NY terror arrests: A more chilling plot?

Last updated on: May 29, 2009 at 12:30 am by Hesham Hassaballa

NY terror arrests: A more chilling plot? 2009-05-29T00:30:24-04:00 Hesham Hassaballa

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The stupidest man

“It’s hard to envision a more chilling plot.”

Four men were arrested on May 21 for allegedly plotting to blow up a synagogue and shoot anti-aircraft missiles at military planes. Muslims across the country, including the author, were shocked and dismayed at the news. “I write to you today with shock and dismay over reports that four Muslims planned to bomb synagogues in the New York City area. This criminal attitude is reprehensible and wretched,” wrote Salam Al Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, to Jewish leaders.

NY Rep Peter King, among others, pounced on the news, warning that the plot “demonstrates the real threat from homegrown terrorists.” Still others pointed to this plot as further evidence of an extensive “Islamic terror” network secretly living amongst us waiting to pounce, casting fear, suspicion, and hatred upon the entire American Muslim community.

The facts of the case, however, tell a completely different story. The suspects are petty criminals, some with lengthy criminal records. The Associated Press describes them as “down-and-out ex-convicts living on the margins in a faded industrial city.” One was on medication for schizophrenia and was deemed to be too insane to be deported after a conviction for assault. They apparently converted to Islam in prison, but they were still seen “boozing it up” at barbecues and hung out at a Roman Catholic center. In fact, the imam of Masjid Al Ikhlas, where one of the suspects visited, stated that he had “a fundamental lack of knowledge about Islam.” Wanda Walker, the sister of one of the suspects, called her brother “the stupidest man on the planet… I’m still waiting for the punchline.” Even Mayor Bloomberg called the planners of this plot “amateurs.”

And, of course, this plot would not be complete without the… paid government informant. This time, the informant was Shahid Hussain, 52, the same informant who posed as an arms dealer in 2004. In fact, Muslims who worshipped at the same mosque as the suspects, Masjid Al Ikhlas, all knew to stay away from him and even suspected he was an agent-provocateur. “Everyone knew to stay away from him,” said mosque member Abdul Wali, according to the New York Post. “We even tried to tell James [Cromitie, one of the suspects] to stay away from him, but he didn’t listen.” The imam of the mosque even had suspicions about Mr. Hussain, but he said about this: “How do you go to the government about the government?”

This constitutes a seriously disturbing trend for the Justice Department. Indeed, the FBI has broken up serious plots, ones that led to actual convictions, such as the Fort Dix plot. But, recently, it almost seems that the government is trying to create terror plots out of thin air using government informants, many of whom have had problems with the law themselves. Take Hussain, for example. According to the New York Times, he was charged in 2002 with a scheme involving taking money to illegally help people get driver’s licences. To avoid deportation, he agreed to assist the government. Another famous (or infamous) government informant is Craig Monteilh of southern California, who was also a convicted felon before he worked as an informant for the FBI.

Why is the Justice Department seemingly sending in informants to “hatch” terrorist plots? Is there some sort of agenda to try to frame the American Muslim community? For sure, one of the FBI’s primary objectives is to find and disrupt terrorist plots, and as an American citizen, I am truly grateful for their efforts at keeping me and my family safe. There is a real threat against our country from people who truly want to hurt innocent people in a sick and twisted form of “jihad.”

But, to send a government informant to “infiltrate” a group of “dimwits,” as the Times Online calls them, and “terror dummies,” in the words of the New York Post, seems a bit bizarre to say the least. In fact, security analyst Bruce Schneier said to the Associated Press: “Is the FBI manufacturing terrorists? What would happen if they were left on their own? They fall into the hands of an FBI informant, and then they get helped and egged on.”

With this latest revelation, it is now understandable to me why a coalition of Muslims openly considered cutting off ties to the FBI, even though such a move is unwise. The FBI and the Muslim community are much better served by working together rather than against each other. It just would be a much more productive relationship if the FBI would stop sending informants into mosques talking up jihad. In addition, it is critical to note that in this case, and the case in southern California, the American Muslim community was not, in any way, shape, or form, complicit in these plots.

Having said all of this, and with all the fishy things about this alleged plot, it is still a good thing that it was disrupted. Had such a terrorist attack actually occurred, it would have been utterly devastating. No one deserves to be attacked at their places of worship and community centers. This was a serious threat against the Jewish community, and we must all be vigilant against this or any other attack against any community in the United States. Just as any other loyal, patriotic community, American Muslims care deeply about the safety and well-being of their country. We must all work together to prevent anyone from doing harm to our country, and we must never let the schemes and plots of our enemies divide and turn us against each other.

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and writer. He is the co-author of “The Beliefnet Guide to Islam,” published by Doubleday in 2006. His blog is at godfaithpen.com.

Briefings

Hesham Hassaballa

Previous Post

May 27, 2009

Pakistan: Send thousands more tea drinkers to “AfPak”

Next Post

June 1, 2009 Inclusion: Could there ever be a Muslim Supreme Court justice?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2012 Elections 30 Dayd 30 Writers (2017) 30 Days 30 Writers 30 Days 30 Writers (2015) 30 Days 30 Writers (2016) 30 Days 30 Writers (2018) 30 Days 30 Writers 2017 Ali Asadullah Ali Eteraz Alper Bilgili Arthur Richards Asides Asma Uddin Black History Month Briefings Charles Turner Commentary Cyrus McGoldrick Eman H Aly Fatimah Popal Hajj Hajj and Dhul Hijjah Hesham Hassaballa Hisham Hellyer Ibrahim Abusharif Inas Younis Irfan Yusuf Jalal Baig Junaid Afeef Laila Alawa Laila Alwala Mas'ood Cajee Muqtedar Khan Nakia Jackson Newsmakers Parvez Ahmed Podcasts Rabia Chaudry Rafia Zakaria Ramadan Reviews Safiyyah Ally Saud Inam Shahed Amanullah Svend White The Opinionated Oncologist Visions Wajahat Ali Zahed Amanullah Zahir Janmohamed Zainab Khan

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Revelation, what is the name of the city that comes down out of heaven?

Select your answer to see how you score.

New Jerusalem The City of God The Holy City Zion