progunner1957
Moderator
Attention American Citizens: Your choice cannot be made any more clear - Wake up and act as if you are at war OR DIE.
Why "Good" Muslims Become Terrorists
Excerpts reprinted with permission from Ali Sina
Monday, April 11, 2005
We are being hit one blow after another and not only don’t we know how to defend ourselves we even don't know what is hitting us.
The worst terrorist attack in Iraq took place in Feb. 28 by a man who loved America. Yes you read it right! Ra’ed Mansour al-Banna was born in Jordan in 1973 to a wealthy merchant family. He was a lawyer in his country. In 2001, sometime before 9/11, al-Banna moved to the United States, where he lived in California for nearly two years, moving from one unskilled job to another – factory worker, bus driver, and pizza maker. Ra’ed did not make much money but he seemed to fit in well, traveling to such destinations as the Golden Gate Bridge and the World Trade Center, growing his hair long, and taking up American popular music. In one photograph he sent to his family, he is seen standing in front of a military helicopter while holding an American flag. He even planned to marry a Christian woman until her parents demanded that the wedding take place in a church.
Al-Banna loved America; he told his family back in Jordan about the honesty and kindness of Americans. "They respect anybody who is sincere," he told his father. Talal, a young man engaged to one of Ra’ed’s sisters, explained how Ra’ed “loved life in America , compared to Arab countries. He wanted to stay there.” His father, Mansour, recounted that, despite the September 11 attacks, Ra’ed “faced no problems with his American workmates, who liked him.”
Al-Banna visited home in 2003 but on his return to the United States he was denied entry, accused of falsifying details on a visa application. He returned to Jordan and became withdrawn, holing up in a makeshift studio apartment, sleeping late, and displaying a new interest in religion. He began praying five times a day and listening to the Quran. In November 2004, he went on pilgrimage to Mecca, returning to Saudi Arabia in January 2005.
On Jan. 27, Banna crossed into Syria, presumably on the way to Iraq. He apparently spent February with Sunni jihadis in Iraq, during which time he called home several times, with the last call on about Feb. 28.
Feb. 28 also happens to be the date when Banna blew himself up at a health clinic in Al-Hilla, killing 132 people and injuring 120, the worst such attack of the 136 suicide bombings that have taken place since May 2003. On March 3, the family received a call informing them of Ra’ed’s fate. “Congratulations, your brother has fallen a martyr.”
What made this easygoing, modernized, educated young man go from loving America to become a terrorist? The answer in one word is Islam.
Everyone has bad moments. Everyone goes through crisis in life and may want to seek comfort in religion. But when a Muslim goes through crisis and seeks comfort in his religion, he is likely becomes a murderer, a lethal bomb.
The father noted that Ra’ed wore Western-style clothing, rarely went to mosque, and was ignorant of the names of local sheikhs. “I am shocked by all of this because my son was a very quiet man, not very religious and more interested in pursuing his law profession and building a future for himself.” He said.
Scott Macleod of Time Magazine wrote:
On the basis of accounts given by his family, friends and neighbors, Ra’ed apparently led a double life, professing affection for America while secretly preparing to join the holy war against the U.S. in Iraq . “Something went wrong with Ra’ed, and it is a deep mystery,” says his father Mansour, 56. “What happened to my son?”
The truth is that Ra’ed was not living any double life. When he was professing affection for America he was not secretly preparing to join the holy war against U.S. in Iraq. Ra’ed became a terrorist when he got involved in Islam.
A friend revealed that Banna became politically radicalized against American policies in the Muslim world while living in the United States. He was especially distraught about developments in Iraq. A neighbor, Nassib Jazzar, recalled Banna upset with the coalition occupation. “He felt that the Arabs didn’t have honor and freedom.’”
A year earlier, Muhammad Ali al-Ayed a 23 year old Saudi millionaire's son who went from a freewheeling Houston college student to an observant Muslim, pleaded guilty to nearly decapitating his longtime Jewish friend. Al-Ayed who had severed his ties with his Jewish friend Ariel Sellouk for two years, called him one evening, invited him for a drink, took him to his apartment and stabbed him to death and almost decapitated him. Al-Ayed’s roommate told police the two were not arguing before Al-Ayed killed Sellouk. The blow came suddenly and unexpectedly. The reason for this crime was "religions differences" said al-Ayed's attorney.
Al-Ayed and al-Banna were normal people, from well to do families and educated. Ayed was amicable to his Jewish friend and al-Banna loved America. They became terrorists when they sought refuge in their religion and embraced Islam fully.
Al-Ayed and al-Banna are not the exceptions. Every single Muslim, your very loving friend whom you trust with your life, who cares about you and who would risk his life to save yours is in danger of becoming a terrorist and kill you. All it takes to make the transformation is that he faces a crisis in his life and seeks solace in his religion. Muslims are not born terrorists. They are good humans no different from the rest of us. They can be loving, caring, hospitable and genuine friends. But the moment they seek their religion for spiritual guidance they are in danger of becoming terrorists and mindless killers.
