BLIND TO TERROR: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S DISASTROUS MUSLIM OUTREACH EFFORTS AND THE IMPACT ON U.S. MIDDLE EAST POLICY By Patrick S. Poole*

Why has the U.S. government called certain Islamic groups supporters of terror in federal court, and then turned around and called these same organizations “moderates” and embraced them as outreach partners? In a number of cases from the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations, the leaders of these organizations (some of whom are now in federal prison) were under active investigation at the same time they were meeting with senior U.S. leaders at the White House and the Capitol and helping develop U.S. policy. Now these same Islamic organizations and leaders have openly encouraged a purge of counterterrorism training that have effectively blinded law enforcement, homeland security, and intelligence agencies to active terror threats as seen in the inaction of the FBI concerning the Boston bombing suspects and other terror cases. This study poses serious questions as to the efficacy and even security concerns about U.S. government outreach to Islamic groups, which often turn out to be Islamist militants, enemies of Islamic moderation, and even supporters of terrorism.

Obama meets with members of his national security team following the Boston Marathon bombings, April 19, 2013. Pictured from left, are: FBI Director Robert Mueller; Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; Attorney General Eric Holder; Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken; and Vice President Joe Biden.

The aftermath of the April 15, 2013 bombers despite warnings from Russian bombings in Boston, Massachusetts, has authorities. This failure has partially been focused attention on the failure of the Federal attributed to a full scale campaign of political Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to carry out an correctness waged inside the bureau and adequate investigation of the suspected throughout the U.S. government under the

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Obama administration against any attempt to ideology and implicated by federal prosecutors link jihadi terrorism with anything remotely in financing terrorism.4 connected to Islam of any variety (the most Yet it was not like they had crashed the radical versions included).1 This has extended party. In fact, one of the individuals missing into other segments of the government as well, on the official White House list, Mohamed particularly the Department of Defense.2 Majid, president of the Islamic Society of One of the primary contributors to this North America (ISNA), was pictured in a widespread political correctness campaign has news service photograph sitting at the front been the U.S. government’s disastrous Muslim table just a few feet from the president as he outreach policies extending back to the spoke.5 When Majid was hailed by Time Clinton administration and the 1993 World Magazine in November 2005 as a “moderate Trade Center bombings. The U.S. Muslim cleric” who was helping the FBI fight government’s historical outreach program, terrorists, he quickly published an open letter regardless of whether it has been a Democrat to his congregation on the mosque’s website or Republican in the White House, has been assuring his congregants that he was doing no based on a schizophrenic policy: In many such thing, stating that his relationship with cases federal prosecutors have gone into the FBI was a one-way street only to federal court and identified American Islamic communicate Muslim community concerns-- organizations and leaders as supporters of not to report on individuals suspected of terrorism, and no sooner have left court before terrorist activity.6 government officials openly embrace these It was just a few years ago the attorney same organizations and leaders as moderates general of the United States was canceling and outreach partners. In several notable Muslim outreach events for the sole reason cases, the FBI’s outreach partners have been that Majid would be present at the meeting, under active FBI criminal investigation and because the Department of Justice had just were later convicted on terrorism-related named the ISNA as an unindicted co- charges at the time the outreach occurred. conspirator in the largest terrorism financing In the case of the Cambridge, trial in American history.7 Massachusetts, mosque attended by the Majid’s connection to terrorism, however, suspected Boston marathon bombers, when goes back even farther than that, since the the plethora of extremist ties to the Islamic offices of the mosque he leads, the All Dulles Society of Boston were reported, a mosque Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center, were spokesman replied that they could not be raided by U.S. Customs authorities in March extremists since they regularly participated in 2002 in a wide-sweeping terror finance outreach programs with the FBI, Department investigation.8 In an affidavit requesting a of Justice and Homeland Security.3 search warrant for the raids, Customs Agent This exemplifies the chronic failure of the David Kane testified that Majid’s mosque was U.S. government’s outreach programs. being used to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars for the targeted terror finance OUTREACH FAILURE: THEN AND network that shared offices with ADAMS.9 An NOW appendix to the Customs Service affidavit also names eleven ADAMS Center officials as When President Obama hosted his annual targets of their terror finance investigation.10 Iftar dinner in August 2010 to commemorate Yet Majid and the ADAMS Center are still the Muslim celebration of Ramadan, the list of considered legitimate outreach partners by the invitees published by the White House was FBI as of the writing of this article.11 curiously missing the names of several This was just the most recent episode in the attendees--all of whom were top leaders of disastrous attempts at outreach to the Muslim organizations known to be purveyors of jihadi community since the September 11, 2001, attacks. In addition, with the release in 2011 of

2 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy President Obama’s strategic plan to combat In March 1996, al-Amoudi’s association “violent extremism” to expand outreach to with Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook was these same terror-tied groups, the present exposed in the pages of the Wall Street administration seems intent on compounding Journal.19 Two years later, the State the disaster wrought by previous Department came under fire by the New York administrations.12 Prior to the September 11 Post for inviting al-Amoudi to official events attacks, there were two prime examples of despite his known statements in support of how the government’s Muslim outreach policy terrorism and terrorist leaders.20 Even then the failed spectacularly: Abdul Rahman al- Post noted the problem with the government’s Amoudi and Sami al-Arian. policy of reaching out to the wrong Muslim Al-Amoudi’s case is perhaps the best leaders: example, because he was the conduit through much of the U.S. government outreach that The problem is that such groups have was conducted following the 1993 World been legitimized--both by government Trade Center bombing. Not only was he asked and the media--as civil-rights groups by the Clinton administration to help train and fighting anti-Muslim discrimination and certify all Muslim military chaplains (his stereotyping. Unfortunately, their organization being the first to certify such),13 definition of such discrimination he was later appointed by the State consists of anyone who writes about the Department in 1997 as a civilian goodwill existence of--or tries to investigate-- ambassador to the Middle East, making six radical Islamic terrorist groups and their taxpayer-funded trips.14 allies on these shores.21 Further, with the assistance and encouragement of then-First Lady Hillary A more embarrassing episode occurred in Clinton, al-Amoudi arranged the first White October 2000, when al-Amoudi appeared at an House Iftar dinner in 1996, personally hand- anti-Israeli rally where he was cheered by the picking the attendees.15 Thus, he was regularly crowd for his support for terrorists. "I have invited to the White House during both the been labeled by the media in New York to be Clinton and Bush (II) Administrations. In a supporter of Hamas. Anybody support 1992 and 1996, al-Amoudi’s American Hamas here?” he asked the crowd three times Muslim Council hosted hospitality suites at to the roar of attendees. “Hear that, Bill both the Democratic and Republican Clinton?” he continued. “We are all supporters conventions.16 It is fair to say that during this of Hamas. I wish they added that I am also a period, Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi was the supporter of Hezbollah. Does anybody support most prominent and politically connected Hezbollah here?” Again, he was met with the Muslim leader in America. cheers of the crowd. As is now known, and the U.S. government Al-Amoudi wasn’t so bold the following has admitted, at the time that he was being day when asked about his comments by courted by Democrats and Republicans alike, reporters from the New York Daily News, who he was a major fundraiser for al-Qa’ida had a videotape of the rally to counter his according to the Department of the Treasury.17 initial claim that he wasn’t even there: “In a However, it isn’t as if the U.S. government phone interview yesterday, Alamoudi at first was not aware of al-Amoudi’s attachments. As challenged the account of his Saturday speech, far back as 1993, a government informant told which The News reviewed on videotape. ‘You the FBI that al-Amoudi was funneling regular better check your Arabic,’ he said. Told he payments from Usama bin Ladin to the “Blind had given the speech in English, Alamoudi Sheikh” Omar Abdel Rahman, who was replied, ‘It was in English? Oh my God, I convicted for authorizing terror attacks forgot!’”22 He then deferred any further media targeting New York landmarks.18 inquiries about his comments to his attorney, who appealed to the fact that he worked for

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 3 Patrick S. Poole the State Department and had just returned their association with terrorist from a taxpayer-funded trip to Saudi Arabia, organizations.”28 Bahrain, and Oman as proof of his Yet Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi was not the moderation. only troubling association for the Bush Al-Amoudi’s statements were not made in administration after the September 11 attacks. a closed-door meeting in the Middle East. When Sami al-Arian, a tenured professor at Rather, he delivered his speech supporting two the University of South Florida, was indicted designated terrorist organizations in Lafayette on terror support charges and his leadership Park--just steps from the White House. Yet it role in Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was had no impact on his standing with the U.S. revealed, his connection with Bush and top government nor did it hinder his positions administration officials also came under media with the Pentagon, the State Department, or scrutiny. the White House. In fact, photos of al-Arian and Bush on the No sooner had President George W. Bush campaign trail in Florida during the 2000 taken office before al-Amoudi was being election quickly surfaced.29 The Washington courted by the new administration. In June Post also reported that al-Arian had met with 2001, the Jerusalem Post reported that al- Karl Rove in the White House.30 One law Amoudi was going to be part of a White enforcement official told Newsweek that al- House meeting with Vice President Cheney Arian had been flagged by the Secret Service despite the fact that al-Amoudi was known to as a possible terrorist at that June 2001 have attended a terror confab in Beirut earlier meeting with Rove, where the Bush advisor that year, which featured representatives from discussed the administration’s “outreach” virtually every major Islamist terrorist policy, but he was allowed to enter to prevent organization in the world--including al- an incident.31 Several weeks later while al- Qa’ida.23 Yet just days after the September 11 Arian was being questioned during the attacks by al-Qa’ida, al-Amoudi was one of deportation hearing for his brother-in-law, he the Muslim leaders asked to appear with had to invoke his Fifth Amendment right President Bush at the Islamic Center of against self-incrimination 99 times to avoid Washington, D.C.24 That same week one of al- answering questions about his role in Amoudi’s close associates, Muzzammil supporting terrorist organizations.32 Siddiqi, was asked to deliver an Islamic prayer The reasons for al-Arian’s White House and to represent the entire Muslim-American visits during the Clinton and Bush community at the national prayer service administrations revolved around his attempts mourning the fallen.25 to change the U.S. government’s policy on the The decision to include al-Amoudi and use of secret evidence in terrorism deportation Siddiqi at the post-September 11 events was proceedings, a policy that candidate Bush had highly criticized, especially since al-Amoudi promised to change during the 2000 campaign. had been videotaped in October 2000 The Justice Department had drafted new enthusiastically expressing his support for the guidelines revising the use of secret evidence, Hamas and Hizballah terrorist organizations at and ominously, President Bush was to present a rally held just steps from the White House.26 these new guidelines to Muslim leaders at a At that same rally, Siddiqi accused the United meeting in the White House scheduled at 2 States of responsibility for the “plight of the p.m. on September 11, 2001.33 Palestinians,” parroting Usama bin Ladin, and However, at the time that al-Arian was warning that “the wrath of God will come.”27 meeting with these Clinton and Bush One former Secret Service agent told Fox administration officials, he and his associates News that “The intelligence Community has had been the subject of a Foreign Intelligence known for sometime the association of Dr. Surveillance Act wiretap order since Muzammil Siddiqi, and Mr. Alamoudi and December 1993, and his home and offices had been raided by the FBI in 1995.34 During that

4 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy initial raid, FBI agents discovered a document had been sent from Centcomm to his in al-Arian’s possession that outlined a residence.39 program to “infiltrate the sensitive intelligence In both al-Amoudi and al-Arian’s cases, agencies or the embassies in order to collect years of warnings about their support for information and build close relationships with terrorism and public criticism of their the people in charge of these establishments” inclusion in government programs and events and to create a center that would “collect went unheeded and ignored. Not only that, but information from those relatives and friends these terrorist leaders were being engaged by who work in sensitive positions in the U.S. government at the very time they government.”35 were being investigated by federal law During his trial, al-Arian’s attorney asked enforcement authorities. In one incredible the government to disclose any wiretapped instance, the head of the FBI’s civil right conversations he had with then-Speaker of the division Tom Brekke and the FBI’s top House Dennis Hastert, former Speaker Newt spokesman John Collingwood appeared at one Gingrich, former Homeland Security Deputy of al-Amoudi’s conferences held inside the Secretary Asa Hutchinson, and GOP activist Hart Senate Office Building, where they Grover Norquist. His attorney also submitted shared the podium not only with al-Amoudi evidence that al-Arian had been at the White but also al-Arian, despite the FBI knowing of House every year between 1998 and 2001; he both men’s direct terror ties and funding years had met with Al Gore in November 1998 and before.40 Hillary Clinton in October 1999, and that he The U.S. government’s success with had attended a briefing at the Justice Muslim outreach since September 11 hasn’t Department in July 2001 as proof that he fared any better. One of the first Muslim could not be a terrorist.36 That fact alone may leaders that the government turned to was account for the jury’s deadlocking on a Anwar al-Awlaki, the al-Qa’ida cleric who number of counts. was in direct contact with at least three of the Yet al-Arian’s influence was not exclusive September 11 hijackers.41 Awlaki, who had to political circles. In fact, while he was been placed on the CIA’s “kill or capture” list, subject to FBI wiretaps and serving as a top was killed on September 30, 2011 in a CIA- official on PIJ’s governing shura council, he led drone strike on the al-Qa’ida cleric’s was acting as a Middle East advisor to the convoy in Yemen, which President Obama military’s Central Command, located in hailed as a “milestone” in the fight against al- Tampa. Al-Arian not only lectured at Qa’ida.42 Centcomm and translated materials for the As the cleanup from the terrorist attack on military, but also his colleague Ramadan the Pentagon continued, Awlaki was invited Shallah, who would later emerge as the head by the Pentagon’s Office of Government of PIJ in Damascus.37 Al-Arian and Shallah Counsel to speak at a lunch in the building’s were able to gain access to Centcomm through executive offices as part of the government’s their friendship with Arthur Lowrie, who new Muslim outreach policy.43 Ironically, one served as the Centcomm commander’s of the September 11 terrorists who had helped Mideast adviser.38 hijack American Airlines Flight 77 that was Two weeks after speaking at a Centcomm flown into the Pentagon had described Awlaki symposium in May 1993, attended by as “a great man” and his “spiritual leader.”44 Centcomm commander Gen. Norman Yet concerns had been raised about Awlaki Schwarzkopf, al-Arian wired $4,776 to the long before the September 11 attacks. family of convicted PIJ terrorists in the West A joint congressional inquiry in the Bank. When the FBI executed a search September 11 attacks found that law warrant at Ramadan’s Florida home in enforcement had been investigating Awlaki’s November 1995, agents found materials that contacts with terrorism suspects as far back as 1999.45 Further, just two days after September

