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Posted on 09/11/2001 2:43:38 PM PDT by Lex

Expert testifies Islamic terrorists flocking to U.S.

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Monday, January 31, 2000

WASHINGTON -- The United States and Canada have become havens for Islamic terrorists from the Middle East, a congressional panel has been told.

Despite counterterrorism legislation, the United States and Canada have become a haven for such terrorist groups as the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Lebanese Hizbullah, the Algerian Armed Islamic Group, the Egyptian Al Gamat Al Islamiya and the Al Qaida group, led by Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

Counterterrorism expert Steven Emerson cited the liberal climate in the United States, the ability to hide under mainstream religious identification, loopholes in immigration procedures, ease of penetration of borders, compartmentalization of terrorist cells around loosely structured terrorist movements.

Emerson said Islamic groups in the United States benefit from the exploitation of freedoms of religion and speech , absence of a vigilant media and lack of government scrutiny regarding fundraising.

"The list of major international terrorists and militants allowed to enter the United States in recent years or actually granted green cards and citizenship is nothing less than staggering," Emerson told the House Judiciary Committee last week.

The terrorists who entered the United States over the last few years include Wadih Hage, secretary as Bin Laden, Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, Ayman Zawahiri, leader of the Egyptian Al Jihad organization, Emerson said.

The Lebanese Hizbullah has been particularly active in both Canada and the United States, Emerson said. Mohammed Hussein Husseini, arrested in March 1997, provided a video of Hizbullah targets. At the same time, Canada charged two Saudi born men who had entered Canada the previous year with being members of Islamic terrorist organizations.

"For a number of reasons, Canada is an attractive venue for terrorists," he said. "Long borders and coastlines offer many points of entry, which can facilitate movement to and from various sites around the world, particularly the United States. As a wealthy industrial society, Canada is an excellent location in which to raise money in the name of causes abroad. The nation accepts large numbers of immigrants and refugees, and consequently has significant emigre communities, which can be a source of haven and support."

Emerson, who has exposed Islamic terrorism in the United States has become the target of American Muslim groups. This has included efforts to prevent Emerson from testifying to Congress.

On Tuesday, after a sustained effort, Emerson was invited to testify before the House Judiciary Committee.

"The aim of this campaign is to prevent me, as well as others, from speaking and writing about the threat of militant Islamic fundamentalism on American soil, and thus prevent the public from being properly informed," he told the committee.

"The very success of these organizations and their supporters, fronting under the false veneer of being 'moderate' and 'mainstream,' in creating a chilling climate where free speech on this issue has been suppressed, has become a factor in allowing foreign terrorists to operate in the United States below the radar screen and thus avoid the scrutiny from either the media, public officials or law enforcement."

Monday, January 31, 2000

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