FTR#358—Mein Jihad, Part VI (Islamofascism and The Wahhabi Lobby)—(Two 30-minute segments) (Sources are noted in parentheses

FTR#358—Mein Jihad, Part VI (Islamofascism and The Wahhabi Lobby)—(Two 30-minute segments) (Sources are noted in parentheses.) (Recorded on 5/6/2002.)

Note: FTR#’s 260-315, FTR#325 and succeeding programs are streaming on Real Audio at www.wfmu.org/daveemory. FTR#’s 01-270 are available for download only, also on Real Audio, at http://archive.wfmu.org:5555/archive/DX/.)

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This program presents more information about the 9/11 attacks. (For more about the attacks see FTR#’s 325-357.) Continuing discussion of the intersection between the milieux of oil, international finance, fascism and “Islamofascism,” the program explores spheres of influence in which the forces behind the 9/11 attacks operate. (As underscored in previous programs, one should not misunderstand this statement as characterizing Islam as fascist.) Particular emphasis is on the connection between the Republican Party’s ethnic outreach operations and the Wahhabi/Islamofascist elements behind Al Queda. Highlighting the influence of these people and institutions within the American Muslim community, the broadcast emphasizes the remarkable success they have enjoyed in altering American public opinion.

1. The discussion commences with review of a quote from “neo”-Nazi Ahmed (nee Alfred) Huber. “The U.S. is the ally of 15 million Jews against 1.3 billion Muslims; it is allied with 5 million Israelis against 200 million Arabs. . .We will bring down the Israel lobby and change foreign policy. We’ll do it in America. When it happens, you’ll understand.” ("Swiss Probe Anti-U.S. Neo-Nazi"; San Francisco Chronicle; 3/12/2002; p. A12; visit http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/03/12/MN192483.DTL.) It should be remembered that Huber (among his other numerous professional credits) is on the board of directors of Al Taqwa. The nature and background of Al Taqwa will be reviewed later in the program. (For more about Al Taqwa, see FTR#’s 335, 336, 338, 340, 342, 343, 344, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357.) Much of the rest of the broadcast examines the extent to which Huber’s comments have been actualized.

2. Exemplifying the influence of the Wahhabi Lobby on public and journalistic perception of terrorism, the “spin” that domestic Muslim groups are putting on an apparent front for Al Queda operations should be more fully explored. Recent information reinforces the growing body of evidence that elements of an Islamic charity called Benevolence International are part of the Bin Laden network. (“U.S. Charges Islamic Group, Head Lied Under Oath on Terror Role” by Glenn R. Simpson; The Wall Street Journal; 5/1/2002; p. A4.) (For more about Benevolence International, see FTR#’s 338, 351. For more about Mohamad Jamal Khalifa [Bin Laden’s former brother-in-law], one of the people figuring prominently in the Benevolence International allegations, see FTR’s 330, 349.)

3. A recent raid at the organizations’s hedquarters in Bosnia shed light on its “charitable” activities, as well as those of Mr. Arnaout. “Some of the information about the charity and Mr. Arnaout, acording to the papers filed today, was also obtained in a March 19 raid of the foundation’s offices in Bosnia. Investigators found guns and military manuals as well as photos of Bin laden and of Mr. Arnaout ‘handling rifles, a shoulder-fired rocket and an antiaircraft gun.’” (“Leader of Islamic Charity Is Accused of Lying to Court” by Neil A. Lewis; The New York Times; 5/1/2002; p. A18.)

4. Support for Enaam Aranout (the Benevolence International figure described above) was recently voiced by Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. (“Charity Leader Funded Terror, U.S. Alleges” by Josh Meyer and Eric Lichtblau; The Los Angeles Times; 5/1/2002; p. A10.) As highlighted below, Hooper refused to condemn Osama bin Laden after September 11. (For more about the CAIR, see FTR#357.)

5. A number of recent, understandably alarming incidents involving Saudi and Pakistani air passengers in the United States were dismissed as “bias” by another spokesman for the CAIR. “ ‘There’s no other way to put it’ [CAIR research director Mohamed] Nimer said. ‘Some people are not comfortable flying in an airplane that has people of Middle-Eastern, Arab or Muslim backgrounds.’’ (“Incidents on Flights Cause Post-Sept. 11 Jitters” by Dan Eggen and Katherine Shaver [Washington Post]; San Francisco Chronicle; 4/30/2002; p. A4.)

6. Alarmingly, the CAIR is coming to be seen as a viable mouthpiece for the American Muslim community. (“Bias Incidents Against Muslims Are Soaring, Islamic Council Says;” The New York Times; 5/1/2002; p. A18.)

