May 23, 2009
New York terrorists: a cautionary tale for moving Gitmo detainees here
The four men who plotted to blow up a couple of synagogues and shoot down a military transport were not born Muslims. According to this New York Post article , they were radicalized in prison.
This begs the question; if Obama wants to move Gitmo prisoners to mainland prisons - many of whom are top al-Qaeda recruiters - how does that make us safer?
Don't tell me they'd be in isolation and would have no contact with other inmates. You can bet the first thing that lawyers for those detainees will do is try and get their clients released into the general population of any prison they are held at. No doubt, they would be successful in some cases.
What would that mean? A look at the experience of the New York terrorists might give you an idea:
Richard Williams said that his 32-year-old nephew fell under the sway of dangerously radical Islamo-fascists while serving time on drug charges -- and that he became "brainwashed" after his mother died and his ex-wife fought him for custody of their child. "They played on his weaknesses and what was going on with his family," Richard said. "He was brainwashed and manipulated in the system."
Relatives and friends of the other three men charged in the horrific plot to blow up two Bronx synagogues and shoot down an Air National Guard plane said the men never expressed any interest in terrorism. But they all quickly developed a deep interest in Islam in jail.
[snip]
Williams' uncle -- who himself once served 10 years on a drug charge -- said he was familiar with prison converts to Islam. When Cromitie -- a lifelong jailbird -- last got out of prison two years ago, he similarly told stunned relatives in The Bronx that he had converted to Islam.
He announced that his new name was Abdul Rahman and that he was now living in Newburgh.
"He told me that he was a Muslim and that didn't eat pork anymore, and I told him, 'Get out of here!' " said his surprised mother, Adela Cromitie. "Why would he do something like that? He was raised Episcopalian."
And Obama wants to move professional terrorist recruiters into a place where they could possibly influence dozens of aimless young men?
The guy should have his head examined.