- By now, the familiar storyline sounds more like a film
plot than criminal indictment, especially when Muslims are involved, and
the most recent case repeats the same scenario used last December.
-
- Then it involved Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain,
accused of plotting to attack an armed forces recruiting center. An undercover
FBI agent lawlessly entrapped him, supplying an inert bomb, then stopping
him after he allegedly tried to detonate it by remote control. A previous
article discussed him, accessed through the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/12/fbi-sting-entraps-another-victim.html
-
- In fact, like dozens of others, he was maliciously ensnared
by an FBI orchestrated sting operation, entrapping him to declare another
war on terror victory. Innocence or guilt doesn't matter, just the illusion
that America is now safer when, in fact, each conviction assures greater
insecurity, leaving many to wonder who's next.
-
- Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif (aka Joseph Anthony Davis) and
Walli Mujahidh (aka Frederick Dominque) are the latest victims, a June
23 Justice Department press release headlining, "Two Men Charged in
Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center - Defendants Sought Firearms
and Grenades to Attack Complex where Enlistees Report," saying:
-
- Arrested on June 22, both men were "charged by criminal
complaint with terrorism and firearms related charges....Unbeknownst to
the defendants, the weapons were rendered inoperable and posed no risk
to the public. (They) initially planned an attack on Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
but later changed targets. (They) intended to carry out their attack with
both grenades and machine guns."
-
- Other bogus plots involved surface-to-air and stinger
missiles, automatic weapons, bombs and other explosive devices, as well
as other heavy firepower beyond the ability of ordinary people to obtain
even with help. Yet indictments suggest it's simple for anyone to get them
over the counter or by other means.
-
- According to US Attorney Jenny Durkan:
-
- "The complaint alleges these men intended to carry
out a deadly attack against our military where they should be most safe,
here at home. This is a sobering reminder of our need to be vigilant and
that our first line of defense is the people who live in our community.
We were able to disrupt the plot because someone stepped forward and reported
it to authorities."
-
- In fact, according to Seattle Post-Intelligencer writers
Levi Pulkkinen and Scott Gutierrez, a convicted felon informant entrapped
both men in a plot they may never have conceived without prodding.
-
- However, the storyline goes that both defendants met
with the unnamed man, explained the planned attack, then surveilled the
recruiting station together. Why three were needed for a one-man job wasn't
explained, other than for help to provide weapons no ordinary person could
get.
-
- According to the FBI, Abdul-Latif told the informant
he wanted to obtain AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, other
grenades, and bullet proof vests.
-
- The Justice Department indictment said:
-
- "Law enforcement (learned) of the potential threat
when a citizen alerted them that he/she had been approached about participating
in the attack and supplying firearms to the conspirators. The person then
agreed to work with law enforcement, which began monitoring" both
men.
-
- Since early June, "the conspirators were captured
on (easily manipulated) audio and videotape, discussing a violent assault
on the Military Entrance Process Station (MEPS)....where each (military
branch) screens and processes enlistees."
-
- According to Acting Assistant Attorney General for National
Security, Todd Hinnen:
-
- "Driven by a violent, extreme ideology, these two
young Americans are charged with plotting to murder men and women who were
enlisting in the Armed Forces to serve and protect our country."
-
- Abdul-Latif and Mujahidh are charged with:
-
- -- conspiracy to murder US officers and employees;
- -- conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (grenades);
and
-
- -- possession of firearms to commit violent crimes.
-
- If convicted on all charges, both men face up to life
in prison. On June 24, they were arraigned in court, then held without
bail. On July 7, a preliminary hearing is scheduled after which a trial
date will be set.
-
- Abdul-Latif's wife described him as loving man, saying
she didn't believe her husband could be accused of a terror attack, adding:
-
- "He's not that type of person. I don't know if he
got involved with bad people or something, but I don't have any idea. (Investigators)
told me they (were) looking for weapons, and I told them I don't have weapons
in this house."
-
- Calling her husband a good man and good husband, she
explained:
-
- "He goes to mosque. He works hard. I don't have
to pay rent. I don't have to (buy) food. I don't have to pay (for) clothes.
He's clothing me. He's housing me."
-
- Neighbors also expressed surprise, including Mozaia Walton,
saying:
-
- "Well, he just seemed like a working guy, like he
would come and he would go. His wife was really nice."
-
- Another neighbor, Janice Ackman, said:
-
- "It's an absolute surprise. As they say in the media,
he's the last person I would have expected."
-
- After entrapping victimized targets, the Justice Department
disingenuously ends relevant press releases, saying:
-
- "The charges contained in the complaint are only
allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
-
- In fact, prosecutors have already convicted them by accusation,
hanging them out to dry for being Muslims in America at the wrong time,
imprisoning hundreds of innocent victims of Washington's war on terror.
-
- On June 24, Los Angeles Times writer Kim Murphy headlined,
"Pair accused of plotting Seattle attack," saying:
-
- "A bankrupt janitor from Seattle who admired Osama
bin Laden and a Los Angeles man who said he was going on jihad were accused
of plotting (the alleged attack) as vengeance for violence committed against
Afghan civilians, describing a storyline straight out of Hollywood, including:
-
- -- obtaining automatic weapons, rocket-propelled and
other grenades;
-
- -- planning to use a truck with a battering ram "that
looks like the Titanic;"
-
- -- approaching the recruiting center; and
-
- -- attacking "anybody wearing green or a badge,"
alleged conversations explaining their plan like a screenplay.
-
- A Final Comment
-
- A previous article explained how innocent Muslims are
entrapped, accessed through the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/06/entrapping-innocent-muslims.html
-
- It discusses a recent New York University School of Law
Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) report titled, "Targeted
and Entrapped: Manufacturing the 'Homegrown Threat' in the United States."
-
- It explains how innocent Muslims have been ruthlessly
targeted, paid informants often performing services in return for reduced
charges or sentences they face, a powerful incentive why they cooperate.
-
- Several high-profile examples explained the threat all
Muslims today face, entrapped for political advantage. Nearly always, Washington
invents plots. America's media headline them. People feel safer, unaware
innocent people face spurious charges. The pattern repeats regularly, often
strategically timed.
-
- Instead of pursuing criminals, Homeland Security, the
FBI and Justice Department prosecutors embrace racist radicalization notions
to entrap innocent victims despite no plot or crime except ones they invent.
As a result, everyone today is vulnerable when government repressively
works against people, not protectively for them.
-
- That's today's America, besides wasting the nation's
resources on imperial wars and handouts to corporate predators.
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
-
- Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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