Tolerance; Arson; and Corvallis, Oregon

I think tolerance is a good idea. As a half-Irish Roman Catholic living in a traditionally Protestant former English colony: I would. It's in my best interests to see to it that the rights, property, and lives of folks who aren't in the majority are safe.

There are also more theoretical grounds for promoting tolerance.

Note, please: In this context, I mean "tolerance" as:

• "A disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior"
• "Willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others"
  (Princeton's WordNet)

When "Tolerance" wasn't Tolerant

The last time I did time in American academia was in the eighties: so I'm all too aware that "tolerance" can mean a strident support of politically correct views - while shouting down anybody who disagrees. I didn't think that "tolerance" should mean agreeing with the professor then - and I still don't.

Moving on.

Arson isn't Nice

Last Sunday, somebody apparently tried to burn down a mosque in Oregon.

That could be used as "proof" that Americans are hate-filled arsonists. Never mind what happened in Tennessee:

• "Jerks Burn Tennessee Mosque, Churches Help Rebuild It"
  (February 16, 2008)

It looks like, in the Oregon case, the Islamic center/mosque (I've seen it described both ways) wasn't picked randomly:

"Authorities have identified a "person of interest" in the alleged arson of a mosque....

"...The mosque was burned November 28th. Police believe the fire is arson and an act of retaliation for the failed bomb plot during Portland's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony...."
(KDRV.com)

Tolerance, Arson, Muslims, and Lizard People

This Islamic center probably wasn't chosen randomly. Mohamed Osman Mohamud, the fellow who seems to have had a shot at killing folks at a tree-lighting ceremony (November 27, 2010), attended the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center.

Mohamed Osam Mohamud is a Somali, a college student, an Oregonian, a Muslim, and a lot younger than I am. As I pointed out at the time, depending on a person's biases, that failed bombing could be 'proof' that you just can't trust:

• College students
• Those crazy kids
  • For me, anybody under about age 30 is a 'kid'
• Oregonians
• Somalis
• Muslims

Or, taking my weird and wild eighties experiences as a guide, the bombing attempt might be 'proof' of how you just can't trust those male chauvinist pigs and their authoritarian oppression.

Then there are the space-alien, shape-shifting lizard people: and that's another topic.

Or maybe not so much. I think it's a mistake to start thinking about people as primarily members of a group - not as individuals.

Hating People: A Bad Idea

I also think that it is a huge mistake to hate people. Any people. That's not the same as thinking that whatever another person does is okay. I realize this is a rather counter-cultural notion: but I can't help that. I've discussed hate, anger, love, and other aspects of the human experience in another blog. (A Catholic Citizen in America (May 26, 2010))

Back to the matter of a fellow who wanted to kill people at a Christmas tree lighting, and someone else who had a shot at torching the Islamic center the first chap went to.

I'm not a Muslim. I'm part of another religious minority in America. I'd like to think that I'd want to protect the rights, property, and lives of folks who aren't WASPs and/or in the majority even if it weren't in my own best interests. And that is another topic.

Maybe - and this doesn't seem to have been demonstrated - the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic center is an Islamic equivalent of the Westoboro Baptist Church (Topeka). (November 26, 2007)

If someone at the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic center had a hand in the Christmas tree bombing that didn't happen - that's a matter for law enforcement and the courts.

Not a free-lance arsonist.

Remember: I don't hate the Christmas tree bomber, or the arsonist. I also think we'll all be a lot safer if they're confined and under observation somewhere.

Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center: November 28, 2010

"In Corvallis, Oregon, sits the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic center, occasionally attended by Portland's 19-year-old suspect held on charges of attempting a car-bombing, during a recent tree-lighting ceremony. Mohamud was set up in a sting operation, executed by law enforcement investigators.

"Arsonists torch Islamic center because of one mmember.[!]
"According to Yahoo News the mosque where Mohamed Osman Mohamud sometimes attended was the target of a malicious arson. Both attendees and neighbors in the community denounce the act of hatred against an entire church, for the thoughtless actions of just one member...."
(Donald Pennington, Associated Content)

Criminal Investigation: December 3, 2010

Collecting and analyzing evidence, and interviewing people, may not be as emotionally satisfying as marching down main street with torches, pitchforks, and rope - but a by-the-numbers police investigation has been known to produce results, too.

More reliable ones, in my opinion.

