Posted on 09/07/2006 5:54:42 PM PDT by jimbo123
WASHINGTON - An American who has made al-Qaida propaganda videos is charged with aiding terrorists in a secret federal indictment expected to be unsealed soon, the New York Daily News has learned.
Adam Yahiye Gadahn, a 28-year-old Californian who now calls himself Azzam al-Amriki, has appeared in four al-Qaida videos. In two of the videos, released since the July 7 anniversary of last year's bombings of London's transit system, he appears with his face uncovered.
The federal indictment is expected unsealed in Los Angeles in the next few days, three sources said. It will likely charge Gadahn with giving material support to terrorists.
The indictment will cite Ayman al-Zawahiri, the No. 2 man in al-Qaida, who praised "Brother Azzam" in a video released last weekend. In the video, Gadahn delivers an hour-long speech urging his countrymen to convert to Islam - or be vanquished.
"(Gadahn) wants to lead his people out of the darkness and into the light," Zawahiri says in a taped introduction to the video. "So listen to him."
Sources said that ringing endorsement sealed the fate of Gadahn, who has been sought by the FBI since 2004. He is believed to be living in Pakistan.
"It makes the criminal charges much better," said a source familiar with the prosecution's case.
Gadahn was raised Adam Pearlman on a goat farm by a Catholic mother and Jewish father, psychedelic rocker Phil Pearlman.
He converted to Islam as a teenager in 1997. That year, he was recruited by an al-Qaida support cell operating a nonprofit group called Charity Without Borders.
The cell's leaders were tied to Egyptian terror group Gama'a al-Islamiyya and its imprisoned leader, Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind cleric convicted of targeting New York City landmarks.
So what's a guy to get a treason charge these days?
I don't think this guy is an updated Lord Haw Haw. Gadahn-Pearlman is more like a real life Howard W. Campbell, Jr.. Oh, and his days with Al-Qaeda are numbered. Do a web search on Mr. Pearlman and you will find some astounding things in his background. You don't have to search deeply. And if I could easily find it, so can Al-Qaeda.
Lets all make some bets.
I will bet that the ACLU will offer to defend him for free on the basis of protecting the First Amendment.
I'll bet he has an accident before his capture ever makes it to the press.
LLS
One can always hope.
Mamas don't let yer babies grow up to be terrorists...
Gee, now there's a shocker.
Perhaps Ms Pearlman became an Islamofascist because the goats kept turning him down during his formative years.
I thought we quit worrying about "indicting" terrorists after 9/11.
He joined the enemy army, no need for any paperwork.
DoJ has no legal authority to revoke his citizenship afaik. He's native-born, of US citizens, not a naturalized citizen. Upon capture he could, and should be tried for Treason (adhering to enemies of the United States). Upon conviction, then his citizenship could possibly be stripped, but not before. It may well be difficult to get an indictment for Treason (particularly in LA-LA land...)
the infowarrior
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