City of Brass

Anwar al-Awlaki is a radicalized imam who was born in the US but who is now living in Yemen and who has made a name for himself as a sympathizer to Al Qaeda and violent extremism. He was one of the staff imams at the Dar al Hijrah Islamic Center in Virginia back in 2001, and it seems that three of the 9-11 hijackers attended his services. It seems now that Major Nidal Malik Hasan was also a fan of al-Awlaki's teachings and attended some of his sermons - and al-Awlaki has now seized upon the actions of Hasan to pay homage to and glorify the Fort Hood attacks. This comes on the heels of news that Hasan reportedly tried to contact Al Qaeda.

What is there to say about al Awlaki? He's a radical extremist islamist. On his website, he accuses those muslims (like myself) who have condemned Hasan's attack at Fort Hood of "treason" to Islam and the Ummah - frankly I am proud to be labeled a traitor by the likes of scum such as he.

Al Awlaki is far outside the mainstream of the muslim American community. The Dar al Hijrah center has completely repudiated al Awlaki's statements and disavowed any relationship to him - here is their statement:

VA. MOSQUE REPUDIATES PRAISE FOR FORT HOOD KILLINGS - TOP

(FALLS CHURCH, VA., 11/9/09) - Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., today repudiated hate-filled statements made by a former imam who praised the recent killings at Fort Hood in Texas.

In its statement, the mosque said:

"As we understand the teaching of the scriptures, our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God's love and mercy to all of mankind.

"We openly denounce the statement of Mr. Al-Awlaki as posted on his website. During Mr. Al-Awlaki's short employment at our center, his public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation. After returning to Yemen, Mr. Awlaki now claims that the American Muslims who have condemned the violent acts of Major Hasan have 'committed treason against the Muslim Umaah [community] and have fallen into hypocrisy.'

"With this reversal, Mr. Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from Muslims in America. We continue to send our condolences and prayers for recovery of all the victims of this godless act."

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is one the largest and diverse Islamic Centers in the nation. We are committed to service the community as a place of worship, education and social service. Learn more at www.hijrah.org.

CONTACT: Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach, (202) 345-5233

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
3159 Row Street NW
Falls Church, VA 22044
Tel: (703) 536-1030
Fax: (202) 536-1035
URL: http://www.hijrah.org
Email: dardirector@hijrah.org

Al Awlaki's ideology is well beyond the bounds of even the most conservative muslim groups - for example, here is a two-part video refutation of al Awlaki's ideologies by salafi muslims:

Part 1 -

Part 2 -

Related: Muslim blogger Mozaffar has published an "open letter to Anwar al Awlaki" on his site, well worth reading. Lots more information about Anwar al-Awlaki and Nidal Malik Hasan at Talk Islam, in addition to the ongoing Fort Hood attacks coverage.

This is a wonderful initiative and I encourage everyone, muslims and non-muslims alike, to donate to this fund to help out the victims at Fort Hood.

American Muslims Launch Special Fund for the Benefit of Ft Hood Attack Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Plainfield,IN - November 08, 2009) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) today announced the launch of a special fund for the benefit of the families of the victims of the senseless Ft. Hood attacks that killed 13 soldiers and injured over 30 others. Recognizing the important sacrifices made by our soldiers and their families, we feel it is imperative for all Americans to join hands in supporting those affected by this tragic incident.

ISNA is collaborating with various national Muslim and interfaith organizations on this humanitarian initiative and mosques throughout the country are expected to join fellow Americans in contributing to help the families of the victims.

Donations may be made to "Fort Hood Family Fund" and sent to ISNA headquarters (P. O. Box 808, Plainfield, Indiana 46168), or donate online: http://www.forthoodfamilyfund.com

ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in the United States and Canada, and its mission is to provide a common platform for presenting Islam, supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs, and fostering good relations with other religious communities, and civic and service organizations.

Contact:
Louay Safi, Director
ISNA Communications and Leadership Development,
louay@isna.net
(317) 838-8130

Related - must-read pieces about the shootings by Sheila Musaji at The American Muslim and by Richard Silverstein at Tikkun Olam.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. Today will see many hagiographic pieces about Reagan from the right, but there's real value in learning about the complex historical context, and not enough credit I think given to Gorbachev. For great reading on this momentous day's history, see this excellent piece (and photo gallery) at NPR's Morning Edition, and this introspective piece at the New York Times which really explores how the event serves as a blank slate.

Rather than engage in historical revisionism and the "credit" game, however, I am more intrigued by the lessons we can apply from the fall of the Wall going forward. I think that it teaches us that a people can not be severed by false boundaries, and that containing a group of people inside a giant fortress to restrict them as much from dangerous ideas as from physical movement is a fool's errand; ultimately, the more you constrain the human spirit, the higher the pressure builds for it to explode outwards.

