Annemarie McAvoy
The imam of the Ground Zero mosque may never have had any real intention to follow through with building it. Terrorists and radicals can be very smart, calculating people, and it is certainly possible that this was actually a well-orchestrated plan meant to rile up and recruit more radicals willing to undermine America, at very little cost. That may explain why he has not even begun to raise money for this project.
The effect of even talking about whether the mosque should be built is enough to inflame radicals against the United States. Imam Rauf, the public voice for the mosque, himself has discussed this, and his comments appear to be a veiled threat against Americans. The effect of even talking about whether the mosque should be built is enough to inflame radicals against the United States. Imam Rauf, the public voice for the mosque, himself has discussed this, and his comments appear to be a veiled threat against Americans.
During an interview on CNN on September 9th he said that the building of the mosque has become a “national security issue.” He explained that “If we move from that location, the story will be that the radicals have taken over the discourse. The headlines in the Muslim world will be that Islam is under attack.” He went on to say that “The danger from the radicals in the Muslim world to our national security, to the national security of our troops, I have a niece who works in the Army in southern Iraq, the concern for American citizens who live and work and travel overseas will increasingly be compromised. If the radicals are strengthened, and if we do move it will strengthen the argument of the radicals to recruit, their ability to recruit and their increasing aggression and violence.”
He pointed out that “Americans must remember that what we do is watched all over the world.” The imam said “Our security is really number one. Our national security, our personal security is extremely important, and this issue has become now a national security issue.”
This imam does not look at the United States as the wonderful country it is. Instead, he has made very disturbing statements about America before this as well. Right after 9/11 first happened he said “The United States’ policies were an accessory to the crime that happened” on 9/11. He also has said that “In fact, in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the U.S.A.”
In addition, he said “The U.S. and the West must acknowledge the harm they have done to Muslims before terrorism can end.” He’s even stated "We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al Qaida has on its hands of innocent non Muslims. You may remember that the US led sanction against Iraq lead to the death of over half a million Iraqi children."
Add to these statements the fact that the imam told CNN on September 8th that he has not yet begun the capital campaign to pay for the $100 million center he is fighting to build, and it certainly raises the question of whether he really intends to build it. This building was purchased not long after 9/11, yet they waited until now to talk about building this huge center. They have not even gotten any money together yet to pay for it. The reason may be that they are using this fight as a rallying cry for radicals to attack the United States, in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Imagine how different a day 9/11/2010 will be if there is a successful attack on the United States between now and then.
Imam Rauf knew that there would be a battle over building this mosque. He knew how involved and vocal the 9/11 families are about what happens at Ground Zero and that they, along with many Americans, would not want a mosque built there. Now they have photos and video of Americans demonstrating against it. This will get radicals motivated, potentially home-grown ones too. They can do a lot of damage to us when they are motivated.
This entire situation has been created by this imam, by his insisting that a mosque be built so close to Ground Zero. Given his radical statements, his veiled threats of violence and aggression against Americans if the mosque is not built at Ground Zero, and the fact that the imam has raised virtually nothing to pay for the center, it seems that there may never have been any real intention to follow through with its building. The radicals get much more out of the mosque not being built than if it is built. The radicals can now use the fact that many Americans are against building the mosque to recruit more zealots to mount campaigns against America, and even to try to carry out violent attacks.
The lesson from this is that America needs to remain vigilant. The radicals have not given up, and more attacks are likely to be coming.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributor Annemarie McAvoy is a former federal prosecutor. She currently is a consultant and teaches Counter-Terrorism, Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing at Fordham Law School in New York City.
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