Alleged Terror Threat Operates in D.C. Suburb

From NewsMax

Fourteen miles from the U.S. Capitol, a basement-run organization with alleged ties to Hamas and al-Qaida is a crucial link in the planning of any future terrorist attacks against the United States, according to several terrorism experts who analyzed documents and other information obtained in an investigation by CNSNews.com.

United Association for Studies and Research (UASR), based in Springfield, Va., is publicly identified as a Muslim think tank but has multiple ties to the terrorism underworld, according to the CNSNews.com sources inside and outside government.[...]

UASR, Hamas and al-Qaida

Hamas, which the U.S. government has designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), has claimed blame for bombings that have killed scores of civilians throughout Israel, including American citizens. Historically Hamas has limited its deadly acts of terrorism to Israel. But now, according to a senior government terrorism official, who spoke with CNSNews.com on condition of anonymity, Hamas is merging with elements of Osama bin Laden's "all-inclusive military arm ... that will carry out military strikes" against the U.S.

Bin Laden's military arm, widely known as al-Qaida, may have philosophical differences with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, but the groups are cooperating tactically in a kind of global "holy" war, operating under the banner "International Islamic Front for Jihad against Jews and Crusaders," according to the government official, who also warned of more deadly attacks on U.S. soil.[...]

UASR was incorporated in Illinois in 1989 by Mousa Abu-Marzook. Six years later, the U.S. government asserted that Marzook constituted a threat and included him on its "Specially Designated Terrorist" list. Later, while in U.S. custody, Marzook "expressly acknowledged his position as the leader of the political branch of HAMAS," according to documents filed in 1995 by the U.S. attorney's office in the Southern District of New York.

Does Mousa Abu-Marzook sound familiar?

Mousa Abu Marzook – Grandfather of CAIR

The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was founded by HAMAS leader Mousa Abu Marzook, a man who was deported by the United States to Jordan in 1997. Marzook, who may very well be, today, second in command of HAMAS, also founded, in 1981, CAIR’s parent organization, the Islamic Association for Palestine.

Funny how CAIR continues to be linked to terrorists.

The Holy Land Foundation was shut down as "Hamas-controlled organizations that finance terror."

Another terrorist connected to UASR is Mohammad Salah. What is astonishing about Salah is that...

Salah, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is accused of funneling money to the militant group Hamas for terrorist attacks. He was arrested in Israel on Jan. 25, 1993, for membership and participation in Hamas. In January 1995, Salah pleaded guilty in an Israeli military court and spent a total of five years in confinement. From ABC News

And...

But the FBI never arrested Salah, who had been employed by the city college system of Chicago since February 2002. Federal officials fear Salah, who had been teaching computer programming, had unfettered access to school computers and the Internet.

Is Salah cooperating with US officials?

A 1993 New York Times article reported that Salah was cooperating with Israeli prosecutors and providing information on Hamas operations in the U.S. The article quoted from Israeli transcripts of their interviews: "Mr. Salah said the political command of Hamas in the United States is at the United Association for Studies and Research, in Springfield, Va. He identified the Hamas leader in the United States as the head of the institute, Ahmed Yousef, a writer whose code name he said was Abu Ahmed."

United Association for Studies and Research has other interesting ties to terrorists.

Imam Fawaz Damra the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland, "a closer" who raised money for ruthless terrorist groups who waged war against Israel.

A U.S. District Court jury bought that argument Thursday. It found Damra guilty of lying on his 1994 application for U.S. citizenship. Now the imam of Ohio's largest mosque faces a possible jail sentence along with deportation and loss of his U.S. citizenship.

So? What's the connection?

Yet Damra's attorney this week sought a three- day reprieve so that Damra could accept an invitation to the United Association for Studies and Research in Springfield, Va.

And what of Ahmed Yousef? The author, spiritual leader of UASR, and alleged Hamas leader in the US.

Well he has written a book called "The Zionist Fingerprint on the Post-September 11 World" with introductions by Congressman Paul Findley. No surprise there. You can find out about the book at Palestine Chronicles.

Just so you know where former Congressman Paul Findley stands, here is a snipet:

Liberating America From Israel

Nine-eleven would not have occurred if the U.S. government had refused to help Israel humiliate and destroy Palestinian society.

Yousef had this to say about Al-Jazeera:

Finally, there is one media which has proved to be balanced. It is the Arab television station, Al-Jazeera, which is an independent, absolutely free media voice in the Arab world.

What an interesting can of worms UASR is turning out to be! But it gets better! If their website is correct, you and I are paying them!!

The United Association for Studies and Research, Inc. (UASR) was incorporated as a non-profit Organization in 1989...

One of the past presidents of UASR is Dr. Anisa Abd el Fattah who it just so happens is also, surprise, surprise, a member of the Board of Directors for CAIR!

Well at least the government is looking into UASR's finances. Or not. Daniel Pipes reports that at least as of Feb, 29, 2004, the IRS had still not supplied the Senate with the requested information.

Daniel Pipes has more on UASR in an article titled "Fulbright's Terrorist Tie".

According to Islam Online, Dr. Robert D. Crane "Since 1996 [Dr. Crane] has also been a board member of the United Association for Studies and Research and Managing Editor of its Middle East Affairs Journal."

Islam Online lists Cranes political connections:

Foreign policy advisor to Nixon

On January 20, 1969, Dr. Crane moved into the White House as Deputy Director (for Planning) of the National Security Council.

In 1981, President Reagan appointed Dr. Crane to be U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates


Seems UASR is well connected. How else can you explain that US officials knew of UASR's terrorist connections in the 90's and yet in 2000 the US Embassy in Israel puts out this press release:

"UASR's purpose is to build bridges between the West, Islamic movements and their representative governments in the East. "

"Build bridges"?? We are talking Hamas after all!

Google your hearts content with United Association for Studies and Research. But beware, how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
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