tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70299408399322669962011-07-08T06:29:09.029-04:00Defender blogger covering counterterrorism issuesWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-46969479445819781162009-08-25T13:57:00.005-04:002009-08-25T14:21:53.701-04:00

The New York Times reported today that the Justice Department released a report on Monday that had been kept classified since the CIA inspector general's investigation in 2004. The actual text of the report is here. The report details the abuse that went on in CIA prisons, such as "suggestions about sexually assaulting members of a detainee’s family, staging mock executions, intimidation with a

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-28322943535708828712009-08-17T09:06:00.004-04:002009-08-17T09:52:55.864-04:00

The famous Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan was detained in Newark Friday on his way to Chicago, according to an article on NBC. Khan originally believed that he was being taken to a separate room because of his celebrity status. But Newark authorities were not in a hospitable mood. Khan reports that the guards interrogated him for hours as to why he was in the country. Ironically, he recently

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-42775469459809506162009-08-14T11:51:00.002-04:002009-08-14T12:21:34.624-04:00

The events happened in 2006, but the appeal was decided only this week, according to the legal blog Volokh Conspiracy. As the blog reports, a Muslim immigrant from Somalia was driving to work the day after 9/11/06 when she noticed a blue van following her closely, even into the parking lot! She ran quickly into the building, but before she could reach the door, the window of the blue van rolled

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-58982365031978276752009-07-20T10:44:00.006-04:002009-07-20T11:38:20.693-04:00

The New York Times reported on Friday that the Second Circuit has reversed a ruling by the lower court that denied Tariq Ramadan a hearing concerning the government's revocation of his visa. The revocation, according to the Bush administration, was based on donations that Mr. Ramadan had made to charities that were linked to terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Mr. Ramadan stated that he

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-63773347018512754192009-07-01T08:58:00.002-04:002009-08-25T14:28:35.975-04:00

News has been slow at WT, and we may need another fierce animal to assist us with making regular posts. Meanwhile, though, we have at least some good news to share: a group known as the Velvet Revolution has filed disciplinary complaints wiht the DC Office of Professional Responsibility against three CIA attorneys for their roles in the United States' use of torture. The Velvet Revolution's

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-80175440081036107552009-04-30T19:00:00.003-04:002009-04-30T19:17:08.285-04:00

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times earlier this week, the FBI hired an informant in 2006 to infiltrate the Muslim community of Orange County, CA. The informant, Craig Monteilh, posed as a converted Muslim and made friends at local mosques, then encouraged his new buddies to excercise with him at local gym clubs, where cameras captured the action and a secret microphone captured

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-26398955968186608692009-03-16T09:29:00.004-04:002009-08-25T14:28:35.976-04:00

According to an article in last week's Washington Post, in 2005 the CIA had destroyed 92 videotapes of their overseas interrogations. The tapes were destroyed despite a 2004 court order directing the agency to preserve all material related to overseas interrogations. Federal prosecutor John Durham was appointed last year to investigate this destruction of evidence, and these findings are the

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-1408046117671879682009-02-17T09:44:00.007-05:002009-08-25T14:28:35.976-04:00

A Gallup Poll released last week reveals that the majority of Americans want an investigation into the counterterrorism tacticts employed by the Bush Administration, according to an article in USA Today. Meanwhile, however, Barak Obama's Justice Department maintained the states secrets privilege in a case alleging the Bush Administration had engaged in torture against Guantanamo detainee Binyam

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-82030182364700091362009-02-09T11:31:00.004-05:002009-08-25T14:28:35.977-04:00

Last Wednesday, a British court reluctantly refused to de-classify evidence that could prove a Guantanamo inmate's allegations of torture, according to an article in the New York Times last week. The court's decision was based on intelligence-sharing ethics observed by the U.K. and U.S., in which neither country de-classifies intelligence received from the other without the original country's

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-36758214047500218122009-02-02T09:04:00.002-05:002009-08-25T14:28:35.977-04:00

The Los Angeles Times revealed yesterday that President Barak Obama's executive orders allow the CIA to continue to use extraordinary renditions as a tool to combat terrorism and acquire information through interrogations. Whether it's actually an efficient tool is still a question under review.Extroadinary renditions is a CIA proceedure where detainees are secrety shuttled to another country in

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-77323126874673045552009-01-28T19:07:00.003-05:002009-01-28T19:19:04.275-05:00

On Monday, judges of the 4th Circuit heard both sides of the argument for vacating Moussaoui's guilty plea, according to an article from CNN. Moussaoui's lawyers, as was mentioned in a previous post back in February of 2008, argued that he was denied exculpatory evidence and effective assistance of counsel.The article reveals that Khaled Sheikh Muhammed has stated that Moussaoui was not to be a

