his visa expired. Someone holding a student visa or in the country illegally is not allowed to have firearms. In court, Williams admitted that he viewed coalition forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as invaders. He had expressed a desire to travel to the Middle East to help the Taliban. Williams also admitted to handing over money that was supposed to help Taliban fighters and their families. "We knew that you couldn't get money to the Taliban," Williams told U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr., adding that he gave $350 to "a gentleman." "Adnan informed us that there was a hospital that most of the families go to," Williams said. "What families?," Werlein asked. "Widows and children," Williams said. To prepare as a A press conference following the guilty plea shed light on the nearly two-year investigation that brought Williams and Mirza to the attention of federal officials. "It's not the epitome of sophistication," said U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle, commenting on the low-level plans Williams admitted the pair made. And though the pair may not seem to have posed a threat of the magnitude of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the arrests point to the U.S. Justice Department's goal to prevent terrorism, DeGabrielle said. The indictments, which were unsealed today after both men appeared in court, allege that during the past 1 1/2 years both men participated in firearms and reconnaissance training in Harris County and surrounding areas. According to the indictment, the two decided last year to travel to the Middle East to engage in "battlefield jihad." Federal law prohibits contributions of goods or services to the Taliban, one of several specially designated global terrorist organizations. Though Audrey Collins will soon fix that. If convicted on the conspiracy charge, Williams and Mirza each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mirza could receive an additional 10 years in prison if convicted on the firearms charges. Williams was scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 23. |
| Posted by:God |
| #6 I concur. Last time I got in trouble here, Mom made me read the Bible. Watch it or you'll suffer the same fate... |
| Posted by: badanov 2006-11-29 23:15 |
| #5 Oh well, if it's you, Jackel dear, coupled with a computer hiccup, I take it all back. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-11-29 22:18 |
| #4 I posted this. I distinctly remember replaceing the "your name" field. I remember someone saying that only changes in comments "take," while changing in a posting doesn't happen and it uses the last name you commented under? Anyways, proof of My non-divinity. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2006-11-29 20:29 |
| #3 Dear God, I think 'ego' would be a better nym for you, no ? As God, would you not be taking responsibility for all this ? What about your own stupidity ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-11-29 17:04 |
| #2 Ahhhhh yes, the Expired Student Visa - the gift that keeps on giving. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2006-11-29 14:10 |
| #1 A good post thanks! But just a hint, God, dear: you might want to consider changing your nym -- lots of sensitive people around here, and others with a similar sense of humour have found themselves slapped down hard. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-11-29 13:30 |