Treason (23 page)

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

—Buddha

Studio A

Capitol Visitor Center

Washington, D.C.

P
olitical correctness and overregulation are keeping the FBI and U.S. law enforcement agencies from identifying Islamic extremists living in the United States,” Representative Thomas Stanton announced. “Our own government is handcuffing our efforts and putting us in danger.”

Reporters crammed into the congressional studio were eager to begin asking questions, but Stanton was just getting started.

“We all know what happened in Paris years ago when the government there allowed radical Imams to spew their hatred of democracy in more than three dozen mosques in the City of Light. France allowed jihadists to recruit converts on French soil and the result was bloodshed and mayhem. As chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have decided to hold investigative hearings to determine if the FBI should be given authority to infiltrate mosques that are known breeding grounds for radical Islamic terrorists. We need to know if our nation's efforts to identify radical Imams, who spew their anti-U.S. rhetoric and encourage their devotees to take up arms against us here on our own soil, are being undermined.”

With a concerned look on his face, Stanton peered directly into the camera and continued. “I am speaking about radicals such as Mohammad Al-Kader, an Afghanistan-born Imam who was expelled from a Minneapolis mosque by his fellow Imams after they learned he was raising funds for an international charity believed to be a front for Al-Qaeda. Al-Kader was a known associate of Osama bin Laden, and his teachings show that he is a strong proponent of Sharia law, which is undemocratic in its nature and much more than that in its practice. The couple who died while attempting to assassinate President Allworth at the National Cathedral followed Al-Kader to the Washington, D.C., area. They believed in Sharia law and his radical interpretation of it. They are dead, yet he continues to spout rhetoric that is clearly anti-American and anti-democratic in a Washington suburban mosque.

“I intend to subpoena Al-Kader, who is a U.S. citizen, to testify before my committee. I intend to question him about his anti-American teachings. My committee's hearings also will investigate if Islamic radicals have successfully infiltrated the ranks of our federal government. Are these extremists lying in wait as sleeper agents ready to unleash an attack if summoned? The recent attempt on the president's life at the National Cathedral here in Washington, D.C., by Cumar Samatar, who worked for the CIA as an interpreter, should be a wake-up call. We cannot let our timidity and political correctness prevent us from identifying and tracking down radicals who have embedded themselves in our communities and possibly inside our own government.”

Omar Nader watched Stanton's Capitol Hill news conference from the plush Washington offices of the Organization of Islamic Nations on K Street and immediately began telephoning Congressional leaders who were obligated to the OIN, largely because of its generous campaign contributions. Within two hours, four House members appeared at a hastily arranged press conference in Studio A to denounce Stanton and his call for committee oversight hearings.

“The Chairman's insinuation that Muslims employed by the federal government are sleeper agents is outrageous!” the first congressman exclaimed. “The Chairman's
Islamophobic
words are the same old hate speech in a new wrapper. Has the Chairman forgotten our nation's shameful past? Does he not recall the fearmongering of McCarthyism? This time the target is Muslims rather than innocent citizens who were smeared as Communists. This time the target is Muslims rather than innocent Japanese who were unfairly interned during World War Two. It is during times of alarm when our core values matter most and we should not abandon them because of fearmongering and hate speech.”

The next House member to face reporters was equally peeved. “In the years since the terrorist attacks of 2001, hate crimes against American Muslims have mushroomed. American Muslims get the kind of treatment once reserved for blacks and Jews, both dehumanized groups that were the victims of racial and ethnic prejudice and violence. I am deeply saddened that a respected and high-ranking member of the House of Representatives would stoop to such a low level. Chairman Stanton has embarrassed all of us by calling for these hearings.”

Next up to the microphone was a congresswoman. “Representative Stanton has portrayed Arabs and Muslims as villains and enemies when, in fact, theologically Islam is no more violent or less violent than Christianity or any other monotheistic religion. There certainly is no need for these anti-Muslim hearings and Chairman Stanton owes the Muslim community a public apology.”

