part of a prepared 1998 statement of steven emerson before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information: <Intelligence and law enforcement communities agree that the entire spectrum of radical groups from the Middle East has been replicated in the U.S. These include: Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizzbullah, Hizba-Tahrir (Islamic Liberation Party), Islamic Salvation Front (Algeria), Armed Islamic Group (Algeria), En-Nahda (Tunisian), Muslim Brotherhood, Ga'mat Islamiya (Egypt), Islamic Salvation Front (Algeria), Abu Sayyaf Group, followers of Osama bin Laden, Taliban (Afghanistan), Jamat Muslimeen (Pakistan and Bangledesh), and support groups of mujahideen (Holy Warriors) in Bosnia, Philippines, Chechniya and other places. These groups have created large networks ofsupporters from whom they have raised tens of millions of dollars for their movements, recruited and trained new followers, underwritten their brethren organizations in the Middle East and elsewhere, and even remotely directed terrorist operations back in the Middle East or Europe. As stated by Oliver Revell, former Associate Deputy Director of the FBI, "the United States is the most preferred and easiest place in the world for radical Islamic groups to set up their headquarters to wage war in their homelands, destabilize and attack American allies and ultimately move against the United States itself." For American Muslim moderates, the harsh reality of having their organizational gravity taken over by radicals is something they have to confront all the time. "Radical Islamic groups have now taken over leadership of the 'mainstream' Islamic institutions in the United States and anyone who pretends otherwise is deliberately engaging in self-deception," said the late Seif Ashmawi, an Egyptian-American newspaper publisher. Mr. Ashmawi died recently in a tragic car accident.> CSIS (Canada's 'CIA') indicates that as many as 50 such violence advocating organizations are operating in canada and have even secured refugee status, welfare payments, government grants and 'tax-free charity' benefits. Their support for Canada's ruling Liberal Party is extensive and effective. While Chretien remains in denial mode, American pressure will no doubt change the equation. I sincerely hope that innocent muslims having nothing to do with these 'jihadists' do not suffer greatly in an unjust manner as a result of present and future responses to this problem. while 'jihadists' "stick up washington", informed sources indicate emergency presidential powers may be the forthcoming result for dealing with this deadly grim reality. shane
