America - Outpost of Islam?

That's a curious way for The Boston Globe to describe a mosque.

Now, with unease rising because of an FBI terrorist inquiry that thrust the town into the national spotlight last week, civic leaders are again trying to reassure a community that considers itself under siege.

Notice how the Globe shifts the blame to the FBI despite the fact that the "suspects" have already confessed. And notice how Muslims are portrayed as the victims "under siege". Amazing how fast some forget 9/11.

And the Globe is happy to be a mouthpiece for Muslims.

''I'm tired of people blaming Middle Eastern people for everything," said Mohammad, who was born in Afghanistan.

''We don't know what the truth is. But all we've been hearing is lies. People talk about terrorists and Al Qaeda being here. Why would they come to Lodi?"

Well, if you "don't know what the truth is" how do you know that "all we've been hearing is lies"?

As for why terrorists would want to come to Lodi you have to ask the terrorists but here is a clue for you.

Attracted by the area's wealth of agricultural jobs, immigrants from Pakistan began arriving in Lodi almost a century ago. In recent years, immigrants from Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries have settled in the city, which is flanked by vineyards and fruit orchards.

And it's not that people are "blaming Middle Eastern people for everything", they are blaming Muslims for terrorism. All the terrorists so far have been Muslims. And a recent march by Muslims against terrorism, held in Washington DC, attracted only about 50 people; including the press and onlookers.

Of course, there are those in denial.

''It doesn't seem to me that we have a terrorist cell working out of Lodi. I don't see any evidence of that," said the mayor, John Beckman.

May I suggest you read their confessions Mr. Mayor?

But a day later, the affidavit states, Hayat, who was born in the United States, admitted in a voluntary polygraph examination that he did in fact attend such a camp for six months in 2003 and 2004; at the camp he received training ''on how to kill Americans," the affidavit says.

Hayat's father is also accused of having lied to the FBI. The affidavit said the elder Hayat, who was born in Pakistan but is a naturalized US citizen, had financed his son's trip to attend the jihadi training camp.

Now, here is where the left jumps in and says "Aha!" but they haven't been charged with terrorists acts.

Neither of the men has been charged with terrorist activity, and authorities said they did not uncover evidence of an imminent terrorist attack. Both were being held in Sacramento without bail.

It remains to be seen what charges they will face but it's important to bear in mind what Hamid admits his intended targets were to be.

Hamid allegedly received terrorist training and funding from the father, an ice cream truck driver, so he could carry out attacks on hospitals and large food stores in the United States. But FBI officials on Wednesday backed away from specific information regarding any type of planned attacks.

Here again we are faced with a catch 22 situation. Do you wait until and attack is imminent or do you break up the cell at an earlier stage?
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