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-47494509750289632552009-01-22T21:48:00.006-05:002009-01-22T22:26:05.190-05:00

According to The New York Times, President Obama (I love saying that..), in only his second day of office, signed a bunch of executive orders erasing the Bush legacy. It might not be so simple as that, but at least with this administration we get to read his orders.The executive orders essentially ban torture and.... pinch me... order that Guantanamo be closed within a year. If you don't

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-72084389197940500752009-01-21T09:39:00.002-05:002009-01-21T09:52:57.864-05:00

The good news just keeps rolling in! According to an article by the Associated Press, Judge Leon took another swipe at the Bush administration today (I'm beginning to think that Judge Leon needs his own label on our blog), ordering the release of Mohammed el Gharani, who has lived in detention since he was 14 years old.The only evidence against the boy was a collection of statements by two other

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-51339533250747094762009-01-21T09:24:00.003-05:002009-01-21T09:35:38.295-05:00

Late Tuesday night, while the world celebrated Barak Obama's inauguration (and Bush's departure), the new administration gave the detainees in Guantanamo Bay something to celebrate too: according to articles by the Associated Press, President Obama and Defense Secretary Gates ordered all military prosecutors involved in the military commissions to request a 120-day suspension of the trials while

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-56477750580004870432009-01-02T09:04:00.002-05:002009-01-02T09:45:21.076-05:00

On Wednesday, Judge Leon of the D.C. District Court--the same judge who ordered the release of five men back in November--held in favor of the Bush Administration, finding that the government had adequately shown its reasons for holding two other detainees, according to an article in the New York Times. The hearings were closed because of classified information, and the detainees were not

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-86638623742761670102008-12-31T09:36:00.003-05:002008-12-31T09:55:37.958-05:00

A new article from CagePrisoners.com gives more details on the informants that assisted in the conviction of the "Fort Dix Five". According to the article, informants were dispatched when the defenands asked a store clerk to convert a home video to DVD. When the clerk saw the video, which showed the defendants playing paint ball and practicing at a shooting range, he called the police.The

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-71966917239985617582008-12-23T09:08:00.005-05:002008-12-31T09:56:35.411-05:00

Five Muslims were convicted on Monday for conspiring to make plans to attack a U.S. Army installation, one of which the government alleged was to be Fort Dix, the Associated Press reported today. According to the defense, however, the men were just the latest victims of entrapment.The men were arrested in 2007 by the FBI, who showcased the case as an example of their proactive vigilance in the

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-71660399999082101672008-12-19T11:13:00.003-05:002008-12-19T11:23:12.312-05:00

Three of the detainees affected by Judge Leon's decision were released on Tuesday, reported by CNN. This comes as a surprise, since the Bush Administration has appealed another court order to release Uighurs.Perhaps the Justice Department has reconsidered its position, given the harsh words Judge Leon had for them when he read his opinion: "I, too, have a right to appeal: to the Justice

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-22995606063005379682008-12-19T10:12:00.002-05:002008-12-19T11:03:35.449-05:00

MSNBC reports that a state judge in Georgia threw a Muslim woman in jail after she refused to remove her hijab at the court security checkpoint. According to the judge, the court has a policy that Sikhs and Muslims and... dare we say Jews also?? have no access to courts, since worshippers refuse to remove headgear as the court policy requires. But it's not even the first time that this has

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-65185493269014580802008-11-25T09:48:00.002-05:002008-11-25T10:23:39.931-05:00

According to a New York Times article yesterday, Judge Frederic Block of EDNY held that racial profiling, without more, cannot establish probable cause for arrest. The story began when counterterrorism agents observed two men switch their seats on a flight (*gasp!*), check their watches frequently during the flight (O.M.G.), and..... speak in Arabic (dun dun dunnnn!). This is what followed:“[T]

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-53921932039072718772008-11-24T16:29:00.003-05:002008-11-25T09:48:46.183-05:00

The jury verdicts are out--reported by the Dallas News and the Associated Press. Despite much confidence that the prosecution's case rested on nothing but rumors, the jury has found HLF and its officers guilty on all counts. The more things change, the more things stay the same...