It was the final speaker who lobbed the biggest bomb. “Today, we are calling for Representative Stanton to not only rescind his call for these unnecessary and mean-spirited hearings, we are demanding—not asking, but demanding—that he relinquish the chairmanship of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His call for anti-Muslim hearings shows that he is no longer fit to serve as chairman of a congressional committee. If Chairman Stanton does not step down voluntarily, we will certainly be working to accomplish his removal.”

As soon as the four House members were done on Capitol Hill, Omar Nader held a separate news conference across town in the lobby of the OIN headquarters. “Chairman Thomas Stanton's words and actions leave the OIN no choice but to put his name to our list of American Islamophobic Individuals,” Nader declared in a sober voice. “We join in the call for his resignation as chairman of the Intelligence Committee.”

A Harvard University–trained Muslim lawyer employed by an OIN-funded, Washington-based think tank joined Nader at the podium of his news conference.

“In 2010,” the attorney said, “we saw an example of toxic hate against American Muslims when plans were announced for an Islamic cultural center in lower Manhattan. Opponents wanted to stop the expansion of Islamic places of worship in a nation that was created by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom. Now, Chairman Stanton is trying to invade our mosques and is smearing the reputations of American Muslims who are employed by our government. This is scurrilous conduct. Let me ask you a simple question. If Stanton is successful in sending federal agents into our houses of worship to monitor what Imams teach, what religion will be next? Methodist? Baptist? Catholic? What other Constitutional rights will fall after religious freedom is no longer tolerated?”

Omar Nader was pleased after his press conference ended. He had moved quickly to challenge Stanton's call for hearings. But Nader knew this was only the first round, and he suspected Stanton's efforts would be embraced by a substantial number of Americans who were afraid of homegrown terrorism. From OIN poll data, Nader knew there was a looming fear and mistrust of Muslims simmering just under the surface. To counter it, he would need to change public opinion. He would need to reassure the public that they had nothing to fear but fear itself. Omar Nader prided himself on thinking big, and his first thought was about White House Chief of Staff Mallory Harper and President Sally Allworth. Getting the president to condemn Stanton's call for congressional hearings would be a major coup, and Nader felt optimistic about his chances. His last White House meeting with the president had gone well.

In addition to using influential thought-leaders to attack Stanton, Nader would launch a public campaign to win the hearts and minds of the public by putting the OIN's vast wealth to work. He began jotting down ideas: a national conference to promote religious tolerance, a public service announcement campaign about diversity, prizes for high school essays about religious freedom, seminars on college campuses about prejudice.

While Nader was considering his next step, his private cell phone rang, and he knew from the caller ID that it was Mary Margaret Delaney.

“I hope you have good news to share,” he said when he answered her call.

“Thanks to you,” she replied, “I now own Rudy Adeogo.”

“Then congratulations are in order.”

“I confronted him yesterday at his home. He's my puppet now, and Chairman Stanton's call for investigative hearings is a perfect opportunity for you to begin putting Adeogo to use.”

Nader snickered. “You're correct. Having the only Muslim member of Congress condemning Chairman Stanton's actions will help us.”

“Aren't you forgetting something?” Delaney asked.

“Ah yes, a contract for your services. I believe we agreed on six figures.”

“Considering the importance now of having Adeogo attack Chairman Stanton's actions, I think we need to increase your initial offer.”

“With as much pleasure as you will take in controlling Adeogo, you should be doing this without charge,” Nader replied. “Are you now trying to take advantage of me?”

“It's not personal, remember. Isn't that what you told me in Minneapolis when I complained about the OIN arranging donations for both presidential candidates in the last election? You were just hedging your bets. Now the tables are turned. I have a commodity and Stanton's actions have made that commodity worth more.”

“I will speak to my superiors, but be careful, Ms. Delaney. Do not push too hard or you may not like the response.”

