FBI Probe Into Somalis May Be Most Significant Domestic Terrorism Probe Since 9/11

nytimes.com:

The Carlson School of Management rises from the asphalt like a monument to capitalist ambition. Stock prices race across an electronic ticker near a sleek entrance and the atrium soars skyward, as if lifting the aspirations of its students. The school's plucky motto is "Nowhere but here."

For a group of students who often met at the school, on the University of Minnesota campus, those words seemed especially fitting. They had fled Somalia as small boys, escaping a catastrophic civil war. They came of age as refugees in Minneapolis, embracing basketball and the prom, hip-hop and the Mall of America. By the time they reached college, their dreams seemed within grasp: one planned to become a doctor; another, an entrepreneur.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[peterg76]

My first thought is, what it is that the FBI is intentionally ignoring that they need this as a distraction from?

[jsgaetano]

They couldn't possibly be desperate for scary foreign people to distract the country from the conservative's loving embrace of domestic terrorism, could they?

[babyboomerorig]

Maybe the same way they ignored agents in the field when they suspected some of the 9-11 terrorists when training to fly, but not to take off or land.

[MNmommy]

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020603/memo.html

[jibril]

continued.­......

Somalis don't want to assimilate. Thats absurd.

Somalis are assimilating while retaining their own culture. Both are possible. Hundreds of Somali students are thriving in at U of M and OSU (Ohio state). Somalis own businesses, and the vast majority of Somalis don't ever want to live in Somalia again. This isn't a temporary stop. This is our home. WE ARE AMERICANS!!!!

Fourthly, I notice comments that conflate problems faced by all "urban poor" societies, and specifically designate them as "Somali" or "foreign" problems. Apparently Somalis invented domestic abuse and homophobia. I would venture to say that these problems are no more prevalent in the Somali community than in any other minority urban community in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if Californians heard stories of their Japanese neighbors abusing their wives before their WW2 internment. Its all a tactic.

And lastly, I will repeat, and this bears repeating: Somalis are culturally completely turned off by Al Qaeda and Shabaab. The good news is, from talking with relatives back home, they are extremely unpopular and the people revile them as backward and barbaric.

[danusgram]

People like Jibril are like wolves in sheep clothing. There is no intent to incite, telling the truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=TfW9inRkTpU&feature=PlayList&p=20CC9B024AF4D6A3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=57out what really is going here is my right as a citizen of this country the truth hurts does it not and let me repost what your folks did to that poor Gay man minding his own business on the streets of Minneapolis. That should be where your comdemnation is

[jibril]

What you are, sir, is the cruelest kind of irony. A member of a historically discriminated against minority, who in turn uses that experience not to help other minorities, but to hurt them. And you actually have the nerve to bring up homophobia as your trump card? African Americans are notoriously homophobic. By trying to caste that as a Somali problem,..­.you are truly making yourself look like a fool. Somalis are homophobic­,..yes. So are countless other minority groups. What does that have to do with terrorism?

[furryone]

Of course not all Somalian-Americans are terrorists or heterosexist gay bashers. But incidents like the ones occuring in Minnesota are sending a very clear signal that needs to be answered.

I agree about the gay bashing in Minneapolis. My friend is the one who videotaped the incident, and it was both disturbing and disgusting. The fact is they learned that kind of bigotry and hate somewhere, and an amazing progressive city like Minneapolis is NOT the place for them if that is how they are going to act. I hear Texas would love to have more bigots...o­r maybe they should just make that journey home.
Now after reading the NYT article I believe there is a culture of machismo and hate propagated in young Somali men. This is not an isolated incident, and it has no place here. There are enough dometic nutbag haters in the USA--we don't need to import any.

[chedet]

betcha ya if a white person does the same thing you'd not say a thing. It's ok you're just suffering from inferiority complex. My african friends were always bashed up by african americans here. Weird but true. Makes you feel good insulting jibril, a somalian? makes you feel good to think that you've been here longer in this country?

