Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Rezwan Ferdaus (26) of Ashland, Massachusetts, pleaded not guilty to charges that he planned to bomb the Pentagon and Capitol building using miniature “drone” aircraft laden with C-4 explosive. He also hoped to launch a Mumbai-style ground assault with a team of six men, according to court documents.

Formal charges

The formal charges against Ferdaus, a physics graduate of Northeastern University who was also rock band drummer nicknamed “Bollywood,” included attempting to provide material support and resources to al-Qaeda with the aim of facilitating attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas; attempting to destroy national defence premises; and attempting to destroy buildings owned by the U.S. using explosives.

Ferdaus was arrested by FBI agents last week at the culmination of what appeared to be a lengthy sting operation. Undercover officers supplied Ferdaus with an unspecified amount of what he thought was C-4 explosive, an F-86 small drone aircraft, three grenades and six fully-automatic AK-47 assault rifles.

Delayed for weeks

Ferdaus' bail hearing was said to have been delayed for several weeks after his lawyer, Catherine Byrne, requested more time to prepare his defence. Ms. Byrne said the prosecution's case was “orchestrated and facilitated by the government,” adding that Ferdaus' legal team had asked for additional time to “present a more complete picture of what happened”.

According to reports, a group of nearly a dozen family members and friends attended Ferdaus' court appearance. Several women, including his mother, were said to have wept as the charges against him were read, shouting “We love you!” as he was led out of the courtroom; and he quietly answered, “I love you, too.”

More information

More information on Ferdaus' background also emerged since his arrest last week, with prosecutors, former classmates, and religious leaders describing Ferdaus as “someone who went from playing the drums, quoting [Mahatma] Gandhi, and promoting peace to decrying conversations between men and women, criticising interfaith efforts, and calling for the death of any... nonbeliever.”

Further Ferdaus was reportedly told to leave this mosque because of his radical behaviour. Atif Harden, a spokesperson for the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Boston where Ferdaus prayed, was quoted as saying, “He was rare. No one has ever in our mosque said ‘Oh yeah, [al Qaeda] are wonderful' except him.”

The use of model aircraft as terror weapons has also received some attention following Ferdaus' arrest, since there are no restrictions on their purchase, and others could obtain them as easily on the Internet as Ferdaus did.

However counterterrorism experts and model-aircraft hobbyists reportedly said, “It would be nearly impossible to inflict large-scale damage of the sort Ferdaus allegedly envisioned [because] the aircraft are too small, can't carry enough explosives and are too tricky to fly.”

While drone strikes have thus far been the bane of militants residing in the remote tribal belt of Pakistan, this week they were almost deployed to take out the Pentagon and the Capitol.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday that Rezwan Ferdaus (26), a U.S. citizen from Ashland, Massachusetts, had been charged in connection with a plot to destroy the key federal government buildings using large radio-controlled F-86 Sabre aircraft filled with what he thought was C-4 plastic explosive.

Ferdaus, said to be a graduate of Northeastern University, was also charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to al-Qaeda with the aim of facilitating attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas; attempting to destroy national defence premises; and attempting to destroy buildings owned by the U.S. using explosives.

According to a cooperating witness in an apparent sting operation by the FBI, Ferdaus stated in January 2011 that he planned to attack the Pentagon using aircraft similar to “small drone airplanes” filled with explosives and guided by GPS equipment.

Outlining his planned attack in chilling detail, Ferdaus told undercover officers: “With this aerial assault, we can effectively eliminate key locations of the P-building. Then we can add to it in order to take out everything else and leave one area only as a squeeze where the individuals will be isolated. They'll be vulnerable and we can dominate.”

In a statement, the FBI underscored Ferdaus' determination to execute his plan despite being presented with multiple opportunities to back out, including being told that his attack would likely kill women and children.

Instead, Ferdaus invoked the option of a Mumbai-style ground attack to complement the aerial strike, and reportedly told federal agents that once he isolated individuals in the two buildings into “one area only as a squeeze,” he would ensure that a six-man team armed with assault rifles would “open up on them” and “keep firing” to create “chaos” and “take out” everyone.