From yesterday's news:

"Police in Oregon are investigating a man who lived near a mosque that was set ablaze days after a worshipper[!] there allegedly planned to blow up a car at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

"Authorities this week searched a home near the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center in Corvallis, confiscated a variety of goods and took DNA swabs from 24-year-old Cody Crawford, who lived at the home with his mother, according to official documents.

"The house was searched Monday, a day after someone tried to burn the center 200 feet away, according to an affidavit. An officer asked Crawford why someone might burn the mosque. 'Because they don't like Muslims,' he's quoted as saying...."
(AP, via FOXNews)

---

"...U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton said late Friday that no arrest has been made in the case.

" 'The investigation is continuing,' Holton said. 'We're firmly committed to figuring out who did this and why, and bringing the perpetrator to justice.'

"The investigation includes whether the arson was linked to the arrest of Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, a former Oregon State University student, in an alleged terrorist plot in Portland...."
(The Oregonian, via OregonLive.com)

---

"...Cody Seth Crawford, 24, whose mother’s house at 2014 N.W. Polk Ave. is around the corner from the mosque, was questioned the afternoon of the fire by law enforcement officers canvassing the neighborhood. The information from an affidavit and four search warrants was released on Friday by Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson.

"Haroldson would not comment about why Crawford has been identified as a person of interest — his residence searched and items seized — but Crawford hadn’t been arrested as of Friday night.

"The documents indicated police homed in on Crawford after he identified a small blue flashlight found on a walkway at the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center at 610 N.W. Kings Blvd. as one that looked like one he claimed was stolen Saturday night, hours before the 2 a.m. Sunday fire was set at the mosque...."
(Gazette-Times)

---

"...Crawford has a criminal past, including accusations of criminal mischief, assault, and spitting food at a deputy while in jail...."
(KDRV.com)

That's a photo of Mr. Crawford. Let's remember that he hasn't been charged - and the investigation may go in another direction. Still, it's possible that he tried to torch that mosque. Islamic center. Whatever.

Which might lead one to say 'that's funny, he doesn't look like a terrorist.' Well, maybe he won't be charged with terrorism. The crime seems to fit in the old 'arson' category.

Either way, though: setting fire to a building that belongs to someone else isn't nice, and we shouldn't do it. Even if we feel like it.

As for Mr. Crawford's appearance - he looks sort of like the late Timothy McVeigh: he's got that same lack of melanin in his skin. Which, given some biases, 'proves' that all white people are arsonists/racists/whatever.

Oh, boy: that was an 'eighties' flashback.

Bottom line in this mess in Oregon?

I'm glad that nobody got hurt or killed - either at the Christmas tree lighting, or at the mosque/Islamic center.

I think it's a good thing that the person who's primarily responsible for the tree bombing has - 'allegedly' as we say - been identified and caught.

I'm also glad that quite a few folks in Corvallis don't, apparently, approve of arson.

And I'm glad that law enforcement seems to be going through a methodical, careful investigation of the arson.

Related posts:

• "Oregon: The Christmas Tree Bombing That Didn't Happen"
  (November 27, 2010)
• "Anti-Islam Porno Posters in St. Cloud, Minnesota: 'Unacceptable' "
  (December 11, 2009)
• "Somalia, America, Assumptions, Terrorists and the Press"
  (October 7, 2009)
• "Terrorists, America, and Generalizations"
  (July 28, 2009)
• "Right-Wing Extremists Really Are Terrorists, Sometimes"
  (June 6, 2009)
• "The Noble Thief of Brooklyn"
  (July 5, 2008)

More related posts, about getting a grip:

• "Getting Called an Islamophobe, Saving Lives"
  (November 10, 2009)
• "Homeland Security Report: American Veterans are Potential Terrorists - I am Not Making This Up"
  (April 15, 2009)
• "Genocide! Racism! Down With Columbus Day!!"
  (April 8, 2009)
• "Greedy Rich People and an 'Organized Campaign to Suppress the Truth' - Who Knew?"
  (April 5, 2009)
• " 'America Sucks' - Binghamton, New York, Bullies, and 'Little Eichmanns' "
  (April 4, 2009)
• "Missouri Focus Group MIAC: Ron Paul Supporters May Be Terrorists"
  (March 23, 2009)
• "Pro-Life? You May be a Dangerous Domestic Terrorist! MIAC Says So"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (March 23, 2009)

News and views:

• "Police identify person of interest in mosque fire"
  KDRV.com (December 3, 2010)
• "Ore. police search home near burned Islamic center"
  AP, via FOXNews (December 3, 2010)
• "Person of interest in Corvallis mosque fire identified, home searched"
  Michael Russell, The Oregonian, via OregonLive.com (December 3, 2010)
• "Man questioned in mosque arson; search warrant served"
  Emily Gillespie, Gazette-Times (December 3, 2010)
• "Oregon Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center Targeted by Arson, Attended by Mohamed Osman Mohamud"
  Donald Pennington, Associated Content (November 28, 2010)

Australia's Victoria Fires: Al Qaeda, a World Caliphate, and a Pathetic Loner

People in Australia are going about the important business of mourning the dead. So far, the body count is 209. More human remains were discovered over the weekend, which may raise the death toll.