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11, Awlaki had described the terror attacks as September 2010.53 Why was this so an “accident” in an interview with a local catastrophic? In 2007 Kifah Mustapha was television station.46 Also prior to his named an unindicted co-conspirator by federal appearance at the Pentagon the New York prosecutors in the largest terrorism financing Times had noted Awlaki’s fiery anti-American trial in American history. During that trial FBI rhetoric prior to the attacks, and in November agent Lara Burns testified that Mustapha was 2001, he had defended the Taliban in an online part of a singing troupe that glorified Hamas chat about Ramadan on the Washington Post and encouraged the killing of Jews as part of website.47 Thus, despite claims that Awlaki the fundraising efforts for Hamas.54 had been “vetted” before the Pentagon event, Yet months before participating in the FBI abundant evidence of Awlaki’s extremist Citizen Academy program and visiting the views was more than readily available before NCTC, Mustapha was removed as an Illinois he appeared at the Pentagon event.48 State Police chaplain in the wake of media Equally egregious was the invitation by the reports noting his long-time terrorist support National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to activities.55 After Mustapha sued the state Yasir Qadhi to speak on de-radicalization at a police for discrimination, a protective order conference in August 2008. At that time too, was filed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Qadhi’s extremist views (such as his that disclosed that the Chicago FBI’s Special statements denouncing “the hoax of the Agent in Charge Robert Grant had warned Holocaust”) were well known.49 Even more state police officials that Mustapha would than that, at a Muslim outreach event in never be able to pass an FBI background Houston in 2006, Homeland Security official check.56 One former FBI official told the Dan Sutherland was present when Qadhi Washington Times that Mustapha was “a openly admitted that he was on the terror known senior Hamas guy.”57 watch list.50 None of that prevented the FBI Chicago Yet no one at the NCTC bothered to field office from hosting Mustapha in the six- question Qadhi’s “de-radicalization” week Citizen’s Academy course, which credentials. By the time he was invited to included a guided tour of the NCTC and the speak at the NCTC conference, at least one of FBI Academy at Quantico. Caught in an Qadhi’s Houston students, Daniel Maldonado, embarrassing situation, an FBI spokesman had been captured by Kenyan forces fighting admitted to Fox News that he had in fact with the Somali al-Shabaab terrorist group.51 participated in the program, but defended the A number of other students from Qadhi’s decision, saying that he was “a prominent AlMaghrib Institute program have gone in to figure in the community.”58 A week later, FBI careers in terrorism, including Christmas Day Director Robert Mueller doubled-down on underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdul Mustapha’s inclusion in the program after he Mutallab, who attended a two-week training was questioned about it following a speech he session in Houston sponsored by Qadhi’s had given, but refused to address the mountain group learning the “nuts and bolts of Islam” of evidence that federal prosecutors and the from the cleric. Abdul Mutallab also attended FBI had compiled on the Hamas cleric, saying, two other events in the UK sponsored by “I am not going to talk about any particular AlMaghrib.52 If Yasir Qadhi is an expert in individual.”59 deradicalization, one shudders to think what Court documents filed in March 2013 in a an expert in radicalization might produce. federal court by Illinois Attorney General Lisa The NCTC under the Obama Madigan asked the judge for summary administration continues this bipartisan policy judgment against Mustapha’s lawsuit against of Muslim outreach disasters, best exemplified the Illinois State Police. In them were revealed when they gave Shaykh Kifah Mustapha a tour more warnings about Mustapha’s terror ties of their top-secret facility as part of the FBI’s from the FBI Chicago field office. Ironically, Citizen Academy civilian training program in this was the same office that a few months

6 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy later invited Mustapha to participate in the FBI stirred international outrage following his visit Citizens Academy, even telling Illinois State to the notorious East London Mosque, well Police officials about the imam’s known as a longtime hotbed of extremism and “demonstrable ties to an organization that a prolific terrorist incubator.67 In January funded terrorism” and providing them a video 2009, the mosque hosted a conference of Mustapha singing lyrics in praise of Hamas featuring wanted al-Qa’ida cleric Anwar al- and calling for violence against Jews as Awlaki via telephone.68 Just a few weeks children danced around him carrying guns.60 before Susman’s visit, the mosque chairman Attorney General Madigan added that the had defended Awlaki’s participation in the information provided by the FBI Chicago conference, calling it an act of “fairness and officials conclusively showed that Mustapha’s justice.” activities “damage Illinois State Police due to The visit by the U.S. ambassador was its anti-Jewish and un-American content and slammed in the Wall Street Journal by Shiraz manner.”61 Maher of the International Center for the No matter how embarrassing the Kifah Study of Radicalization at King’s College, Mustapha incident was for the FBI and the who described the mosque as “among NCTC, the Department of Homeland Security Britain’s most extreme Islamic institutions.” has no grounds to fault their colleagues, Maher concluded that “Mr. Susman’s visit especially after Secretary Napolitano illustrates the blunders Western politicians appointed Mohamed Elibiary to her Homeland often make by reaching out to the wrong Security Advisory Council in October 2010.62 Muslim ‘dialogue partners.’” He added that Elibiary had previously served on the the attendance of such a high-ranking Department of Homeland Security’s diplomat to the mosque “emboldened robed Countering Violent Extremism Working reactionaries at the expense of their more Group, along with Mohamed Majid, despite moderate counterparts.”69 Maher also stated his speaking at a December 2004 conference that Susman’s visit to the mosque was such an honoring Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini (an egregious blunder that British Prime Minister event that the Dallas Morning News David Cameron instructed officials to conduct editorialized as a “disgrace”).63 Recently an “exhaustive review” of the government’s Elibiary has billed himself as a “Preventing Violent Extremism” program to “deradicalization expert,” despite clear ensure that all community partners had been evidence of his previous defense of terrorist thoroughly vetted.70 support organizations, his praise for jihadist The U.S. government, however, failed to authors, and his threats made against a Dallas even acknowledge the blunder, let alone journalist who repeatedly exposed his attempt to reconsider its long-standing policy extremist views.64 His open support for of engaging extremists. In fact, the American jihadist ideological godfather Sayyid Qutb65 Embassy issued a statement explaining that prompted the Washington Times to comment, the visit was “a part of President Obama’s call “If Mr. Elibiary is one of his [Qutb’s] for a renewed dialogue with Muslim disciples, he has no business being anywhere communities around the world.”71 in government, let alone as an adviser at the uppermost reaches of an agency that purports WHO ARE WE DEALING WITH? to protect the homeland.”66 Considering Mohamed Elibiary’s track record, it seems he In President Obama’s call for renewed has done more to promote violent ideology dialogue, isn’t it incumbent upon intelligence, than to prevent it. homeland security, and law enforcement The State Department under Hillary officials to know exactly who they’re dealing Clinton was not immune from such outreach with? Yet in many cases, the U.S. government disasters either. In November 2010, U.S. has known that the Muslim leaders and Ambassador to Britain Louis B. Susman organizations they were dealing with were

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 7 Patrick S. Poole involved in terrorism or hostile foreign Fai’s influence in Washington, D.C. spy governments and groups. operations, never informing the members of A case cited earlier, for example, showed Congress who were targeted by Fai. Further, this to be true of Ramadan Shallah, an during the two decades that Fai operated in associate of Sami al-Arian, who directed the service to Pakistan’s intelligence service, he World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), a was also serving in senior leadership roles think-tank affiliated with the University of with a number of top Islamic groups favored South Florida. In addition, he taught classes in by the U.S. government, including serving on Middle Eastern politics at the university in the shura council of ISNA--the most 1994 and 1995.72 He also was a regular fixture prominent Islamic organization involved with along with al-Arian at CENTCOMM the U.S. government’s outreach headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base. programs.77For years, federal law enforcement Shallah was even a speaker at a January 1995 officials knowingly looked the other way and conference with a former attorney general of stood mute as the Holy Land Foundation the United States held at the University of raised money inside the United States for the Georgia.73 Yet just months after suddenly terrorist group Hamas. Their programs were leaving the Tampa area, Shallah reappeared in even registered with the State Department’s October 1995 in Damascus, Syria, as the new USAID program until December 1999, when head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which had the agency informed the Holy Land been designated a terrorist organization by Foundation that it was officially being President Clinton. He is currently on the FBI’s deregistered. Defending the organization, a most wanted list and is the subject of a $5 spokeswoman appealed to their ties with the million reward offered by the State government as proof of their innocence, Department.74 saying, “We’re in close cooperation with More recently, the case of Ghulam Nabi A.I.D.”78 Fai, president of the Kashmiri American The U.S. government has not just been Council in Washington, D.C., should be noted. content with turning a blind eye towards their Fai was a regular fixture on Capitol Hill, terror-tied outreach partners, but active where his organization hosted conferences financiers of them as well. Such was the case supporting the Kashmiri separatist cause with the Islamic American Relief Agency featuring high-ranking members of Congress, (IARA), which according to the Treasury including Reps. Dan Burton, Joe Pitts, Dennis Department had “provided direct financial Kucinich, Yvette Clarke, and Jim Moran.75 Fai support to UBL [Usama bin Ladin].” Yet also spread around generous amounts of IARA had received a $300,000 USAID campaign cash to Republican and Democrats contract to provide support for a “child alike. survival” program. It was also awarded a $4 Yet for two decades, Fai had been million contract by the U.S. Embassy in Mali operating as a paid agent of influence under in 1998, which was only cancelled in the direct control of Pakistan’s intelligence December 1999, when Richard Clarke, chief service, the ISI.76 Senior high-ranking of counterterrorism for President Bill Clinton, members of the ISI were in attendance at Fai’s pressed the matter.79 Yet the FBI and the CIA Capitol Hill conferences. According to court had known of IARA’s ties to al-Qa’ida going documents, Fai and his ISI handlers would go back to 1995 and made no effort to stop from the Capitol to his D.C. office to discuss taxpayer funds from going to the group. their plans to influence Congress illegally, the One might think that considering these State Department, and other government cases, the U.S. government would have agencies toward Pakistan’s views on Kashmir. revisited its policies and scrutinized more All of this was caught on FBI wiretaps and carefully who they dealt with in their aid cited in Fai’s indictment. However, it was programs. Yet exactly the opposite occurred-- years before federal prosecutors put an end to U.S. government agencies appear to have

8 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy imposed a policy of institutional blindness looking to overthrow Bashar al-Asad.84 Safi when it comes to the terrorist associations of currently serves as the group’s political their aid program partners. Such was the case director based in Qatar. in 2008, when the Bush Labor Department However, Safi’s connections to the Muslim funded a three-year contract with the Brotherhood even predate his advising the Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW) Pentagon. Back in 2002, Safi’s offices were based in Yemen to combat child labor and raided by the U.S. Customs Service of the child trafficking. Even as investigative Treasury Department as part of a widespread reporter J.M. Berger noted, one of CSSW’s terror finance investigation into the SAAR former leaders in the United States was none Network, a financial empire funded by Saudi other than al-Qa’ida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.80 money but controlled and operated by U.S. According to tax documents filed with the IRS Muslim Brotherhood operatives. At the time, obtained by Berger, Awlaki had served as the Safi was working for the International Institute group’s vice president. Yet at the time that the for Islamic Thought (IIIT), which was one of Department of Labor issued the grant, the primary targets of the raid.85 Awlaki’s work on behalf of al-Qa’ida and his Then in 2005, Safi was named “unindicted ties to CSSW had been widely reported.81 It co-conspirator Number 4” in the trial of had also been reported that the founder of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Sami al- CSSW and an ongoing active supporter of the Arian. As the Tampa Tribune noted during the “charity” was Abdul Majid al-Zindani, one of trial, conversations between al-Arian and Safi Usama bin Ladin’s mentors that had been had been caught on wiretaps authorized by a named a U.S. specially designated terrorist by top-secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance the U.S. government in 2004.82 Act (FISA) national security warrant. In one The Obama administration has continued conversation, Safi called al-Arian to ask him this disastrous policy as seen the funding of how the designation of PIJ as a terrorist the Sunni Ittehad Council, which was organization by then-President Bill Clinton ostensibly formed to counter extremism in would impact al-Arian’s work.86 Yet despite Pakistan. Yet when a leading moderate his known association with terrorist leaders, as Pakistani governor critical of the country’s use late as 2008, Safi was appearing with senior of Islamic blasphemy laws to punish religious FBI officials (the same FBI that had minorities was gunned down by one of his wiretapped his conversations with al-Arian) at own bodyguards, the Ittehad Council held “outreach” events.87 rallies and demonstrations in support of the Safi’s involvement with the Pentagon assassin. The council received $36,607 of U.S. became an issue following the Fort Hood taxpayer money.83 attacks, when 13 members of Congress sent a Equally as troubling has been the number letter to Defense Secretary Gates complaining of transformations of leaders of American that not only was Safi endorsing Muslim Islamic organizations that partner with the chaplains for the Defense Department on U.S. government into senior officials with behalf of ISNA, but also teaching classes on Muslim Brotherhood fronts around the world. the “Theology of Islam” to troops departing One recent case is Louay Safi, who up until a for Afghanistan at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss few years ago was one of the Pentagon’s top under a subcontract with the Naval Islamic advisers and only one of two official Postgraduate School.88 After Fox News made ecclesiastical endorsers of the Defense inquiries about Safi’s relationship with the Department’s Muslim chaplains. In August Pentagon, they were informed that Safi was no 2011, however, just weeks after meeting with longer teaching or endorsing chaplains.89 officials at the White House, Safi reappeared Louay Safi is hardly alone in transitioning at a press conference in Istanbul as a leader in from American Islamic leader to foreign the Syrian National Council, a group heavily Muslim Brotherhood leader: dominated by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 9 Patrick S. Poole

