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

[DKLabRat]

Was there a single fact in this article - or was it all emotive speculation based on talking to people who claim to know these young men, then stating what they thought as fact when it's just made up?

[lifesucks]

Well, we do know that there is an ongoing investigation, and there was reference to someone's phone logs or emails. But, it seems that the writer does try and emphasize that "these men" account for a small percentage of the Somalians who are assimilating in the U.S.

[jamesmac10]

It's a challenge to see this community as assimilated Americans. They treat their wives 2nd class. Women's shelters are full of battered Somali women. The Somali taxi driver wouldn't take me home from the airport because I had an unopened duty free bottle of alcohol.

[brynnrose thorn]

You should have reported him to the taxi company. That is just unacceptable.

[danusgram]

Thank you last night I was called names on this site while trying to expose to the rest of the country what the average citizen experiences living here in Minneapolis. They said I was stereotyping when I was only trying to give my own first hand experiences here, geez.

[Nudalhade]

African Blacks, Haitians and Jamaicans hold the greatest contempt for American Blacks. They will not let their daughters associate with what they refer to as "street ni--ers".
This is the truth.
That notwithstanding, these Somalians need to be reminded daily that they are only here because of our tolerance. That tolerance can, and should, be withdrawn periodically to make an example for those who may be considering evil.

[brummie]

"This is the truth"

No it's not. It's more like an unfounded sweeping generalisation. Do you have surveys or researched articles you can point to? Do you personally have close Jamaican or African family and friends so that you can provide plenty of first hand anecdotal evidence?

When you say "African Blacks", to which nationalities or ethnic groups are you referring to? This news report is about Somalis, which is a very different ethnic and cultural group from those found in West Africa (e.g Nigeria and Ghana).

There aren't even enough African immigrants in America for a long established pattern of animosity to have developed. African immigrants only make up 0.4% of the US population.

As for Jamaicans holding "the greatest contempt for American Blacks" - give examples. I appreciate that different ethnic and immigrant groups in America have a degree of harmless competition or criticism against each other, but I don't see Jamaicans having contempt for American blacks. You said that they will not let their daughters associate with what they refer to as "street ni--ers", well I'd say that many middle class or aspiring working class African Americans wouldn't want their daughters associating with so called "street ni__ers".

For the most part Jamaican immigrants and Jamaican descendants get on perfectly well with African Americans. The numerous prominent African Americans of Jamaican descent that are married to or partnered with African Americans somewhat casts doubts on your claim that Jamaicans hold contempt for African Americans.

[LIKEFLYNN]

Riddle me this!

Who's "Yankee Boy"?

[weebils]

Many may not like what you said but you are telling the truth. I am an American Black but like most who have been here for several generations my heritage is mixed. As a result people are not sure of my ethnic background. So I often have been told or overheard things that would not be said around someone they identified as an American Black, Needless to say I have had to tell quite a few people
off. I have had to explain to many of these groups that people died, including American Blacks, for the freedom you enjoy. I also choose to continue living in the city and I will tell anyone that the sentiment of these men is not isolated. It extends further than people know. I really don't need an article to tell me this is happening. The anti American feelings amongst many immigrants is frightening. There is a stark difference in the feelings between immigrants I knew growing up and recent groups. Time for people to wake up and stop pretending this isn't a problem.

[danusgram]

Yes do they do. I experienced this last night from other Africans on this sight.

[KT2468]

Are they going to do a terrorism probe of Oklahoma City Red Necks and Texas Christian splinter groups?

[weebils]

Didn't you read the report about the right wing extremist threats? The one that got the republicans in a big dither? Obviously they are being watched and probed.

[Vurz]

Sadly, they could have done much more for Somalia as a doctor and an engineer.

[lifesucks]

I totally agree.

[Ranta]

Since when does being Islamist mean being " affiliated with Al- Qiada "? Are all Mexicans affiliated with narco-terrorists? Are white Christians affiliated with supremacists?
Do we kill and incarcerate "suspected" terrorists only to find out they are innocents?

