Category: Africa

Al-Shabaab’s hip-hop recruitment video, hundreds recruited

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

According to this article from CNN (Hat tip: Women against Sharia blog), al-Shabaab is using western style hip-hop in a recruitment film— a strategy believed to have been master-minded by the American-Somali we told you about here.    It is not clear to me if this is another video or whether CNN is just a month late in catching on to the story.  Nonetheless, here it is.

Intelligence experts say the video was probably made in recent weeks and comes on the heels of an audio message in March purportedly from Osama bin Laden. In that recording, the al Qaeda leader calls on his “Muslim brothers in Mujahid Somalia” to overthrow President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed for cooperating with the West.

Al-Shabaab is the militant Islamic wing in Somalia. It means “Youth” in Arabic.

“We’re seeing perhaps their most sophisticated attempt so far to really reach an audience of potential recruits in America, and that’s one of the things that made that video very significant,” said Ben Venzke of the IntelCenter, a Washington-based research group that tracks al Qaeda’s development and messages.

“They’re casting it in a way that’s going to speak to the youth of today,” Venzke said. “Most of the time, what we’re seeing in their videos directly parallels what the groups are doing operationally, what they are targeting, where they’re recruiting.”

It has been quiet for sometime now on the Somali missing youth story that we have followed since last November, but this CNN report has added a bit more new information in addition to the old news about the recruitment film.

Sheik Ahmed Matan knows that (that recruiters are speaking to today’s youth) firsthand. A respected member of Britain’s Somali community, Matan said he knows of hundreds of young Somali men who have returned to Somalia for terrorist training. 

“A lot of young people from here, from America, from Canada, from everywhere from Europe — they went there,” he said.

He added that these men are capable of being sent back home to conduct terrorist operations, even suicide bombings.

“It can be, they can train anytime and send them here, anytime,” Matan said.

Hundreds!  That is the first time we have heard that hundreds of former refugee youths have returned to Somalia for terrorist training.   Matan goes on to say that mosques in Great Britain must be monitored to root out recruitment activity—FAT CHANCE!  British authorities are the biggest chickens in dealing with Islam on any level.

Somalis trying to escape the “Rainbow Nation” beaten and returned to South Africa

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

It’s been awhile (last November actually) since I told you about the black on black violence in South Africa—you know that country that was supposed to be a beacon for freedom once the White government was thrown out. 

So, this morning here is an update.  It seems that Somalis who have been in South Africa for over a decade are being systematically terrorized, not by whites but by their fellow African blacks.  Interesting huh?   Not racism surely?  Must be xenophobia—has to be something hateful.   It couldn’t be a cultural problem. Afterall, it’s only westerners who want to keep their own culture, this couldn’t be happening in Africa, right?

Read the whole article here.   Trying to escape through Botswana from South Africa, Somalis attempting to get home to the safety of Somalia (yes, you heard that right!) were allegedly beaten and returned to dangerous black African- governed South Africa.

Now the Somalis face a new crisis. To date the UNHCR has financed their food and shelter, but the arrangement ends this week. Calle-Norena said the UNHCR does not have the resources “to provide permanent accommodation for them”, although his organisation will conduct a “protection needs analysis” to decide on future action.

Meanwhile, the Somalis remain determined to leave the country. The LRC’s Brickhill describes this as a “sad indictment of South Africa”, but adds that it’s not surprising.

“There’s a war in Somalia, but at least I know that my neighbours won’t turn on me,” one of the women refugees said. “We will be safer there.”

We want to go home and die in peace.

This is a nice country; it’s the [black] people who hate us.

I don’t understand all this hate. I want to go back to Somalia and live and die in peace. The war is still going on, but at least I will be safer there.

Somalis, the terrorist threat, and Hillary Clinton

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

A useful article came into my inbox yesterday from the Northern Virginia/Richmond/DC Metro chapter of ACT! for America, giving the background of our country’s relationship with Somalia and the threat to America from Somalis. I’m going to quote extensively from this piece by Ruth King — Somalia: Why Isn’t Secretary Clinton Connecting the Dots? — but I recommend you read the whole thing.

