FBI Ordered to “Back Off” Investigations into Black Muslim Converts

Update: July 25, 2012: FoxNews: Man Sentenced to Life in Arkansas Military Recruiting Station Shooting. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A man who confessed to shooting two soldiers outside a military recruiting station in Arkansas struck a plea deal with prosecutors Monday to avoid the death penalty.

Abdulhakim Muhammad pleaded guilty in the middle of his trial to capital murder and attempted capital murder charges. Pulaski County Judge Herbert Wright then sentenced Muhammad to life in prison without parole for capital murder, with 11 more life sentences for the remaining charges against him plus an additional 180 years in prison.

But prosecutors had to withdraw the death penalty for Muhammad to plead guilty to capital murder. Arkansas law requires a defendant to be tried if lethal injection is a sentencing option. . . . Muhammad was charged with the killing of Army Pvt. William Andrew Long. He also was charged with attempted capital murder for wounding Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula in 2009.

Muhammad was born Carlos Bledsoe but changed his name after converting to Islam during college. In 2007, he traveled to Yemen, where Islamic extremists are known to seek sanctuary. He overstayed his visa and was deported back to the U.S. Muhammad claimed to have links to terror groups . . .
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Update: Pvt. William Andrew Long laid to rest; remembered and mourned!
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by Bill Smith, ARRA Editor and 22 year Veteran: Today, Arkansas will rally at 4 pm in front of the Army-Navy Recruiting Station in Little Rock to show support for our military. While most of the media, elected officials, and Commander-in-Chief Obama have ignored this terrorist attack in Arkansas, the rally participants will show their respect for our military and will mourn the loss of soldier Pvt. William Long, and will express concern for wounded soldier Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, for their military comrades and for the families of the victims of this terrorist attack in the heartland of America.

Both soldiers were gunned down by Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, a 21-year-old African-American man who had changed his name from Carlos Leon Bledsoe after he converted to Islam. In Arabic, the word mujahid is the singular form of mujahideen, and it literally means one who engages in jihad. It appears that Abdulhakim operated as a "lone wolf" which is described in an article for STATFOR, a civilian global intelligence firm. The article by Scott Stewart and Fred Burton is titled: "Lone Wolf Lessons" and is identified on the STATFOR website as a "Global Security & Intelligence Report." It has a good rundown on the concepts and dangers of the "Lone Wolf" terrorist. However the most chilling part of the article is the allegation that the administration had ordered the FBI to “back off” of counterterrorism investigations into the activities of Black Muslim converts. An Arkansas source, a retired Army colonel, expressed that "this is a very damning allegation against the administration. . . . any administration. And yes, I am PO'd!"

Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad was reportedly already under investigation by the FBI joint terrorism task force after he traveled to Yemen and was arrested there for using a Somali passport. However the details of the probe have not been revealed. But, it is now it is clear that the FBI had a prior interest in this "lone wolf terrorist."

Skipping the article's "Challenges" and "Limitations" in dealing with the Lone Wolf terrorist, let's note the text that literally jumps off the pages of the report:

However, politics have proved obstructive to all facets of counter terrorism policy. And politics may have been at play in the Muhammad case as well as in other cases involving Black Muslim converts. Several weeks ago, STRATFOR heard from sources that the FBI and other law enforcement organizations had been ordered to “back off” of counter terrorism investigations into the activities of Black Muslim converts.

At this point, it is unclear to us if that guidance was given by the White House or the Department of Justice, or if it was promulgated by the agencies themselves, anticipating the wishes of President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder.

As STRATFOR has previously noted, the FBI has a culture that is very conservative and risk-averse. Many FBI supervisors are reluctant to authorize investigations that they believe may have negative blow-back on their career advancement. In light of this institutional culture, and the order to be careful in investigations relating to Black* Muslim converts, it would not be at all surprising to us if a supervisor refused to authorize a full-field investigation of Muhammad that would have included surveillance of his activities. Though in practical terms, even if a full-field investigation had been authorized, due to the caution being exercised in cases related to Black* Muslim converts, the case would most likely have been micromanaged to the point of inaction by the special agent in charge of the office involved or by FBI headquarters.