[lessthansign3]

There are bad people in EVERY community. If you condemn an entire group of people based on the actions of a handful of idiots, how will that ever make things better? How will spewing more hate and vitriol make our Somali neighbors feel welcome? If you alienate a group of people, in no way does that make them want to "integrate" into your culture. It only gives those who reject your culture a louder voice and a stronger argument.

What "your folks" did? Please... You act as if no other member of an oppressed minority has EVER done anything to wrong someone from another minority group! Should we condemn all white people because they guys who killed Mathew Shepard were white? Should we condemn all members of the military because the guards at Abu Ghraib were members of the American military?

[jibril]

As a Somali-American male in my 20's who has many relatives in the twin cities,...­.this article hurts me on many different levels. Firstly, it hurts that Somalis now have a reputation as a "radical" Islamist culture, nothing could be further from the truth. Most Somalis are completely shocked and repulsed by the Shabaab and ways of doing things. Somalis have always practiced a very moderate brand of Islam.

Secondly, I notice a deluge of African Americans that have taken the point on Somali Bashing. This shouldn't surprise me, Somalis and African Americans don't seem to get along. But don't let them fool you into thinking its *just* the Somalis. African Americans have been extremely cruel to Somali kids, but they're also cruel to other African immigrants (I could tell you many stories from high school). Ask any immigrant group from sub-saharan African and they'll report some kind of tension with the African American community. The good news is that there are people on both sides working to build some kind of understanding. But there's no doubt people like danusgram are here to incite hatred against Somalis out of their own misguided animosities.

Thirdly, and most grievously, I see a consensus building that the "Somali project" has failed. Its hurts that all it takes is 1 article (that specifically points out the miniscule number of bad actors in the community) and anecdotal evidence that is questionable at best to push some to the conclusion that Continues.­........

[jsgaetano]

Conservatives in the US are desperate for a foreign face.

Conservatives have finally been exposed as the lovers of domestic terrorism they've always been... and are seeking to throw up a smoke screen by talking about a big scary "other", as they always do.

[jibril]

continued.­......

Somalis don't want to assimilate. Thats absurd.

Somalis are assimilating while retaining their own culture. Both are possible. Hundreds of Somali students are thriving in at U of M and OSU (Ohio state). Somalis own businesses, and the vast majority of Somalis don't ever want to live in Somalia again. This isn't a temporary stop. This is our home. WE ARE AMERICANS!!!!

Fourthly, I notice comments that conflate problems faced by all "urban poor" societies, and specifically designate them as "Somali" or "foreign" problems. Apparently Somalis invented domestic abuse and homophobia. I would venture to say that these problems are no more prevalent in the Somali community than in any other minority urban community in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if Californians heard stories of their Japanese neighbors abusing their wives before their WW2 internment. Its all a tactic.

And lastly, I will repeat, and this bears repeating: Somalis are culturally completely turned off by Al Qaeda and Shabaab. The good news is, from talking with relatives back home, they are extremely unpopular and the people revile them as backward and barbaric.

[oregonbird]

Irish-American. Three generations in, we still listen to pipes, argue about politics and religion, hold wakes, work in crafts and teach our children about our past. The Irish are weird about being connected to history, their families and their old country's.

Why give up something that lends you strength, that grounds you in your existance? In America, we're allowed our past -- but we have to fight for that right, against everyone.

Up Somalians! Keep your traditions (that don't involve multilation or subjugation of women & children) and be proud of them.

[weebils]

"African Americans have been extremely cruel to Somali kids, but they're also cruel to other African immigrants "

You call for tolerance and yet make a blanket statement about African Americans. Your true condemnation and prejudice is showing. The truth is you consider your culture superior to American culture( Black or White) and have no intention of assimilating. That is your choice. But why come here. Why not stay in your superior country with your superior culture? Why not tell about the demeaning terms you use for American Blacks such as "children of slaves"? Or how you looked down on American blacks for being of mixed heritage? Obama is only somewhat accepted because of his success. In fact many Africans would despise him because of his mixed blood.

