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2010-03-29 Home Front: Culture Wars

FBI Arrests in Midwest May Have Targeted Christian Militia

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Posted by Besoeker 2010-03-29 09:24|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 I thought we were at war with radical muslims. Christians? Amish are next?

Posted by JohnQC 2010-03-29 11:11|| 2010-03-29 11:11|| Front Page Top

#2 Meanwhile, no word from the Bureau on Fort Hood shooter MAJ Hasan, what they knew about him, or when they knew it.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-03-29 11:23|| 2010-03-29 11:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Update:

Nine arrestees were up in front of a judge at 10 a.m.:

In a federal indictment, the government says the group is an anti-government, extremist organization that planned war with the United States. It is also alleged that the group wanted to kill members of law enforcement.

Federal charges include Seditious Conspiracy, Attempt to Use Weapons of Mass Destruction, Teaching/Demonstrating Use of Explosive Materials and two counts of Carrying, Using and Posessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The Detroit News has a lot of detail:
Nine members of a Lenawee County-based militia group were planning to "levy war" against the United States and "oppose by force" the nation's government, according to an indictment unsealed this morning in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

The five-count indictment alleges that between August 2008 and the present, the defendants were trying to use bombs and other weapons to oppose the U.S. government.

They had plans to kill a local law enforcement official and, once officers from across the country came to the funeral, to attack the funeral procession, the indictment alleges.

The eight men and one woman are members of the Hutaree, identified as an "anti-government extremist organization" in the indictment, and each faces three to five charges, including sedition, attempts to use weapons of mass destruction, teaching/demonstrating use of explosive materials and two counts of carrying weapons in relation to a crime of violence.
A scouting mission was planned for April and, if someone had stumbled upon the mission, the Hutaree decided they could be killed, according to the indictment.

It was this mission that prompted the raids, said Barbara McQuade, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Although there had been reports the Hutaree may have targeted Muslims, there is no mention in the indictment of any threats against them.

Articles written late yesterday on the subject included the following, which seems to have gotten lost today:

Mike Lackomar, of Michiganmilitia.com, said both The Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia and the Michiganmilitia.com were not a part of the raid.

Lackomar said he heard from other militia members that the FBI targeted the Hutaree after its members made threats of violence against Islamic organizations. One of the Hutaree members called a Michigan militia leader for assistance Saturday after federal agents had already began their raid, Lackomar said, but the militia member -- who is of Islamic decent [other articles said simply that the man is Muslim] and had heard about the threats -- declined to offer help.

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on Islamic-American Relations of Michigan, made an announcement Sunday during the group's 10th anniversary banquet about receiving a call from a network journalist about the alleged threat against Muslims.

"Don't allow this news to scare you away from practicing your faith," said Walid.

Audible gaps were heard throughout the banquet hall when the news was announced. Walid said he will call local authorities about more information on the allegations. He urged local Muslims to recommitt themselves to their faith in light of the accusations.

Elsewhere I read that the Right Reverend Jesse Jackson was speaking to the group when the call came in. But that may just be a rumour.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-03-29 12:49|| 2010-03-29 12:49|| Front Page Top

#4 I'm surprised Janet Reno wasn't called out of retirement to burn em out.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-03-29 14:19|| 2010-03-29 14:19|| Front Page Top

#5 The group placed under arrest do look like a rather dim collection of bulbs. I suspect we'll be learning more in the days and weeks to come. Thank God there were no shots fired and no mothers holding infants blown into eternity. I'd not be at all surprised to learn that the Bureau and ATF have executed another brilliantly conceived cock-up. Their record of achievement in matters such as this is somewhat less than noteworthy.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-03-29 18:57|| 2010-03-29 18:57|| Front Page Top

#6 This would explain why all those guys in trench coats kept knocking on the door.

Posted by SteveS 2010-03-29 19:01|| 2010-03-29 19:01|| Front Page Top

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