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-80495448006058755082008-11-24T09:33:00.007-05:002008-11-25T09:48:24.559-05:00

About a year ago, the NYPD released a report on domestic terrorism. The report discussed only "Islamic" terrorism and cautioned that any Muslim serious about his faith could be incubating into a terrorist. The report stated that incubation takes place in such sinister locations as bookstores, cafes, and mosques. Clearly, the report had problems. Last week, the New York Muslim American Civil

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-11305702392135271932008-11-20T21:54:00.004-05:002008-11-20T22:09:37.397-05:00

The article will be in your Washington Post tomorrow: in another slam to the Bush administration since the Supreme Court held that the Guantanamo detainees are entitled to habeas relief, D.C. District Court Judge Leon ordered Boumediene and four others to be released from Guantanamo and sent home to his family abroad. The government had argued that these men intended to go to Afghanistan for

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-13418239956567597192008-11-20T21:00:00.004-05:002008-11-20T21:39:40.384-05:00

Yesterday, the New York Times published an article detailing the dogfight between the FBI and the NYPD over whether the NYPD can get warrants directly from the FISA court in order to tap phones. According to the article, it's a debate that has Police Commissioner Kelly pointing fingers at the new Attorney General Mukasey, and vice-versa, each claiming that the other's antics has put the

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-3062988992817241832008-11-18T10:09:00.002-05:002009-08-25T14:28:35.978-04:00

A court-appointed psychiatrist declared on Monday that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is mentally incompetent to stand trial, according to the New York Daily News. A hearing scheduled for this Wednesday will explore the possibility of compulsory medication that might change her condition and permit her to stand trial. According to the psychiatrist, her current mental situation "renders her unable to

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-5470316240411343572008-11-05T11:06:00.012-05:002008-11-05T11:33:38.258-05:00

Yes, it's true: we have elected the first African-American president, and proud of him, too! Here's hoping that, like the end of Jim Crow Laws, the end of Guantanamo and of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are also near.A quote from Barak Obama's acceptance speech aptly demonstrates what the new administration's approach will be to international relations:"[T]onight we proved once more that the true

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-1601337544793715302008-10-14T09:28:00.004-04:002008-10-14T09:53:27.264-04:00

As our name demonstrates, this blog was intended to follow the many court cases that have been spawned by the War on Terror. But you've probably noticed that despite some big news recently--the retrial of HLF, the appeal won in New York by two men charged with material support--we haven't been covering all of it. Not to worry, our regularly-scheduled programming will continue soon... perhaps on

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-4176020386552490912008-10-08T11:34:00.003-04:002008-10-08T12:05:31.566-04:00

U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina issued a court order yesterday requiring the government to release into the United States 17 Chinese Muslims (known as Uighurs) currently held in Guantanamo Bay since 2001. Uighurs currently living in the D.C. area have offered to house the detainees. But how long do they get to stay?The courtroom filled with cheers and applause as Judge Urbina read his

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-13146567716509722622008-10-01T09:17:00.004-04:002008-10-01T09:50:42.583-04:00

It's not what Americans would consider a terrorist attack, because it wasn't committed BY Muslims, but AGAINST Muslims. It reportedly happened on Friday while Muslims were gathered for a night of prayer at their local Mosque in Ohio, according to the account published Monday in the Dayton Daily News. The terrorists used a chemical agent to try to gas the worshippers, yet local police deny that

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-35529150203757650222008-09-29T09:33:00.003-04:002009-08-25T14:29:07.660-04:00

An article in Friday's Washington Post detailed a Senate panel that took place on Thursday investigating the military's use of torture on detainees held in Guantanamo and Iraq. An Air Force instructor was familiar with the harsh tactics used in Iraq, because he used them himself to train troops on what to do in situations where the enemy does not follow the Geneva Conventions.The instructor, Col

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-25712850892059142682008-09-26T10:33:00.004-04:002008-09-26T11:31:18.535-04:00

Just when we think that the muckraking couldn't get any nastier, the G.O.P. starts to fling poo instead. First there's the new group The League of American Patriots, which, according to an article in USA Today, distributed fliers in New Jersey with racist comments against Barak Obama. And, of course, the debut of the new "documentary" on Islam, called Obsession. More after the jump.The New Jersey

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-71978805435771457002008-09-05T13:51:00.005-04:002009-08-25T14:27:20.786-04:00

Britain was surprised last year to learn it may have been a part of the United States' international torture conspiracy, and now Poland has finally joined that club. The New York Times reported today that Poland has begun to investigate the possibility that it hosted a CIA secret prison back in 2002-2005.More is at stake in the investigation besides national embarrasement, however. Government

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-42607203674148336382008-08-29T16:09:00.006-04:002008-10-14T10:00:45.774-04:00