Australia's Bushfires and the War on Terror

I probably won't be writing very much about the tragedies in Victoria. It's not that I don't care, or that the horrific loss of life was unimportant.

But, this is Another War-on-Terror Blog. Its focus is the conflict between people and organizations like Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda; and those who either won't cooperate, or actively oppose Al Qaeda's goals.

Al Qaeda has a rather well-defined goal: "to establish a pan-Islamic Caliphate throughout the world by working with allied Islamic extremist groups to overthrow regimes it deems 'non-Islamic' and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries." (GlobalSecuricty.org)

Even Americans who think that it's none of our business to get involved with problems elsewhere - except for things like the Kyoto Protocol - might consider Al Qaeda a threat. In February of 1998, Al Qaeda said that "it was the duty of all Muslims to kill US citizens—civilian or military—and their allies everywhere." (GlobalSecuricty.org)

Intolerant as this may seem, I don't want Al Qaeda to succeed. I'm rather fond of breathing, and can't be 'sufficiently Islamic' for the likes of bin Laden.

What's Al Qaeda Got to do With the Australian Fires?

Apparently, not much.

There was an Islamic website that called for a "forest Jihad," and some real terrorists were sentenced shortly before the Victoria fires broke out: but the fires seem at least partly the work of two arsonists.

One of them is Brendan Sokaluk, I haven't found the name of the second suspect.

Brendan Sokaluk seems to be a loner who likes to set fires, whose hero is Mother Earth. (telegraph.co.uk)

On his (now defunct) MySpace profile, he described himself as a happy young man who wants to who wants to get married. To a woman: a young, good-looking one, apparently. He also seems to have a thing for child pornography. (telegraph.co.uk)

By any reasonable standards, this doesn't sound like a jihadist, a lion of Islam out to slay the unbeliever.

The matter of who set the fires, how and (maybe) why, will have to be investigated: and there is almost certainly going to be a trial. I hope so: the alternative at this point would seem to be a lynch mob getting to him first. Mr. Sokaluk is quite possibly the least-popular person in Australia.

So, until and unless there's a fairly solid bit of evidence that links the Victoria fires to the War on Terror, this will probably be the last Victoria fires post.

I will keep an eye on news from Australia, though: and elsewhere.

Related posts:

• "Muslims Jailed, Suspect Arrested: Terrorism and Australia's Bushfires Burn On"
  (February 14, 2009)
• "Conservation, Crispy Koalas, and Common Sense"
  (February 14, 2009)
• "Islamic Website Called for 'Forest Jihad' - But Still No Evidence in Victoria"
  (February 9, 2009)
• "Australia's Victoria Fires: Mass-Murdering Muslims, a Media Hoax, or Something Else?"
  (February 9, 2009)
• "Australia's Victoria Bushfire: Arson, Probably; Muslim Plot? Unlikely!"
  (February 8, 2009)

In the news:

• "Fire shrine to remember victims"
  Herald Sun (February 22, 2009)
• "Sydney joins day of mourning for bushfires"
  ABC News (Australia) (February 21, 2009)
• "Australian fires burn as death toll rises to 208"
  CNN (February 19, 2009)
• "Australian bush fires: second man charged with arson"
  telegraph.co.uk (February 18, 2009)
• "Australian bush fires: Alleged arsonist 'loved nature' "
  telegraph.co.uk (February 17, 2009)
• "Jihadists celebrating Victoria fires; taking joy in the scenes"
  The Australian (February 15, 2009)

Muslims Jailed, Suspect Arrested: Terrorism and Australia's Bushfires Burn On

Bushfires in Australia are still burning, radical Muslims are facing jail time, a greenly left publication is complaining that free speech has been criminalized, and Australians who weren't burned to death in Victoria's inferno would like to get their hands on a man who was arrested a couple days ago.

Forest Jihad? Firebug? Another Conservation Blunder?

It looks like the fires that hit Marysville and Churchill were deliberately set. (AP) If so, someone is definitely to blame for the fires, the destruction, and the deaths. And, there's been an arrest.

