Ohio man charged with helping al Qaeda...

sschaula · Post by **sschaula** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:06 am

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/12/terro ... index.html

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A 43-year-old U.S. citizen, Christopher Paul of Columbus, Ohio, faces charges of providing material support to al Qaeda and plotting to set off bombs in Europe and the United States, according to a federal indictment unsealed in Columbus.

The targets of the bomb plots allegedly included European tourist resorts where American citizens stayed and a person in the United States whom prosecutors did not name. The plotting took place between April 1999 and January 2000, according to the three-count indictment.

Prosecutors say that beginning in 1989, Paul provided training and equipment to support attacks aimed at people overseas. They say Paul traveled to Afghanistan and obtained training at an al Qaeda camp in late 1990 or early 1991, and later in 1991 joined the terror group.

..."

I'm wondering what the relationship between the US and Al Qaeda was back in 1990-91. Were they considered a terrorist organization at the time?

Dan Rowden · Post by **Dan Rowden** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:21 am

The organisation was loosely founded in the late 1980s so the timeframe is fair enough. I would think it reasonable to assume that they were already regarded as a terrorist group by 1990-91.

sschaula · Post by **sschaula** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:27 am

I'm wondering because of the time when the CIA helped out Afghan mujahadeen against Russia. I don't see where or when the bond fell apart. Or if it was even the same group of Afghanis at all...

Unidian · Post by **Unidian** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:31 am

This provides another view. I don't know how reliable it is, but I found it interesting.

Dan Rowden · Post by **Dan Rowden** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:13 am

The article says this:

An organization by the name of "Al-Qaeda" does not exist and has never existed outside a falsely coined collective term for offshoot loose knit terror cells, the majority of which are guided by the Pakistani ISI, Mossad, the Saudis, MI6 and the CIA, that were created in response to America's actions after 9/11 - as the recent NIE report shows.

The first part of that I agree with and it seems obvious to me that this has always been the nature of the "group". The veracity of the second half is anyone's guess, really, though it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it were accurate.

Of course, if it comes from "infowars" it must be 100% reliable :)

sschaula · Post by **sschaula** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:29 am

Agreed.

Unidian · Post by **Unidian** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:32 am

Indeed, Infowars is not the most credible source. But not everything they publish is wrong. If anything, I've been surprised over the last year at how much of it has a basis in fact. Like most such sites, it's about 33% truth, 33% bias, and 33% nonsense.

The other 1% is Alex Jones's bullhorn. Alex rules! :p

Orasis · Post by **Orasis** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:54 am

Unidian wrote:Indeed, Infowars is not the most credible source. But not everything they publish is wrong. If anything, I've been surprised over the last year at how much of it has a basis in fact. Like most such sites, it's about 33% truth, 33% bias, and 33% nonsense.

The other 1% is Alex Jones's bullhorn. Alex rules! :p

I am surprised that anyone is surprised by the fact that governments throughout history have been evil. I forget who exactly said it, I believe though, that it was Lord Acton who said "All great men are usually bad men" which when you go back in history is more often than not the truth.

The simple reason why 'good' people are not in politics/power is that good people usually are not psychopaths who enjoy the control and exercise of power over their fellow man.

Jefferson I think said something to the tune of "The problem with power is that it attracts the very people who should not be allowed to have it."

Can not be said better than that.

Unidian · Post by **Unidian** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:12 am

Jefferson I think said something to the tune of "The problem with power is that it attracts the very people who should not be allowed to have it."

Can not be said better than that.

Agreed. It's one of the insoluble catch-22's of the human condition. Nothing can be done about it, because anarchy doesn't work, either. We just have to pay attention and deal with it as best we can.