She begins by mocking Hillary Clinton for her ignorant and superficial response to the Somali pirates, and to Somalis in general. Clinton

would not want to revisit [Bill Clinton’s] disastrous policy in Somalia which contributed mightily to the chaos, instability, terrorism and carnage which prevail there today.

Nor, would she want to explain her present employer’s paralysis in the face of naked Jihadi aggression.

Nor, would she want to tackle the difficult question of why Somali-Americans “disappear” from Minnesota to go train with Somali terrorists. And, she certainly would not want to discuss the implementation of Sharia law in Somalia since we don’t have a “foreign contingency” policy with respect to Somalia a member of the all Muslim Arab League. Furthermore, her recollection of the history of the Barbary Wars…um…a long…time ago is so pathetic…So, it’s just the usual ha-ha-ha.

She goes on to relate Somalia’s “long and virtually uninterrupted history of hating America,” beginning in 1969 with a bloody coup by a major general who allied himself and received training from the Soviets. Another coup in 1991 led to a civil war, followed by a terrible drought.

President George H.W. Bush sent troops, President Clinton withdrew them, and there was more chaos and carnage. In 1993 Clinton sent troops, and this led to what Americans remember of Somalia — the incident in Mogadishu.

U.S. soldiers on the ground were left without armed vehicles or sufficient firepower from the air. The Clinton administration and then Secretary of Defense, the late Les Aspin, repeatedly denied the Special ops teams’ and the Rangers’ requests for more armored vehicles, AC-130 gunships and tanks.

The American public witnessed gruesome televised scenes of rampaging Muslim Somalis dragging and desecrating the bodies of American troops.  Congress demanded a withdrawal and Clinton did a “cut and run” operation leaving Somalia in worse shape than ever and Aidid unbowed. The end result was the perception that America can be defied by any rag tag army of terrorists.

So that is our connection with Somalia, and probably the reason we felt duty-bound to take in refugees from there. The author goes on to give a good summary of their jihadist activities, both overt and stealth.

Since 1983 we have admitted 83,991 Muslim Somali immigrants into the U.S. More then half, 43,682, came since September 11th, and of those, the majority went to Minnesota (Keith Ellison’s state).

…Somali Americans did not assimilate and have grown increasingly militant in cities where they have a significant presence. And they are of concern to law-enforcement agencies.

In March 2006, Fox News reported on the alarming number of Muslims taking truck driving lessons in Kansas City. FBI investigated the school and found that the vast majority of its students were Somalis. Trucks which carry hazardous materials are as dangerous as planes.

This story became more ominous in September 2006 when Debbie Schlussel disclosed how many Muslims (a majority were Somali) got fraudulent certificates to drive 18- wheelers.

From Arizona, August 26, 2008:The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Somali Association of Arizona had pressured Sky Harbor International Airport for the right to wear attire that accommodates their religious needs.

Here is a news item from September 2008 in the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

“In a landmark settlement that could change the way Muslims are treated in the workplace, St. Cloud-based Gold’n Plump Inc. has agreed to allow Somali workers short prayer breaks and the right to refuse handling pork at its poultry processing facilities….. The agreement follows a year-long examination by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and a class-action lawsuit brought in October 2006 on behalf of nine Somali immigrants who worked at Gold’n Plump’s poultry processing plants in Cold Spring, Minn., and Arcadia, Wis.”

In April 2007 Somali taxi drivers in Minneapolis refused to take passengers with dogs or alcohol, including a blind student with a Seeing Eye dog. Roughly three quarters of Minneapolis cab drivers are Somali Muslims and their case was strongly supported by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.

The demands then escalated for footbaths in schools, airports and malls, culminating with the establishment of the controversial Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center – and the smaller but equally influential Islamic Al Dahwa Center of St. Paul, from which dozens of young Somali men have “disappeared” without a trace, and authorities believe they have joined terrorist groups in Somalia. And, of course the imams of the mosques deny any involvement with terrorism. So do all the hijab mothers.

She goes on to discuss Al-Shabab, the Somali jihadist group, and quotes Robert Spencer connecting the pirates to these terrorists. She concludes that Hillary Clinton needs to connect the dots and take the threat seriously and “confront the great threat to America which is taking root within our shores. This includes a reevaluation of our “no profiling” immigration and refugee laws and a revamping of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act.” And she is clear that this is unlikely to happen.

