Egyptian President Morsy demands US free World Trade Center bombing mastermind
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy has told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he wants the US to free the blind sheikh, Omar Abdel Rahman, who was behind the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center in New York. Morsy says that he intends to raise the issue with President Obama when he visits the US.
Benghazi attack an attempt to trade for 'blind Sheikh'?
Was the terror attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya a crude, botched attempt to bring about the release of the 'blind sheikh' Omar Abdel Rahman?
People carrying pro-American signs pushed their way into the
encampment of Ansar al-Sharia, which in spite of its denials is
suspected of complicity in the death of Ambassador J. Christopher
Stevens and three other Americans. The militants were forced out of the
base, and the demonstrators burned part of it before turning it over to
the Libyan army. On Sunday, the interim government, which had been
wavering on how to react to the assault on the consulate, ordered the
dismantlement of all militias not under its authority and said they must
withdraw from government property within 48 hours.
In Egypt, where the government’s slow reaction to protests outside the
U.S. Embassy in Cairo prompted a phone call from President Obama to the
newly elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, there has been a chorus
of condemnation of the violence, with the country’s most prestigious
sheiks and other Islamic leaders calling it shameful and contrary to
Islam; some even issued fatwas against it. The Middle East Media
Research Institute has documented numerous commentaries by newspaper columnists warning against incitement by radical groups.
Yes, to be sure, the pro-Americanism of many in Libya is encouraging. But, as Barry Rubin explains problems in Libya undermine the friendliness of its current government.
The editorial is correct that there are warnings in the Arab media
against extremism, but little of what MEMRI published was explicitly
pro-American. (More correctly the sentiment seemed to be anti-blatant
and violent anti-Americanism.)
What to do? In Libya the editorial suggests:
Libya’s biggest problem is that its new democratic government is too
weak to take on the scores of militias around the country that do not
accept its authority, including some that may be allied with al-Qaeda.
Though last week’s popular demonstrations gave it a political boost, the
government could use greater security assistance from the United States
and other NATO governments — including training and help with
intelligence.
From what Barry Rubin writes, what's missing is a suggestion that
extreme elements be rooted out of the government. But that's clearly
easier said than done. Without ridding the government of infiltrators,
the security assistance will help the wrong people too.
The suggestion for Egypt is more troubling.
In Egypt, the Obama administration has been working on a $1 billion
debt-forgiveness deal that could help revive the Egyptian economy, but
the oft-postponed pact was put on hold again after the Sept. 11
demonstration. Mr. Obama may wish to deflect election-eve Republican
claims that he is showing weakness in the face of attacks on Americans.
But such demagoguery ought not to derail the effort to help stabilize
Egypt’s economy and reinforce free-market policies.
But Morsi is not so innocent. Not only did he fail to protect the
American embassy despite advanced warning of the protests, deliberately
scheduled for 9/11, he is demanding the release of "the blind Sheikh,"
Omar Abdel Rahman. Demanding Sheikh Rahman's release at a time when he
is also requesting American aid is an affront. Giving in to Morsi's
demands despite his disregard for American sovereignty and sensitivity
is "showing weakness." Demagoguery is imputing bad faith to those who
are legitimately pointing out bad faith in others.
Michael Mukasey, who, as a judge, sentenced the Sheikh, writes (available in it entirety via the link here):
The State Department's spokesperson last week, after the ceremonial
"let me be clear," said that there had been no approach on this topic
"recently" from any "senior" official of the Egyptian government—an
elucidation laden with ambiguity and certain to send chills up the spine
of anyone familiar with Abdel Rahman's record and President Morsi's
inclinations.
All of this plays out in the context of an Obama administration that
hasn't hesitated to employ executive orders to get around Congress, led
by a president who was caught on a "hot mike" assuring Russia's leaders
that if he wins re-election he will have more "flexibility" to
accommodate Russian demands that the U.S. curtail missile defense in
Europe.
It appears that the only course open now is for Congress to demand an
unequivocal statement from the State Department and the White House that
the U.S. will not transfer or release Abdel Rahman under any
circumstances. Absent such assurance, it may be time for Congress to
make clear that such a transfer or release could be considered the kind
of gross betrayal of public trust that would justify removal from high
office.
2) Completing Mackey's record
The other day I referred to a Robert Mackey post, which criticized
statements made by Governor Romney. In Context noted that the post was
even more misleading than I charged.
