you ain't got no job. . .

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has released a report identifying a number of American citizens who converted to Islam while in US prison, then moved to Yemen, married local women and subsequently"[fell] off the map". According to the report, as many as 36 ex-convicts have traveled to Yemen for "language training" in the last year, and as many as 10 of those are believed to be working with al-Qaeda.


The text of the report is located here. For context, check out this Wapo article with good sound bites from admin and congressional staffers.



The report states, "U.S. officials said they are on heightened alert because of the potential threat from extremists carrying American passports and the related challenges involved in detecting and stopping homegrown operatives."

An additional concern, it says, "is a group of nearly 10 non-Yemeni Americans who traveled to Yemen, converted to Islam, became fundamentalists, and married Yemeni women so they could remain in the country." One U.S. official, it reports, described them as "blond-haired, blue-eyed types" who "fit a profile of Americans whom al-Qaeda has sought to recruit over the past several years."
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Egypt's largest opposition group to Pres. Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood, has named a new leader. Muhammad Badie was selected by the members of MB's consultative council following the resignation of Muhammad Akef.

The english language Muslim Brotherhood website is located here.


Akef, a more moderate voice within the organization, resigned after butting heads with the conservative factions of the Brotherhood. Badie represents a more conservative faction of the MB and, interestingly, was incarcerated with Sayyid Qutb back in the 60's. Qutb is one of the most influential Islamic fundamentalists and provides ideological foundations for al-Qaeda.



Definitely check out Qutb's biography above. He traveled to America as a young man in the 1920's and his experiences forged his fire-brand interpretation of Islam. Really a fascinating man.
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Secretary Gates was in Pakistan yesterday reaffirming the Administration's commitment to working with the Pakistani government and military in efforts to control their lawless border with Afghanistan.

The Secretary was in India on Tuesday.