 Ghassan Hitto, a Dallas technology Attorney’s office had to recuse businessman, was selected as the themselves from the case, which was provision premier of the Syrian handled by DOJ attorneys in resistance.90 According to the New Washington, D.C.96 In a plea deal, al- York Times, Hitto was the favored Hanooti agreed to charges of violating candidate of the Syrian Muslim sanctions against doing business with Brotherhood.91 It also reported that he Iraq and was sentenced to federal had been an official for the Texas prison.97 He is now regional director of branch of the Council on American- the Detroit chapter of the Muslim Islamic Relations (CAIR). After Legal Fund of America.98 graduation from Purdue University,  Mahmoud Hussein, secretary general Hitto and his wife had both worked for of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, ISNA in Indianapolis for several years was recruited into the organization in the late 1980s and early 1990s.92 while studying in the United States at More recently, he had been on the the University of Iowa. He also served board of directors of the Muslim as the president of the Muslim Arab American Society, which federal Youth Association (MAYA) in the prosecutors had identified as “the overt United States, a now-defunct arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in subsidiary organization of ISNA.99 North America.”93 He is also a long- During Hussein’s tenure with MAYA, time friend of Homeland Security the group sponsored a number of adviser Mohamed Elibiary, who conferences across the country indicated that Hitto was “broadly featuring terrorist leaders affiliated respected” by the Muslim community with the Muslim Brotherhood from “including Muslim Brotherhood around the world, including Afghan members.”94 jihad leader and al-Qa’ida co-founder  Muthanna al-Hanooti, former Abdallah Azzam.100 executive director of CAIR-Michigan  Ishaq Farhan is the head of the and public relations coordinator for the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood’s Detroit-based Life for Relief and political arm, the Islamic Action Front. Development, was indicted in March However, he has also been a longtime 2008 for his role in attempting to board member of the International influence Congress of behalf of Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT) Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Intelligence based in the Washington, D.C., area.101 Service. According to the indictment, According to congressional testimony al-Hanooti paid for and accompanied on “Terrorist Threat to the United three members of Congress to Iraq on a States,” Farhan was also active with five-day trip in the lead-up to the U.S. MAYA as a conference speaker and as invasion of Iraq, with the $34,000 in a recruiter of American Muslim youths expenses covered by Iraqi intelligence. for Hamas. One student recruited who In return, al-Hanooti was granted a $2 attended a terror training session in million allotment of Iraqi oil.95 Kansas City noted Farhan as one of the Prosecutors said that al-Hanooti had speakers.102 In 1996, Farhan also sent operated on behalf of Saddam letters on behalf of the IAF to the U.S. Hussein’s government during most of Embassy in Amman demanding the the 1990s and up until the Iraq War. release of Hamas senior leader Mousa Because LIFE and al-Hanooti was part Abu Marzook.103 of the Detroit U.S. Attorney’s Building  Ahmed Yousef, currently spokesman Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance for Hamas in Gaza and a senior Sensitivity (BRIDGES), the entire U.S. political adviser to Hamas “prime

10 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy minister” Ismail Haniyeh, was the U.S. government are even wanted longtime director of the United international war criminals. Association for Studies and Research In October 2012, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, (UASR) based in Springfield, former secretary general of the Islamic Circle Virginia.104 Article Two of the 1988 of North America (ICNA) and president of the Hamas Charter self-identifies the North American Imams Federation, was group as “one of the wings of the indicted by a Bangladesh war crimes tribunal Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.”105 for crimes against humanity and genocide for The supposedly “independent” think- his role in the abduction, torture, and murder tank held conferences, published of intellectuals during that country’s war of studies, and a quarterly journal with an independence from Pakistan in December advisory board featuring a number of 1971. A State Department spokesman said that prominent academics. Yet as early as they are looking at the charges.110 A 1993, UASR had been identified as prosecutor in the case said that the killings by “the political command of Hamas in Khan, who at the time was a member of the al- the United States” by a captured Badr student militia wing of Jama’at-i-Islami, Hamas operative.106 Not were part of “a master plan” by the Pakistani coincidentally, one of UASR’s military “to kill a specific group of unarmed founders was Hamas deputy leader civilian Benghalis.”111 Those murdered were Mousa Abu Marzook, and another pro-independence professors, journalists, and director of the organization was al- physicians. Qa’ida fundraiser Abdul Rahman al- Not only has ICNA condemned the Amoudi.107 Yousef defended Hamas as international war crimes tribunal, but a “a charitable organization,” and many spokesman for ICNA reaffirmed their support of UASR’s publications and speakers for Khan.112 He also appeared at a rally in unashamedly defended Islamist New York City in late 2010, with leading terrorist groups as legitimate members of the Islamic community and U.S. resistance.108 Yousef fled the United government outreach partners, including States in 2005 to avoid prosecution on Obama White House regulars ISNA’s terrorism-related charges. He Mohamed Majid, CAIR executive director reemerged shortly thereafter as Nihad Awad, and Haris Tarin of the Muslim spokesman for Hamas. His departure Public Affairs Council (MPAC).113 left many of his defenders flatfooted. As has been shown, being under active FBI This included Georgetown investigation has not prevented the U.S. University’s John Esposito, who government from counting terrorist leaders, served on UASR’s editorial advisory recruiters, or fundraisers among their closest board and helped plan joint Islamic advisers. Such is the case with Abdul conferences with UASR, and former Rahman al-Amoudi, Sami al-Arian, and CIA official and Muslim Brotherhood Anwar al-Awlaki. Moreover, when the U.S. apologist Graham Fuller.109 government has given taxpayer dollars to Islamic groups that support terrorism, It may then be the case that occasionally presumably inadvertently, there has never some of the U.S. government’s Islamic been a systematic review of the screening advisors and leaders of the very organizations system to ensure similar incidents won’t occur government agencies count as their outreach in the future--when, in fact, they repeatedly partners seem to have the habit of turning up have. as illegal foreign agents or leaders of terrorist In the case of Ghulam Nabi Fai’s two- organizations and Muslim Brotherhood decade long influence operation on Capitol affiliates across the Middle East. Among the Hill on behalf of Pakistani intelligence, the leaders of the Islamic groups favored by the matter passed with barely any notice, let alone

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 11 Patrick S. Poole any consideration that Fai had served in that associating with a terrorist organization, if leadership positions with virtually every major that organization has both violent and legal Islamic organization in the country. Nor has elements, does not mean that someone agrees there been any reexamination on the part of with the violent ends of that organization: government agencies of their policies when a long line of their Islamic advisers and leaders This distinction includes recognition of from the groups they count as outreach the corresponding principle that mere partners--including repeated visits to the association with organizations that Obama White House in the case of Louay demonstrates both legitimate (advocacy) Safi--reappear as senior leaders for Muslim and illicit (violent extremism) objectives Brotherhood affiliates and fronts in the Middle should not automatically result in a East. This lack of acknowledgment, determination that the associated reexamination, or investigation following the individual is acting in furtherance of the near-universal catastrophic failures in U.S. organization's illicit objective(s).118 government outreach in the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations has led to a corrosive Thus, according to this new FBI policy, if effect on U.S. domestic and foreign policy. the group supports violence but performs some legitimate functions (say, for instance, POLICY IMPLICATIONS al-Qa’ida, which Sen. Patty Murray [D-WA] infamously said helped pay to build schools, That many of the Islamic groups identified roads, and day care centers119), associating as outreach partners by the U.S. government with that group, according to the FBI, doesn’t were identified by federal prosecutors in court mean you support that group’s violent ends. as fronts for the international Muslim Thus, the terror support of their Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of international outreach partners is absolved with a rhetorical terrorism has proved incredibly embarrassing. sleight-of-hand. Extraordinary measures are thus taken to This is why Mohamed Majid, who just a ignore this situation.114 One response has been few years before was treated as a pariah by the to ignore the problem altogether. Since March Attorney General of the United States after 2012, the FBI has been undergoing a federal prosecutors named his organization as Department of Justice inspector general a front for the Muslim Brotherhood and a investigation for continuing contacts with the supporter of terrorism in the largest terrorism Council of American-Islamic Relations financing trial in American history,120 can just (CAIR), despite a department-wide ban on a few short years later not only be formal contacts with the organizations for its rehabilitated, but can regularly be found-- long-standing ties to terrorism.115 This much as al-Qa’ida fundraiser Abdul Rahman outreach contrary to official bureau policy al-Amoudi who preceded him--a frequent continued to occur as CAIR officials publicly visitor to the White House. Just prior to encouraged the American Muslim community President Obama’s March 2013 visit to the not to talk to the FBI.116 Middle East, ISNA openly trumpeted that At the same time that the DOJ inspector Majid had advised the president prior to his general began its investigation of the FBI’s trip.121 continued contacts with CAIR in violation of Another extremist leader rehabilitated by stated policy, the bureau began taking another the Obama administration has been Salam al- approach. In March 2012, the FBI released Marayati, president of the Muslim Public guidelines it claimed informed its purge of Affairs Council (MPAC), who recently hundreds of documents and more than 300 appeared as a member of the official U.S. presentations from its counterterrorism delegation to the Organization for Security training materials.117 This “Touchstone and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) document” articulates the FBI’s new policy conference on human rights held in Vienna in

12 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy October 2012.122 Going back to the Clinton was invited to Washington, D.C. Eldin was Administration, however, al-Marayati had his escorted into the White House to meet with appointment to a congressional terrorism Obama’s national security staff.129 The commission withdrawn after his comments in purpose of his meeting was to demand the support of Hamas and Hizballah--designated release of his group’s leader, the “Blind terrorist organizations he had likened to Sheikh” Omar Abdel Rahman, currently in American patriots like Patrick Henry--and his federal prison for his leading role in the 1993 labeling Islamist suicide attacks as “legitimate World Trade Center bombing and the planned resistance” had been revealed.123 In an op-ed follow-up Day of Terror attacks.130 published by the Los Angeles Times, he and To emphasize this policy, senior Obama his wife attacked the Jewish groups criticizing administration officials made clear that his appointment as “extremists.”124 allowing Eldin--a member of a designated His appointment eventually withdrawn, he terrorist organization--into the United States doubled down on his support for the terrorist was no mistake. A few months later, groups, telling the New York Times, “When Department of Homeland Security Secretary Hamas and Hizballah commit acts of Janet Napolitano defended the decision during terrorism, we condemn those acts as events a congressional hearing. She added that other contrary to the principles of Islam; when those members of terrorist groups would be groups build hospitals and develop social admitted into the United States in the future.131 service agencies for the disenfranchised, that's Even more egregious than the invitation of something that we do not condemn.”125 This Hani Nour Eldin is the May 2012 visit of view foreshadows the new FBI “Touchstone” Sudanese war criminal Nafie Ali Nafie--an standard. architect of not one, but two genocides (the He was also caught up in controversy first in the 1990s in the Nuba Mountains, the immediately following the September 11 second more recently in Darfur)--as part of a attacks, when he went on a Los Angeles radio Sudanese delegation at the invitation of the program in the immediate hours after the U.S. State Department.132 Nafie is the attacks and said “we should put the state of principal adviser to Sudanese President Omar Israel on the suspect list.” This prompted a al-Bashir--who is currently under indictment number of Jewish organizations--many of by the International Criminal Court--and was whom had openly defended al-Marayati when the longtime intelligence chief for the Islamist his appointment to the congressional terrorism regime in Khartoum. In addition, he reportedly commission was withdrawn--to stop dialogue was closely associated with Usama bin Ladin with al-Marayati and MPAC.126 during his stay in Sudan during the early Yet when the State Department came under 1990s.133 Nafie readily admits to torturing fire for including al-Marayati in the official civilians in a series of “ghost houses” during U.S. delegation to the OSCE conference his tenure as intelligence chief. He defended despite his extremist positions and statements such practices in an interview with the Los (including a recent posting on the MPAC Angeles Times in 2008 (in the midst of the website promoting anti-Jewish blood libels), a Darfur genocide), saying, “We were there to spokesman appealed to his longtime protect ourselves. Definitely we were not there participation in U.S. government-sponsored to play cards with them.”134 Over a hundred outreach as proof of his moderation. They Holocaust scholars and genocide experts sent stated that he was “valued and highly a letter to President Obama calling for the credible.”127 Al-Marayati and MPAC are also administration to cancel its meeting with the official outreach partners to the FBI.128 Sudanese delegation.135 As these examples demonstrate, the U.S. In 2012, Hani Nour Eldin, a known government’s ignoring the terrorist support of member of the Egyptian al-Gama’a al- its Muslim outreach partners has had a Islamiyya (a U.S.-designated terrorist group), slippery-slope effect in its foreign policy by

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 13 Patrick S. Poole inviting members of terrorist groups and war reference to “radical Islam” from the National criminals to Washington, D.C. for “dialogue.” Security Strategy, a move that was hailed by Yet in light of Nafie Ali Nafie’s 2012 visit, CAIR and other Muslim groups.139 In fact, there is a more direct connection to be made. many of the U.S. government’s outreach The umbrella organization tasked with leading partners had a direct hand in demanding the the outreach efforts to the Obama language purge from national security protocol administration for the government’s Muslim and agency lexicons in recent years, going as outreach partners, American Muslims for far back as MPAC’s vehement criticism of the Constructive Engagement (which includes 9/11 Commission Report for the use of the ISNA, MPAC, IIIT, and CAIR as member words “Islamist,”,” “jihad,” and other such organizations), is headed by a former high- terms to describe the motivations, influence, ranking Sudanese genocide henchman. and ideology of al-Qa’ida and the September Abubakar al-Shingieti served as Sudan 11 terrorists.140 Undoubtedly, the Obama President al-Bashir’s spokesman and later administration’s move was part of the recent director of public affairs until 1998. His term justification by the Associated Press to purge as one of al-Bashir’s top advisers fully the same language from their stylebook.141 coincided with the genocide of Christians and More recently, Congressman Louie animists in southern Sudan. He came to the Gohmert (R-TX) challenged the removal of United States and served as editor of ISNA’s these terms from the FBI’s “Counterterrorism monthly magazine, Islamic Horizons, and now Analytical Lexicon,” including “jihad,” serves as director of IIIT in addition to his “Islam,” and even “Hamas,” “Hizballah,” and duties with American Muslims for “al-Qa’ida,” in a floor speech in the House of Constructive Engagement organizing outreach Representatives.142 The very next day, FBI to the U.S. government on behalf of the same representatives contacted Gohmert’s staff, organizations identified by federal prosecutors claiming that the lexicon he cited didn’t even as fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood.136 exist. Those same representatives quickly Thus, the policy pronounced by the FBI in retreated when it was confirmed that hard their “Touchstone” document, well established copies had been distributed to all in practice during FBI Director Robert counterterrorism agents in the field, electronic Mueller’s tenure,137 can now justify U.S. copies resided on the FBI’s intranet, and after government outreach and “dialogue” with the current author reported the matter and members of terrorist organizations and mass posted an electronic copy of the FBI’s lexicon murderers. The corrosive effect on national online.143 security and law enforcement when it comes Another step came in January 2010, when to terrorism goes even further. An important Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano point to raise at this point is that at the very hosted a two-day meeting with members of same time that the FBI was receiving red flag Islamic groups organized by the department’s warnings from Russian authorities about Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. future Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Attendees not from the Washington, D.C., Obama administration was engaged in a area were flown in and accommodated at government-wide “Islamophobia” witchhunt taxpayer expense. What distinguished this that left virtually no area of national security, meeting from others is that several of the intelligence, or law enforcement untouched.138 attendees represented organizations that had From the outset, the Obama administration been named unindicted co-conspirators and has followed a course to blind government fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood in the Holy agencies to the international and domestic Land Foundation trial.144 jihadi threat and tie the hands of law According to documents about the meeting enforcement investigators to identify such obtained by government watchdog Judicial activity. One of the first steps in 2009 was for Watch through a Freedom of Information Act the Obama administration to remove any (FOIA) request, one attendee proposed by