[lessthansign3]

Criticizing a blanket statement about one group with a blanket statement about another?

Hmmm... You need to work on your debate skills :)

[jibril]

You conveniently cut out the preceding sentence of my quote. I implied Somalis weren't the *only* ones responsible for the tension. Indicating that I thought Somalis bare some culpability too.

You don't know the first thing about the truth. I know my own culture has flaws, but I'm still a proud Muslim, and a proud Somali. I won't apologize for that. I will say that I've had various run ins with African American kids,....i­n which they were belligerent to me,...for absolutely no reason other than being a Somali. And I don't have a racist bone in my body. I don't think I'm superior to anybody. So, how is that my fault? How is that me feeling "superior"?

Pardon the generaliti­es,...but from my interaction with African Americans in the inner city I've found many of them completely uncaring of the struggles of other minorities. They are so consumed by their own disenfranchisement and troubles that they have ZERO empathy for other groups. You and danusgram are textbook cases of this. You are completely oblivious to the incitement your comments are agitating against innocent Somali-AMERICANS (not foreigners).

[shamanbart]

Jibril -- thanks for your post which gives a badly needed inside view of the issue at hand. I agree that the vast majority of Minnesotan Somalis are hard-working, law-abiding and peaceful citizens trying to assimilate, which in Minnesota ain't exactly easy.

The assistance that the Somali-American community can give in detecting extremists groups is very valuable in determining the scope of potential problems. Hopefully reason and moderation will guide the current generation of young men.

[laborgrunt]

Blanket statements all around!!!
Jabril I agree with you for the most part, but your blanket statements about African Americans are absurd. Btw Im Somali too.
Anytime minorities leave in close proximity to one another in areas with high poverty there is tension. Look at whats happening between Blacks and Mexicans in LA.

[Ramirez]

Jihad transcends citizenship and national identity and this is a lesson being learned throughout the west.

[jsgaetano]

Yeah, just ask US conservatives about their jihad against women's health clinics, and against the Federal government, and against brown people, and against gay people, and on and on and on.

[samuelberg]

No surprise this is happening in the supposed liberal state of Minnesota. Just like the segregation you see in the ritziest Northern California towns, Minnesota also has their share of "white guilt" liberals who don't really want anyone of color as their neighbors. I can see where a liberal like Al Franken would want to call Minnesotans his constituents.

[Robert59]

I'm not surprised. Back in the 30s my granddad, thought about going to Spain and fighting with the Lincoln Brigade. He went on to serve 30 years in the U.S. Army. Young Americans are no different than young people all over the world; they want adventure and to answer to a higher more noble calling.

I think we tend to simplify many of these groups because we don't understand them. Most Somalis (not to mention Eritreans) believe Ethiopia is always looking for excuses to seize land.

I wonder how many Irish Americans headed back to Ireland to fight the British. We considered what they did unlawful, but we didn't brand them as a threat.

[Tom Joad]

AQ recuits the disenfranchised and oppressed worldwide. Their message to those at the bottom of the global capitalist hierarchy is the same everywhere. If you want to defeat AQ, you need to defeat our institutions that perpetuate oppression and disenfranchisement.

[Ergon]

Al CIA da

[zakon]

Why did Bush Sr. order troops into Somolia in the last month of his presidency (December 1992)?

1) To get food to starving Africans? The country was in the midst of a civil-war.

2) For oil? Northern Somolia's recently discovered oil reserves were slated for US oil firms, but the civil-war deposed the American-friendly leader of Somolia in 1991

3) Stir up the radical Muslim nest? Somolia is where Al Qeada got a major propaganda piece -- "we ran the American's out of Somolia." From there Al Qeada started striking throughout the Clinton administration years (WTC 93, Kenya Embassy, Tanzania Embassy (both are in the neighborhood), US barracks in Saudi Arabia, USS Cole, and then under Bush Jr., the final act, WTC 01. Now they are our government's reason for perpetual Hot War. Hey, something had to replace 40 years of Cold War.