[Dynamohum]

ranta and rave, all you like. Not every person or group of interest is affiliated with Al Qaeda. As a matter of fact we have plenty of HOMEGROWN terrorists (Timoth McVeigh). We still don't know who sent all those anthrax letters through the mail after 9/11!! And yes, if someone has been investigated and suspected of terrorism, I would want a "thorough" investigation, including detainment if NECESSARY.

[stevepasek]

Like any youths who don't feel like they fit in, they gravitate to things that make them feel part of something greater than themselves. In many urban communities, gangs are full of kids who want to belong to something.

Is it any surprise that some Somali kids and young adults who feel alienated would follow the romantic notion of "doing something for our own people"? After all, their country is being invaded by a foreign nation.

The U.S. is right to investigate who is recruiting, just as it is right to investigate any situation where people are being manipulated, and if they are sending funds to support terrorism, they are violating U.S. law and should be prosecuted.

However, I don't think it is illegal for U.S. citizens to fight as mercenaries, and if it is, all the Blackwater employees are then guilty since they do not report to any military authority.

We need to examine why these kids can be so easily manipulated into joining these groups, just as we should examine the reasons why kids join gangs, but it is a big leap to assume that this is some sort of sleeper cell system in the U.S. without a lot more evidence.

And we won't get any more information if we treat the Somali community in the U.S. the way Arabs were treated in the fascistic round-up after 9/11.

Cooler heads should prevail, and that will make us much safer.

[cimbri]

People "fit in" where they want to fit in. No offense against American culture, but some people just see a vacuousness here. A bunch of zombies walking around, waiting for the next ipod or some other gadget to make their lives meaningful. These guys have rejected that and are trying to strive for something much more ambitious. They want to join a movement and make a difference.

[lifesucks]

Join a movement and make a difference? Blowing yourself up along with innocent people is making a difference. It sounds like the coward's way out to me. They aren't going back to their homeland in any capacity other than to contribute to the chaos that already exists. They are not returning as doctors, economists, biologists, or teachers, etc. that can help their people.

What a wasted opportunity.

[ebleyes]

The Somali community in Minneapolis are doing very well but it seems that few misguided individuals will tarnish everything they did.

[dadw5boys]

Imagine how those of different Religions felt with Bush came to graduations and told them he was there to WITNESS to his fellow Christians.

The USA was supporting a Religious War in the Middle East incase you have not been paying attention for the last 20 years.

[Chaimirija]

To be fair, they started it. Remember 1979? However, I wish people here knew about The Family and the Christian Reconstruc­tionalists­...they want the same as the Taliban, only with a Christian God!

[lessthansign3]

First thing's first: Michelle Bachmann DOES NOT represent Minneapolis. We're in the 1st district, and our Rep. is Keith Ellison, a democrat and the first Muslim to serve in congress. Bachmann's district (the sixth, or Sith district) is suburban, rural, and filled with religious nutjobs (like my aunt and uncle).

It's all very sad... 99.9% of the Somali community in Minneapolis are wonderful people who are so thankful they could come here to escape the chaos in their country. Yes, some of the older Somalis will keep to themselves, but I can guarantee that if you moved to another country with a large group of Americans and you didn't speak the native language, you'd do the same thing. I've seen it for myself in Japan, when I studied as an exchange student.

I am a student at the University of Minnesota, and I've worked with other young Somalis in the various part-time jobs I've held while here. These kids are working *VERY* hard to become doctors, engineers, etc. so that they can return to Somalia and be a true asset to their country. They want to go back because they love Somalia and want to make it a great country again.

Things aren't perfect, but as a Minneapolis resident who has lived, studied, and worked with Somalis since they started to move to my rural Minnesota hometown when I was in middle school, I can say the majority of Somalis here are nothing like these brainwashed young men.

[H321]

Well said.

[cimbri]

Maybe we can pool our money and buy all of them a plane ticket.

[MNmommy]

Keith Ellison represents the 5th District.

Minneapolis, St Louis Park, Hopkins, Golden Valley, Richfield, Columbia Heights...

