The US Justice Department unsealed an indictment in Minneapolis Monday against two young Somali-Americans in what is the latest in a long line of cases charging defendants with “material support” for terrorism.
This case bears particular scrutiny in that it is the first major terror-related prosecution initiated under the Obama administration.
While most previous cases have involved hapless individuals lured into FBI-concocted “terror plots” by government agent provocateurs, Federal prosecutors are portraying this case as of a different caliber, involving “homegrown” jihadists, radicalized in the US itself. They suggest that it is an indication of how the supposedly long arm of al Qaeda can reach into the American Midwest.
Charged in the indictment are Abdifatah Yusuf Isse, 25, and Salah Osman Ahmed, 26. Court documents in
dicate that Isse pleaded guilty 
months ago and has been cooperating with the FBI investigation.
They were two of an estimated 20 young Somali-American men from the Minneapolis area who are described as “missing.” Federal investigators have charged that they returned to their families’ homeland to join a group called the Al Shabaab, which is Arabic for “youth.” The government has portrayed the organization as the Somali branch of Al Qaeda...more..http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jul2009/soma-j16.shtml
This case bears particular scrutiny in that it is the first major terror-related prosecution initiated under the Obama administration.
While most previous cases have involved hapless individuals lured into FBI-concocted “terror plots” by government agent provocateurs, Federal prosecutors are portraying this case as of a different caliber, involving “homegrown” jihadists, radicalized in the US itself. They suggest that it is an indication of how the supposedly long arm of al Qaeda can reach into the American Midwest.
Charged in the indictment are Abdifatah Yusuf Isse, 25, and Salah Osman Ahmed, 26. Court documents in
dicate that Isse pleaded guilty 
months ago and has been cooperating with the FBI investigation.They were two of an estimated 20 young Somali-American men from the Minneapolis area who are described as “missing.” Federal investigators have charged that they returned to their families’ homeland to join a group called the Al Shabaab, which is Arabic for “youth.” The government has portrayed the organization as the Somali branch of Al Qaeda...more..http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jul2009/soma-j16.shtml
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