7. The disturbing nature of “CAIR-as-Muslim-American-civil-rights advocates” can be gleaned from the following passage, reviewed from FTR#357. “The record of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)—which, like the AMC, sends members to meetings organized by [GOP luminaries] Norquist and Saffuri—is no more encouraging. When interviewed by Salon’s Jake Tapper on September 26, CAIR Communication Director Ibrahim Hooper refused to condemn Osama bin Laden. CAIR founder Nihad Awad, who appeared with Bush at the Washington Islamic Center, has argued that ‘there is ample evidence indicating that both the Mossad and the Egyptian Intelligence [service] played a role in the [1993 World Trade Center] explosion.’ And Siraj Wahaj, who has served as a CAIR board member, has been described by federal prosecutor Mary Jo White as a possible conspirator in the ’93 bombing.” (“Fevered Pitch” by Franklin Foer; The New Republic; 11/12/2001; pp. 5-6; accessed at www.thenewrepublic.com/111201/foer111201.html .)

8. Many in the Muslim community have voiced their alarm at the annointing of organizations such as CAIR as official advocates for the Muslim community, here and in the United States. “As Harvard professor of Islamic studies Ali Asani has complained, ‘There is general concern among Muslim intellectuals about how not only CAIR, but some of these other organizations are claiming to speak in the name of the Muslim community, and how they’re coming to be recognized by the government as spokespeople for the Muslim community in the U.S.’” (Ibid.; p. 6.)

9. An Italian Imam has opined that CAIR is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. “Hisham Kabbani correctly identifies the origin of contemporary radicalism in Wahhabism. Kabbani correctly divides contemporary radicals into two groups--‘militants’ (those who directly engage in terrorism) and ‘non-militants’ (those who indirectly support terrorism while maintaining a false respectability, so that they can get invited to receptions at the White House—i.e., the wolves in sheep’s clothing). I agree with Mr. Kabbani 100% on this issue. I would also add that the center of worldwide radicalism is a sect called the ‘Muslim Brotherhood.’ This sect has sections engaged in direct terrorism, such as Hamas, and sections not directly engaged in terrorism such as CAIR. Although their links to Hamas are clear, CAIR is permitted to act freely in the United States. CAIR claims to ‘represent’ the Muslim Community and launches hate campaigns against journalists, senators and others who interfere their true terrorist agenda. . .I receive all of their press releases.” (“In Defense of Steven Emerson and Daniel Pipes” by Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi [Secretary General, Italian Muslim Association (AMI); Imam, Italian Islamic Community—ICCII]; The Root & Branch Association, Ltd.—Islam—Israel Fellowship; accessed at www.rb.org.il/Islam-Israel/commentary/Islam18.htm .) (For more about the Islamofascist Muslim Brotherhood, see FTR#’s 343, 344, 345, 350, 351, 354.)

10. In the context of Shaykh Palazzi’s comments, one should consider the Brotherhood’s goal of utilizing Western democracy’s civil libertarian tradition for its own purposes. The following discussion focuses on Hani Ramadan (son of Said Ramadan, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and the son-in-law of Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna.) “His various activities have led to many ‘conferences’ at the Islamic Center of the Eaux-Vives [Geneva, Switzerland], where in recent years many demonstrations and open air-prayer sessions have been held for various Islamist causes, in front of the European seat of the United Nations. ‘The advantage of our presence in Europe,’ Hani Ramadan says, ‘is that we can take advantage of the freedom of the democratic regimes.’ For example, on March 11, 1995, Ramadan spoke during a gathering that was officially organized by the Algerian FIS. The demonstration in fact brought together the European supporters of the Armed Islamic Groups (GIA). And the Center directed by Ramadan, which has enough meeting space for some 20 people, is also used as a hub for the European representatives of various organizations that are under surveillance by several European police forces.” (Dollars for Terror: The United States and Islam; by Richard Labeviere; Copyright 2000 [SC]; Algora Publishing; ISBN 1-892941-06-6; p. 155.) (For more about the Ramadan family, see, among other broadcasts, FTR#351.) One could safely extend Mr. Ramadan’s remarks to the United States. It is, of course, fundamentally important to maintain the foundations of civil liberty in the United States. At the same time, it is essential that this country remain flexible enough to counteract the willful abuse of American political freedom by its enemies—abuse directed at destroying the United States of America and its culture. Ramadan, the Muslim Brotherhood, Ahmed Huber, Youssef Nada, Osama Bin Laden, the NDP, the National Alliance, the heirs to Francois Genoud (himself the heir to Hitler, Goebbels and Bormann) and their apologists and defenders at organizations such as CAIR appear to be actively engaged in just such willful abuse. If we give them Liberty, they will give us Death. (For more about the Ramadan family, see, among other broadcasts, FTR#351.)