As part of the operation, conducted by more than 30 federal, state, and local agencies on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, agents supplied Ferdaus with an unspecified amount of “C-4 explosives,” an F-86 small drone aircraft, three grenades and six fully-automatic AK-47 assault rifles. In the course of the investigation, Ferdaus also delivered eight detonation devices to the undercover officers and a training video demonstrating how to make cell phone detonators.

At his final meeting with officers on Wednesday at which Ferdaus inspected the components, brought them to his storage unit and took possession of the entire inventory, he was arrested, the FBI said in a statement. It added that at no point in time was the public in any danger from explosive devices, which were controlled by undercover FBI employees.

No community targeted

Prosecuting officials were quick to dispel any notion that the sting operation against Ferdaus had targeted any larger community. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said: “I want the public to understand that Mr. Ferdaus' conduct, as alleged in the complaint, is not reflective of a particular culture, community, or religion.”

If convicted, Ferdaus faces a total of up to 55 years in prison for all three charges and a $250,000 fine.

"Justice has been done," said U.S. President Barack Obama in a historic address. Mr. Obama announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a targetted attack on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Osama bin Laden, leader of terror outfit al- Qaeda and alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, was killed in Pakistan in a Special Forces operation by the United States, U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Sunday night.

In a statement issued shortly after 11.30 p.m., Mr. Obama confirmed that Osama, high on the list of U.S. authorities' most wanted men, had been killed after a “fire-fight” in Abbottabad, a military cantonment town not far from Islamabad. The President said U.S. forces subsequently “took custody of his body.”

Resistance

Media reports quoted administration officials saying Osama had offered resistance to the assault team, presumed to comprise U.S. Navy Seals, and was shot in the head. The end came when U.S. forces in helicopters attacked a large walled compound where Osama and some of his family members were said to be hiding.

Buried at sea

While U.S. officials said DNA evidence confirmed that Osama was killed, no official evidence of his identity was released yet. Senior administration officials, briefing the media, had said the body would be handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition, and reports confirmed that he was “buried at sea.”

Even as news of his death broke, large crowds gathered outside the White House, at Ground Zero — the site of the 9/11 attacks — and in Times Square, New York City. Comprising mostly college-aged youngsters, the masses waved the American flag, sang the U.S. national anthem and chanted “USA, USA”.

Touching upon the historic import of Osama's death after nearly a decade of the U.S.-led war on terror, Mr. Obama said in his address to the nation: “For over two decades, Bin Laden has been al-Qaeda's leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies.”

Mr. Obama said the death of Osama marked the “most significant achievement to date” in the U.S.' effort to defeat the al-Qaeda; however, he cautioned: “Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There is no doubt that the al-Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must — and we will — remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

“Justice done”

Echoing the popular mood of the jubilant masses on the streets, Mr. Obama said justice had been done. The former Presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton – also associated with pursuing Osama for terror attacks on U.S. soil – also joined with Mr. Obama in hailing Osama killing as justice delivered.

‘Mass murderer of Muslims'

Even as spontaneous celebrations erupted across the country, Mr. Obama sought to emphasise that his country would never be at war with Islam, and also that Pakistan's counter-terrorism cooperation had been important in the operation. “Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.” Indeed, the al-Qaeda had slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, Mr. Obama said.

There was some ambiguity regarding Pakistan's role in the operation. While Pakistani officials were quoted in the media as saying that they did have prior knowledge of the assault in Abbottabad, U.S. officials appeared to deny this, with one senior administration official saying: “We had shared this information with no other country, and... a very, very small group of individuals within the U.S. government was aware of this.”

However, Mr. Obama said he had called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday night, and Pakistani officials “agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations.”

Covert operation

Regarding the covert operation, senior administration officials at the White House revealed numerous details regarding the intelligence gathering efforts that had set the stage for the assault.

Speaking to the media in a late-night conference call, they said that beginning in September 2010 the Central Intelligence Agency was said to have discussed with Mr. Obama “a set of assessments that led it to believe that in fact it was possible that Osama may be located at a compound in Pakistan.”

Following these discussions, officials said, it was determined in mid-February that there was a sound intelligence basis for pursuing the lead in an aggressive way and “developing courses of action to pursue Osama bin Laden at this location.”

With the President giving the final order to pursue the operation on the morning of April 29, the raid was sanctioned for Sunday, May 1, and the target, a large home with 18-foot walls and no telephone or internet connections, was identified based on intelligence reports compiled over four years.