Let's reflect for a moment. First, note again that President Barack Hussein Obama has remained silent since the incident and in face of his planned trip to meet with Muslim leaders in the Middle East. As Commander-in-Chief, he and his administration, including the Secretary of the Defense and the Attorney General have remained mute and failed to both condemn this act or to comfort the families, friends, and comrades of the victims or to express concern for the severely wounded soldier. When Fox News asked the White House staff yesterday what they had to say, they related that they were working on a statement to be released. Well, no thanks to any three days old or more concern!

Second, as detailed yesterday by Gary Bauer:

[A] White House official briefed reporters on the trip and emphasized Obama’s Muslim roots. According to Jake Tapper of ABC, the aide said, “The president himself experienced Islam on three continents . . . you know growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father – obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago.” However, During the presidential campaign it became forbidden in any way to draw attention to candidate Obama’s Muslim roots. . . . Obama himself attacked any suggestion he had Muslim roots. . . . Barack Hussein Obama wants it both ways. In his world view, America isn’t a Christian country but it is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. He doesn’t want anyone to bring up his Muslim roots when they are talking to American voters, but his Muslim roots become the main selling point when he is headed to Cairo and Saudi Arabia.

Third, the SRATFOR global security and intelligence report concludes:

Had the FBI opened a full-field investigation on Muhammad, and had it conducted surveillance on him, it would have been able to watch him participate in preoperational activities such as conducting surveillance of potential targets and obtaining weapons. There is certainly going to be an internal inquiry at the FBI and Department of Justice — and perhaps even in Congress — to determine where the points of failure were in this case. We will be watching with interest to see what really transpired. The details will be extremely interesting, especially coming at a time when the Obama administration appears to be following the Clinton-era policy of stressing the primacy of the FBI and the law enforcement aspect of counter terrorism policy at the expense of intelligence and other elements.

The above points beg many questions: Why did President Barack Hussein Obama ignore Private William Long, Private Quinton Ezeagwula, the military recruiters, their friends and families, and the people of Arkansas? Why would the Obama administration order the FBI and other law enforcement organizations to “back off” of counter terrorism investigations into the activities of Black Muslim converts? Why did the Department of Homeland Security issue a document labeling conservatives, pro- constitution, Pro-bill of rights, veterans, as "right-wing" extremists and potential domestic terrorists?

AP reports: President Barack Obama met with Saudi King Abdullah on Wednesday in Riyadh, where he stressed the need for the two countries to cooperate. "I am confident that working together that the United States and Saudi Arabia can make progress on a whole host of issues of mutual interest," said Obama. Pakistan was expected to be on the agenda when the two leaders met. . . . Obama's defense secretary, Robert Gates, has already asked the Saudis for help in staving off the spread of militants in Pakistan and encouraging Pakistani officials to work together in countering the terrorist threat.

NPR Reports: Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech in Cairo on the US relationship with the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. . . . Obama brings perceived advantages — he's the son of a Kenyan Muslim and lived part of his childhood in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. . . . "I thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek his majesty's counsel and to discuss with him many of the issues that we confront here in the Middle East," Obama said.

President Obama, today you may be speaking to 1.5 billion Muslims but the fact is that the majority of them will not hear you or will refuse to hear you because you have violated the "sacred laws" of Islam by converting from Islam to Christianity. Therefore, you are to them -worse than an infidel. President Obama, today the blood on the pavement outside of the Army Recruiting Station in Little Rock, Arkansas cries out for justice and for a president worthy to be called the Commander-in-Chief. You have dishonored a fallen soldier and elevated the enemies of our country. Your administration has ordered the FBI and other law enforcement organizations to “back off” of counter terrorism investigations into the activities of black* Muslim converts. You have catered to our enemy in an attempt at appeasement.

Your dismissive attitude, your being retroactively sorry, or your making someone else the fall guy won't cut it this time! I join with the aforementioned retired colonel and the hearts of millions of Americans in stating emphatically that I am more than PO'd with you. Mr. Obama - I Do Not salute you!
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* The use of the word "Black" is reported to remain consistent in context with the original STRATFOR article. However, for this author, a person's color or race are not issues. The issues remain the Obama administration's interference in government investigations and President Obama and others disregard for the American soldiers attacked in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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