14 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy DHS staff included Hamas operative Kifah a year, according to Abudayyeh’s attorney.150 Mustapha.145 This was just weeks before In 2003, then-Illinois State Senator Barack Mustapha was removed from his position as Obama had spoken at a farewell dinner chaplain for the Illinois State Police under the sponsored by Abudayyeh’s Arab-American advice of the FBI Chicago field office.146 Action Network for former Palestinian While he was not included in the final Liberation Organization spokesman Rashid participants list for the meeting with Secretary Khalidi. In addition, a foundation that Obama Napolitano, Mustapha benefited from this new had sat on the board of had provided $40,000 outreach approach of the Obama in funds to Abudayyeh’s group.151 administration when he participated in the FBI Notwithstanding these embarrassments, the Citizens Academy program in August of that Obama administration continued to push year (just weeks after the same FBI office had forward with its outreach to extremists. In warned the Illinois State Police of his terrorist March 2011, Obama’s Deputy National ties).147 Security Advisor Denis McDonough spoke at One of those who did attend the meeting Mohamed Majid’s mosque, the ADAMS with Napolitano was Imad Hamad. In 2003, Center. McDonough lavished praise on the Hamad had an FBI Exceptional Public Service imam, who just a few years before had been award stripped from him just days before regarded as a pariah by the attorney general of receiving it from Director Mueller himself at a the United States after Majid’s organization, ceremony at the FBI Headquarters in ISNA, had been named unindicted Washington, D.C. This occurred following a coconspirator in the Holy Land Foundation New York Post editorial noting the nearly two- trial. In his comments, McDonough failed to decade-long effort of the Immigration and note the extensive terrorist ties of many of the Naturalization Service (INS) to deport Hamad leaders of the ADAMS Center.152 for his suspected membership in the Popular The ADAMS Center would again be the Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a site of a visit by a high-ranking official in the designated terrorist organization responsible Obama administration in February 2012, when for countless bombings targeting civilians. Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Lavoy Hamad had been recommended for the award publicly apologized to the U.S. Muslim by the FBI Detroit field office.148 community for the burning of several Korans Homeland Security was not alone in this at a U.S. base in Afghanistan, flanked by new Obama administration approach to Majid and Haris Tarin of MPAC.153 The Muslim outreach, with the White House Korans were burned after a counterintelligence getting into the act. In September 2010, the unit discovered that prisoners were using the home of Hatem Abudayyeh was raided by the books to transmit messages. A military inquiry FBI as part of a multi-state federal terrorism found that the U.S. soldiers involved did not support investigation. A grand jury subpoena have “any malicious intent to disrespect” the served at the time of the raids said the U.S. Koran “or to defame the faith of Islam.”154 Attorney’s office was looking for “all records To emphasize the Obama administration’s of any payment provided directly or indirectly new Muslim outreach policy, the White House to Hatem Abudayyeh, the Popular Front for issued a directive in August 2011 ordering law the Liberation of Palestine (“PFLP”) or the enforcement to engage “community partners” Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to help combat “violent extremism.”155 This (“FARC”).”.”149 Yet just five months earlier, White House policy, signed by President Abudayyeh had been the guest at a briefing Obama, effectively granted highly held at the Eisenhower Executive Office questionable official status to extremist Building by the White House Office of Public groups, like ISNA and MPAC, who even now Engagement for more than 80 of their outreach claim previously unknown oversight to law partners, despite the fact that the grand jury enforcement training and investigations. One investigation had been ongoing for more than example of the effect of this new policy are

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 15 Patrick S. Poole the Shari’a-compliant guidelines that federal That the White House fully intended to law enforcement officials must now comply rehabilitate these Islamic groups from the with when conducting raids related to Islamic opprobrium from their past association and leaders or institutions. support of terrorist groups being raised in This was exhibited in May 2011, when the federal court was confirmed when George FBI raided a South Florida mosque and Selim, the White House Director for arrested its imam and his son for financially Community Engagement, a newly created supporting the Taliban. The rules required law position, admitted to a reporter at a State enforcement officials to remove their shoes Department diversity function that the Obama before entering the mosque and prohibiting administration had “hundreds” of meetings police canines from the property.156 The with Islamist extremist groups, including common sense of these new rules undoubtedly CAIR.157 A State Department official then would have been put to the test had the berated the reporter for asking the question, subjects tried to flee to be pursued by shoeless claiming the reporter had committed a federal agents. There is also no indication that wiretapping felony for recording Selim’s such sensitivity rules have been established by response to the reporter’s questions. the FBI for any other religion but Islam, No sooner had the White House’s new raising serious constitutional questions. outreach policy been announced, when it Much of this new outreach policy was became clear that one of the policy outcomes developed at a June 2011 workshop at of this relationship was the administration’s Georgetown University, sponsored by the enforcement of a blacklist of subject matter Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for experts deemed “enemies” by their Muslim Christian-Muslim Understanding. There, partners. A conference on violent extremism leaders from ISNA, CAIR, MPAC, and other scheduled to be hosted by the CIA’s Threat Islamic organizations met with senior Obama Management Unit in August 2011 was administration officials. Those officials invited abruptly cancelled by the CIA and Homeland to the “Workshop on Police-Community Security after CAIR publicly complained Engagement and Counter-Terrorism” about one of the speakers--former Joint Chiefs included: of Staff intelligence analyst Stephen Coughlin.158  DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy As explained previously, the FBI has Development instituted a publicly stated ban on contacts by  Principal Deputy for the DHS Office bureau officials with CAIR since 2009 due to 159 of Intelligence and Analysis their past terrorism support. The banning of  Director of DOJ’s COPS Office a highly-regarded and credentialed expert by  Associate Director for the White any U.S. government agency for no other House Office of Public Engagement reason but the protest of a group identified by  State Department Special federal prosecutors in federal court as a front Representative to Muslim for a terrorist organization, as well as Communities canceling the entire conference rather than  Senior Policy Adviser and Review and replacing the speaker, is simply Compliance Officer for the DHS unprecedented. This blacklisting was reified Office of Civil Rights and Civil by guidelines issued by the Department of Liberties Homeland Security in October 2011 and intended to apply across all agencies that bans  Members of the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Committee “training that equates religious expression, protests, or other constitutionally protected  Senior leaders from the FBI and activity with criminal activity.”160 The National Counterterrorism Center Homeland Security counterterrorism training

guidelines specifically cites MPAC as the sole

16 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy non-government source for “best practices in enforcement can’t assume that members CVE training and community policing.”161 endorse the violence or criminality of that Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew group. McCarthy, who prosecuted the “Blind Sheikh” Consider the case of the Italian American Omar Abdel Rahman (who received a Anti-Defamation League founded in the early sentence of life in prison) for his role in the 1970s by La Cosa Nostra mob boss Joe 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the Columbo. The League protested the use of the planned follow-up “Day of Terror” attacks, words “mafia” or “Cosa Nostra” in the movie exposes the lunacy of the Department of The Godfather. They charged that the FBI, the Homeland Security’s new training policies: Organized Crime Task Force, and the Attorney General were engaged in a vendetta I marched into the courtroom every day against Italian-Americans in their prosecution for nine months and proved that there of mafia activities, and even picketed in front was an undeniable nexus between of FBI headquarters.163 Yet taking the current Islamic doctrine and terrorism FBI policy outlined in the “Touchstone” committed by Muslims. The Blind document at face value, just being a member Sheikh, the jury was allowed to learn, of La Cosa Nostra or openly associating and was not a fringe lunatic; he was a promoting the goals and objectives of the globally renowned scholar of sharia Italian American Anti-Defamation League whose influence over a spate of doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with the international jihadist organizations was criminal and violent ends of the mob. based on his doctorate from al-Azhar Such policies, as now advocated by the FBI University, the world’s most influential and Homeland Security applied exclusively to center of Islamic thought. And when I Islamist terrorism, would have made the wave demonstrated the straight-line, of organized crime prosecutions that broke the undeniable logic of the evidence--that back of the mafia impossible. As former scripture informed the Blind Sheikh’s Assistant U.S. Attorney McCarthy has said, it directives; that those directives informed also would have made the investigation and his terrorist subordinates; and that those prosecution of the “Blind Sheikh” impossible. subordinates then committed atrocities-- As described below, this is exactly how this the government gave me the Justice policy that is being applied is stymieing Department’s highest award. Today, I’d investigators trying to prevent future terror be ostracized. No longer is the attacks. The intended result of these guidelines government content to be willfully and policies adopted by the Obama blind. Today, it is defiantly, coercively, administration is effectively to blacklist any extortionately blind.162 subject matter expert willing to raise the issue of the terrorist ties of their Muslim outreach Imagine the implications of this policy partners, and blacklisting is precisely what applied to any other law enforcement problem they have accomplished. or terror threat, such as organized crime, One victim of the administration’s gangs, white supremacists, or militias. Any blacklisting has been Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, activity short of violence or other crimes president of the American Islamic Forum for would be constitutionally protected activity Democracy. When Jasser testified in March according to this doctrine and out of bounds 2011 before the House Homeland Security for counterterrorism trainers, and presumably Committee on radicalization in the American counterterrorism analysts and law enforcement Muslim community, he was branded a traitor agents. Moreover, the FBI’s “Touchstone” and an “Uncle Tom” by many of the document says that membership in a violent government’s Muslim outreach partners, and organization, if that organization is engaged in even by political allies of the White House, legitimate advocacy activity, would mean law such as the Center for American Progress and

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 17 Patrick S. Poole

The Nation magazine. Prior to his editorial by MPAC’s Salam al-Marayati in the congressional appearance, he had been Los Angeles Times.168 nominated by Senate Minority Leader Mitch The same day that letter was sent to the McConnell to a post on the State Department’s White House, a meeting was held at George U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Washington University between these same Diplomacy, which is tasked with “appraising groups and top DOJ officials, including DOJ U.S. Government activities intended to Civil Rights Division head Tom Perez. understand, inform, and influence foreign According to a report on the meeting by Neil publics.” However, after 15 months of vetting Munro of The Daily Caller, several Muslim and receiving a top-secret security clearance, group leaders called for creating criminal and Jasser was informed that his name had been civil penalties for anyone advocating positions “removed from consideration” without any they deemed offensive. Among those were explanation. Senator Jon Kyl commented on Mohamed Majid, who according to the report the affair by saying that “the Obama said that “teaching people that all Muslims are administration has chosen to sideline Dr. a threat to the country… is against the law and Jasser.”164 the Constitution.”169 While such a view might A more formal blacklist of subject matter be ill-informed and bigoted, contrary to Majid experts was published on September 11, 2012- there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional -the same day that mobs besieged the U.S. about it, and it should be protected by the very Embassy in Cairo and terrorists attacked the same policies outlined earlier by Homeland U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Security CVE Training Guidelines and the Libya. The blacklist was prepared and FBI “Touchstone” policy as well as the First published by MPAC, one of Homeland Amendment’s freedom of speech protections. Security and the FBI’s official outreach One problem with the letter is that their partners.165 In fact, the current author was one alleged examples of biased training relied of those included on MPAC’s blacklist.166 exclusively on the internet posts by one With these policies established by the blogger at WIRED, Spencer Ackerman, who White House, Homeland Security, the Defense had previously been fired by The New Department, and the FBI, the next step of the Republic. His dismissal from the magazine efforts by the Obama administration and their came after repeated attacks on his own Muslim outreach partners occurred on October publication and for threatening his editor to 19, 2011. Fifty-seven Muslim groups sent a “make a niche in your skull” with a baseball letter to John Brennan, then the president’s bat for not allowing him to edit the counterterrorism adviser, and copied to publication’s baseball blog, which was Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland claimed to be a joke.170 Several years later, he Security Secretary Napolitano, Defense was in the public eye again for highly charged Secretary Leon Panetta, FBI Director Robert partisan statements he had made on a top- Mueller, National Security Advisor Tom secret email distribution list of far-Left Donilon, and Deputy National Security journalists, where among other things he had Advisor Denis McDonough.167 The cardinal urged: demand of these Muslim groups was a government-wide purge of all What is necessary is to raise the cost on counterterrorism training materials, removal of the right of going after the left. In other books from libraries in the various agencies, words, find a rightwinger’s [sic] and the mandatory reeducation of FBI agents, smash it through a plate-glass window. punishment for any government employee Take a snapshot of the bleeding mess who taught anything the groups had deemed and send it out in a Christmas card to let “biased,” and the permanent blacklisting of the right know that it needs to live in a any trainer they considered “bigoted and state of constant fear.171 biased.” These demands were restated in an

18 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy Later in that same email he had advocated had been purged and promptly moved to randomly picking a conservative media figure classify all such materials.177 One member of “and call them racists.”172 Congress, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)--a Critics of his posts attacking the FBI member of the House Intelligence Committee- training materials claim that this is exactly -was allowed to view the purged materials what Ackerman had done, complaining that only after she had signed an FBI the slides from presentations obtained by confidentiality agreement. The materials were Ackerman were published out of context with brought into a secure room and three to four the rest of the presentations and without FBI minders watched over her shoulder and comment by the trainers.173 Those trainers monitored what she took note of as she within government agencies accused by reviewed the purged materials.178 Yet these Ackerman were gagged from responding, same materials, which the FBI threw up leaving his out-of-context representations considerable obstacles for members of unchallenged. Meanwhile, Ackerman’s wife Congress to view had already been provided to was a veteran press flack for the ACLU’s the ACLU under a FOIA request. Washington, D.C., legislative office that was The FBI’s concealment of the details of the obtaining the FBI presentations through FOIA “Islamophobia” purge didn’t stop there. The requests and helping to gaslight the story. FBI additionally classified the names of the The letter from these Muslim groups--once five-member committee--including three again, several of which had been named by the outside experts--that had purged the federal government as supporters of terrorism materials.179 Those trainers who had their and fronts for foreign extremist organizations- materials purged by these nameless, faceless -was met with an immediate response by judges were never given a chance to justify or Brennan, who assured the White House allies defend their work. In one case, a slide had that a task force had already been convened to been purged because it featured a picture of an implement their demands.174 The government al-Qa’ida leader who was wearing traditional agencies also met with their Muslim outreach dress, and the reviewer claimed that having a partners to demonstrate their progress in picture in that dress was discriminatory. meeting their widespread demands for an The April 2013 Boston bombing occurred “Islamophobia” purge. This included meetings in this atmosphere of government-sponsored by ISNA held with FBI Director Mueller, purges, book bans, speech codes, blacklists, where they were told that hundreds of pages and star chambers. It is hardly surprising that from FBI training materials and hundreds of the FBI chose not to follow through on any presentations had been removed.175 However, investigation on Tamerlan Tsarnaev, when the the FBI has refused to provide other details of Obama administration was deliberately these meetings with the administration’s erasing any ability to connect dots that would outreach partners to government watchdog have flagged his contacts with extremist groups who filed FOIA requests. This has individuals overseas, his promotion of terrorist prompted federal lawsuits against the FBI for groups on his YouTube page, and association withholding such information.176 with the Boston mosque that had previously That is not the only matter related to the spawned other terrorists.180 In light of the Obama administration’s “Islamophobia” purge stated policies of the FBI and Homeland that government agencies are trying to keep Security, it is entirely fair to say that the secret. When congressional oversight system, which failed to account for all of these committees tried to investigate the purged FBI warning signs, did not fail, but in fact worked training materials, concerned that national perfectly. Yet these policies continue to get security interests were being sacrificed to Americans killed. political correctness and unduly influenced by This was true in the Fort Hood massacre by terror-tied Islamic organizations, the FBI Army Major Nidal Hasan in November 2009. refused to disclose the training materials that As was reported in the weeks following the

