Updated January 19, 2010
Fox News
A report written by staff working for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry says many U.S. prisoners have become "radicalized."
WASHINGTON -- U.S. law enforcement authorities believe as many as three dozen Americans
who converted to Islam in prison have traveled to Yemen, possibly to train with Al Qaeda, according to a Senate report.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. law enforcement authorities believe as many as three dozen Americans
who converted to Islam in prison have traveled to Yemen, possibly to train with Al Qaeda, according to a Senate report.The "radicalization" of the individuals has alarmed U.S. officials even though no evidence has tied them to terror activities.
Several of the individuals have "dropped off the radar" for weeks at a time and continue to carry U.S. passports, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Associated Press.
The assessment was written by staff working for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, a Democrat.
The assessment was written by staff working for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, a Democrat.
"Al Qaeda's recruitment tactics also have changed," Kerry wrote in an introduction to the report. "The group seeks to recruit American citizens to carry out terrorist attacks in the United States."
Al Qaeda forces in Yemen have emerged in recent months as a pressing threat to U.S. security, with ties to a recent airline bombing plot and the shooting deaths of 13 people at the U.S. Army's Fort Hood post.
The White House and Pentagon have said they have no plans to send ground troops there, and Yemen has made clear it would not want them. Remaining options would include covert strikes against Al Qaeda targets and increased aid to help train and equip Yemen's own security forces.
Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command whose command territory includes Yemen, has said he would like to double military aid to that country, which currently is receiving about $67 million.
Kerry's report was expected to set the stage for a Wednesday public hearing on Yemen with testimony from senior State Department officials.
In addition to its finding that Al Qaeda was trying actively to attract "nontraditional followers" who could penetrate U.S. security, the staff report concludes that Al Qaeda has remained a viable threat.
"Despite setbacks, Al Qaeda is not on the run," the report concludes.
Kerry's staff also cites as many as 10 non-Yemeni Americans, in addition to the nearly three dozen prisoners, who moved to Yemen, became Islamic fundamentalists and married Yemeni women to remain in the country.
"Described by one American official as 'blond-haired, blue eyed-types,' these individuals fit a profile of Americans whom Al Qaeda has sought to recruit over the past several years," the report states.
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And there are probably a boatload of Gitmo detainees coming out to Illinois. Yay. Looking for some good midwestern blue eyes in jail. Nice.
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6 comments:
Profiling has failed us; we don’t need profiling to identify Individuals like the Christmas-Day Bomber or the Fort Hood Shooter! There is a better solution!
Virtually all media outlets are discussing whether we should be profiling all Arab Muslims; I will in the one-page explain why we don’t need profiling. Over 15 years ago, we at the Center for Aggression Management developed an easily-applied, measurable and culturally-neutral body language and behavior indicators exhibited by people who intend to perpetrate a terrorist act. This unique methodology utilizes proven research from the fields of psychology, medicine and law enforcement which, when joined together, identify clear, easily-used physiologically-based characteristics of individuals who are about to engage in terrorist activities in time to prevent their Moment of Commitment.
The Problem
Since the foiled terrorist attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian national on Northwest Flight 253 to Detroit, the President has repeatedly stated that there has been a systemic failure as he reiterates his commitment to fill this gap in our security. This incident, like the Fort Hood shooting, exemplifies why our government must apply every valid preventative approach to identify a potential terrorist.
The myriad methods to identify a terrorist, whether “no-fly list,” “explosive and weapons detection,” mental illness based approaches, “profiling” or “deception detection” - all continue to fail us. Furthermore, the development of deception detection training at Boston Logan Airport demonstrated that the Israeli methods of interrogation will not work in the United States.
All media outlets are discussing the need for profiling of Muslim Arabs, but profiling does not work for the following three reasons:
1. In practice, ethnic profiling tells us that within a certain group of people there is a higher probability for a terrorist; it does not tell us who the next terrorist is!
2. Ethnic profiling is contrary to the value our society places on diversity and freedom from discrimination based on racial, ethnic, religious, age and/or gender based criteria. If we use profiling it will diminish our position among the majority of affected citizens who support us as a beacon of freedom and liberty.
3. By narrowing our field of vision, profiling can lead to the consequence of letting terrorists go undetected, because the terrorist may not be part of any known “profile worthy” group – e.g., the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh
The Solution
Our unique methodology for screening passengers can easily discern (independently of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age, and gender) the defining characteristics of human beings who are about to engage in terrorist acts.
The question is when will our government use true “hostile intent” through the “continuum of aggressive behavior” to identify potential terrorists? Only when observers focus specifically on “aggressive behavior” do the objective and culturally neutral signs of “aggression” clearly stand out, providing the opportunity to prevent these violent encounters. This method will not only make all citizens safer, but will also pass the inevitable test of legal defensibility given probable action by the ACLU.
As our Government analyzes what went wrong regarding Abdulmatallab’s entrance into the United States, you can be assured that Al Qaeda is also analyzing how their plans went wrong. Who do you think will figure it out first . . . ?
Visit our blog at http://blog.AggressionManagement.com where we discuss the shooting at Fort Hood and the attempted terrorist act on Flight 253.
Hey Doll,
My first reaction to the comments prior to my interjection was to grab my breechcloth and Tarzan my comments to stand up for Janie.
But it is cold and drafts do occur if proper briefs are not worn.
I agree with you, it is a bunch of PC Bull Crap to pissy foot around with folks who hate us and desire us dead.
Keep up the dissing. If you ever need some back up just call, "Tarzan, Tarzan where for art thou". Could have mixed up my authors, but hey it's "bloggn" who cares what I miss state.
Hi Janie:
Looks like some investment guy is trying to take over our blog.
Back on point:
I wonder if John Kerry is all for bringing the terrorists back to the USA for trial after issuing this report. I really think the BHO administration does not have our best interests at heart.
The "investment guy" is a spammer. Put word recognition on your comment section and he won't be able to get in...not so much because he can't read, but because he is automated.
John Byrnes' suggestion is well taken, but it would require a good deal of time to impliment around the world, as a good deal of training would be required for TSA agents (not the brightest lamps in the basement)to learn how to properly use it.
Furthermore, selling the government on an idea that actually works is a monumental undertaking, as they specialize in things that do not work.
In the meanwhile, profiling little old ladies and young children still makes no sense, while profiling Middle Easterners makes some.
It is sad to have to do that, but safety HAS to supercede political correctness.
FINALLY! Technical difficulties did not allow me to get on the internet and delete the spam! I hate comment moderation of any kind, but I am going to have to resort to it.
Political correctness is just another tool used to control people. Time to rebel!
Terrorism is insidious, as is radical islam. Just gives me the creeps, frankly. For example, when good ole American women marry some dude who gets in w/ Nation of Islam types & she runs around town in black drapes & preacher robes. Just makes me want to reach out & SHAKE her!!! Come on, sweetie, don't you know who you are???
I've digressed...I had to do the same thing w/ the word recognition thing...so automated commenters couldn't spam me. Makes it more cumbersome for folks, but it's the price we pay I guess...
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