Tripping Over the Trip Wire Posted by Eric Martin

There is a fairly pervasive consensus amongst counterterrorism scholars that intelligence and law enforcement remain the most effective and efficient tools available to disrupt terror networks (with limited application of military force serving an ancillary role in an optimally balanced approach). 

Operating within the framework of that preferred counterterrorism approach, support and cooperation from local communities is an invaluable asset.  In this respect, the United States law enforcement/intelligence community has enjoyed something of an advantage over its European counterparts in terms of engendering the support of their respective Muslims populations - with some attributing the difference to the welcoming culture of assimilation in the United States, while others point to the composition of the different immigrant communities and economic prospects available to each.  

These numbers from the Muslim Public Affairs Council tell of the important role the Muslim-American community has played in undermining terror plots since 9/11:     

Muslim communities have stepped forward to help law enforcement foil almost 4 out of every 10 Al Qaeda-related terror plots threatening America since 9/11/01. Muslim communities have help law enforcement prevent the last 7 out of 10 Al Qaeda related plots. This represents an important counter trend [to] the recent spike of arrests. It also highlights the importance of law enforcement partnering with citizens through community-oriented policing. 

Regardless of the predominant reasons for the disparity between the United States and Europe, it is generally understood that the levels of cooperation can wax or wane depending on the treatment of the subject population by law enforcement personnel. An overly adversarial, guilt-by-association approach can foster fear, alienation and anger - all of which serve to diminish the likelihood that concerned citizens will come forward with information (and could also increase radicalization and homegrown terrorists to boot).

That is what makes the Washington Post's story on the FBI's indiscriminate use of informants to infiltrate mosques and other broad-net surveillance of Muslim Americans so troubling.  As a couple of key paragraphs highlight:

Some Muslims in Southern California and nationally say the cascading revelations have seriously damaged their relationship with the FBI, a partnership that both sides agree is critical to preventing attacks and homegrown terrorism.

Citing Monteilh's actions and what they call a pattern of FBI surveillance, many leading national Muslim organizations have virtually suspended contact with the bureau.

The back-story is as astounding as it is worrisome:

In May 2007, [FBI informant] Monteilh said he recorded a conversation about jihad during a car ride with Niazi and another man. Monteilh said he suggested an operation to blow up buildings and Niazi agreed. An FBI agent later cited that and other taped conversations between the two in court as evidence that Niazi was a threat.

A few days later, [Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations] got an anguished phone call from Niazi and the other man in the car.

"They said Farouk [Monteilh] had told them he had access to weapons and that they should blow up a mall,'' Ayloush recalled. "They were convinced this man was a terrorist."

Ayloush reported the FBI's own informant to the FBI. He said agents interviewed Niazi, who gave them the same account, but the agency took no action against Monteilh.

Despite Niazi's laudable actions, he was arrested and indicted (with recordings of his conversation with Monteilh used as evidence against him), before charges were eventually dropped - then, after Monteilh approached Niazi's defense team and disclosed his role in "entrapping" Niazi.

Given the risks of alienating a heretofore cooperative Muslim-American population, as well as the dubious value of such aggressive attempts to infiltrate and entrap potential terrorists, the FBI should cease such programs (if they haven't already) and re-evaluate its approach in such instances with an eye toward maintaining open lines of communication and a sense of trust and partnership.

(links via the indispensable Adam Serwer)

Comments

[destor23]

What about the government's instinct to, as in the case of the Portland "bomber" conduct a sting rather than an intervention? I'm no lawyer so I won't even get into the complexities of what is and isn't "entrapment" but it seems to me that we're seeing cases where people from a Muslim community call Homeland Security for help because an individual or group are sliding into some sort of psychotic extremism and rather than provide help the government eggs them on and even goes so far as to make the impossible wishes of the suspect (a van sized bomb that can blow up two city blocks) possible. Seems like the government is trying to make arrests when it could be trying to prevent things from going that far.

[Don Bacon]

Gerry Spence, the famous trial lawyer:
“I found that the minions of the law–the special agents of the FBI–to be men who proved themselves not only fully capable, but also utterly willing to manufacture evidence, to conceal crucial evidence and even to change the rules that governed life and death if, in the prosecution of the accused, it seemed expedient to do so.”
–From Freedom to Slavery, p. 27

[Diomedes]

The Office of the Inspector-General recently released a report on the FBI's unconstitutional and unlawful infiltration of all sorts of groups over the last decade or so as part of domestic terrorism investigations (http://www.justice.gov/oig/special/s1009r.pdf). If the FBI sees peaceful anti-war organisations and Greenpeace as potential terror threats, the use of informants and pervasive surveillance against American Muslims isn't surprising. The Bureau's interpretation of its own guidelines is disturbingly elastic...

[kenboy]

What about the government's instinct to, as in the case of the Portland "bomber" conduct a sting rather than an intervention? I'm no lawyer so I won't even get into the complexities of what is and isn't "entrapment" but it seems to me that we're seeing cases where people from a Muslim community call Homeland Security for help because an individual or group are sliding into some sort of psychotic extremism and rather than provide help the government eggs them on and even goes so far as to make the impossible wishes of the suspect (a van sized bomb that can blow up two city blocks) possible. Seems like the government is trying to make arrests when it could be trying to prevent things from going that far.

[Taylor Wray]

You're right on, Eric. The surest way to incite more domestic Muslim terrorists is to pre-emptively target their communities for surveillance and infiltration.

This is one more display of the general stupidity of American law enforcement strategy. For another stunning example, see the U.S. drug war, a strategy that both the Associated Press and even the current drug czar have decried as a trillion-dollar failure.

