June 13, 2002

US checking nationality of Western

US checking nationality of Western Taliban

Here's more on the "some half a dozen" captured Taliban who are claiming US citizenship; apparently there are also an unknown number of British and French jihadis as well, according to "Pakistani security officials."

This article indicates one connection between Richard Reid and John Walker Lindh: both studied at Madrasah Arabia Hassani, a Muslim seminary near the Afghanistan border run by one Mufti Muhammad Iltimas.

"[Western] converts are more eager to participate in the jihad than their Pakistani and Arab comrades and are not reluctant to join dangerous operations," said the cleric in a recent interview to a group of Pakistani journalists...

The cleric said converts were "the best students" who had "an unquenchable desire for knowledge" and often studied "late into the night."


You gotta wonder whether Jose Padilla was part of this student body as well.

By this account, such Western converts have travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan as innocent seekers of knowledge and instruction, only to be lured into extremism and militancy once they get there.

Coming to Pakistan and Afghanistan in search of Islamic education, most converts are unfortunately exposed to such a militant form of Islam soon after their conversion. "Young and impressionable, they are easily lured into joining the holy war," said a Pakistani intelligence officer who monitors the madrasas for his agency.

Is it really credible that guys like Lindh, Reid and Padilla would have gone to Afghanistan having no idea what they were getting into?

Posted by Dr. Frank at June 13, 2002 11:58 PM | TrackBack