40-minute affair

Spending less than 40 minutes in the compound, the U.S. forces “did not encounter any local authorities while performing the raid,” officials said, and apart from Osama, three adult males were said to have been killed, in all likelihood two couriers and Osama's adult son. Osama did offer resistance to the assault, officials said, confirming that one woman was also killed “when she was used as a shield by a male combatant.”

Following the assault, a helicopter was lost due to mechanical failure and “it had to be destroyed by the crew and the assault force.” Officials said crew members boarded the remaining aircraft to exit the compound.

From The Hindu

Bradley Manning, the United States army intelligence analyst jailed for allegedly leaking government documents to WikiLeaks, will no longer be in solitary confinement after being transferred from a military facility in Quantico, Virginia to a prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, according to the Department of Defence.

Members of the media were permitted to enter the Fort Leavenworth jail and observe the conditions under which Mr. Manning is being detained. According to the visiting group of reporters, officials assured them that Mr. Manning would be held alongside another ten detainees awaiting trial.

Specifically the Associated Press reported that he would “have his own cell, wear standard prison clothing and have open access to a communal area except overnight.” In Quantico Mr. Manning’s treatment by prison officials became the centre of a growing controversy as he was held in solitary confinement for 23 hours each day and forced to strip down to a smock every night.

His treatment there also led to several incidents involving high-profile officials. Last month State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley resigned after calling the Pentagon’s actions “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” Following this a top United Nations official has said that he was “deeply disappointed and frustrated by the prevarication of the U.S. government,” after his attempts to have unmonitored meetings with Mr. Manning were rejected.

However as he is now held along with medium-security prisoners and in less restrictive conditions the focus of his case is likely to shift to his court martial hearing, the date for which has not yet been set.

Yet even that trial has already been dogged by controversy as President Barack Obama was caught on camera saying to an attendee at a fundraising event in San Francisco last week that Mr. Manning “broke the law.” Some legal experts have argued that in saying so Mr. Obama has “destroyed the chance of a fair trial” for Mr. Manning.

From The Hindu

Bradley Manning, the former United States army intelligence officer jailed on suspicion of leaking U.S. government data to Wikileaks, will be moved from a military brig at Quantico, Virginia to a prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

The transfer will follow closely on intensifying criticism of the Pentagon for meting out harsh treatment to Mr. Manning, including allegations that he was kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, allowed no contact whatsoever with other inmates, and that he was stripped naked every night and forced to sleep in only a smock. Authorities have been quoted as saying that Mr. Manning faced restrictions to prevent self-injury.

His confinement has not been without controversy either, as a senior State Department official, Assistant Secretary P.J. Crowley, resigned last month after describing Mr. Manning’s treatment by the Pentagon as “stupid.” Further a group of 250 top lawyers including a former professor of President Barack Obama wrote a letter describing Mr. manning’s conditions of imprisonment as “illegal and immoral.”

Further, a top United Nations official, Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez, said earlier this month that he was “deeply disappointed and frustrated by the prevarication of the U.S. government,” after he was denied permission for unmonitored visits to Mr. Manning.

The latest step by the Pentagon, to move Mr. Manning to Fort Leavenworth, was announced by Jeh Johnson, Pentagon General Counsel, who said, “Given the length of time he has been in pre-trial confinement at Quantico ... and given what the likely period of pre-trial confinement in the future [is]... we reached the judgment this would be the right facility for him.” Mr. Johnson also speculated, “We are probably months off from a trial.”

However Mr. Manning’s attorney, David Coombs, said that he was not officially notified of Mr. Manning’s pending move until twenty minutes before the Pentagon’s press briefing – “This is despite the fact that the Pentagon has “been thinking about this for a while,”” Mr. Coombs said.

Mr. Coombs however added that although the move came as a surprise its timing did not, because Mr. Manning’s defence team had recently received “reliable reports of a private meeting held on 13 January 2011, involving high-level Quantico officials where it was ordered that PFC Manning would remain in maximum custody and under prevention of injury watch indefinitely.”

At that meeting, when an attending psychiatrist “challenged” senior Quantico officials saying that there was no mental health justification for the decision, one of the prison officials said “he would not risk anything happening on his watch,” adding, “We will do whatever we want to do.”