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 19 Patrick S. Poole terror attack, the current author and two other of Iraq. The attack killed two U.S. military experts had given an afternoon-long briefing personnel. He even asked had Akbar been to the entire Army anti-terrorism leadership killed during the attack would he be and hundreds of other Army force protection considered a shahid (martyr). In one of the personnel from around the world a full 18 final emails--five months before the attack-- months prior to the attack.181 These Hasan defended at length suicide bombings presentations discussed the very warning signs and the permissibility of collateral “damage” and indicators, as well as the types of internal while killing “enemy” soldiers.187 and external threats to U.S. military forces, Yet in all of the post-attack reports issued which would have given advanced warning to by Defense Department, not a single one ever U.S. Army authorities of Major Hasan’s mentioned Hasan’s radical Islamist intentions. ideology.188 Members of Congress were Hasan himself had even repeatedly given a equally perturbed when a Department of PowerPoint presentation to fellow Army Homeland Security report on the Fort Hood officers that laid out his doctrinal justification attack could not even bring itself to label the for killing his fellow soldiers.182 Because the massacre as terrorism, describing it instead as Army refused to implement any guidelines for “workplace violence.”189 This official identifying signs of Islamist radicalization-- as “blindness” to Major Hasan’s motivations are they had done for other supremacist unquestionably the consequences wrought by ideologies-- all of the warning signs were the Obama administration’s outreach policies. intentionally disregarded. This was also the Not just content with not pursuing terror case with the FBI investigation into Major investigations, as in the case of Major Hasan Hasan’s email contacts with al-Qa’ida cleric and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Obama (and former Defense Department Islamic administration has taken a more proactive adviser) Anwar al-Awlaki initiated by the approach to shutting down terror bureau’s San Diego field office. Still, after investigations--especially when those kicking the case up to FBI headquarters, it was investigations involved their Muslim outreach determined that the correspondence with the partners. terror imam--who would be killed just two As the current author reported in April years later in a CIA drone strike--was “fairly 2011, a top Department of Justice official benign” and “consistent with research” he was informed this author that senior DOJ officials conducting “as a psychiatrist at the Walter had quashed the indictment of CAIR Reed Medical Center.”183 cofounder Omar Ahmad in March 2010, along Immediately after the attacks the FBI was with other Islamic leaders, in the planned quick to defend their inaction in Major second round of prosecutions related to the Hasan’s case.184 Yet even House Intelligence Holy Land Foundation case.190 After two press Committee Chairman Rep. Pete Hoekstra conferences by Attorney General Eric Holder, acknowledged, “I think the very fact that who first tried to blame the Bush you've got a major in the U.S. Army administration (which decided to delay the contacting [Awlaki], or attempting to contact prosecutions until after the initial Holy Land him, would raise some red flags.”185 It is now Foundation prosecutions), the DOJ admitted known that contrary to the FBI’s assertions, that they had in fact permanently ended the the email correspondence between Hasan and prosecution of all those involved in Awlaki was far from “fairly benign.”186 In fundraising for Hamas.191 They also admitted, their first email--nearly a year before the after some evasion, that the decision to quash attack--Hasan had inquired about the the prosecution of the CAIR leader was made justification of the fatal attack by another by political appointees. Muslim soldier, Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar, who Recall that White House Director of launched an attack on his fellow soldiers in a Community Engagement George Selim had camp in Kuwait just days before the invasion told a reporter from The Daily Caller that the

20 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy administration has had “hundreds” of meetings leader, al-Talib was the White House with CAIR despite an official ban on formal guest of Joshua DuBois, special contacts with CAIR by the FBI and DOJ based assistant to the president and executive on the trial evidence in the Holy Land director of the White House Office of Foundation showing the group had actively Faith-Based and Neighborhood supported terrorism. The DOJ inspector Partnerships on March 30, 2012 (as general is also conducting an investigation reported by syndicated columnist into the FBI’s disregarding of that same Michelle Malkin).195 policy. Thus, prosecuting the co-founder and  Jamal Barzinji has held leadership chairman of one of the most active participants positions in virtually every major in the U.S. government’s Muslim outreach Islamic organization in the United would have undoubtedly been problematic for States, including national president of the administration to say the least. the Muslim Students’ Association That is not the only case in which the (MSA), the North American Islamic Obama administration has intervened to kill Trust (NAIT), ISNA, and IIIT. In the terror-related prosecution of other senior October 2012, CAIR gave Barzinji Islamic leaders in the United States. The their lifetime achievement award at current author was informed by the same their national fundraising banquet. senior Department of Justice official that the  Yacub Mirza is a board member of planned prosecution of a dozen different IIIT and businessman that has leaders on racketeering, money laundering, developed software systems for the obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and Department of Defense, such as the naturalization fraud was dropped by the orders Army’s Future Combat System and 192 of high-ranking officials. These sensitive military aircraft software, prosecutions were the result of an extensive initially for Ptech (which was raided 193 federal terror-finance investigation. by federal authorities in September Among those set to be prosecuted were 2001) and presently for Lynuxworks, leaders of ISNA and the International Institute which currently works under several for Islamic Thought (IIIT), one of the oldest Pentagon contracts. and most respected Islamic organizations in the country and a longtime partner for the All of these individuals were targeted and State Department’s International Visitor repeatedly named in the 2003 U.S. Customs Program: Service search warrant application by Customs Agent David Kane (in Mirza’s case 114 times)  Taha al-Alwani is perhaps the most targeting the SAAR Foundation/SAFA Group senior Islamic cleric in the United terror finance network.196 Another declassified States, previously serving as the FBI report identifies Barzinji and Mirza as chairman of ISNA’s Fiqh Council of “members and leaders of the IKHWAN North America (FCNA) and also the [Muslim Brotherhood].”197Yet some of these authorized trainer for many of the U.S. same individuals, who were scheduled to be military’s Muslim chaplains. Al- prosecuted by the Department of Justice prior Alwani had been named “unindicted to the intervention of DOJ political appointees, co-conspirator number 5” in the Sami were treated to a special guided tour of the al-Arian terrorism trial.194 White House in February 2013, as part of  Hisham al-Talib is currently the vice ISNA’s Founders Committee where they were president of finance for IIIT and the greeted by ISNA president Mohamed Majid first full-time leadership training and five senior White House officials. This director for the Muslim Student included Associate Director of the White Association. Known as a senior House Office of Public Engagement Paul international Muslim Brotherhood Monteiro, who praised ISNA as his “primary

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 21 Patrick S. Poole means of outreach to the American Muslim “Arab Spring,” however, there were community.”198 indications that the “largely secular,” The Obama administration has, thus, taken “moderate Muslim Brotherhood” approach extraordinary measures to protect individuals (rather than the authoritarian theocratic and organizations identified by the U.S. institution that they are, with several Muslim government as members and fronts of the Brotherhood affiliates as designated terrorist Muslim Brotherhood from prosecution. As the organizations, like Hamas) was the accepted government’s outreach partners, they are view of the administration, particularly the directly contributing to the law enforcement intelligence community and national security and national security policies that are agencies. Just three days before Clapper made responsible for blinding government agencies his “largely secular” statement, President to active terror threats. White House officials Obama had gone on national TV during the openly acknowledge that the ISNA, led by halftime of the Super Bowl and declared that Mohamed Majid, is their “primary means of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was actively outreach to the American Muslim trying to overthrow Egyptian strongman Husni community,” despite being identified by Mubarak at the time, lacked a majority support federal prosecutors as the Muslim in Egypt.201 White House officials were also Brotherhood in the Holy Land Foundation reassuring U.S. Jewish groups, concerned trial. about the potential threat of Muslim What has been the effect of these Brotherhood-ruled Egypt bordering Israel, relationships with the Muslim Brotherhood on reiterating that they didn’t have a majority the Obama administration’s foreign policy? As support of the Egyptian people.202 This view mentioned earlier, Mohamed Majid was was bolstered by the establishment media, recently in the White House briefing the such as New York Times columnist Nicholas president for his recent trip to Jordan and Kristof, who cited a poll that only one percent Israel. In May 2011, he was sitting in the front of the Egyptian public would vote for a row at the State Department when President Muslim Brotherhood candidate for president Obama delivered a major speech on the (the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Middle East.199 He also advises the Pentagon, Muhammad Mursi eventually won with 51.7 the CIA, and the Office of the Director of percent of the vote).203 National Intelligence. Did the fact that their top outreach partners The influence of the head of the of the on Islamic and Middle East issues are known largest U.S. Muslim Brotherhood front-- fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood--identified identified as a front by federal prosecutors-- as such by federal prosecutors in federal court- undoubtedly contributed to one of the biggest -contribute to the Obama administration’s foreign policy embarrassments of the Obama naïve and ultimately false view of the Muslim administration. In February 2011, in the early Brotherhood in the Middle East? Was there days of the so-called “Arab Spring,” Director any reflection by anyone in the administration of National Intelligence James Clapper when these same outreach partners, very close testified before the House Intelligence to the White House, began openly meeting Committee. When asked by Rep. Sue Myrick with their Middle East counterparts following about the influence of the Muslim the toppling of longtime U.S. allies and even Brotherhood in the United States, Director hosting them in Washington, D.C. (such as the Clapper read from a set of prepared talking dinner MPAC hosted for Tunisian Muslim points in which he informed Congress that the Brotherhood leader Rachid Ghannouchi, who Muslim Brotherhood was a “largely secular” had been banned from the United States for organization.200 nearly 20 years)?204 The White House, and even Clapper Ultimately, the present policy implications himself, were quick to distance themselves of the U.S. government’s outreach to Muslim from the gaffe. From the beginning of the organizations fronting for the Muslim

22 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy Brotherhood has meant the blinding of our of supporting Hamas, even providing a homeland security apparatus to repeated acts videotape of him singing exhortations to of terrorism at home, costing Americans their violence and racial hatred, that same FBI lives, and insulating the diplomatic office was processing and approving the establishment from international realities at imam’s security clearance to participate in the the expense of our peace and security abroad. FBI’s Citizen Academy program, complete with tours of the FBI Academy at Quantico CONCLUSION and the top-secret National Counterterrorism Center. When asked about the bureau’s Perhaps the most baffling element to the contradictory messages on Mustapha by the U.S. government’s Muslim outreach since the media, the only response FBI Director Mueller 1990s is the steadfast refusal by its supporters could muster was, “I’m not going to talk about to acknowledge the mountain of evidence that any particular individual.”205 No longer do testifies to its catastrophic failure. What these Muslim leaders have to shout down their pathology can explain how prosecutors can critics; they now have cabinet-level officials, identify Muslim leaders and organizations as White House aides, and some members of supporters of terrorism in federal court, and at Congress to do it for them. the same time high-ranking government The net result of the U.S. government’s officials embrace these same leaders and Muslim outreach has not just been the groups as moderates and heatedly defend their empowerment of extremists at the expense of inclusion as outreach partners? The answer marginalizing authentic moderates. Now the might only lie in the realm of theology and not Obama administration has institutionalized psychology. these relationships where the very extremists After al-Qa’ida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki they have empowered and embraced are now was teaching on Islam in the Executive Dining dictating inherently dangerous public policy. Room of the Pentagon just weeks after three Demands by their outreach partners now of his disciples had flown a plane into the include purges, blacklists, book bans, star same building; when the government had to chambers, speech codes, mandatory admit that the State Department’s Muslim reeducation and official retaliation against goodwill ambassador to the Middle East and federal employees, with the White House frequent White House visitor, Abdul Rahman standing up a task force authorized to enforce al-Amoudi, had been one of the top al-Qa’ida these measures across the federal government. fundraisers at the same time he was certifying Without the slightest bit of irony these are the Pentagon’s Muslim chaplains; and even all invoked in the name of the First when attorneys for Sami al-Arian went into Amendment. To prevent further federal court demanding discovery documents embarrassment, terror-related investigations showing their client’s outreach meetings at the are being scuttled by the Department of Justice White House, the Department of Justice, FBI to protect the senior leadership of their official headquarters, and the House of outreach partners, ignoring entirely what has Representatives Speakers’ Office; there was already been said about them in court filings not even a moment of pause before the by DOJ attorneys and even rulings by federal government picked up right where it left off. judges. This “compulsory blindness” applied This continues in the cases of ISNA, MPAC, to our intelligence, homeland security, and law CAIR, Mohamed Majid, Salam al-Marayati, enforcement agencies are precisely why Louay Safi, Mohamed Elibiary, Yasir Qadhi, investigations into identified terror threats are Nihad Awad, and many others. being stopped in their tracks (Boston, Fort Take, for example, the case of Kifah Hood, et al.) at the expense of American lives. Mustapha. At the same time that the FBI Equally as troubling are the doors that the Chicago field office was telling the Illinois White House has thrown open to members of State Police of Mustapha’s extensive history terrorist organizations and international war