It was eleven p.m. when Nader was finally ready to leave his OIN office, and as he was reaching for his overcoat and about to switch off the lights, he noticed Al Arabic correspondent Ebio Kattan appear on one of a dozen television monitors near his desk that he never switched off.

“We've just been told,” Kattan announced, “that U.S. Representative Rudy Adeogo will be making a public statement outside his Washington, D.C., home any moment now.”

All of the other major television networks began showing the same scene: reporters gathered behind the yellow tape outside the congressman's Tacoma Park house waiting for him to appear. Within seconds, Representative Adeogo and Dheeh emerged and walked from the doorway across the front yard to where the media were corralled.

Under the glare of television lights, Adeogo said, “Dheeh and I want to thank all of you who are praying for the safe release of our daughter, Cassy, and also for Jennifer Conner. Once again, we appeal to those holding these innocent schoolgirls—in the name of Allah, the giver of all mercy—please release them unharmed.”

Visibly nervous, he hesitated, glanced sideways at Dheeh who was standing beside him tightly holding his hand, and then continued. “Many Muslim families have found themselves divided by disagreements about our beloved religion and how best each of us can serve Allah. For American Muslims, this is much like your Civil War when Northern and Southern families found themselves with sons fighting on separate sides. It is heart wrenching. This unfortunate division has occurred within my own extended family. I have always strived to keep my parents and siblings out of the news. Seeking public service is my choice, and I respected their rights to privacy. I did not wish to drag them into a national spotlight.”

His voice began to quiver. “However, I can no longer protect them from scrutiny. I have, or had, a younger brother named George Adeogo. He is deceased. Some of you have written that he died as a teenager in an automobile accident. I must now correct these erroneous reports.”

Glancing down at his feet for a moment, as if he were ashamed, Adeogo said, “My brother George Adeogo was deeply troubled as a teenager. Like many Somali American teenagers who feel lost, he joined a street gang in Minneapolis. My parents took him to our mosque and asked the religious leaders there to counsel him, which they did. My brother underwent a transformation. He went from being a street tough to becoming a deeply religious young man.”

Adeogo raised his eyes so that he now was looking directly into the cameras broadcasting his image. “Sadly, through the Internet, my brother became enthralled with jihad, especially after he saw fighters in Iraq battling U.S. soldiers. My brother George became radicalized and, against our family's wishes and my counseling and instruction, he decided to travel secretly to Somalia to participate in the fighting there. This was a tremendous embarrassment to my parents, my siblings, and especially to me. For this reason, the story that George Adeogo had died in an auto accident became my family's way to conceal the shame that all of us felt because of my brother's misguided actions. I cannot and will not blame my parents and siblings for wanting to hide George's radicalization. By remaining silent and not correcting the record, I also endorsed this fabrication.”

Adeogo's eyes suddenly filled with tears. “The truth always surfaces, and today, the truth about my brother needs to be exposed and explained to the American people. My brother George Adeogo changed his name when he was a teenager. He began calling himself Abdul Hafeez.”

As Adeogo watched, stunned looks appeared on the faces of the reporters witnessing his impromptu news conference.

“Yes, I am speaking about the same Abdul Hafeez who led an attack on the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu and who murdered two U.S. diplomats there,” he continued in an apologetic voice. “George Adeogo was my youngest brother. I remember him as a sweet and impressionable young boy. When he became Abdul Hafeez, he stopped being my brother. He became a murderer who fell victim to corrupt teachings. On behalf of my family and myself, I want to apologize to the American public for his actions and the suffering that he caused. I ask for your understanding and forgiveness. While I cannot change the past, Dheeh and I are also victims of the horror that he encouraged. Our daughter was targeted and abducted, we believe, because Al-Shabaab wants to punish us for distancing ourselves from Abdul Hafeez. Please continue to pray for me, my family, and our daughter, and please forgive us for the terrible wrongs that he committed.”