[zakon]

As you recall, Bush Sr. LOST to Clinton in the 92 election. Therefore Bush Sr. couldn't use the WTC attack in Feb. 93 as an excuse to take the thousands of troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to grab Iraq's oil and kick off the War on Terror. Do the research, Bin Laden gave money to the cell that attacked the WTC in 93. Triple Cross by Emmy-award winning journalist Peter Lance is a good start.

[zakon]

Additionally, there is strong circumstantial evidence that the convicted WTC 93 planner and master bomber-maker (Ramzi Yousef) met Tim McVeigh in the Philippines and helped McVeigh master bomb-making. Read Triple Cross, by Emmy-award winning journalist Peter Lance. The 911 report only goes back to 1998, but Peter Lance goes back further -- which is critical if you want to connect the dots.

BTW, Yousef developed the planes as bombs idea before he went to jail, which his uncle Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (the waterboarded hairy-back dude) pitched to Bin Ladin, the rest is history. Isn't it amazing how much all of these guys are connected?

BTW, the CIA and FBI had penetrated Bin Laden's inner-circle back in the 90's. He was Bin Laden's security chief who also helped train the WTC 93 cell, while working out of Fort Bragg's special forces center. Read the book, it's ground-breaking.

[Ergon]

Something to maintain the FBI budget too. Can't let Homeland Security and the airport bots get all the goodies..

[vikesnfc99]

Dept. of Homeland Security didn't exist in 1992

[samuelberg]

Bill Clinton could have taken UBL under direct surveillance by the CIA. Too bad he didn't consider UBL a direct threat on US interests. We could have avoid two wars and shed American blood.

[quietreader]

When I take public transportation there is a certain odor coming from them. Is it their food? Does anybody know what is the cause of that odor?

[thebanana]

That's the smell of racism you're getting a whiff of. It's on you.

[Tom Joad]

faved

[Amazone]

great reply, banana

[quietreader]

Sorry, but that is not the reason. If you have smelt it enough, you would and should know what I am talking about. I am looking for a real reason.

[yakaria]

Al-Qaeda is actively recruiting American Somali teens to join them. However, I know several Minnesotan Somalis that are proud of America and genuinely love it here. I do not believe that there is anything to fear.

[LIKEFLYNN]

What men's room did you meet these so~called "Minnesotan Somalis" in?

[Gasparilla]

What gutter is your mind in?

[yakaria]

I don't use men's rooms to meet other men. Unlike some Republicans.

[Tom Joad]

AQ recruits the disenfranchised and oppressed worldwide.­..their message is the same to anyone at the bottom of the global capitalist hierarchy and has appeal. If you want to defeat AQ, you need to defeat our own institutionalized methods for oppression.

[Nudalhade]

You speak rubbish.

[hegdehog]

It's not a simple as that. Many Somalis in Minneapolis have actively resisted becoming part of the culture. They live in America, but they hate Americans and they want nothing to do with our culture. It's built upon religious chauvinism and hatred for American ideals that are perceived as morally corrupt and corrupting. Give them the benefit of the doubt if you like, but you'll be missing the other side of the story. The redbeards on the West Bank of the Mississippi River want nothing to do with you or your filthy culture.

[Kristen777]

How convenient that no one ever goes after the white supremist groups in this country. It's only called "terrorism" if they're dark-skinned.

Tim McVeigh, people!! The Minutemen, the Klan, etc. all of them want to see the destruction of our nation. What hypocrites!!

[oddjob1138]

The Minutemen? Do you know how many Latino-Americans are in that organization?

[Gasparilla]

Who denied Tim McVeigh was a terrorist? And the people who condoned what he did are literally a handful of supporters.

[zakon]

The is strong circumstantial evidence that the convicted WTC 93 planner and master bomber-maker met Tim McVeigh in the Philippines and helped him master bomb-making. Read Triple Cross, by Emmy-award winning journalist Peter Lance. The 911 report only goes back to 1998, but Peter Lance goes back further -- which is critical if you want to connect the dots.