11. The program then turns to the subject of Al Taqwa, an apparent Al Queda front with profound connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. An article about the 9/11 money trail from a Swiss financial industry website further highlighted the unusual nature of this institution. “Al Taqwa had been certified by the Swiss Federal Banking Commission last year to be neither a bank nor a financial intermediary—in other words, to fall outside the country’s money laundering control mechanisms. But reports in ‘Blick’ and other Swiss media, allegedly based on foreign secret service reports, suggested last week that ‘millions’ of Bin Laden’s funds had been through Al Taqwa.” (“Switzerland Confirms Role in U.S. Anti-Terror Probe” [Keystone Archive] from www.swissinfo.ch ; 9/26/2001; p. 2.)

12. Before turning to Al Taqwa founder Youssef Nada’s connections to the Saudi Royal family, it is worth noting (in the context of the recent bloodletting between the Palestinians and the Israelis) that the PLO is financed by Saudi Arabia. (This connection should be carefully considered in light of Ahmed Huber’s remarks, quoted above.) “Sa’udi Arabia is Yasser Arafat’s principal financial supporter. Increasing Sa’udi subsidies to the PLO since 1973 have given the organization currency reserves estimated at over a billion dollars—larger than those of many Third World countries—and most inhabitants of the Kingdom are proud that Sa’udi oil revenues should be supporting the cause of their Palestinian brothers. But the idea that Sa’udi Arabia should lend such massive support to men usually seen in the West as ‘terrorists’ is deeply offensive to many people outside the Muslim world. This support to the Palestinians flatly contradicts in their eyes the word ‘moderate,’ so often used by the Kingdom’s Western friends to describe Sa’udi international strategy, and this contradiction has lain at the heart of the foreign policy pursued since 1975 by King Khalid, Crown Prince Fahad and their brothers.” (The Kingdom: Arabia and the House of Sa’ud; Robert Lacey; Copyright 1981 [HC]; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; ISBN 0-15-147260-2; p. 446.) (For more about the PLO-Saudi connection, see FTR#’s 340, 346.)

13. “Chairman” Arafat recently described the Israelis as “Nazis.” The Orwellian irony of Arafat’s comments should not be overlooked in light of his own Nazi/SS heritage. Speaking of SS officer and Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin Al-Husseini, author Martin A. Lee describes Arafat’s lineage and political genesis. “Among those who gathered at the Mufti’s home during the mid-1950’s was his distant cousin, Yasser Arafat, then an engineering student at the University of Cairo.” (The Beast Reawakens; Martin A. Lee; Copyright 1997 [HC]; Little, Brown & Co.; ISBN 0-316-51959-6; p. 128.) (For more about the Grand Mufti, see also: RFA-22, L-7, FTR 2, 147, 159, 161, 237, 270, 328, 329, 330, 332, 333, 335, 340, 341, 343, 352, 354.) One should note that the “Grossmufti” was the first leader of the Palestinian national movement. One should not fail to note that Arafat, the first Palestinian terrorist groups and SS Colonel (and ODESSA leader) Otto Skorzeny have strong historical links.

14. Martin Lee describes the Arafat/Skorzeny/terrorist links. “Several young Palestinian refugees, including Yasser Arafat, joined the Egyptian soldiers who were learning the ways and means of unconventional warfare. Although initially the intended target was the British, the future PLO chief realized that rigorous commando exercises would help prepare the Palestinian militants who were eager to renew the battle for their lost homeland. A grateful Arafat recognized Skorzeny’s abundant skills in this area, and the two men struck up a relationship that lasted for many years. Apparently the Palestinian leader was quite fond of the scarfaced paladin [Skorzeny]. ‘Arafat would have done anything for Otto!’ remarked [Otto’s widow] Ilse Skorzeny.’” (Ibid.; pp. 129-130.) (For more about Skorzeny, see RFA#’s 19, 22, 32, as well as FTR#’s 70, 333, 340. Many of the discussions with Kevin Coogan about his book The Beast Reawakens contain discussion of Skorzeny.)