The 1st District is represented by Tim Walz, runs along southern MN and includes Mankato, Rochester, Austin and Albert Lea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota%27s_congressional_districts

[lessthansign3]

lol thanks :) It was late at night and I mixed the two up.

[weebils]

"They want to go back because they love Somalia and want to make it a great country again."

In other words they don't love America. Again, a big difference between the immigrants I knew growing up and those of today. Many now do not respect or love this country. They have absolutely no plans to assimilate or become a part of America. They just want the goods.

[MNmommy]

We are talking about a handful of kids.

Not a general belief system. Read the article.

[lessthansign3]

The thing is, they didn't come to the US because they really wanted to. They came here because they had nowhere else to go. They are *refugees* who came here and have built their own lives. Some plan on staying, but others want to return when it's safe. We gave them a safe place to live, work, and learn until Somalia had a working government again. It's taken longer than anyone thought, though, and most Somalis, especially the younger ones, *have* integrated well into American society.

Also, I love how people want them to "assimilate". What, are we the freakin' Borg? Most have built their own identities that bridge both cultures. I highly doubt that if you had to move to another country, *especially* one as different from our own as Somalia is from America, that you'd convert to Islam, learn Somali, and forget your American heritage.

[danusgram]

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.

[pissedmichael]

This is a tragedy, not a rationale for the rants against the Minnesota Somali community.

[danusgram]

You say that I am ranting...­well here are some of your nice people in action online harrassing an innocent Gay person because he is gay on the streets of Minneapolis thank God for videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfW9inRkTpU&feature=PlayList&p=20CC9B024AF4D6A3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=57

[Sensiblebg]

The problem is these so malis dont even respect Afric an Americans or anyone no mu slim for that matter..I'­m glad Obama is taking note..

[levibatgirl]

For every horror story about those 'awful' Somalis, there are also stories of law abiding people trying to raise their families in peace.

[pissedmichael]

Exactly as it has been for every single new immigrant population. Thank you for raising the level at which Minnesotans can be perceived.

[pissedmichael]

What's with the comments here? This is insane. So many of you have missed the point. If I hadn't read the whole article, I'd swear I was in the deep, deep south in the 1950's and 1960's. Are you all really that mindless when it comes to other peoples? I've noted post after post lumping an entire community into one stereotypical package. Somebody's grandmother says? They wear Burkhas? Their neighborhoods are run down? Their women work and the men don't? You really believe what your saying? Every single Somalian is guilty of the transgressions you've assigned them? Can't you see what you're doing? These are the same hate filled slogans and mindless rants that were hurled at your ancestors when they first arrived here. Are you not aware of the deep, groundless prejudices that victimized the Irish, the Italians, Greeks, Poles, Puerto Ricans, and not to mention Native Americans? Back it up a bit and re-establish your common sense and humanity. This is rampant mob mentality. We are in hard times and unfortunately, in hard times people sometimes dispense with decency and eagerly look for something or someone responsible for their misery. Congratulations, you just hurled your community backwards to an even more miserable place and time.

[danusgram]

There are merits to your post however unless you live in this community you are not warranted to state that observations by those who do live in this community are generalizations. I am a proud AA that fought for civil rights. What is happening here is very different. So unless you have lived in Minneapolis or are currently here your rhetoric has limited relevance at best.

[pissedmichael]

I don't have to live there to recognize wrong when I see it. Sorry you feel this way, but your argument sounds like an old one. It's an excuse to avoid fighting a better fight. A shortcut. However, I do appreciate the relatively civilized tone used to criticize my comments. That was really the only point I was trying to make. I am happy to know that I was, at least in your case, partially wrong. Tell me where I can find online information about this community so I can make a more informed and more specific judgment for myself. I realize that making the call I did may have been premature, only in that I gleaned my reaction from the deplorable tone of the examples cited on this post, and not from any real first hand experience of the situation. Thank you for your input.

[unitron]

"You’re not black, his peers taunted. Go back to Africa."

The mind boggles.

[planetjeffy]

kids are (and always have been) very cruel