After the blowout headline in the New York Daily News (see here), it seems that the press has lost interest in Aafia Siddiqui's case. Not so for many activists, however. You can catch all the action at MuslimMatters.org, including information concerning protests and hearing dates. Be sure to check out the press conference, where you can find out how to send letters to Ms. Siddiqui.There's more

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-89567443200828496302008-08-25T17:04:00.003-04:002008-08-25T17:15:41.229-04:00

Human Rights First has done what the current administration and competing candidates would not: created a plan to close Guantanamo. Their publication can be downloaded by anyone--and definitely should be read by those attending national conventions!The publication creates a plan for closing Guantanamo within a year of the next candidate taking office. The plan's points are simple, but until

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-4021077805551888432008-08-20T13:44:00.002-04:002008-08-20T13:52:50.568-04:00

In an article on AlterNet, a distraught author records her experience as a tourist returning from Syria, made to wait in 70-people holding pens within JFK airport. Her experience demonstrates that nothing has changed since the months after September 11, 2001.The Homeland Security guards took no pains to maintain manners with their wards, and "sneered at each bewildered arrival, told jokes in

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-74262984671724235832008-08-10T15:58:00.006-04:002008-08-10T16:52:45.890-04:00

Last Tuesday, Afia Siddiqui was extradited to the United States on charges that she "attempted to kill U.S. agents and military officers," according to the A.P. report. Siddiqui, you might remember, was one of seven people that then-Attorney General John Ashcroft wanted to question about al-Qaeda, and no one knew where she was. Possibly, though, the U.S. had her in custody all along.It might be

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-27380364883217492802008-08-08T22:56:00.003-04:002008-08-08T23:06:24.561-04:00

After a long haitus, WT is back with counterterrorism news and commentary. Posts are now expandable summaries, and events on the left will be updated shortly. Post labels are being streamlined, and navigation to your left will take you to all the posts on a particular topic.

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-45509655850962566282008-04-02T16:21:00.004-04:002008-08-10T16:46:15.566-04:00

The New York Times announced today that John Yoo, the former underling in the Office of Independent Counsel of the Department of Justice, had in fact drafted not one but TWO memos explaining the legality of torture. The first memo, here, was addressed to the President and concerned activity of the CIA. The second memo, Part I here and Part II here, was addressed to the Department of Defense,

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-29868687113124951392008-03-21T11:11:00.005-04:002008-08-10T16:45:53.236-04:00

I've blogged before about Obama's sidestep on the issue of Islamophobia while the Clinton Campaign continues to dish out hints that Obama is a closet Muslim. An interesting article in an Iranian-American newspaper takes this one step further, exploring the interesting history of Islam as an issue in political campaigns.Clinton, as we easily remember, returned a $50K campaign contribution given by

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-48944858216990423812008-03-15T10:18:00.005-04:002008-08-08T22:53:16.205-04:00

Last week, the Washington Post published an article covering the controversial video game created by Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal. The game, titled Virtual Jihadi, is a Doom-style shoot-em game in which the player is a terrorist recruited by Al-Qaeda to capture Bush. Bilal introduced the game as an art display at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, but was shut down when Republican

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-69814137308422194092008-03-08T22:01:00.004-05:002008-08-10T16:45:33.052-04:00

Abu-Jihaad, the former Navy sailor alleged to have provided information to terrorists concerning the positions of Navy ships, was convicted on Wednesday in Connecticut District Court. Apparently the case was brought there because the investigation initially focused on a Connecticut-based ISP, but who can forget Connecticut's ties to the Navy through its submarine base in New London/ Groton?

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-71743996603288384762008-03-07T10:12:00.003-05:002008-08-10T16:45:13.936-04:00

Yesterday, a small bomb exploded outside an army recruitment center in Times Square in New York City. Since it happened at 3am, no one was hurt. "Experts" are saying that it wasn't terrorism because it was just an anti-war demonstration. Wait, what's the definition of terrorism again? Maybe what NYPD means to say is that they don't suspect a Muslim... Latest article from AP is here. I suspect

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-81412795139252390142008-03-07T09:27:00.007-05:002008-08-10T16:44:59.887-04:00

Beyond television shows like 24 are some new and.... interesting films releasing soon. One might be seen as either satirical or taking advantage of a bad situation. The other film is certainly seen as provoking a bad situation. The films are as different as night and day.Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is a sequal to the duo's movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Obviously,

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-31992682660121908232008-03-06T21:54:00.011-05:002008-08-10T16:44:35.450-04:00

