Gitmo GIs Converting To Islam?

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | September 25, 2003 | WND

[joesnuffy]

UNDER GUARD AT GUANTANAMO Gitmo GIs converting to Islam? Algerian lawmaker claims prisoners influencing U.S. security personnel

Posted: September 25, 2003 5:00 p.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

In the wake of the arrest of two U.S. Muslim troops at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp on espionage charges, an Algerian lawmaker is claiming the terror-related detainees at the facility have convinced several of their guards to convert to Islam.

Hassan Aribi says eight Algerian arrestees whose freedom he negotiated told him of the development, reports Islam Online.

"They told me that the American guards were very sympathetic with them to the extent of buying the detainees' needs [out] of their pocket money," the Algerian lawmaker told a seminar in Cairo, the newssite reports.

The official maintains the freed Algerians reported some of the American guards had embraced Islam due to "daily interaction with Muslim prisoners for the past two years." Aribi did not indicate how many of the guards converted.

The newssite reported Aribi claimed 90 percent of those held at the camp have no connection to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

"They were working with humanitarian relief agencies and were only arrested as part of an American campaign against possible suspects," Aribi said, according to the report.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Senior Airman Ahmad I. al-Halabi, an enlisted Arabic-language translator at the base, was arrested this week and charged with espionage and aiding the enemy. On Saturday, Muslim Army chaplain Capt. James Yee was arrested and charged with charged with espionage, aiding the enemy and spying.

Al-Halabi allegedly tried to give Syria information about the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Fox News reports today two more U.S. military personnel are under investigation for espionage in addition to al-Halabi and Yee.

Related stories:

Arabic translator charged with aiding enemy

Army Islamic chaplain charged with spying

Translator shortage presaged Gitmo arrests

[Thebaddog]

Urgent! Send in the white boys. And how about that firefighter from Rockaway.

[Old Sarge]

"They told me that the American guards were very sympathetic with them to the extent of buying the detainees' needs [out] of their pocket money,"

Mercy is weakness in the mind of the Jihadi.

I can't give voice to my opinions on what to do with them - the Jihadis, or the Americans who harbor them.

[cake_crumb]

"Hassan Aribi says eight Algerian arrestees whose freedom he negotiated told him of the development, reports Islam Online"

Sounds suspiciously like those US troops converting to Islam and marrying Iraqi women "in droves". Likely, it was one who was already leaning that way.

I'll believe it when the US military confirms it.

[Our man in washington]

(Two Gitmo guards are talking.)

DAN: "Gee, Joe, how did you get Omar to spill the beans on so many people?"

JOE: "Get this." (laughs) "I told him I was converting, and I was going to join his cause. I said I needed names so I could join the struggle against the great Satan!" (falls over laughing.)

DAN: (also laughing) Great! Gee, wonder how long he'll fall for it?

[FreedomCalls]

"They told me that the American guards were very sympathetic with them to the extent of buying the detainees' needs [out] of their pocket money,"

Ever hear of the "good-cop/bad-cop" method of extracting information from someone?

[cake_crumb]

It sounds like rumor rather than fact. Stories like these have cropped up once every few months since Afghanistan. Gives the Arba something to be all proud of and disdainful of Americans for.

[contessa machiaveli]

my thoughts exactly...african-americans seem very susceptible to this BS.

[piasa]

The official maintains the freed Algerians reported some of the American guards had embraced Islam due to "daily interaction with Muslim prisoners for the past two years." Aribi did not indicate how many of the guards converted.

There are no guards there who have been there for two years. They turn them over much quicker than that specifically to prevent people from getting too close. Can't do much about the ones who are already converted before arrival, like Yee and al Halabi, though.

The guards are forbidden to talk with the prisoners -and unauthorized contact will be punished, as al Halbi will find out.

And not all of the treats are given because of sympathy or interest in Islam. Some favors are granted for psy op kind of reasons, I'm sure. It makes the uncooperative ones jealous, and sometimes I suppose giving one of the rsistant ones some treat may make those who respect him start to wonder if he's been too chatty to the interrogators.

[piasa]

The newssite reported Aribi claimed 90 percent of those held at the camp have no connection to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

yea, riiiight.

[DonQ]

I sort of doubt this story. The recent story about a Moslem chaplain being arrested for espionage makes it obvious. First, because the Army is obviously keeping a lid on any and all information about the prisoners, including their names. Second, because it appears that almost none of the prisoners and soldiers know each other's language.

I wouldn't be surprised if soldiers are providing small creature comforts to prisoners at their own expense, but conversion is a big step from that.

[Ready4Freddy]

Leave it to BreakWindDaily and NewsMax to keep the rumor mill full.