Chicago Muslim Man Arrested On Terror Charges, Dreamed of Suicide Bombing American Soldiers

As someone who covers this kind of stuff every day, I can tell you all that this scenario, that of an American-born muslim from Chicago who was plotting to become a full-fledged jihadi, has become so commonplace that I cannot even tell from the headlines anymore which arrest is which. The incidence of home-grown jihad here in America is at a fevered pitch and it is frightening to think how many of these guys are actually slipping by our security forces.

From the story at ABC News/Chicago:

For nearly two years, counterterrorism agents in Chicago say they have been secretly following a 26-year old Streeterville man as he planned and plotted to become a global Jihadist and even dreamed of executing a suicide bomb attack on American soldiers.
After determining that Shaker Masri had airplane tickets to leave Chicago Wednesday morning to carry out his mission, federal authorities say they stopped Masri and arrested him.
One attack scenario was allegedly discussed by Masri when he saw several soldiers walking on a Chicago street. On a secretly-recorded undercover tape, Masri discussed blowing himself up next to a busload of American soldiers.

So, where does the FBI and other law enforcement agencies find these guys? Well, take a look at this part of the article:

The informant was planted by the FBI in November, 2008 while Masri worked at a not-for-profit organization that provides English translation of the Koran. The men met in a book warehouse operated by the organization in west suburban Addison. The FBI source said that Masri had an "extremist and violent interpretation of the Koran."
The name of the organization is not named in the charges.

Now this begs for the question....just how many of these muslim-linked organizations ARE there in America? Well, I would estimate that I have run across over 300 such organizations in my reviews of articles - I cannot keep the names straight, we are, quite frankly, lousy with them here in America. Let me put it this way, if you look at the number of "organizations" in America that have some sort of link to Islam compared to the actual number of muslims in this country and tried to recreate that ratio to Christians in America, we would probably have 495,000,000 Christian "groups."

The million dollar question is this: Do these non-profit type islamic organizations just happen to attract jihadis or are they actually set up to spread jihad? Well, I am convinced it is the latter.

Unfortunately, none of us can rest easy tonight knowing that Shaker Masri is in custody because we all now realize that it's like finding a mouse in a mouse trap ....where there's one, there's many.

Feds: Chicago man wanted to blow up U.S. soldiers


August 4, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- For nearly two years, counterterrorism agents in Chicago say they have been secretly following a 26-year old Streeterville man as he planned and plotted to become a global Jihadist and even dreamed of executing a suicide bomb attack on American soldiers.

After determining that Shaker Masri had airplane tickets to leave Chicago Wednesday morning to carry out his mission, federal authorities say they stopped Masri and arrested him.

One attack scenario was allegedly discussed by Masri when he saw several soldiers walking on a Chicago street. On a secretly-recorded undercover tape, Masri discussed blowing himself up next to a busload of American soldiers.

He was arrested Tuesday at 5:30 pm by federal agents who say they interrupted Masri's plan to destroy his computer prior to departing Chicago. He was ticketed on a Southwest Airlines flight, scheduled to leave Wednesday morning for Los Angeles-where he would then depart the country. Masri planned to travel by car to Mexico, then to Central America and finally east Africa, authorities say.

In a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday morning in Chicago, Masri is accused of two federal counts: that he tried to provide material support to al Qaeda and al Shabab and that he tried to provide material support in a concealed or disguised manner to fund the use of a WMD.

Masri is an American citizen born in Alabama, according to details in a 24-page FBI affidavit unsealed Wednesday.

"He hoped to become a martyr by wearing a suicide vest," stated FBI agent Robert C. Parker in the affidavit. In a covertly-recorded conversation with a federal informant, Masri is heard to state, "I will not stay idle...I wish to know how to the explosive belt is made...I will wear one and not take it off."

The informant was planted by the FBI in November, 2008 while Masri worked at a not-for-profit organization that provides English translation of the Koran. The men met in a book warehouse operated by the organization in west suburban Addison. The FBI source said that Masri had an "extremist and violent interpretation of the Koran."

The name of the organization is not named in the charges.

According to court records, in one recorded conversation with the undercover source Masri said only those aiming a rifle at the enemy are doing something for Islamic causes. The records state that Masri believed the US and Europe are the real enemies of Islam because they are killing Muslims and supporting Israel.

Masri faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges along with a $250,000 fine.

During a brief hearing in federal court, he told a judge that he could not afford a lawyer and a public defender was appointed to represent him.

"He's shocked," said Matt McQuade, federal public defender. "He's surprised by these charges and he indicates that he's done nothing wrong."

He is due back in court on Monday and is being held at the MCC in downtown Chicago.