Friday, January 11, 2013

Blind Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman and Why He Must Remain in Prison

Nadene Goldfoot
Twenty years ago a 54 year old Egyptian  was one of the culprits of bombing the World Trade Center in New York, caught and given a life sentence.  He was convicted of "seditious conspiracy"  and was prosecuted by Andrew McCarthy.  He was also in on the plotting of terror attacks throughout New York.  His home of late has been the medical wing of the Butner Federal correctional Institution in North Carolina.

After the bombing the FBI investigated him and his followers more so.  They managed to record Rahman issuing a fatwa encouraging acts of violence against US civilian targets in New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas.  The worst plan they had was to set off 5 bombs in 10 minutes and blow up the UN, the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, the George Washington Bridge and federal building housing. They had videotapes of defendants mixing bomb ingredients in a garage before their arrest in 1993.  He was arrested on June 24, 1993 with 9 of his followers.  On October 1, 1995, he was convicted and in 1996 sentenced to life in prison.

This man is blind and has been since very young from diabetes.  He is Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman b: May 3, 1938, the man Morsi of Egypt is trying to free and bring back to Egypt to be glorified, as that's what Palestinians have done with terrorists who have killed Jews in Israel.

What's interesting is that his story was the subject of Arabic-language message-board rants  2 days before protesters stormed the US Embassy in Cairo and later killed the American Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens.  "He should be released, even if it requires burning the embassy down with everyone in it," was written.

Word is that the Obama administration is thinking about releasing him as a goodwill gesture because the Egyptian government has "asked for his release,"  Of course he is revered in Egypt.  That's what they admire and he is an idol.  Morsi will be discussing his release with Obama before the end of the 1st quarter of this year.  He had made this release from the USA a cornerstone of his presidential campaign.  He had called for Rahman's release in his 1st public address as president-elect in Tahrir Square in June.

Jonathan Pollard b: August 7, 1954 in Texas, is a Jewish man who is said to have spied for Israel but actually was really just a want-a-be spy.  I think he must have been impressed with James Bond.  James Bond was living on the edge to stop an evil arms dealer from starting another world war. Bond crossed all seven continents in order to stop the evil Whitaker and General Koskov in the movie, "The Living Daylights."  . The story went to his head as he was in a position to also be a spy and felt he had good reason.  .

His father, an award-winning microbiologist, taught at Notre Dame.    On June 4, 1986, 32 year old Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government, a government who was a friend of the USA.  Nobody died and Israel said he wasn't even a spy for them.   "While working as an American civilian intelligence analyst, he had passed classified information to Israel."  He was passing material and being paid for it, whether the man was Israeli or Mossad is another question.  The intent was there.  He was given a life sentence in 1987. He should be released in 2015 and will have been in prison for 28 years.  Netanyahu of Israel has strongly supported him and visited in 2002.  Pollard has had many plead for leniency for him but to no avail.  Nobody in our government weakened.  Of course Jews weren't threatening to burn down any consul, either. Anyway, he knew he was guilty.  When he's released he will have to go straight to Israel as he has given up his USA citizenship.  

There's a big difference between Pollard and Rahman.  National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said,  "The Blind sheik is going to serve out his life sentence.  There are no discussions about transferring him.  These reports are wrong."  I hope you're right, Tommy.  It would be terrible if there was a nod-and-wink agreement in place.

Resource: http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/international/eyes_blind_sheik_rel  O eyes "blind sheik" release by Josh Morgolin and Chuck Bennett on 9/20/12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Pollard


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