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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Americans recruited as suicide bombers

Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 6:28 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC’s Pete Williams
The FBI is hoping to enlist the parents, especially mothers, of young Somali men who live in Minneapolis, because agents believe the men are being recruited to conduct suicide bomb attacks in Somalia. 

Successful recruitment in the U.S. of suicide bombers obviously concerns U.S. officials, even though, for now, there's no indication that the interest among this group is focused on anything but conducting attacks overseas.

Law enforcement officials say a young man from Minneapolis, Shirwa Ahmed, a naturalized U.S. citizen, returned to Somalia in October and killed himself in a suicide bombing. He had attended high school in Minneapolis after coming to the U.S. 12 years ago.   

Investigators believe as many as a dozen young men from the Twin Cities have been recruited to conduct similar attacks in Somalia. An investigation is now underway to find out who is recruiting them. 

"There's clearly a recruiting cell there," one U.S. official said.

A Homeland Security official said similar initiatives, to enlist community cooperation in countering potential recruitment propaganda, have been undertaken in other U.S. cities.

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Can I volunteer some the lefties from around here?
Don't these people know that Obama won, and now we should all be sitting around the campfire singing Kumbaya?
" BIDEN MEETS WITH BILL GATES "

Joe needed some hints and cheat codes for those solitaire games Gates puts on all those computers.
Too bad.  He could have stayed here and given Al Franken one more vote.

Then again, what is the early voting deadline and what are the absentee ballot rules in Minneapolis?
I'm surprised these men need recruiters. I've listened to Military Officers speak on our torture program and I've read books that describe in detail the methods. Just as the Jewish population repeat their history, generations of innocent detainees will repeat what this country has done to them. The shame of our nation. And probably the reason for the next attack on this country.
It might be harder to recruit these young men if they had the educational and economic opportunities their parents probably came here to find.  This is one of the more obscure, but still perhaps predictable, fruits of trickle-down economics.  What did we expect when we robbed from the poor to give to the rich.  Gratitude?  
"This list is jusy another example of reverse discrimination. Like anything else. Can you imagine if we had a United White college Fund, a Miss White America, an all White TV Station like BET. How about a White Hero week. Can you imagine if we declared a national holiday for a white minister who had a dream.

Otis (Sent Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:05 PM)"

WOW, I THOUGHT WHITE PEOPLE HAD STOPPED USING THIS ARGUMENT TO JUSTIFY THEIR RACISM. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

These institutions were created because BLACK PEOPLE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN MAINSTREAM (WHITE) INSTITUTIONS.

So, by default you had a White Miss America, a White College Fund, White TV...etc., because blacks were not allowed to participate!

Whats' the motive of the attackers(bombers)? Why would someone want to recruit american-somilians to blow themselves up in their own country of origin? At least the recruiters arent attacking american soil,but it could later bring more diplomatic issues to attention. "US citizens suicide bombing somlia." Now look how ludacris that statement sounds.
It's just a matter time. There are plenty of people in this country with enough hatred to kill all they can. They seem to be welcomed with open arms.You can thank the lefties for what they do.
For those who hate Muslims just because they are Muslims this might be the ticket you are looking for. Recruit them to go somewhere else and kill themselves. How easy is that? What a great idea.
Just for a bit of background.  Two major immigrant groups to the Minneapolis area are the Somalian and Hmong peoples.  And thus, Minneapolis is a U.S. focal point for these two cultures.
I live in Minneapolis. There are more Somalis here than any other city outside of Somalia. As a rule, they are rude, they do not assimilate into American culture and have no intention of doing that. The immigration laws in this country must be changed to reflect the new paradigm -- the fact that we just can not afford to allow anymore of these people to immigrate to the United States. They mean us harm and should not be allowed to be here, period. Our own people are having enough trouble finding work to pay a living wage.
What in hell are these Somalians doing in the USA to begin with?  Is Minneapolis having a current, critical shortage of goat herders?  How about stopping immigration...nay, reversing this insane importation of terrorists, drug pushers, and welfare parasites?
I do not understand how the rider " for now, there's no indication that the interest among this group is focused on anything but conducting attacks overseas" somehow mitigates the thoroughly unacceptable nature of such activities.

Even as a tatic for resistance when one's country is occupied, suicide bombing is to be unreservedly condemned and can be understood (but never justified) and only in the rare cases when the targets are oppressive military materiel or personnel and there is no risk to innocent lives or property belonging to innocents.
Perhaps we should promise to send the parents or children of Somali/American suicide bombers back to Somalia after they commit a suicide bombing.
We have Somalis who have recently moved here in Maine...namely Lewiston.....it my be nothing, yet, it MAY be something. We had an influx of Viet-Nam "refugees" a few years back, who were taken in by countless "parrishes", and who got State financial support,not to mention mega-donations from every quarter.
 Now, the Somalies here in Maine have likely recieved the same "benefits" as the Viet refugees, many of the Viet refugees have already established themselves in "business"...mostly restaurants from their "windfalls" of cash. As for the Somalies here in Maine...we haven't seen them "establish" themselves in businesses from their "cash windfall"...or....maybe they just don't have a desire to suceed in their lives?? Needless to say, if one is form Somalia...I am sure that there is no initiative to get ahead, except for getting the next meal of the day! So...if these Somalies are here...whether it be for religious, political or tribal persecution...I would highly suggest that someone keep them closely in their sights....lest we find out that we have a repeat of the article from NBC's Pete Williams. I would much prefer to be safe.....than sorry!! If they prove out to be "honest" American citizens, well, maybe they can let their "overseas" friends and families know that we are not the bad guys.
Um...all these Americans are Muslims, so it is obvious, religious brainwashing is playing a big role here.
Hey if the guy wants to blow himself to bits, no problem. Just don't do it here in the United States!
Wow, American citizens are becoming suicid bombers. That is crazy.
Who in their right mind would blow themselves up regardless of any nationality or ethnic group they belong to, only if they are zombie & brainwashed, any normal, rational human being would never do such a thing.
News Items like this need to be front and center on our news casts.  We publicize when there is a scare in kids formula, dog food etc, but the recruitment of Americans, in America to do suicide bombings abroad is horrible and all parents and citizens need to be aware of this.  
Oh great... nothing is gonna be done. No one can stop people from going to Somalia. Not even the State Department, not "Homeland Security"... not even the airline they ride on..

The US is unable to stop the training, the bombings and the immigration and recruitment of people willing to do them.

The fate of our nation rests with a few Somalian mothers in Minneapolis.

Maybe they will help.

With Somalian mothers on our side, the government can get back to business... you know... spreading bailout money and posturing about the incoming administration... power napping...

We have the government we deserve.

"Gosh! US citizens are travelling to Somalia to kill themselves... I sure hope their moms will help us keep them home, because that's our only hope, as it would be discrimination if the government acted unilaterally to review passports and visas"

At some point I want to laugh... I'd love to laugh, actually..

But, you know how it is...
Clearly, the perverted and radical ideas of fundamentalist Islam are spreading world-wide, including in the United States. The FBI is on the right track in finding prospective suicide bombers wherever they may be hiding, and arresting them before they activate their suicidal (read homicidal) plans.
If this is so, how long before others are recruited here to set them off within our borders?


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