Egypt's Morsy vows to free blind Sheikh behind first World Trade Center bombing
In an address to thousands of wildly cheering Egyptians at Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy vowed to free the 'blind Sheikh,' Sheikh Omar Abdel el-Rahman, who is serving a life sentence in the United States for his role in planning the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 (Hat Tip: MFS - The Other News).
He also addressed popular demands, vowing to work for the release of Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheik jailed in the U.S. for a plot to blow up New York landmarks, as well as detained Egyptian protesters facing military tribunals.
‘I will do my best to free all detainees, including Dr. Omar Abdel-Rahman,’ he said, pointing to a group of protesters holding a poster of the spiritual leader of men convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Supporters have called for the sheik to be repatriated to Egypt on humanitarian grounds.
Morsi, a 60-year-old U.S.-trained engineer, narrowly defeated Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister and a former air force general, in a runoff race that deeply polarized the nation. Initially put forward as a back-up candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood, he addressed the crowd with a booming voice, flanked by several security guards.
His victory has given Islamists a new boost after they overcame decades of suppression and arrests under Mubarak's secular regime to become Egypt's most influential post-revolutionary political force. However, the military has fought to check the Brotherhood's rise and maintain its hold on the reins of power.
At one point he opened his jacket to show the crowd he wasn't wearing a bulletproof vest, saying he ‘fears no one but God.’
Aren't you glad we got rid of Mubarak? What could go wrong?
World Trade Center bombing planner to be returned to Egypt with Kahane assassin for American democracy activists?
Citing an al-Arabiya report in Arabic, Robert Spencer reports that the United States has offered to trade Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, who is imprisoned in the United States for a conviction stemming from the first (1993) World Trade Center bombing, along with 49 other Egyptians being held in American prisons, for the 19 Americans currently being held in Egypt on charges of promoting democracy.
Al-Arabiya is reporting, in Arabic only so far, that the U.S. is talking with the Egyptian government to free the blind Sheikh and 49 other Egyptians currently imprisoned in the U.S. in exchange for the freedom of the 19 Americans the Egyptians are holding.
The blind Sheikh, Omar Abdel Rahman, is in prison for his role in masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center jihad terror bombing. If he is freed, it will be the apotheosis of Obama's policy of appeasement toward the Islamic world.
I pulled a Google translation of the Arabic article. No names are mentioned other than Rahman, although there is talk there about how Egypt should not 'miss the opportunity' (a phrase that ought to make the US State Department consider banning travel to Egypt) to free all 500 Egyptians being held in the US.
But I would assume that one of the 49 others to be included with Rahman is El Sayid Nosair, the man who murdered Rabbi Meir Kahane, and was later acquitted on a technicality (he has since admitted that he murdered Rabbi Kahane). Nosair is a disciple of Rahman and was also convicted on charges related to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Nosair should never see the light of day (neither should Rahman).
Spencer is right. This 'exchange' would indeed be the apotheosis of Obama's Presidency. For now.
The sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr. Muhammad Al-Tayeb, said that intense efforts are being made to arrange the release of Sheikh 'Omar 'Abd Al-Rahman, known as the Blind Sheikh, a member of the Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya organization who has been imprisoned in the US since 1996 for involvement in the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center. Al-Tayeb said that the coming days will see a breakthrough in this matter. Tomorrow (April 21) a demonstration is to be held in front of the US embassy in Cairo in demand for the sheikh's release.
I'm just waiting for Obama to tell us that he's letting al-Rahman go because how much harm could a blind old man be? (Can you say Ahmad Yassin)?
Eli Lake reports on deep concern in the United States that senior terrorists escaped from Egyptian jails over the last two weeks.
U.S. counterterrorism and intelligence officials say they are concerned about the fates of prisoners such as Shawky Salama Mostafa and Mohammed Hassan Mahmoud, two suspected leaders of Egyptian Islamic Jihad captured by U.S. forces in 1998 in Albania but sent to Egypt for trial. Human Rights Watch and other groups report the two men were tortured in Egyptian jails.
U.S. intelligence officials are also trying to locate Mohammed Omar Abdel-Rahman, the son of the “Blind Sheik,” Omar Abdel-Rahman, the mastermind of the failed 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. He was captured in Pakistan in 2003 but was eventually sent to Egypt.
Senior Egyptian officials have warned that senior jihadists may have escaped from prison in the midst of the popular uprising. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Vice President Omar Suleiman said al Qaeda operatives and other terrorists are among those who have escaped.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