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 23 Patrick S. Poole criminals. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has cheered, if not actively http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2011 encouraged, the “largely secular” Muslim /08/10/obama-hosts-iftar-dinner-marking- Brotherhood takeover in many countries ramadan/. throughout the Middle East. Leaders of groups 6 Douglas Waller Sterling, “An American identified by the federal government as fronts Imam,” Time, November 14, 2005, for the Muslim Brotherhood are given top http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0, seating for presidential speeches and are 9171,1129587,00.html; Mohamed Majid, welcomed into the Oval Office to offer their Letter on ADAMS Center website, November advice prior to presidential trips to the Middle 15, 2005, East. http://web.archive.org/web/20060510074311/ The legacy of the U.S. government’s http:/www.adamscenter.org/Content.asp?ID=2 Muslim outreach programs since the 1990s is 26. a monument of failure by any measure. With 7 Michael Isikoff, “An Unwelcome Guest,” more American lives and body parts strewn Newsweek, August 8, 2007, across American streets once again in Boston, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007 these outreach partners threatening the health /08/07/an-unwelcome-guest.html. and legitimacy of our constitutional republic 8 Ayesha Ahmad, “Muslim Community with their demands. It is clearly past time for Members Encourage Coalition-Building,” Congress to ask whether this long since failed IslamOnline.net, March 26, 2002, experiment should come to an immediate end. http://web.archive.org/web/20020804061344/ http:/www.islamonline.net/English/News/200 * Patrick Poole is a counterterrorism 2-04/10/article08.shtml. consultant and an investigative reporter on 9 In the Matter Involving 555 Grove Street, terrorism and national security issues. Herndon, Virginia and Related Locations, 02- MG-114, Affidavit of Special Agent David NOTES Kane, (ED VA March 2002), http://www.investigativeproject.org/document 1 Bill Gertz, “Blind Eye: FBI Policies Toward s/case_docs/891.pdf, p. 69. Islamism Hampered Boston Bombers Probe,” 10 Ibid. Attachment D, Washington Free Beacon, April 23, 2013, http://www.investigativeproject.org/document http://freebeacon.com/blind-eye/. s/case_docs/890.pdf. 2 David Rusin, “Denying Islam’s Role in 11 Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Terror: Problems in the U.S. Military,” Middle “Our Outreach Partners,” East Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Spring 2013), http://www.fbi.gov/about- http://www.meforum.org/3485/us-military- us/partnerships_and_outreach/community_out islam, pp. 19-26. reach/outreach_contacts. 3 Oren Dorell, “Mosque That Boston Suspects 12 “Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Attended Has Radical Ties,” USA Today, Violent Extremism in the United States,” April 23, 2013, WhiteHouse.gov, August 3, 2011, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- 013/04/23/boston-mosque-radicals/2101411/. office/2011/08/03/empowering-local-partners- 4 Neil Munro, “Obama’s Iftar Guest List prevent-violent-extremism-united-states. Omits Controversial Attendees,” The Daily 13 Jerry Seper, “Arrested Muslim Activist Caller, August 11, 2011, Helped Pick Chaplains for U.S. Military,” http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/11/obamas- Washington Times, September 30, 2003, iftar-guest-list-omits-controversial-attendees/. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/ 5 JoAnne Allen, “Obama Hosts Iftar Dinner sep/30/20030930-113017-8348r/. Marking Ramadan,” Reuters, August 11, 14 Larry Cohler-Esses and Edward Lewine, 2011, “Backer of Terrorists Lectures on Tolerance,”

24 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy

New York Daily News, October 31, 2000, ws/News.28888.html; “Imad-ad-Dean http://articles.nydailynews.com/2000-10- Ahmad’s Address to the First Conference on 31/news/18156922_1_abdurahman-alamoudi- Jerusalem,” Minaret.org, January 29, 2001, american-muslim-council-hamas. http://www.minaret.org/beirutconference.htm; 15 Shawn L. Twing, “First Lady Hosts Eid al- Carl Cameron, “Clues Alerted White House to Fitr Reception,” Washington Report on Middle Potential Attack,” Fox News, May 17, 2002, East Affairs (April 1996), http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53065, http://www.washington- 00.html. report.org/component/content/article/169- 24 Jake Tapper, “Islam’s Flawed Spokesmen,” 1996-april/1984-muslim-american- Salon.com, September 26, 2001, activism.html, p. 169. http://www.salon.com/2001/09/26/muslims_2/ 16 Bob Port and Thomas Zambito, “Muslim . Group Influence Is Bipartisan,” New York 25 “Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui at National Prayer Daily News, November 2, 2000, Service,” Youtube.com, http://articles.nydailynews.com/2000-11- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BmTd 02/news/18155448_1_abdurahman-alamoudi- XQ1E. american-muslim-council-muslim-states. 26 Solomon Moore, “Fiery Words, Disputed 17 Mary Beth Sheridan, “Government Links Meaning,” Los Angeles Times, November 3, Activist to Al Qaeda Fundraising,” 2001, Washington Post, July 16, 2005, http://articles.latimes.com/2001/nov/03/local/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- me-65250. dyn/content/article/2005/07/15/AR200507150 27 Investigative Project on Terrorism, 1696.html. “Muzzamil Siddiqui at Jerusalem Rally,” 18 Murray Weiss, “Smuggler Linked to Bin October 28, 2000. Laden,” New York Post, October 1, 2003, 28 Rita Cosby, “Some Muslim Leaders Seen http://web.archive.org/web/20031002182352/ with Bush Expressed Support for Terrorist http:/www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/6954. Groups,” Fox News, October 1, 2001, htm. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,35384, 19 Steven Emerson, “Friends of Hamas in the 00.html. White House,” Wall Street Journal, March 13, 29 Mary Jacoby, “Bush, Al-Arian Photo 1996, Resurfaces,” St. Petersburg Times, February http://www.investigativeproject.org/349/friend 25, 2003, s-of-hamas-in-the-white-house. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/25/TampaB 20 “Hamas Goes to Foggy Bottom,” New York ay/Bush__Al_Arian_photo_.shtml. Post, September 15, 1998, 30 Mike Allen and Richard Leiby, “Alleged http://suhailkhanexposed.com/1998/09/15/new Terrorist Met with Bush Adviser,” -york-post-hamas-goes-to-foggy-bottom/. Washington Post, February 22, 2003, 21 Ibid. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp- 22 Larry Cohler-Esses and Edward Lewine, dyn/A44894-2003Feb21. “He Works for State Dep’t,” New York Daily 31 Michael Isikoff, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” News, October 31, 2000, Newsweek, March 2, 2003, http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/w http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2003 orks-state-dep-backer-terrorists-e-t-u-e-s-o-n- /03/02/hiding-in-plain-sight.html. t-o-e-n-e-article-1.879483. 32 David Tell, “The Enemy Isn’t Us,” Weekly 23 Melissa Radler, “Cheney to Host Pro- Standard, October 8, 2001, Terrorist Muslim Group,” Jerusalem Post, http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Publ June 22, 2001, ic/Articles/000/000/000/275oszns.asp?page=2. http://web.archive.org/web/20010806042331/ 33 Rep. Frank Wolf, “Wolf: Grover Norquist’s http:/www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/06/22/Ne Relationships Should Give People Pause,”

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October 4, 2011, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/30/ http://wolf.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=34 us-born-terror-boss-anwar-al-awlaki-killed/. &itemid=1805. 43 Catherine Herridge, “Al Qaeda Leader 34 Elaine Silvestrini, “Report Tells of Al-Arian Dined at the Pentagon Just Months After Talk,” Tampa Tribune, December 12, 2003, 9/11,” Fox News, October 20, 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20050324090229/ http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/20/al- http:/news.tbo.com/news/MGARE8TQ3OD.ht qaeda-terror-leader-dined-pentagon-months/. ml. 44 J.M. Berger, Jihad Joe: American Who Go 35 Mary Jacoby, “How Secure Is the to War in the Name of Islam (Washington, Department of Homeland Security?” Salon, D.C.: Potomac Book, 2011), June 22, 2004, http://books.google.co.il/books?id=ZxKMb_Y http://www.salon.com/2004/06/22/gill/singleto EucIC&lpg=PA120&dq=%22al- n/. Hazmi%22+%22awlaki%22+%22great+man 36 Michael Isikoff, “Terror Watch: Friends in %22&pg=PA120&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q High Places,” Newsweek, May 11, 2005, =%22al- http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2005 Hazmi%22%20%22awlaki%22%20%22great /05/11/terror-watch-friends-in-high- %20man%22&f=false, p. 120. places.html. 45 U.S. Senate Select Committee on 37 Elaine Silvestrini, “Indictment Details Paper Intelligence and U.S. House Permanent Select Trail,” Tampa Tribune, June 5, 2005, Committee on Intelligence, Joint Inquiry into http://web.archive.org/web/20080405173830/ Intelligence Community Activities Before and http:/www.tampatrib.com/MGBON9VPK9E.h After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, tml; Mary Jacoby and Bill Adair, “Al-Arian 2001 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Translated for Military,” St. Petersburg Times, Office, December 2002), March 30, 2003, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.a http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/30/Worldan ction?browsePath=107/HRPT/%5b700%3b79 dnation/Al_Arian_translated_f.shtml. 9%5d&granuleId=CRPT- 38 David Ballingrud, “USF After Al-Arian,” 107hrpt792&packageId=CRPT- St. Petersburg Times, April 17, 2005, 107hrpt792#page=210, p. 178; Chitra http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/17/news_pf/ Ragavan, “The Imam’s Curious Story,” U.S. Perspective/USF_after_Al_Arian.shtml. News and World Report, June 13, 2004, 39 Silvestrini, “Indictment Details Paper Trail.” http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/ 40 C-SPAN, “Muslim National Convention,” 040621/21plot.htm. June 26, 1998, http://www.c- 46 Lindsey Mastis, “Terrorist Anwar Al- spanvideo.org/program/MuslimN. Awlaki Lived in Washington Area,” WUSA- 41 Susan Schmidt, “Imam from Va. Mosque TV (Washington, D.C.), January 9, 2010, Now Thought to Have Aided Al-Qaeda,” http://origin.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx Washington Post, February 27, 2008, ?storyid=95745&catid=187. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- 47 Laurie Goodstein, “Influential American dyn/content/article/2008/02/26/AR200802260 Muslims Temper Their Tone,” New York 3267_pf.html. Times, October 19, 2001, 42 David S. Cloud, “U.S. Citizen Anwar http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/19/us/nation Awlaki Added to CIA Target List,” Los -challenged-american-muslims-influential- Angeles Times, April 6, 2010, american-muslims-temper-their.html; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/06/world/l “Understanding Ramadan: The Muslim Month a-fg-yemen-cleric7-2010apr07; Jennifer of Fasting,” Washington Post, November 19, Griffin and Justin Fishel, “Two U.S.-Born 2001, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- Terrorists Killed in CIA-Led Drone Strike,” srv/liveonline/01/nation/ramadan_awlaki1119. Fox News, September 30, 2011, htm.

26 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) Blind to Terror: The U.S. Government’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Middle East Policy

48 J.M. Berger, “The Myth of Anwar al- Chicago Tribune, June 23, 2010, Awlaki,” Foreign Policy, August 10, 2011, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06- http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/0 23/news/ct-met-muslim-police-chaplain- 8/10/the_myth_of_anwar_al_awlaki?page=full 20100624_1_muslim-chaplain-largest- . muslim-charity-holy-land-foundation. 49 Patrick Poole, “An Islamic Hate Speaker 56 Patrick Poole, “Once Again, FBI’s ‘Muslim Comes to Town,” PJ Media, July 16, 2009, Outreach’ Welcomes Terror-Tied Man,” PJ http://pjmedia.com/blog/an-islamic-hate- Media, June 4, 2011, speaker-comes-to-town/?singlepage=true. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06- 50 Richard Vara, “Muslims Vent Frustration at 23/news/ct-met-muslim-police-chaplain- Forum,” Houston Chronicle, August 8, 2006, 20100624_1_muslim-chaplain-largest- http://www.chron.com/news/houston- muslim-charity-holy-land-foundation. texas/article/Muslims-vent-frustrations-at- 57 Bill Gertz, “Hamas-Linked Cleric Took Part forum-1848487.php. in FBI Outreach Event,” Washington Times, 51 Andrea Elliot, “Why Yasir Qadhi Wants to September 30, 2010, Talk About Jihad,” New York Times, March http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/ 17, 2011, sep/30/hamas-linked-cleric-took-part-fbi- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/magazin outreach-effort/. e/mag-20Salafis- 58 Fox News, “National Security Hawks Call t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0; Patrick Poole, for Brennan’s Resignation,” September 29, “Jihad U’s Student Internship,” FrontPage 2010, Magazine, June 12, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/29/ http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.a national-security-hawks-brennans- spx?ARTID=26935. resignation/. 52 Paul Cruickshank and David Mattingly, 59 Bill Gertz, “FBI Chief Cites Probes of “Terror Suspect Attended 2008 ‘Knowledge Extremists,” Washington Times, October 6, Fest’ in Houston,” CNN, December 30, 2009, 2010, http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/30/terror.s http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/ uspect.seminar/. oct/6/fbi-chief-cites-probes-of-extremists/. 53 Chuck Goudie, “Banned by Illinois State 60 Chuck Goudie, “Rebuke for Well-Known Police, Muslim Cleric Melds with FBI,” Muslim Cleric,” WLS-TV (Chicago), March Chicago Daily Herald, September 6, 2010, 12, 2013, http://web.archive.org/web/20100917033025/ http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news http:/www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=406090; /iteam&id=9024968. Patrick Poole, “FBI Escorts Known Hamas 61 Ibid. Operative Through Top-Secret National 62 Department of Homeland Security press Counter-Terrorism Center,” Breitbart News, release, “Secretary Napolitano Swears in September 27, 2010, Homeland Security Advisory Council http://www.breitbart.com/Big- Members,” October 18, 2010, Peace/2010/09/27/FBI-Escorts-Known- http://www.dhs.gov/news/2010/10/18/secretar Hamas-Operative-Through-Top-Secret- y-napolitano-swears-homeland-security- National-Counterterrorism-Center-as-- advisory-council-members. Outreach--to-Muslim-Community. 63 Department of Homeland Security, 54 Chuck Goudie, “Pillar of the State Police,” “Homeland Security Advisory Council WLS-TV (Chicago), March 3, 2010, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news Working Group Recommendations,” (Spring /iteam&id=7309866. 2010), 55 Manya Brachear, “Illinois State Police http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/hsac_cve_ Revoke Muslim Chaplain Appointee,” working_group_recommendations.pdf, pp. 27-