Jamal may get some ‘justice’ of his own thanks to Minnesota Rep

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday we told you that Omar Jamal, probably the one and only member of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, was heading to New York to seek “justice” for the Somali pirate, the only living one, who faces charges in the now infamous Maersk Alabama hijacking.   But it seems his highly publicized involvement is bringing down the wrath of Minnesota State House Minority leader, Rep Marty Seifert.  

This is so juicy!   Thanks to ever-watchful friends in Tennessee for sending it.   From the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Twin Cities activist Omar Jamal said Tuesday he has helped ensure that a suspected pirate is treated justly while in federal custody in New York.

But if a Minnesota legislative leader has his way, it will be the last pirate Jamal helps.

Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center in St. Paul, said that he spoke Monday with the parents of suspected pirate Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse and that he has been consulting with Muse’s attorneys. He said he intended to be in court Tuesday, but Muse’s public defender said his presence wouldn’t be necessary.

But House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, responding to “tons of e-mails” from people he said were outraged by Jamal’s actions, said he will seek to block nonprofit status and state grants to any organization that helps foreign citizens accused of piracy or terrorism.

Rep. Seifert says he is introducing legislation to disallow Jamal from getting tax payer funding for his non-profit group.

“Not one dime of taxpayer money if you jet off to New York to support a pirate.”

Funny thing is, I just went to Guidestar and although the Somali Justice Advocacy Center is listed, care of Omar Jamal, there is not one bit of information on file—no IRS determination letter, no financial reports, no Form 990’s.  So who does fund Omar Jamal?   How about a full-blown investigation of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center!

Rep. Seifert, while you are at it, could you find out how Jamal got out of his conviction for immigration fraud!

Ahhhhh! Omar Jamal headed to New York to help Somali pirate

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Update November 17th:  Omar Jamal is off to NYC again, this time to represent Somalia at the UN, here.

Update May 19th:  Somali pirate indicted in NY, faces life in prison.

Urgent Update later on the 22nd:   Minnesota State Rep. is seeking to cut any public funds to Jamal’s organization, here.

Update April 22nd:  The pirate’s life here (if you can believe it!).   And, a report from court, but no sign of Jamal.

To devoted readers who predicted this in the last couple of days, you nailed it!  Omar Jamal is going to help the Somali pirate to assure he gets justice!   Thanks to all who sent it!   From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

A Twin Cities Somali community activist said he is on his way to New York this morning on a mission to ensure that an accused pirate is treated justly in a court appearance this afternoon.

Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center in St. Paul, said he spoke Monday with the parents of Abdiwali Abduhl Wali-i-Musi, the sole surviving Somali pirate from the hostage-taking of an American ship captain.

Jamal said he intends to be in court today with Wali-i-Musi and carrying a letter from his parents in Somalia explaining that Jamal has permission to arrange for Wali-i-Musi’s defense.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.   Omar Jamal is either a narcissistic news hound or something much more complex, sinister?   We have been writing about him for a year and a half.  At first he was only defending Somali rapists, then he hit the big time when he got into the middle of the Somali cyanide death case in Denver last summer.  I call him the Somali Jesse Jackson!    In that case, the M.O. was the same as the one reported here in the Star Tribune,  he contacted the Canadian family of the Somali who died with enough cyanide to kill hundreds in advance of the Democratic National Convention and convinced the media that the guy was no terrorist, just a nut.

Most recently Jamal has been the go-to guy for the media on the missing Somali (former refugee) youths story.   In between he is into every issue involving Somalis from Somali gangs to ‘no child left behind,’ even the Coleman/Franken Senate race. Check out the three pages of posts in which we have mentioned him.  Needless to say, the Somalis are always the victims when Jamal gets involved.

And, hey big media, do us all a favor and find out how he got out of his immigration fraud conviction.  We are dying to know!

And to readers who have told us there is no connection between Somali immigrants in the US and piracy, guess you are WRONG!   Amazing how Jamal so swiftly found the mommy and daddy of the pirate.

Get ready for the “….one man’s pirate is another man’s coast guard” defense.

 

 For new readers, the US State Department has admitted over 80,000 Somali refugees to the US in the last 25 years and then last year had to suspend family reunification because widespread immigration fraud was revealed through DNA testing.