Tired of the back-and-forth between Obama and Clinton concerning Obama's faith? So is Naomi Klein. In an article in The Nation, Ms. Klein criticizes Obama for taking the defensive instead of taking the opportunity to attack the idea of making a candidate's faith an issue in an election, and to reveal how especially twisted it is to take advantage of public bigotry. (By now, I hope, people would

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-16722952422708511182008-03-05T20:26:00.007-05:002008-08-10T16:44:18.462-04:00

An enlightening article in Pakistanis' Dawn News on Monday encourages Muslims to increase their political power in the United States. Citing past successes, including the election of a Muslim congressman and the 2000 bloc vote, the article chastises Muslims for breaking down among racial and ethnic lines, and for not forming a compelling national leadership. Perhaps the most surprising thing

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-3257511409615589142008-03-05T16:27:00.005-05:002008-08-08T22:50:46.873-04:00

McClatchy Newspapers reportedly obtained an ICE memo describing profiling techniques to screen immigrants based on nationality--in a way that creates hightened suspicion of aliens from Muslim countries. According to the article, the memo discusses plans to make a universal list of "special interest countries." A special interest alien would be an immigrant with terrorist ties or an immigrant who

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-17914901023970110652008-03-02T18:44:00.006-05:002008-08-10T16:42:42.138-04:00

There is another event concerning Syed Hashmi, the defendant accused of storing laundry for Al Qaeda. This time the event is sponsored by the United Muslim Association, the undergraduate Muslim students association at NYU. It's this Wednesday, March 5, from 7:30-10:30pm at the Kimmel Center, Room 914. So if you missed the previous event, here's your chance at a piece of the action. Dinner will be

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-16198443777096588272008-02-29T19:11:00.006-05:002008-08-10T16:41:25.651-04:00

Last month, Zacharias Moussaoui asked to withdraw his plea and proceed to trial. The brief was made public only this week. The issue concerns an increasingly controversial topic: the attorney-client relationship in trials involving "national security" issues. According to the brief, and according to articles in the New York Times and the Washington Post, the Fourth Circuit had made rulings before

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-20424079748029586542008-02-27T16:19:00.006-05:002008-08-10T16:41:44.699-04:00

AFP announced today that a new survey conducted by the Gallup polling agency demonstrates that Muslims around the world are just as human as the rest of the world. The link to the article is here. The poll surveyed a population that Gallup claims to be equal to 90% of the world's Muslims. Only 7% of Muslims surveyed condoned the 9/11 attacks, and they did so for political--not religious--reasons.

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-28550711427976108492008-02-21T21:17:00.005-05:002008-08-10T16:42:59.247-04:00

It has come down to this: If you let your friend store some luggage containing ponchos and socks in your apartment, and these items are later given to Al-Qaida, have you provided material support? In the games played by AUSAs, it might possibly be so. While Unites States v. Hashmi hasn't reached trial yet, and hasn't seen much news coverage, an event this weekend at St. John's University will

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-86207905983279753812008-02-21T12:49:00.003-05:002008-08-10T16:42:17.963-04:00

BBC news reported that the UK foreign secretary appologized for giving the Unites States use of the civilized, sovereign territory of the crown for extraordinary rendition. Rather than claim that UK higher-ups had been lying all along about whether Diego Garcia had been used for the CIA's rendition program, the UK foreign secretary pointed his finger at the US, claiming it lied to Britain about

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-58668046278412863922008-02-19T22:05:00.005-05:002008-08-10T16:43:18.370-04:00

Adam Liptak wrote today in his NYT sidebar about Jeffrey Breinholt's latest work. The article is here. After studying over 888 cases from last year that cite to "Islam" or "Muslim" (not impressed with his LexisNexis skills? Neither is Liptak), Mr. Breinholt determined that Muslims are "prickly, litigious, and poorly integrated into American Society." But that's Mr. Liptak's take, not

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-3116769177209892142008-02-16T10:19:00.003-05:002008-08-10T16:43:35.640-04:00

Earlier this month, Speaking of Faith interviewed Ed Husain regarding his book The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left (not yet published in the U.S.). The folks at SOF have put together a lot of content about the book, including streaming audio of the interview, and uncut version for people with more time, and particulars that provide additional

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029940839932266996.post-12562555519226586752008-02-15T20:59:00.002-05:002008-08-10T16:41:06.598-04:00

The Washington Post announced on Wednesday that Senator Leahy is developing legislation to change the rules governing the state secrets privilege. Click here for the article. Whenever the Executive branch claims the privilege, this legislation will require it to submit an affadavit to the court and attach the allegedly "secret" evidence for the court to review. The court will then be able to

WThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264985124294896925noreply@blogger.com0