(Continued in part 2...)
Why "Good" Muslims Become Terrorists
Excerpts reprinted with permission from Ali Sina
Monday, April 11, 2005
We are being hit one blow after another and not only don’t we know how to defend ourselves we even don't know what is hitting us.
The worst terrorist attack in Iraq took place in Feb. 28 by a man who loved America. Yes you read it right! Ra’ed Mansour al-Banna was born in Jordan in 1973 to a wealthy merchant family. He was a lawyer in his country. In 2001, sometime before 9/11, al-Banna moved to the United States, where he lived in California for nearly two years, moving from one unskilled job to another – factory worker, bus driver, and pizza maker. Ra’ed did not make much money but he seemed to fit in well, traveling to such destinations as the Golden Gate Bridge and the World Trade Center, growing his hair long, and taking up American popular music. In one photograph he sent to his family, he is seen standing in front of a military helicopter while holding an American flag. He even planned to marry a Christian woman until her parents demanded that the wedding take place in a church.
Al-Banna loved America; he told his family back in Jordan about the honesty and kindness of Americans. "They respect anybody who is sincere," he told his father. Talal, a young man engaged to one of Ra’ed’s sisters, explained how Ra’ed “loved life in America , compared to Arab countries. He wanted to stay there.” His father, Mansour, recounted that, despite the September 11 attacks, Ra’ed “faced no problems with his American workmates, who liked him.”
Al-Banna visited home in 2003 but on his return to the United States he was denied entry, accused of falsifying details on a visa application. He returned to Jordan and became withdrawn, holing up in a makeshift studio apartment, sleeping late, and displaying a new interest in religion. He began praying five times a day and listening to the Quran. In November 2004, he went on pilgrimage to Mecca, returning to Saudi Arabia in January 2005.
On Jan. 27, Banna crossed into Syria, presumably on the way to Iraq. He apparently spent February with Sunni jihadis in Iraq, during which time he called home several times, with the last call on about Feb. 28.
Feb. 28 also happens to be the date when Banna blew himself up at a health clinic in Al-Hilla, killing 132 people and injuring 120, the worst such attack of the 136 suicide bombings that have taken place since May 2003. On March 3, the family received a call informing them of Ra’ed’s fate. “Congratulations, your brother has fallen a martyr.”
What made this easygoing, modernized, educated young man go from loving America to become a terrorist? The answer in one word is Islam.
Everyone has bad moments. Everyone goes through crisis in life and may want to seek comfort in religion. But when a Muslim goes through crisis and seeks comfort in his religion, he is likely becomes a murderer, a lethal bomb.
The father noted that Ra’ed wore Western-style clothing, rarely went to mosque, and was ignorant of the names of local sheikhs. “I am shocked by all of this because my son was a very quiet man, not very religious and more interested in pursuing his law profession and building a future for himself.” He said.
Scott Macleod of Time Magazine wrote:
On the basis of accounts given by his family, friends and neighbors, Ra’ed apparently led a double life, professing affection for America while secretly preparing to join the holy war against the U.S. in Iraq . “Something went wrong with Ra’ed, and it is a deep mystery,” says his father Mansour, 56. “What happened to my son?”
The truth is that Ra’ed was not living any double life. When he was professing affection for America he was not secretly preparing to join the holy war against U.S. in Iraq. Ra’ed became a terrorist when he got involved in Islam.
A friend revealed that Banna became politically radicalized against American policies in the Muslim world while living in the United States. He was especially distraught about developments in Iraq. A neighbor, Nassib Jazzar, recalled Banna upset with the coalition occupation. “He felt that the Arabs didn’t have honor and freedom.’”
A year earlier, Muhammad Ali al-Ayed a 23 year old Saudi millionaire's son who went from a freewheeling Houston college student to an observant Muslim, pleaded guilty to nearly decapitating his longtime Jewish friend. Al-Ayed who had severed his ties with his Jewish friend Ariel Sellouk for two years, called him one evening, invited him for a drink, took him to his apartment and stabbed him to death and almost decapitated him. Al-Ayed’s roommate told police the two were not arguing before Al-Ayed killed Sellouk. The blow came suddenly and unexpectedly. The reason for this crime was "religions differences" said al-Ayed's attorney.
Al-Ayed and al-Banna were normal people, from well to do families and educated. Ayed was amicable to his Jewish friend and al-Banna loved America. They became terrorists when they sought refuge in their religion and embraced Islam fully.
Al-Ayed and al-Banna are not the exceptions. Every single Muslim, your very loving friend whom you trust with your life, who cares about you and who would risk his life to save yours is in danger of becoming a terrorist and kill you. All it takes to make the transformation is that he faces a crisis in his life and seeks solace in his religion. Muslims are not born terrorists. They are good humans no different from the rest of us. They can be loving, caring, hospitable and genuine friends. But the moment they seek their religion for spiritual guidance they are in danger of becoming terrorists and mindless killers.
(Continued in part 2...)