[vikesnfc99]

Pretty sure the 911 report covered the 1993 bombings: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/pdf/sec3.pdf

[repugnicansfearme]

T. Boone Pickens should not have a blog on HuffPost. His despicable and reprehensible actions supporting the "Swift Boating" of John Kerry, among other ultra-right wing support he provides, should negate his appearing on this site.

[Cambridge9]

Have you never known anyone who can have an opinion you agree with - and an opinion you disagree with?

Pickens is one of this country's biggest promoters of 'getting off foreign oil' - and that's an opinion I can agree with.

[LIKEFLYNN]

"Have you never known anyone who can have an opinion you agree with - and an opinion you disagree with?"

This is the entire point of being a Godless lefty!
No redemption! No quarter!

This is the French Revolution part deux!

"DE@TH within 48 hours!" (A Tale of Two Cities)

[Tom Joad]

wrong thread, mate...

[MurphySinlaw]

What's worse the sin that may lead to the d-eath of one man, or religion, that leads to the d-eath of millions? If I never see another mosque, church, or temple it'll be too soon.

[Cambridge9]

I agree, however, every time I step outside my house I am in my church (the green fields, the open sky and everything in and on them) which I will respect to my dying breath. Man made edifices are built by men with ulterior motives.

[MNmommy]

http://www.startribune.com/local/50542727.html

Am I the only one that finds it not especially coincidental that this happened the day that the NYT article was published about the investigation?

[MNmommy]

danusgram I'm a Fan of danusgram I'm a fan of this user permalink
photo

UPDATE just posted on the Star Tribune newspaper for Minneapolis a third Somali kid was just found with a bullet to his head in Somalia one of the group in this article, go there and read the article.
==========­==========­==========­========
http://www.startribune.com/local/50542727.html

Am I the only one that finds it not especially coincidental that this happened the day that the NYT article was published about the investigation?

[weebils]

Why are people in 2009 still talking about things like clans and village elders? This is as backwards as Palin's witch hunting hobby.

[mick7191]

Is that really that different than how a street gang works? When you think about it, business is set up the same way. You are a clan and you have elders. Battles take place in the market place and the courtroom instead of on the battlefield or the streets. We are clannish in nature.

[Cambridge9]

Having read comments on your bio site I believe you are city born and bred. I may be wrong but I get the impression that you have seldon left the city - if ever to travel across this country - or to any other. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that lifestyle, but is does explain your attitude about clans and village elders.

My background was (as a child) a farming community that was like an extended family; then I left home and lived in a city of over a million people and there I asked the question you are asking - only in reverse. I asked how people could happliy exist when they didn't know their neighbors a block or a mile away; why no one would stop and say 'hello' to a stranger after dark; I got used to the situation and dealt with it for over fifty years; however when it came time for me to retire I searched this country for a town where some might say we are 'clannish' - kind of like a large, extended family who will support and defend our way of life and I admit that some who live in this town of 500 have never been to a big city because, like me. they didn't need all the conveniences, restaurants, museums, shows and/or excitement of the concrete jungle.

So I do understand that (even in 2009) there are many places where people will go to find their

[Cambridge9]

So I do undertsand that (even in 2009) there are many places where people will go to find their roots!

[Chaimirija]

That's how it is in the Midwest. I know of many families that only hang with each other. Or only the same church.

[brynnrose thorn]

The article stated that the "trigger" for the emigration back to Somalia came when Ethiopia invaded Somalia using intelligence provided BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. All of this is a direct result of BUSH/CHEENY interference and Cheeny using the CIA as his own personal play-toy. Bush/Cheeny, the best recruiting tool AQ could ever wish for.

[MNmommy]

Amazing, isn't it?

The evil of that administration knows no bounds.

[MNmommy]

Too true.

[glockman]

Yes, because no democrat has ever used the CIA as a personal play toy, especially Kennedy and Johnson.

[Sarge0311]

What intel provided?
I'm certain that Ethiopians can read newspapers. They surely knew better what was going on in their neighbor's country than the NYT did.