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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Michelle Malkin :: Townhall.com Columnist
Hezbollah is here
by Michelle Malkin
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Sheeple thought of the day: "Hezbollah is not my problem."

You think Hezbollah is only Israel's headache? Wake up. Iranian Hezbollah's spokesman Mojtaba Bigdeli's threat on Tuesday to dispatch 2,000 operatives "to every corner of the world to jeopardize Israel and America's interests" is more than just idle Islamic heavy breathing.

The Jew-hating terrorists of Hezbollah who call themselves the "party of God" are already here. In America. Plotting attacks. Raising money. Slipping through the cracks.

In May, the New York Post reported on Hezbollah's plans to activate sleeper cells in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit as the nuclear showdown with Iran heats up. One focal point: "the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, where there have already been three episodes in the last four years in which diplomats and security guards have been expelled for casing and photographing New York City subways and other potential targets." Heightened alert comes in the wake of reports that Iranian crackpot president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Hezbollah leaders in Syria earlier this year.

Four years ago, I reported on how information-sharing walls between federal immigration and law enforcement agencies created a path to citizenship for at least one known Hezbollah member. He walked through our figurative front door. The then-assistant district director for INS investigations in New York City and two FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) officials were placed on administrative leave when the bungle was discovered.

Sources informed me the unidentified Middle Eastern male -- now a fellow American -- appeared on terrorist watch lists and is a member of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. Despite numerous calls from adjudicators in Newark, N.J., handling the alleged terrorist's naturalization case, the FBI and INS reportedly did not respond to requests to turn over the individual's "alien file." The A-file includes biographical and status information and investigative data. It is unclear why INS and the JTTF did not turn over the file, or why the New York office neglected to order the adjudications branch in Newark to put the naturalization process on hold.

Why did INS adjudicators in Newark proceed without viewing the alleged terrorist's file? Adjudicators to this day remain under intense pressure to meet naturalization "quotas." Job-performance ratings and cash bonuses are based on the number of naturalization approvals processed. It's standard operating procedure.

Hezbollah has also enlisted the aid of gullible American women to ease their way into the country.

Jessica Yolanda Fortune hooked up with Lebanon-born Chawki Youssef Hammoud in 1994. The marriage enabled him to obtain a green card -- and the cover to operate a Charlotte, N.C.-based cell that smuggled cigarettes to raise cash for Hezbollah. The terror cell reportedly answered to a senior Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon and was part of a broader North American network responsible for also obtaining dual-use technologies for Hezbollah -- including goggles, global positioning systems, stun guns, naval equipment, nitrogen cutters and laser range finders.

Fortune was convicted of marriage fraud in October 2001. Hammoud was convicted of smuggling, credit-card fraud, money laundering and racketeering in June 2002. Fortune's brother-in-law, Mohammed Hammoud, married three different American women. After arriving in the United States on a counterfeit visa, being ordered deported and filing an appeal, he wed Sabina Edwards to gain a green card. INS officials refused to award him legal status after this first marriage was deemed bogus in 1994.

He then married Jessica Wedel in May 1997, and while still wed to her, paid Angela Tsioumas to marry him in Detroit. Tsioumas entered a plea agreement in March 2002 on charges of conspiracy. Her "husband" was convicted on 16 counts that included providing material support to Hezbollah. A total of 25 people connected to the ring were nabbed.

Does the name "Hammoud" sound familiar? Earlier this month, the FBI announced the capture of Assem Hammoud -- also a Lebanese-born Muslim like the members of the cigarette-smuggling Hammoud gang. He is suspected of working for al Qaeda on a plot to blow up PATH train tunnels between New Jersey and lower Manhattan with a team of suicide bombers. The 1998 terrorism indictment of Osama bin Laden notes al Qaeda's forged alliances "with the government of Iran and its associated terrorist group Hezbollah."

Together, they've killed American servicemen and civilians around the world.

Not in your backyard? Think again.

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About The Author

Michelle Malkin makes news and waves with a unique combination of investigative journalism and incisive commentary. She is the author of Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild .