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28; Editorial, “Unworthy of Honor: 70 Ibid. Khomeini’s Tribute a Disgrace,” Dallas 71 Erick Stakelbeck, “U.S. Diplomat Visits Morning News, December 22, 2004, Controversial Mosque,” CBN News, http://web.archive.org/web/20041223170140/ December 8, 2010, http:/www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/Dec /dn/opinion/editorials/stories/122204dnediayat ember/US-Diplomat-Visits-Controversial- ollah1.256a.html. Mosque/. 64 Patrick Poole, “Homeland Security’s 72 Susan Taylor Martin, “Arab Eyes Turning Muslim Advisor Mohamed Elibiary Spoke at to Ex-USF Professor,” St. Petersburg Times, Conference Honoring Ayatollah Khomeini,” October 16, 2000, Breitbart News, October 18, 2010, http://www.sptimes.com/News/101600/World http://www.breitbart.com/Big- andnation/Arab_eyes_turning_to_.shtml. Peace/2010/10/18/Homeland-Security---s- 73 Lee Shearer, “Panelist Becomes Terrorist,” Muslim-Advisor-Mohamed-Elibiary-Spoke- Athens Banner-Herald, October 21, 2001, at-Conference-Honoring-Ayatollah-Khomeini. http://onlineathens.com/stories/102101/uga_10 65 Rod Dreher, “Sayyid Qutb’s Purpose- 21010106.shtml. Driven Life,” Dallas Morning News, August 74 U.S. State Department, “Rewards for 28, 2006, Justice: Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.co Shallah,” m/2006/08/sayyid-qutbs-pu.html/. http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/inde 66 Editorial, “Terrorists Hiding in Hijabs,” x.cfm?page=shallah. Washington Times, November 17, 2010, 75 Kim Barker and Habiba Nosheen, “The http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/ Man Behind Pakistan Spy Agency’s Plot to nov/17/terrorists-hiding-in-hijabs/. Influence Washington,” Pro Publica, October 67 Johnny Paul, “US Ambassador Slammed for 3, 2011, http://www.propublica.org/article/the- Visiting East London Mosque,” Jerusalem man-behind-pakistani-spy-agencys-plot-to- Post, December 6, 2010, influence-washington. http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArtic 76 Matt Apuzzo and Zarar Khan, “FBI: le.aspx?id=198193; East London Mosque, Pakistani Spies Spent Millions Lobbying “US Ambassador to the UK Visits ELM,” U.S.,” Associated Press, July 19, 2011, November 29, 2010, http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2 http://www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk/news/29 011/07/20/fbi_says_pakistani_spies_spent_mil 0; Andrew Gilligan, “East London Mosque: lions_lobbying_us/. The Terrorist Connection and the Lies,” The 77 Patrick Poole, “The Biggest DC Spy Telegraph (UK), November 2, 2010, Scandal You Haven’t Heard About,” PJ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgillig Media, August 16, 2012, an/100061920/east-london-mosque-the- http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-biggest-d-c-spy- terrorist-connection-and-the-lies/. scandal-you-havent-heard-about-part-two/. 68 Gordon Rayner, “Muslim Groups ‘Linked to 78 Judith Miller, “U.S. Contends Muslim September 11 Hijackers Spark Fury over Charity Is Tied to Hamas,” New York Times, Conference,” The Telegraph (UK), December August 25, 2000, 27, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/0825 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/396 00terrorist-charity.html. 6501/Muslim-groups-linked-to-September-11- 79 Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, hijackers-spark-fury-over-conference.html. “Terror Watch: The Money Trail,” Newsweek, 69 Shiraz Maher, “Empowering Islamists,” October 19, 2004, Wall Street Journal, December 1, 2010, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2004 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527 /10/19/terror-watch-the-money-trail.html. 48704594804575648474115646964.html.

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80 J.M. Berger, “U.S. Gave Millions to Charity 89 Jana Winter, “Former Defense IG Raises Linked to Al-Qaeda, Anwar Awlaki,” Concerns About Military Chaplain Vetting,” Intelwire, April 10, 2010, Fox News, December 2, 2010, http://news.intelwire.com/2010/04/us-gave- http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/01/ millions-to-charity-linked-to.html. exclusive-concerns-military-chaplain-vetting- 81 Schmidt, “Imam from Va. Mosque Now policy/. Thought to Have Aided Al-Qaeda.” 90 Agence France Presse, “Syrian Rebel PM 82 Ibid; U.S. Department of the Treasury Hitto, Executive with an Islamist Bent,” Office of Public Affairs, “United States March 18, 2013, Designates bin Laden Loyalist,” February 24, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article 2004, http://www.treasury.gov/press- /ALeqM5jPLB8pL1u-DsaY6Y9wys5- center/press-releases/Pages/js1190.aspx. 6XK7EA?docId=CNG.2d6fabc745fd53e9e14 83 Christ Brummitt, “US Aided Pakistani 17edf1c2df42c.151. Group which Supported Extremists,” 91 Anne Barnard, “Syrian Opposition Picks Associated Press, January 11, 2012, Ghassan Hitto As Interim Prime Minister,” http://dawn.com/2012/01/11/us-aided- New York Times, March 18, 2013, pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists/. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/world/mi 84 Agence France Presse, “After Istanbul, ddleeast/syria-warplanes-hit-lebanon-for-first- Syrian Dissidents form ‘National Council’ to time.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. Oust Assad,” August 23, 2011, 92 Robert King, “Purdue Grad Chosen Leader http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/23/1 of Syrian Opposition,” Indianapolis Star, 63729.html; Patrick Poole, “Pentagon Islamic March 19, 2013, Adviser Reappears As Political Leader for http://www.indystar.com/article/20130319/NE Syrian Muslim Brotherhood-Dominated WS/303190071/Purdue-grad-chosen-leader- Group,” Breitbart News, July 25, 2012, Syrian-opposition. http://www.breitbart.com/Big- 93 Loveday Morris, “Last Stop Dallas, Next Peace/2012/07/25/Pentagon-Islamic-Adviser- Stop Damascus,” The Independent (UK), Reappears-as-Political-Leader-for-Syrian- March 19, 2013, Muslim-Brotherhood-Dominated-Group. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/mi 85 Vaishali Honawar, “Officials Say Raids ddle-east/last-stop-dallas-next-stop-damascus- Were Fair,” Washington Times, March 22, ghassan-hitto--the-it-executive-who-wants-to- 2002, govern-syria-8541302.html. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/ 94 Ibid. mar/22/20020322-041224-4845r/. 95 Philip Shenon, “U.S. Says Hussein Spy 86 Michael Fechter, “Al-Arian Prosecutors Say Agency and Iraqi-American Arranged ’02 Trip He Mocked Order Freezing Terror Assets,” by Lawmakers,” New York Times, March 27, Tampa Tribune, July 21, 2005, 2008, http://tbo.com/news/news/MGBCTN2GEBE.h http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/washingt tml. on/27indict.html. 87 Rowan Scarborough, “FBI Partners with 96 Deb Price, “Bonior ‘Proud’ of ’02 Trip,” Jihad Groups,” Human Events, September 10, Detroit News, March 28, 2008, 2009, http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/a http://www.humanevents.com/2009/09/10/fbi- lt.politics.bush/2008-03/msg02278.html. partners-with-jihad-groups/. 97 Jeremy Pelofsky, “Iraqi-American 88 Brooks Egerton, “US Torn over Whether Sentenced for Violating U.S. Sanctions,” Islamists Offer Insight or Pose Threat,” Dallas Reuters, March 18, 2011, Morning News, February 12, 2010, http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/a http://www.dallasnews.com/news/20100206- lt.politics.bush/2008-03/msg02278.html. U-S-torn-over-whether-9330.ece.

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98 Natasha Dado, “Muthanna Al-Hanooti 107 Scott Wheeler, “Alleged Terror Threat Named Regional Director of MLFA,” The Operates in DC Suburb,” CNS News, July 12, Arab American News, December 7, 2012, 2004, http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/inde http://web.archive.org/web/20040807221624/ x.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article= http:/www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports. 6174. asp?Page=\SpecialReports\archive\200407\SP 99 Moustafa El-Dasouqi, “Asharq al-Awsat E20040712a.html; Scott Wheeler, “More Interview: Muslim Brotherhood Sec-Gen Dr. Alleged Hamas Operatives Linked to DC-Area Mahmoud Hussein,” Asharq al-Awsat, Think Tank,” CNS News, August 26, 2004, February 15, 2013, http://m.asharq- http://web.archive.org/web/20040902205657/ e.com/content/1360940148688739800/Publish http:/www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports. ed%20-%20Features. asp?Page=\SpecialReports\archive\200408\SP 100 Rick Montgomery, “Calls for ‘Oceans of E20040826a.html. Blood’ Came During Kansas Muslim 108 Daniel Pipes, “Ahmed Yousef: ‘Hamas Is a Convention,” Kansas City Star, February 3, Charitable Organization’,” Middle East 2002; Joseph Braude, “Moderate Muslims and Quarterly Vol. 5, No. 1 (March 1998), Their Radical Leaders,” New Republic, http://www.meforum.org/388/ahmad-yusuf- February 27, 2006, hamas-is-a-charitable-organization, pp. 69-81. http://www.newrepublic.com/article/moderate 109 Asaf Romirowsky, “Balancing the Bias,” -muslims-and-their-radical-leaders. Jerusalem Post, February 1, 2009, 101 John Mintz and Douglas Farah, “In Search http://web.archive.org/web/20090206051226/ of Friends Among Foes,” Washington Post, http:/www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=123 September 11, 3304654392&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Print http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- er. dyn/articles/A12823-2004Sep10.html. 110 Bangladesh News, “US Probing Indictment 102 House of Representatives Committee of the of American by Tribunal,” May 3, 2013, Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/05/03/u Claims, “Terrorist Threats to the United s-probing-indictment-of-american-by-tribunal. States,” Government Printing Office (January 111 Srila Nayak, “Bangladesh Tribunal 26, 2000), Accused New York Imam of War Crimes,” http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judici Global City NYC, December 13, 2012, ary/hju64355.000/hju64355_0.htm, pp. 26-27. http://globalcitynyc.com/2012/12/13/banglade 103 Ibid. sh-tribunal-accuses-new-york-imam-of-war- 104 Hugh Naylor, “Hamas Turns Away from crimes/. Its Face of Moderation,” The National (UAE), 112 ICNA press release, “ICNA Condemns December 16, 2010, Violation of Human Rights in Bangladesh,” http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/hamas- March 4, 2013, http://www.icna.org/icna- turns-away-from-its-face-of-moderation. condemns-violation-of-human-rights-in- 105 Hamas, “The Covenant of the Islamic bangladesh/. Resistance Movement (August 18, 1988),” 113 “Muslim American Leaders Stress Rights,” http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas Islamic Horizons, November/December 2010, .asp. p. 12. 106 Judith Miller, “Israel Says That a 114 Josh Gerstein, “Islamic Groups Named in Prisoner’s Tale Links Arabs in the U.S. to Hamas Funding Case,” New York Sun, June 4, Terrorism,” New York Times, February 17, 2007, http://www.nysun.com/national/islamic- 1993, groups-named-in-hamas-funding-case/55778/; http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/17/world/isr Jason Trahan, “FBI: CAIR Is a Front, and ael-says-that-a-prisoner-s-tale-links-arabs-in- Holy Land Foundation Tapped Hamas Clerics us-to-terrorism.html. for Fundraisers,” Dallas Morning News,

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October 7, 2008, July 29, 1999, http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2008/10/fbi- http://web.archive.org/web/20081211110250/ cair-is-a-front-group-and.html/; Josh Gerstein, http:/www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/19 “Judge’s Ruling on Islamic Groups as 99/07/29/terrorism.commission/index.html; ‘Unindicted Co-conspirators’ Made Public,” Andrew McCarthy, “The History of MPAC,” Politico, November 19, 2010, National Review, August 7, 2012, http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/11 http://www.nationalreview.com/content/histor 10/Judges_ruling_on_Islamic_groups_as_unin y-mpac. dicted_coconspirators_made_public.html. 124 Laila al-Marayati and Salam al-Marayati, 115 Neil Munro, “Justice Dept. Inspector “Keep the Dialogue Open and Civil,” Los General Investigates FBI, CAIR Ties,” The Angeles Times, July 2, 1999, Daily Caller, June 12, 2012, http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jul/02/local/m http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/12/justice-dept- e-52371. inspector-general-investigates-fbi-cair-ties/. 125 Laurie Goodstein, “Gephardt Bows to 116 Todd Starnes, “CAIR Says Poster Warning Jews’ Anger over Nominee,” New York Times, Against Helping FBI Is Misinterpreted,” Fox July 9, 1999, News, January 13, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/09/us/gepha http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/13/cair- rdt-bows-to-jews-anger-over-a-nominee.html. says-anti-fbi-poster-misinterpreted/. 126 Larry Stammer, “Jewish-Muslim Dialogue 117 Federal Bureau of Investigation “FBI Newly Tested,” Los Angeles Times, September Guiding Principles: Touchstone Document on 22, 2001, Training,” n.d., http://www.fbi.gov/about- http://articles.latimes.com/2001/sep/22/local/ us/training/the-fbis-guiding-principles. me-48579. 118 Ibid., p. 1. 127 Adam Kredo, “State Stands by Its Man,” 119 Associated Press, “Murray’s Remarks on Washington Free Beacon, October 4, 2012, bin Laden Draw GOP Ire,” December 20, http://freebeacon.com/state-stands-by-its- 2002, man/. http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Murray 128 FBI, “Our Outreach Partners.” -s-remarks-on-bin-Laden-draw-GOP-ire- 129 Eli Lake, “Member of Egyptian Terror 1103624.php. Group Goes to Washington,” The Daily Beast, 120 Isikoff, “An Unwelcome Guest.” June 21, 2012, 121 Islamic Society of North America press http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06 release, “ISNA President Meets Twice with /21/member-of-egyptian-terror-group-goes-to- President Obama,” n.d., washington.html. http://www.isna.net/isna-president-meets- 130 Dugald McDonald and Brian Todd, twice-with-president-obama.html. “Egyptian Lawmaker Met U.S. Officials 122 Adam Kredo, “Anti-Israel Advocate Reps Despite Affiliation with terrorist group,” CNN, for U.S. at Rights Conference,” Washington June 24, 2012, Free Beacon, October 3, 2012, http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/22/us/egypt- http://freebeacon.com/anti-israel-advocate- lawmaker-visa/index.html?_s=PM:US. reps-u-s-at-rights-conference/; Joseph Weber, 131 Joel Gehrke, “DHS Head: Expect More “Selection of Israel Critic for US delegation to Members of Terrorist Organizations to Visit Human Rights Forum Raises Concern,” Fox US,” Washington Examiner, July 25, 2012, News, October 17, 2012, http://washingtonexaminer.com/dhs-head- http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/17/ expect-more-members-of-terrorist- watchdogs-oppose-appointment-israel-critic- organizations-to-visit-us/article/2503131. al-marayati-to-us-delegation/. 132 Eric Reeves, “Mr. Nafie Goes to 123 Jennifer Auther, “U.S. Muslim Leader Washington,” Sudan Tribune, May 2, 2013, Denies He’s Terrorist Sympathizer,” CNN,

