Something smells

How The U.S. Nabbed Alleged Terrorists in Toledo "A retired U.S. Special Forces soldier helped the FBI to uncover an alleged nascent terror cell in Toledo, Ohio, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney in Cleveland Thomas Getz. Three men, two U.S. citizens originally from Jordan and one U.S. resident from Lebanon, had asked the former U.S. commando for help in coordinating "jihad training exercises," according the indictment. But what the suspects didn't know, was that the retired soldier was working with investigators all along. Identified in court papers only as "the Trainer," he earned the trust of the three men because, says Getz, "he was from the Muslim community." Getz would not say if "the Trainer" is of Arab descent or a long-time Muslim but said that he had cooperated voluntarily with the government from the beginning of the investigation going back at least to November 2004 and he was "acting on behalf of the (U.S.) government" the entire time. The suspects, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi and Wassam Mazloum, have all been living in the Toledo area for over a year, according to the indictment, and had studied how to build explosives and suicide vests with the intention of travel to Iraq to engage in "holy war" by attacking American soldiers. The men raised money for the operation, considered setting up a front charity organization and used an indoor shooting range for target practice, said the indictment. The men had jobs that provided potential cover for traveling to the Middle East. El-Hindi works as a recruiter for European medical schools. Mazloum is the owner of a local car dealership. Mohammad Amawi operates a small travel agency. El-Hindi, a married father of seven children ages 6 months to 11-years-old claims he was arrested Sunday by agents who entered his home without knocking and seized him at gunpoint. Says his lawyer, Stephen Hartman: "He steadfastly maintains his innocence." All three men pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and are being held in a federal correctional facility in Milan, Michigan until their detention hearing on Feb. 24".

"El-Hindi works as a recruiter for European medical schools. Mazloum is the owner of a local car dealership. Mohammad Amawi operates a small travel agency".

I'm always a bit suspicious when I read about 'stings' like this. Were these guys really going to go to Iraq and fight in the 'holy war' or were they just three guys trying to act tough. I'm sorry, I've learned all to well not to trust this federal government on anything over the last five years. Maybe this is legit. Maybe they were a terror cell but I'd bet almost even money that it's three Muslim dudes who were trying to act tough, got caught up in it and 'the Trainer' set them up. We'll see what comes out of it. Even money-50/50. You can't trust the feds anymore.