Muslim Convert Soldier Arrested: Aiding al-Qaeda

[abu afak]

(This to go with the 'hand-grenader' and the Chaplains)

Soldier held on suspicion of aiding al Qaeda
Friday, February 13, 2004 Posted: 8:30 AM EST (1330 GMT)


(CNN) -- A National Guard soldier at Fort Lewis, Washington, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of trying to pass information about military capabilities to al Qaeda through an Internet chat room, U.S. military officials said.

Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, 26, a tank crew member from the National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, was taken into custody without incident at Fort Lewis by military and federal law enforcement officials, Army spokesman Stephen Barger said.

The arrest was made as part of a joint sting operation involving the FBI and Justice Department.

Anderson will be charged with "aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al Qaeda terrorist network," Barger said.

He is being held at a correctional facility at Fort Lewis, and it could be four or five days before charges are formally filed, Barger said.

Officials said the information included the capabilities and vulnerabilities of armored Humvees and tanks, both of which are used in the brigade.

Anderson allegedly offered to pass the information to al Qaeda agents through an Internet chat room, Pentagon officials said. But it is not believed he made contact with al Qaeda members, the sources said.

Law enforcement personnel were monitoring the chat room looking for people who might try to give up information, and Anderson allegedly tried to offer some to al Qaeda, according to sources.

Anderson's unit, the 81st Armor Brigade, was honored in a deployment ceremony Saturday.
The brigade is preparing to deploy for final training in California before it departs for a tour of duty in Iraq.

When asked if Anderson is a Muslim, Barger said, "Religious preferences are an individual right and responsibility, and I really can't get into it."

Sources said Anderson converted to Islam several years ago.

Local media outlets reported Anderson was a 2002 Washington State University graduate, where he studied military history with an emphasis on the Middle East.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/02/13/natl.guard.arrest/index.html

[abu afak]

QAEDA 'SPY' IN ARMY BRIGADE

By ANDY SOLTIS


February 13, 2004 -- An Army National Guardsman stationed in Washington state — who was preparing to ship out for duty in Iraq — is under arrest for allegedly trying to spy for al Qaeda.
Spc. Ryan C. Anderson, 26, who converted to Islam five years ago, was arrested by the Army yesterday and is being held at Fort Lewis, a base near Tacoma.

He was identified as a tank crew member from the National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, a 4,000-member unit set to depart for Iraq for a one-year deployment.

Army Lt. Col. Stephen Barger said Anderson was being held at Fort Lewis "pending criminal charges of aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al Qaeda terrorist network."

Defense officials speaking on the condition of anonymity said Anderson signed onto extremist Internet chat rooms and tried to get in touch with al Qaeda operatives, offering the organization information on U.S. military capabilities and weaponry.

It is unclear how the government got wind of his alleged offer, but authorities began monitoring his communications, the officials said. It does not appear he transmitted any information to al Qaeda, the officials said.

Fort Lewis base spokesman Joe Hitt said he was unaware of the report. There was no immediate comment from the Army or Defense Department.

Anderson graduated from Washington State University in 2002 with a degree in history, university spokeswoman Charleen Taylor said.

It was not clear when he joined the National Guard, but his brigade has been training at Fort Lewis since November.

Eighty percent of the soldiers in the brigade — 3,200 — are from Washington, and about 1,000 are from guard units in California and Minnesota.

The brigade includes two tank battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, engineers, support troops, artillery and an intelligence company.

Anderson's arrest follows the disclosure last fall that two servicemen and a private physician were accused of spying at the U.S. prison for terrorists at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

An Air Force translator faces 20 charges for allegedly passed a map of the camp to Syria along with dozens of notes from detainees.

A Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo was seized during the investigation after he was allegedly found carrying secret documents.

The third suspect, a doctor working as a interpreter for inmates, was charged with lying to federal agents about computer disks he carried with classified information.

In addition to the spying scandal, an Army sergeant was arrested in Iraq during the war last March 23 after allegedly throwing grenades into a tent occupied by fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division. Two soldiers died.

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/16270.htm

[andak01]

Is that the same Andy Soltis who is a chess master? I've met him.

[Kev]

I cant help but feel this soldier was mentally ill, more so than a person with evil intent. Although it is still treason, regardless of the intent!