The United States – Home Base for Terrorists!?
You may wonder how Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Raleigh, North Carolina could all be linked. Each of these locations has been the home of United States citizens convicted of terrorist activity.
In southwestern Portland, Oregon seven individuals formed a group called Katibat Al-Mawt, or squad of death. This group studied material on jihad and trained in weaponry and martial arts prior to the attacks on September 11, 2001.
American forces began an offensive against terrorists in Afghanistan one month later. This same month, the six men of Katibat Al-Mawt traveled to China and tried several times to cross into Pakistan. Unable to breach Chinese security (which was heightened after 9-11), the men came back to Portland.
The woman in the group was once married to one of the six men. Charged with six counts of money laundering, she pled guilty to the charges in September of 2003. She confessed that she assisted her husband in providing support to the Taliban by transferring money from the U.S.
The men were given 18 year prison terms in November, 2003. Each entered guilty pleas in October to the charge of seditious conspiracy.
In February 2004, the remaining three members of the Oregon group were sentenced to eight and ten years in prison. Testifying against the two younger men (which are siblings), the oldest man negotiated for a lighter term.
In Somalia, a U.S. citizen killed himself during a suicide bombing October 29th of 2008. He began his mission in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Possibly as many as 20 additional young men were enlisted to travel to Somalia with him. Of that group, more than twelve are from Somali families and have disappeared. Family members await word as Federal Officials search.
The resulting investigation has led to the arrest of two more Minnesota men. These two United States citizens have pled guilty to charges of terror related activity as a result of their trips to Somalia where they joined Islamic militant forces. Three of the men are thought to have been killed of those that remain missing.
Monday, July 28, 2009 found eight more individuals pleading guilty to charges related to terrorist activities. Only one of the 8 persons resided in Minnesota. The remaining defendants resided in Raleigh, NC. Three of the NC men are related (father and sons), and all members of the group were charged with plotting jihad, and military training for the purpose of attacks abroad. All are US citizens with the exception of one who is a legal resident.
What could any of this possibly have to do with a tiny rural community in eastern Tennessee?
If you’ve read the first few pages of The Vision, you’ll know that these events parallel eerily with best-selling author Debi Pearl’s plot. Debi Pearl lives with her husband, Michael, in Pleasantville, Tennessee. The Vision’s publication comes at a time when current events give it an air of realism. What IS predictable is that this couple would view transpiring world events from the perspective of their abiding faith. Michael Pearl wrote an article in November 2008 for No Greater Joy Magazine entitled Hard Times Coming. No Greater Joy is the Pearls’ ministry. No Greater Joy Magazine is offered free of charge by subscription at the ministry’s web site: www.nogreaterjoy.org. If you’re looking for a unique perspective of today’s headlines, visit their web site.
Learn Chinese with Mike: Lesson 30 (Places)