The lessons apply quite well to the middle east, where walls and checkpoints enervate the West Bank and utterly isolate the Gaza Strip. The situation there is impossible to sustain indefinitely, but may persist for decades yet before ultimately boiling over. There's great cause for cynicism, especially if you value the idea of Israel as a Jewish homeland (and count me among the ranks of those who do believe Israel's existence is necessary). As I've argued before, Israel faces a dilemma (essentially, Democracy, Jewishness, and Greater Israel - pick two), but the walls which Israel has created to contain the Palestinians (both their physical mass as well as their own, equally legitimate aspirations towards statehood) are rapidly constraining Israel as well. Ultimately, Israel won't have the luxury of a choice, as the window for a two-state solution closes inexorably. The walls around (and within) Palestine may ultimately doom the idea of a Jewish homeland.

Until now, US policy towards Israeli settlements has been impotent. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may well resign, leaving Israel without a partner for peace. If there is no meaningful progress, the frustration and disappointment may well boil over into a third intifada, which would be a disaster for everyone on both sides of the Green Line. It's time for President Obama to follow in Reagan's footsteps, and demand that these walls, too, fall.

Related reading - executive summary of the United Nations' Goldstone Report (PDF) and also this excellent lengthy article in the New Yorker about the Gaza war and the abduction of Gilad Shalit.

MAJOR UPDATE: news outlets are reporting that the shooter is not dead as previously reported, but alive and in custody. This means we may indeed get some answers... and justice.

MAJOR UPDATE 2 - Hasan is reportedly conscious.

Who is Major Malik Nadal Hasan?

A few hours ago, Major Hasan allegedly opened fire at Fort Hood, killing 11 people and injuring 31. The local law enforcement responded immediately and killed Hasan, as well as taking two other possible accomplices into custody (UPDATE: the two other suspects have now been released, so it looks like this was indeed the act of Hasan alone).

There simply is no information yet about what Hasan's motives were, or whether Hasan is indeed muslim or not. Of course, that last bit of information is the one that everyone will want to know about the most, even though in a fundamental sense it matters the least.

Major Hasan was also a trained psychiatrist and was previously working at Walter Reed Medical Hospital. The fact he held rank and had a stable military career prior to the event, suggests to me that a very recent psychological problem or trauma (PTSD?) may be an underlying cause. We just don't know.

However, something disquieting about the date... It should be noted (as others like Ali Eteraz already have) that today is Guy Fawkes Day - the anniversary of a plot by a Catholic dissident to blow up the English Parliament then dominated by Protestants). If the shootings were motivated by some sense of grievance against US foreign/military policy, then the date is surely significant.

(UPDATE - just to be clear, I am not "blaming Catholics" for the shooting. I was asking if Hasan's twisted rationale included some kind of anarchist element. I wondered if he was invoking religious grievances and striking out at who he perceived to be the oppressors of his faith. Guy Fawkes is often mythologized as a hero who took a stand against tyranny. The analogy to Hasan's potential motivations, especially if he fancied himself as acting on behalf of Islam, should be clear).

It should also be noted that this is the second shooting at Fort Hood in about a year. The significance of this fact, also, is uncertain.

Right now, there's nothing to do but wait for what information there is to be revealed. But it's frustrating, as an american, and as a muslim. All we can do is pray for the victims and their families.

There's no better source for following the Fort Hood story than Talk Islam, where the updates are rolling in. You can subscribe directly to the RSS feed for coverage of the incident at Talk Islam, as well.

UPDATE: The Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has already issued a press release condemning the attack. What they should have also mentioned was that muslim Americans have served in the US Armed Forces with distinction and honor - such as Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007.

U.S. Muslims Condemn Attack at Fort Hood CAIR calls shootings cowardly and inexcusable (WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/5/09) - A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group tonight condemned an attack on Fort Hood military base in Texas that left at least 12 people dead. In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said: "We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured." Along with innumerable condemnations of terror, CAIR has in the past launched an online anti-terror petition drive called "Not in the Name of Islam," initiated a television public service announcement (PSA) campaign against religious extremism and coordinated a "fatwa," or Islamic religious ruling, against terrorism and extremism. SEE: CAIR's Anti-Terrorism Campaigns CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. - END - CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

This is absolutely brilliant -

As we already know, only Muslims are human beings. This is also an indisputable fact. So, when good Muslims meet non-Muslims, it is their duty to convert the latter. This way they are actually helping non-Muslims become human. If they convert, well and good. If not, they should be taken to task at once. Or better, bombed! After all, we believe in humanity.

(...) They should be bombed because it's okay to bomb non-humans. However, humans (Muslims), who might also die in such an attack need not worry. Along with the bomber they too will go to heaven. This is called collateral shahadat.

by blogger Nadeem Paracha. Satire aside, this probably is how Al Qaeda actually thinks.

(There's more where that came from)