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(12 comments so Far)
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Reply # 1
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 12:57 AM EST
Might never be known
how many terrorists we have among us. But being that our government has not enforced our immigration laws for years! I wouldn't doubt that they number in the thousands. And probably hiding in plain site. Take a long look at who is working in every corner convenient store and gas station, in every town.
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Reply # 2
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 7:01 AM EST
Hezbollah and........ NOI?
Would anyone happen to know if there are any ties between Hezbollah and the Nation of Islam?

I suspect this is something we NEED to know.
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Reply # 3
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 7:40 AM EST
America is definitely invaded by ,000s
and some are hezbollah and others who would do us harm. And we have to be on the lookout for them.

And please remember Goshawk there are laws in this country that, unwisely I think, protect THEM more than you. Some are even Indian or others that can even be confused with the enemy.

So, be vigilant, and REPORT anything to some authority. That's how we have brought them DOWN so far. Citizen reports.

Our government has failed time and again to protect us from any number of things and the ONLY comforting thought I have is that the terrorists want to kill them much more than those same terrorists want to kill me. I think.
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Reply # 4
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 9:17 AM EST
And still, Bush won't seal the border.
How many more have come in, just since we've been screaming about the border, during this farce of a debate over "immigration reform?"
They are all criminal (our reps).
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Reply # 5
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 9:55 AM EST
Otter, good point!
Since the NoI shares the same basic hatred of America and her system of government as Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations, it would be wise to take a look to see if there are any links. Most Muslims don't consider the NoI to be true Muslims because of the claims of Elijah Muhammed being the prophet, the saying that 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' could still hold true, and if so they could be very dangerous as they (NoI) are American citizens that would not draw much attention if they were to be helping plot some terrorist action.
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Reply # 6
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 11:10 AM EST
Hezbollah is here
Debbie Schlussel recently blogged about Muslim men from the Middle East seeking American wives (http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/06/ticket_to_ride.html). She took some heat from an American woman that married a Jordanian. Very revealing exchanges occured in the comments section. I was disheartened that some American women are so desperate for a mate that they'd be fooled this way.
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Reply # 7
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 11:45 AM EST
Kuwell
Not all of our reps are criminals. It's our senators more than our reps.

My rep: Ron Paul (R-Tex) and several other local Texas reps like Ted Poe (R-Tex) have been leading the charge to shut down the border and remove any and all incentives for illegals currently here to stay.

I am as unhappy with Congress and Bush on this matter as the next person, but we need to give credit where credit is due and support the reps that ARE trying to make a difference.

Too bad we can't drum up a greass-roots campaign commercial just prior to the election identifying the soft on border candidates...hooray for Campaign Finance Reform! I love having my core First Amendment sppech stifled!
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Reply # 8
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 11:45 AM EST
Kuwell
Not all of our reps are criminals. It's our senators more than our reps.

My rep: Ron Paul (R-Tex) and several other local Texas reps like Ted Poe (R-Tex) have been leading the charge to shut down the border and remove any and all incentives for illegals currently here to stay.

I am as unhappy with Congress and Bush on this matter as the next person, but we need to give credit where credit is due and support the reps that ARE trying to make a difference.

Too bad we can't drum up a greass-roots campaign commercial just prior to the election identifying the soft on border candidates...hooray for Campaign Finance Reform! I love having my core First Amendment sppech stifled!
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Reply # 9
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 4:42 PM EST
EpsilonDao
I stand corrected and know better. My rep is Ander Crenshaw who also fights hard to seal the borders and is a good old fashion Reagan conservative, with a capital R after his name. In his answer emails he seems as frustrated with the traitors in the repub party as we are. He is also a cosponsor of the Fairtax.
As far as the campaign commecial goes, great idea, why not join Chris Simcox and help put hem on all cycle?
We're all either part of the solution.....or part of the problem. Your choice.
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Reply # 10
Date: Jul 19, 2006 - 10:49 PM EST
Lostinspace223
This has been going on since the 1970s - Isalmic men pursuing American women. I knew a woman who wouldn't stop dating an Iranian (though he beat her) due to the gifts of jewelry he provided her with. He obtained all the money (from his embassy) necessary to lure herto marry him.
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Reply # 11
Date: Jul 20, 2006 - 7:02 AM EST
THE JIHADI NEXT DOOR
REMEMBER A FIREBRAND ISSUE NOT TOO LONG AGO CALLED Y2K? MY WIFE AND I WERE ON STAFF OF A LARGE ADDICTIONS RECOVERY MINISTRY IN FLORIDA. WE HAD 84 MEN TO PLAN PROVISION FOR, AS WELL AS STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES. AMID THE 'YUKS' AND NAYSAYERS WE BEGAN TO HAVE STAFF MEETINGS TO PLAIN FOR "WHATEVER". OUR MOTTO BECAME: PREPARE TO SHARE.