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http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article Affairs Council, “Counterproductive 46438. Counterterrorism,” December 2004, pp. 34-37, 133 Armin Rosen, “The Price of Inviting Nafie http://www.civilfreedoms.com/wp- Ali Nafie to Washington,” The Atlantic, May content/uploads/2011/05/Counterproductive- 6, 2013, Counterterrorism.pdf. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archi 141 Dylan Byers, “AP Stylebook Revises ve/2013/05/the-price-of-inviting-nafie-ali- ‘Islamist’ Use,” Politico, April 5, 2013, nafie-to-washington/275584/. http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/04 134 Edmund Sanders, “An Unexpected Key /ap-stylebook-revises-islamist-use- Player in Darfur Peace Efforts,” Los Angeles 160943.html. Times, October 26, 2008, 142 C-SPAN, “House Session – May 10, 2012 http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/26/world/f (06:25:15-07:17:18),” http://www.c- g-sudan26. spanvideo.org/program/HouseSession5331. 135 Adam Kredo, “Inappropriate Guests: 143 Patrick Poole, “FBI Denies Existence of Its Scholars Criticize WH for Hosting Sudanese Own Counter-Terrorism Lexicon,” PJ Media, War Criminal,” Washington Free Beacon, May 11, 2012, May 7, 2013, http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/05/11/fbi- http://freebeacon.com/inappropriate-guests/. denies-existence-of-its-own-counter-terror- 136 Patrick Poole, “Genocide Henchman lexicon/. Leading Muslim Outreach to Obama,” PJ 144 Judicial Watch Press Release, “Documents Media, January 22, 2009, Uncovered by JW Detail Meeting Between http://pjmedia.com/blog/genocide-henchman- DHS Secretary Napolitano and Controversial leads-us-muslim-outreach-to- Islamic Community Leaders,” July 29, 2010, obama/?singlepage=true. http://www.judicialwatch.org/press- 137 Patrick Poole, “The FBI’s Muslim room/press-releases/documents-uncovered-jw- Outreach Follies,” PJ Media, May 9, 2012, detail-meeting-between-dhs-secretary- http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-fbis-muslim- napolitano-and-controversi/. outreach-follies/?singlepage=true. 145 Email from Kareem Shora to George 138 Bill Gertz, “Blind Eye”; Kerry Picket, Salim, January 6, 2010. “Tsarnaev Warning Came As Brennan Purged 146 Chuck Goudie, “State Police Revoke Material ‘Offensive’ to Muslims,” Breitbart Muslim Cleric’s Chaplaincy,” WLS-TV News, April 26, 2013, (Chicago), June 22, 2010, http://www.breitbart.com/Big- http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news Peace/2013/04/25/Brennan-Aided-Purge-Of- /iteam&id=7514151. Law-Enforcement-Material-Deemed-Biased- 147 Goudie, “Banned by Illinois State Police, Against-Muslims. Muslim Cleric Melds with FBI”; Goudie, 139 United Press International, “End to “Rebuke for Well-Known Muslim Cleric.” ‘Loaded’ Islamic Terms Welcomed,” April 8, 148 Debbie Schlussel, “FBI Abomination,” 2010, New York Post, September 18, 2003, http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/ http://web.archive.org/web/20031008053419/ 04/08/End-to-loaded-Islamic-terms- http:/www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolu welcomed/UPI-23761270739326/. mnists/6059.htm; WDIV-TV (Detroit), 140 Kerry Picket, “Muslim Advocacy Groups “Report: Local Arab Leader Stripped of FBI Influence Heavily on U.S. National Security award,” October 8, 2003, Protocol and Lexicons,” Washington Times, http://web.archive.org/web/20031010130158/ September 24, 2012, http:/www.clickondetroit.com/news/2540597/ http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/waterc detail.html. ooler/2012/sep/24/picket-muslim-advocacy- 149 Steve Karnowski, “Hundreds Protest FBI groups-influence-heavily-us/; Muslim Public Raids on Anti-War Activists,” Associated

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Press, September 27, 2010, 159 United Press International, “FBI Limits http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_T Contacts with U.S. Muslim Group,” April 27, his_Story?sid=103890483. 2009, 150 Josh Gerstein, “Target of FBI Terror- http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/27/F Support Raid Visited W.H.,” Politico, October BI-limits-contacts-with-US-Muslim- 1, 2010, group/UPI-38931240853605/. http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/10 160 Department of Homeland Security, Office 10/Target_of_FBI_terrorsupport_raid_visited_ for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, “Counter- WH.html. Violent Extremism (CVE) Training Guidance 151 Ibid. & Best Practices,” October 2011, 152 Remarks of Denis McDonough, Deputy http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/cve- National Security Advisor to the President, on training-guidance.pdf. “Partnering with Communities to Prevent 161 Ibid., p. 2. Violent Extremism in America,” March 6, 162 Andrew McCarthy, “Compulsory 2011, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- Blindness,” National Review, May 5, 2012, office/2011/03/06/remarks-denis-mcdonough- http://www.nationalreview.com/content/comp deputy-national-security-advisor-president- ulsory-blindness. prepa. 163 William Tucker, “Italian-American Seeks 153 Associated Press, “Pentagon Official Convention Here in a Week,” Miami News, Apologizes for Koran Burning,” February 24, April 13, 1971, 2012, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301- http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206 202_162-57385035/pentagon-official- &dat=19710413&id=JG1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid= apologizes-for-koran-burning/. 7z4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=572,876393. 154 David Cloud, “Pentagon Says Soldiers 164 James Woolsey, “Zuhdi Jasser’s Counter Ignored Warnings,” Los Angeles Times, Jihad,” National Review, October 6, 2011, August 27, 2012, http://www.nationalreview.com/node/279276/ http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/world/ print. la-fg-pentagon-koran-20120828. 165 MPAC, “Not Qualified: Exposing the 155 White House, “Empowering Local Partners Deception Behind America’s Top 25 Pseudo to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United Experts on Islam,” September 11, 2012, States,” August 2011, http://www.mpac.org/publications/policy- http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ papers/not-qualified-exposing-pseudo-experts- empowering_local_partners.pdf. on-islam.php. 156 Curtis Morgan, “Feds Seek Trust of 166 Ibid., p. 59. Muslim Community,” Miami Herald, May 15, 167 Patrick Poole, “57 top U.S. Muslim Groups 2011, Demanded Government-Wide ‘Islamophobia’ http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/15/221 Purge,” PJ Media, September 25, 2012, 8373/feds-seek-trust-of.html. http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/09/25/57-top-u- 157 Neil Munro, “Administration Admits to s-muslim-groups-demanded-government- ‘Hundreds’ of Meetings with Jihad-Linked wide-islamophobia-purge-in-letter-to-white- Groups,” The Daily Caller, June 8, 2012, house/. http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/08/administrati 168 Salam al-Marayati, “The Wrong Way to on-admits-to-hundreds-of-meetings-with- Fight Terrorism,” Los Angeles Times, October jihad-linked-group/. 19, 2011, 158 Bill Gertz, “Inside the Ring: Anti-Terror http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/19/opinion Trainers Blocked,” Washington Times, /la-oe-almarayati-fbi-20111019. October 5, 2011, 169 Neil Munro, “Progressives, Islamists http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/ Huddle at Justice Department,” The Daily oct/5/inside-the-ring-295822498/?page=all. Caller, October 21, 2011,

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http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/21/progressives http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/134887 -islamists-huddle-at-justice-department/. 6. 170 Michael Calderone, “Off the Record,” New 179 Mark Flatten, “No PC Here, Mueller Tells York Observer, October 29, 2006, House Panel,” Washington Examiner, May 9, http://observer.com/2006/10/off-the-record/. 2012, http://washingtonexaminer.com/no-pc- 171 Jonathan Strong, “Documents Show Media here-mueller-tells-house- Plotting to Kill Stories About Rev. Jeremiah panel/article/1282046. Wright,” The Daily Caller, July 20, 2010, 180 Rowan Scarborough, “Obama’s Scrub of http://dailycaller.com/2010/07/20/documents- Muslim Terms Under Question; Common show-media-plotting-to-kill-stories-about-rev- Links in Attacks,” Washington Times, April jeremiah-wright/. 25, 2013, 172 James Taranto, “Call Them Racists,” Wall http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/ Street Journal, July 20, 2010, apr/25/obamas-cleansing-of-islamic-terms- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527 suppresses-commo/?page=all. 48703724104575379200412040286.html. 181 Bill Gertz, “Army Warned About Jihadist 173 J.E. Dyer, “Pentagon Memo Fishing for Threat in 08,” Washington Times, February 9, Counterterrorism Training Standards Leaned 2010, Heavily on WIRED Reporter’s Assertions,” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/f The Daily Caller, November 30, 2011, eb/9/army-warned-about-jihadist-threat-in-08/. http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/30/pentagon- 182 Dana Priest, “Fort Hood Suspect Warned memo-fishing-for-counterterrorism-training- of Threats Within Ranks,” Washington Times, standards-leaned-heavily-on-wired-reporters- http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/f assertions/. eb/9/army-warned-about-jihadist-threat-in-08/; 174 Picket, “Tsarnaev Warning Came as “Hasan on Islam,” Washington Post, Brennan Purged Material ‘Offensive’ to November 10, 2009, Muslims.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- 175 ISNA press release, “ISNA & Nat. Orgs. dyn/content/gallery/2009/11/10/GA20091110 Meet with FBI Dir. to Discuss Biased FBI 00920.html. Training Materials,” February 14, 2012, 183 Tom Gjelten, Daniel Zwerdling, and Scott http://web.archive.org/web/20120216025316/ Neuman, “Answers Sought on Fort Hood http://www.isna.net/articles/News/ISNA--Nat- Suspect’s Link to Imam,” NPR, November 10, Orgs-Meet-with-FBI-Dir-to-Discuss-Biased- 2009, FBI-Training-Materials.aspx. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? 176 Zachary Huffman, “Lawsuit Probes storyId=120266334; James Gordon Meek, Meeting Between FBI, Radical Islamic Samuel Goldsmith and Bill Hutchinson, Groups,” The Daily Caller, July 25, 2012, “Army Brass Promoted Fort Hood Gunman http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/25/lawsuit- Nidal Malik Hasan Even After Attempt to probes-meeting-between-fbi-director-radical- Contact Al Qaeda,” New York Daily News, islamic-group/. November 9, 2009, 177 Mark Flatten, “Hill Fears PC Censors http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ar Hobble FBI Counter-Terrorism,” Washington my-brass-promoted-fort-hood-gunman-nidal- Examiner, May 12, 2012, malik-hasan-attempt-contact-al-qaeda-article- http://washingtonexaminer.com/hill-fears-pc- 1.414743. censors-hobble-fbi-counter- 184 FBI press release, “Investigation Continues terrorism/article/1266686. into Fort Hood Shooting,” November 11, 178 Mark Flatten, “Bachmann Says FBI Agents 2009, http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press- Watched over Her Shoulder,” Washington releases/investigation-continues-into-fort- Examiner, June 14, 2012, hood-shooting.

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185 Josh Meyer and Greg Miller, “Fort Hood 193 Glenn Simpson, “A Sprawling Probe of Suspect Was on U.S. Radar,” Los Angeles Terror-Funding Centers in Virginia,” Wall Times, November 10, 2009, Street Journal, June 21, 2004, http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/10/nation/ http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1087780585 na-fort-hood10. 89742584,00.html. 186 Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Lauren 194 Mary Jacoby, “Muslim Linked to Al-Arian Morgan, “Nidal Hasan’s ‘Fairly Benign’ Trained Military Chaplains,” St. Petersburg Correspondence with Anwar al-Awlaki,” Times, March 27, 2003, Gunpowder & Lead, August 4, 2012, http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/27/Worldan http://gunpowderandlead.org/2012/08/nidal- dnation/Muslim_linked_to_Al_A.shtml. hasans-fairly-benign-correspondence-with- 195 Michelle Malkin, “Who Is White House anwar-al-awlaki/. Visitor Hisham Altalib?” Creators Syndicate, 187 Ibid. September 26, 2012, 188 Dorothy Rabinowitz, “Major Hasan ‘Star http://michellemalkin.com/2012/09/26/who-is- Office’,” Wall Street Journal, February 16, white-house-visitor-hisham-altalib/. 2011, 196 In the Matter Involving 555 Grove Street, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527 Herndon, Virginia and Related Locations (see 48704409004576146001069880040.html. FN#9). 189 Catherine Herridge, “Lawmakers Blast 197 FBI report, “North American Islamic Trust: Administration for Calling Fort Hood Second Annual ISNA Conference on Massacre ‘Workplace Violence’,” Fox News, Economic Development,” n.d., p. 24, December 7, 2011, http://www.investigativeproject.org/document http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/06/ s/misc/459.pdf. military-growing-terrorist-target-lawmakers- 198 ISNA press release, “ISNA Founders in the warn/. Heart of the Capital,” March 1, 2013, 190 Patrick Poole, “Did Obama and Holder http://myemail.constantcontact.com/ISNA- Scuttle Terror Finance Prosecutions,” PJ Founders-in-the-Heart-of-the- Media, April 14, 2011, Capital.html?soid=1102610362609&aid=oc0z http://pjmedia.com/blog/did-obama-and- jReLzPo. holder-scuttle-terror-finance- 199 Jaweed Kaleem, “Obama’s Middle East prosecutions/?singlepage=true; Patrick Poole, Speech: Religious Leaders Respond,” “Political Interference at Justice?” New York Huffington Post, May 19, 2011, Post, April 19, 2011, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/ob http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedc amas-middle-east-speech- olumnists/political_interference_at_justice_Rg religion_n_864324.html. vwHXc04hFjHRAQKl9TNL. 200 Z. Byron Wolf, “Director of National 191 Josh Gerstein, “Feds Close Probe of CAIR Intelligence James Clapper: Muslim Founder,” Politico, April 14, 2011; Josh Brotherhood ‘Largely Secular’,” ABC News, Gerstein, “Holder: DOJ Nixed CAIR Leader’s February 10, 2011, Prosecution,” Politico, April 26, 2011, http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/ http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/04 director-of-national-intelligence-james- 11/Report_Feds_close_probe_of_CAIR_found clapper-muslim-brotherhood-largely-secular/. er.html. 201 CBS News, “Obama: Muslim Brotherhood 192 Patrick Poole, “Holder’s DOJ Scuttled Lacks Majority Support,” February 7, 2011, More Terror-Related Prosecutions,” PJ Media, http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-202_162- April 28, 2011, http://pjmedia.com/blog/pjm- 7324320.html. exclusive-holders-doj-scuttled-more-terror- 202 Peter Nicholas, “Obama Seeks to Mollify related-prosecutions/?singlepage=true. U.S. Jewish Groups Uneasy About Mideast Turmoil,” Los Angeles Times, March 9, 2011,

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 35 Patrick S. Poole

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/09/nation /la-na-obama-jews-20110309. 203 Nicholas Kristof, “Obama and Egypt’s Future,” New York Times, February 9, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/opinion/ 10kristof.html; Yasmeen Selah and Marwa Awad, “Islamist Joy As Morsy Elected Egyptian President,” Reuters, June 24, 2012, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/24/us- egypt-election-idUSBRE85G01U20120624. 204 MPAC event announcement, “Attend MPAC-DC Forum on Islamic Political Movements & Dinner with Rachid Ghannouchi, Tunisian Revolution Leader,” November 29, 2011, http://www.mpac.org/events/attend-mpac-dc- forum-on-islamic-political-movements-dinner- with-ghannouchi-tunisian-revolution- leader.php. 205 Gertz, “FBI Chief Cites Probe of Extremists.”

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