15. FTR#’s 330, 334, and 337 describe [Saudi intelligence chief] Prince Turki’s resignation shortly before the 9/11 attacks. In addition, FTR#343, among other programs, discusses the allegation that Turki “ran” Osama Bin Laden. An intriguing (and detailed) piece of scholarship recently linked Turki, the Saudi Royal family, the Muslim Brotherhood and Youssef Nada (Al Taqwa’s founder.) “The internal Saudi situation is complicated by the fact that many very wealthy Saudi families financially support the Al Qaida effort as part of a strategy of purging the Saudi Kingdom of infidelism and Western corruption. In many cases these influential Saudis reach into the extended Royal family, including the murky figure of recently-fired Saudi intelligence chief, Turki al-Faisal, son of the late King Faisal. In this regard, an extremely important step in the international effort to cut off the financial tentacles of the Islamist terror apparatus took place on November 7. . .Significant to note, in the days immediately after September 11, when investigation focused on a series of suspicious short trades in the stocks of key airlines and insurance companies such as Swiss Re, certain to be negatively impacted by the World Trade Center attack, Swiss prosecutors investigated the likely role of the Lugano Al Taqwa bank, using a stock brokerage in Milan. The president of the Al Taqwa Bank Group is Youssef Mustapha Nada, naturalized Italian, and a member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaa-al-Islamiya, which is directly allied with Al Qaeda through Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, said by some intelligence sources to be the brains behind bin Laden. When the Bahamas closed Al Taqwa Bank Ltd. early this year, Swiss authorities required a name change in Al Taqwa bank, which then became registered in Switzerland as Nada Management Organization SA. It is the same Al Taqwa Bank. In 1970, Youssef Nada moved to Saudi Arabia and, with help from the Muslim Brotherhood, established contact with members of the Saudi Royal family, and founded a construction company in Riyadh, much the same as the Bin Laden family. He remained active in Riyadh, and soon founded the first Islamic bank in Egypt, the Faisal Bank. The Faisal Islamic bank of Saudi Arabia is the head bank of a number of affiliated Islamic banks under the name across the Islamic world from Egypt to Pakistan to the Emirates and Malaysia. The head of Faisal Islamic bank of Saudi Arabia is former Saudi Intelligence chief, Turki al-Faisal. Faisal Islamic bank is directly involved in running accounts for bin Laden and his associates, and has been named by Luxembourg banking authorities in this regard.” (“The Politics of Three—Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel” by Paul W. Rasche; Studien von Zeitfragen; 35.Jahrgang InternetAusgabe 2001; accessed at www.studien-von-zeit…bal/Coalition_Risks/coalition_risks.html .)

16. The program then reviews the Islamofascist heritage of the Muslim Brotherhood. One should take this heritage into account when assessing the propaganda of related groups, such as CAIR. “Taking Italy’s choices under Mussolini for inspiration, the economic program set three priorities . . . The social policy foresaw a new law on labor, founded on corporations. This economic program would more directly reveal its relationship to totalitarian ideologies a few years later, with the works of Mohamed Ghazali . . . . Mohamed Ghazali recommended ‘an economic regimen similar to that which existed in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.’ . . .The moral code is also an important component in this program, which is intended to create the ‘new Muslim man.’ . . . The notion of the equality of the sexes is inherently negated by the concept of the supremacy of male social responsibilities. . .the ‘natural’ place of the woman is in the home.” (Dollars for Terror: The United States and Islam; p. 127.)

17. In addition, the theocratic fascism of the Brotherhood was summarized by the organization’s founder Hassan al-Banna. “ ‘Islam is doctrine, divine worship, the fatherland, the nation, religion, spirituality, the Koran and the sword.’” (Ibid.; p. 126.)

18. Nada himself is alleged to have been agent of the Abwehr, the military intelligence service of the Third Reich. “But Yussef Nada is even better-known to the Egyptian [intelligence] services, who have evidence of his membership in the armed branch of the fraternity of the Muslim Brothers in the 1940’s. At that time, according to the same sources, he was working for the Abwehr under Admiral Canaris and took part in a plot against King Farouk. This was not the first time that the path of the Muslim Brothers crossed that of the servants of the Third Reich.” (Ibid.; 140-141.)

19. In conclusion, Mr. Emory notes the recent death of a key member of the deadly Bormann organization and a resident of Lugano, Switzerland (home of Al Taqwa and the related Banco del Gottardo). Baron Heinrich Thysssen-Bornemisza was old, but his (probably natural) death was timely, in light of the investigation of the Bin Laden financial trail. (“Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, Industrialist Who Built Fabled Art Collection, Dies at 81” by Jonathan Kandell; The New York Times; 4/2/2001; p. 39.) (For more about Thyssen-Bornemisza, see, among other programs, FTR#’s 273, 293, 294, 305, 343. For more about Mr. Emory’s hypothesis about the Bormann/Al Taqwa/Bin Laden connection, see FTR#’s 327, 343, 352, 354, 355, 356, 357. For more about the Bormann group, see the references in FTR#355.)

(It is recommended that serious students of the events of 9/11 consult RFA#37, and Miscellaneous Archive Show M61, available from Spitfire. See RFA#’s 1, 2, 10, Miscellaneous Archive Shows M11 and M42, as well as FTR#’s 29, 99, 102, 114, 121.) (Recorded on 5/6/2002.)FTR#358—Mein Jihad, Part VI (Islamofascism and The Wahhabi Lobby)—(Two 30-minute segments) (Sources are noted in parentheses.) (Recorded on 5/6/2002.)