AND, EVEN THOUGH THAT BIG COMPUTER MELTDOWN DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND WE LAID IN A LOT OF DRIED BEANS, DRINKING WATER, CANNED GOODS, GENERATORS, AND FUEL, ETC. ("YUK, YUK... ON US"), WE WERE READY. AND, MOST OF THOSE PROCUREMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN WASTED TO DATE, AND ARE STILL GOOD TO GO. SOMEONE SAID: IT'S BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED, THAN TO NEED AND NOT HAVE.

TODAY, WE HAVE TALK OF SLEEPER CELLS, AND HOW WE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE SHARING TOP BILLING ON A "RADICAL TRERRORIST HIT LIST" WITH ISREAL. I SAY "PREPARE TO SHARE". WITH THE GROWING DIVISION AMOUNG PEOPLE GROUPS IN THIS GREAT MELTING POT OF A NATION, IT COULD GET PRETTY UGLY IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY DOWN TO OUR VERY NEIGHBORHOODS. IMMAGINE ABOUT A HUNDRED FOLD KATRINA TYPE CRISIS HITTING OVERNIGHT. WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU GO TO THE SINK, AND THE WATER WON'T COME ON?

AM I TALKING GLOOM AND DOOM? NO, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, BUT WE MUST REDEEM THE TIME, AND PREPARE TO REDEEM OUR WAY OF LIFE, IF IT COMES TO THAT. YES, LAY IN 3 MONTHS SUPPLY OF "EMERGENCY EVERYTHING". GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME SURVIVAL BOOKS. READ UP ON WHAT YOU SHOULD ACTULLY HAVE ON HAND BEFORE THE UTILITIES GO DOWN. BEFORE THE RUN ON THE BANKS, AND STORES. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF, FOR A WEEK, OR A MONTH, OR LONGER THERE WAS NO 911 OPERATOR TO CALL? EVEN AFTER THE GREAT Y2K FIRE DRILL, I'D STILL RATHER HAVE AND NOT NEED, THAN NEED AND NOT HAVE. IN A WORSE CASE SCENARIO WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY'S PLAN? WITH MOST OF US HAVING FAMILY STRUNG OUT ACROSS THIS NATION DO WE HAVE A CLUE WHAT WE WILL DO IF WE ARE CUT OFF FROM ALL MEANS OF TRAVEL, AND COMMUNICATON?

AND YES, I'LL SAY IT. ARM YOURSELVES. "PREPARE TO SHARE (AND) PASS THE AMMUNITION!" REMEMBER, HOW UGLY IT GOT DURING KATRINA? A LARGE PART OF THAT WAS WHEN THUGS CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO TAKE WHAT WASN'T THEIRS.

WHILE THE SLEEPER JIHADIS ARE GETTING READY FOR US, LET'S BE ABOUT GETTING READY FOR THEM!
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Reply # 12
Date: Jul 21, 2006 - 2:06 PM EST
Re-visit, "tough talk".
Russia lurks and smirks and loves the evil puppets works, and China wines and dines as the puppets lie as others die, these silken asian words are ever so easy to hear, "the rockets in their pockets are not ours" , there,,, America don't you see its the loon who flys down North Korea way, now, ? why can we not dance the evil puppet dance, well we are real boys not those made of wood, so we must cut the strings for the end all the puppets.

DEAR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

TEAR DOWN THIS ROCKET AND PUPPET FACTORY THAT IS IRAN.
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