Today's
terrorist bank account number is...
By Jeremy Reynalds Government officials and officials at Internet service providers either don't know or aren't talking about terrorist web sites that they are allegedly requiring American Internet service providers to maintain on their servers. The sites include www.azzam.com, apparently hosted by www.burst.net. The latest comment I received by e-mail from burst.net customer service manager Matthew McCormick read, "At this point, we cannot release any information in regards to this matter. I cannot divulge any information to this, and must remain silent."
I didn't fare any better with finding on what's going on with the Hamas web site (www.qassam.org). Apparently hosted at the behest of the government by "Everyone's Internet" in Houston, TX., on one portion of the site (http://www.qassam.org/tabaro3.htm#en) there is an appeal for donations to allow the Hamas to purchase guns and bullets "to help defend the Arab and Muslim Ummah." My concern about such strongly worded rhetoric led me to call the Houston FBI., who promised me a phone call back. I'm still waiting! Being a relatively impatient guy (and also wanting to fulfill what I felt were my duties as a citizen) I then called the Albuquerque FBI, where a worker who was unaware of the situation asked me to e-mail her information. This was her e-mailed response. "Thank you for your concern. This matter will be forwarded to the appropriate desk." And then Dean Boyd, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs Service in Washington D.C. (which according to one media account was the government agency that asked "Everyone's Internet" to keep the Qassam site afloat) said he wished he could tell me something but he is unable to do so. By this time, I figured that there's one of two things that could be going on. Either the FBI is stupid and irresponsible, which isn't inconceivable as the Associated Press reported earlier this month in relation to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that FBI headquarters didn't take any action on a memo from its Arizona office basically warning of impending problems. That document read, "there were a large number of Arabs seeking pilot, security and airport operations training at least one U.S. flight school and which urged a check of all flight schools to identify more possible Middle Eastern students." If it wasn't stupidity, something else was afoot. And that something else is more and more looking like there's government involvement with these sites (as the two ISP's involved are claiming). I'm not the only one who's thinking this. In a recent e-mail I received, a reader commented, "Two possibilities occur to me: the government has hacked the sites and is able to monitor who is accessing them or the government has actually created the web sites for the same purpose, as bait. I feel the odds that this is the situation are overwhelming and while the cover has been blown, the sites are probably being accessed internationally, and the sites may be viable for a while longer." Hopefully, for not too much longer. These web sites are bad news all the way round. For example. The qassam web site provides an e-mail address for interested readers to get information about sending money to the cause. Curious about what sort of response I might receive, I sent an e-mail to the address and within a few minutes received the following form letter back -- along with a bank account number -- which is reprinted in its entirety and just as I received it. "in the name of Allah the most gracious the merciful.
salam wa alikom wa rahmatu allah wa barakatu How are you brother? We hope
that you are doing very well! Folks, how long is this going to be allowed to go on for? So-called "conspiracies of silence" worry me, and it looks like we've got one right here! Please contact your local talk radio show, your senators and congressmen and ask them just what the heck is going on. Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico and is pursuing his PhD in intercultural education at Biola University in Los Angeles. He is married with five children and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His work can be viewed here and weekly at www.americasvoices.org. He may be contacted by e-mail at reynalds@joyjunction.org. Other related stories: (open in a new window)
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