[pandora]

Marriage is the essence of virginity, bathed in brilliant shine two people in love. Since the ancient times, crystal was from the pure. The pandora clear and bright brightness is exquisite, a symbol of the good life to this happy moments. With high quality material, and develop business policy and infinite originality, Pandora is strange to this romantic moments, it has opened the door of the imitated crystal.
The pandora bracelets in jewelry world has long been a lonely place, for the bride's accessories, the ring is lonely, actually, a modeling chic the ring can give you create enough colors and make you save other unnecessary pandora jewelry. Pandora colorful rings are filled with nature, insects and fascinating, and it is creating a flower lifelike, magnificent world of crystal for his bride is a bosom to add beauty.

[Links of London Charms]

As we all know, ;f Hoodies are so famous Links of London Charms It has been the top brand in the world. No matter Cheap Links of London of the fashion design, or the warmth rating,Links of London Friendship, both are quite perfect. Under this hedonism social morality,Links of London Friendship Bracelets, famous persons pay more attention to brand awareness. In many street snaps,, we always find that in winter, famous stars choose ;f Hoodies as their necessary article. Wherever they go,Links of London Pendants, as long as they go out of the door, they will put on a ;f jacket. ;f Hoodies have become silent representative of noble and unique quality for famous stars. Owning one ;f Hoodies in the cold winter, not only represents that you are rich, quite different with other poor people, but also represents that you are Links of London Charms uk in the fashion circle. Only for fashion, many people thought they deserve to keep one ;f jacket. As a moncler Hoodies fan, once I was also discount Links of London Charmslooking forward to owning one jacket. I hope in the cold winter, I will not be afraid of coldness any more and can spend a happy time outside. Fortunately, easy and convenient network age realized my dream.

[Account Deleted]

ugg boots clearance On my Egypt Air flight yesterday to Cairo, I witnessed one of the more intriguing in-flight exchanges that I can remember. A bearded, well-dressed man sitting a few seats behind me began shouting at the flight attendant.ugg boots clearance He was complaining that the in-flight movie was inappropriate. What are these “offensive images?” he asked. These included a 15-minute stretch of the movie where at least one woman at any given time was wearing a bikini. In a couple of scenes at a club, members of opposite sexes were dancing in close proximity while, it appeared, consuming alcoholic beverages. “Are we really all Westernized now?” the man behind me asked,ugg boots clearance as if posing a question to those of us in the back of the plane.

The man’s arguments were rather interesting. He pointed out that if you took a poll of the passengers,ugg boots outlet most would agree the film was morally offensive. He asked the attendant, “if we ask the passengers what they think and they agree with me, then what will you do?” The attendant responded, “we don’t take public opinion (ra’i al ‘am) on the airplane.” The man was right: most passengers, and most Egyptians – the vast majority of whom don’t drink, go to clubs, or wear bikinis – would object to the film’s content. But at what point do they have the right to restrict minority expressions of unfaithfulness?ugg boots clearance

It was an odd, amusing exchange that justified the otherwise unpleasant experience of flying on EgyptAir.ugg boots clearance But it was a reminder of the fundamental lack of consensus in the Arab world over the boundaries and limits of the state. There are two groups – Islamists and secular elites – with worldviews which couldn’t be more different. They live parallel lives in parallel worlds, with parallel institutions. They rarely intersect.ugg boots clearance One group believes it has both history and the Egyptian people on its side. The other side, considerably smaller in number, likely has neither. It does, however, have the power.

This stalemate has paralyzed the Arab world for decades now.ugg boots outlet

Sunday’s elections will be just another version of this.ugg boots clearance The main players are the Muslim Brotherhood – populist, religious, and righteous – and the regime coalition which, with its president soon to pass, finds itself in an uncertain place. Both sides are strong in different ways – and weak in others. Neither seems to have anything resembling a coherent strategy for dealing with the impending transition that is soon to come.

ugg boots clearance

[moonboots]

The list of why Kamik footwear is so popular is a very long one. They are trendy, waterproof, keep your feet warm on those cold winter days and evenings, which I'm sure you'll agree are all important factors.

[uggs clearance]

The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as she named their Ugg boots clearancerelationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how he bore it; and was not without the expectation of his
uggs clearancedecamping as fast as he could from such disgraceful companions. That he was surprised by the connexion was evident; he sustained it however with fortitude, and so far from going away, turned back with them, and entered into conversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but be pleased, could not but triumph.
Ugg boots clearanceIt was consoling that he should know she had some relations for whom there was no need to blush. She listened most attentively to all that passed between them, and gloried in every expression, every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, his taste, or his good manners.Ugg boots clearance
The conversation soon turned upon fishing, and she heard Mr. Darcy invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he chose while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of the Ugg boots outletstream where there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking arm in arm with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of her wonder. Elizabeth said nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment must be all for herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme; and Uggs clearancecontinually was she repeating, ``Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me, it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me.''
After walking some time UGG Boots Clearance
in this way, the two ladies in front, the two gentlemen behind, on resuming their places after descending to the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration. It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued Ugg boots clearanceby the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the place, and accordingly began by observing that his arrival had been very unexpected -- ``for your housekeeper,'' she added, ``informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.'' He acknowledged the truth of it all; and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before Uggs clearancethe rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. ``They will join me early tomorrow,'' he continued, ``and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you, -- Mr. Bingley and his sisters.''
Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been last mentioned between them; and if she might judge from his complexion, his mind was not very differently engaged.