Judging from what I've read in the Australian news, people down under are taking a rather serious look at creating an effective emergency warning system for Victoria. And, one article from New Zealand mentioned that Australia's conservation philosophy is similar to California's: let tinder build up until it explodes. Until a big burn, there is a sort of visceral satisfaction to preventing brushfires: but I hope that approach may be re-examined now. ("Conservation, Crispy Koalas, and Common Sense" (February 14, 2009))

The Herald Sun wrote that the man who's been arrested in connection with the Churchill fire is a 39-year-old who's liked by his mother - but nobody else. Apparently, he likes to set fires in his back yard, and ignites the occasional tire: creating quite a stink. Literally and figuratively.

We probably won't know his name for some time: the court's forbidden that sort of detail from being published.

Probably just as well, considering the crowd of enthusiastic death-wishers who gathered around the police van that was transporting him at one point. I get the impression that he's even less popular than Stewart Parnell, the American who decided that it was okay to put salmonella-laced peanut paste in the country's food supply.

Even though it's beginning to look like the Victoria bushfires are a combination of natural disaster and old-fashioned firebug fling, it's still possible that "forest jihad" was involved.

Muslims Arrested! Free Speech Trammeled! Islamic Extremists in Australia!

I'm not so sure about the "free speech trammeled" business. Green Left ("Terror sentences: criminalising talk" (Green Left (February 7, 2009)) might have a point: except that in this case, the people who were jailed really weren't at all nice. In fact, they might be considered dangerous.

They were convicted of belonging to, and financially supporting, a terrorist organization. And "possessing material in preparation for a terrorist act."

In theory, I'm all for freedom of expression. But, I draw the line when it comes to 'expressions' like the attack on New York City's World Trade Center.

An analogy might be useful: Say there's a shopping mall. A fellow, wearing black body armor and carrying enough munitions for a Schwarzenegger movie, comes in the door. He's carrying a sign that says "death to shoppers."

Does it really make sense to let him walk around the mall until he opens fire?

Is it a serious attack on free speech to stop him before somebody gets killed?

I could, in a strictly theoretical and academic way, argue 'yes' to both questions. But, I live in the real world: so I'll say 'no.'

Abdul Nacer Benbrika and Company: Sincere, Dedicated, and Dangerous

Abdul Nacer Benbrika's name came up in the comments of an earlier post.

I also ran into Benbrika in Australian news, about a week before the Victoria fires. He, and six of his followers, have been sentenced because of their religious beliefs.

That sounds awful, but in this case the religious beliefs involved killing lots of people at a sporting event. That may not sound nice: but, according to Benbrika, it's okay. They weren't Muslims, and anyway Australia is a 'land of war.'

I don't think that's so much an indictment against Islam, as another example of how people can, given a running start, justify just about any disgusting, destructive, lethal act - and make it sound virtuous. It's not just religion that's used as a justification. Think about terms like 'enemy of the state.'

The Herald Sun had a rather detailed article on Abdul Nacer Benbrika's trial and sentencing. Here's an excerpt:

"...Benbrika, a fan of Osama bin Laden, regarded the destruction of the 'kuffar' — Arabic for 'unbelievers' — as an essential aspect of the Islamic religion, said the judge.

" 'The jemaah would achieve this by acts of terrible violence in this country, or perhaps elsewhere,' Justice Bongiorno said.

" 'In Australia, such terrorism would be directed towards coercing the Australian Government into withdrawing Australian forces from Iraq, as the presence of such troops in that country was seen as oppressive to Muslims and the Islamic religion.'

"In his Supreme Court sentence the judge said it appeared none of the men had denounced their violent jihadi views despite large amounts of character evidence on their behalf...."
(Herald Sun)

Sounds to me like Benbrika and his followers were quite eager to be victims of oppressive non-Muslims.

What, if Anything, does Abdul Nacer Benbrika have to do with the Victoria Bushfires?

Aside from demonstrating that Islamic terrorists do exist in Australia, I don't see much of a connection. Something may come out as time passes, of course.

The Benbrika trial, with sentencing just a week before the Victoria bushfires, does help explain why there was so much speculation about Islamic terrorists being responsible. Given the circumstances, it would be very easy to fall into the 'after that, therefore because of that' error in reasoning.

And, that 39-year-old suspect may turn out to be a Muslim. He may even have been part of Benbrika's outfit.

At this point, we just don't know.

More-or-less related posts:

• "Conservation, Crispy Koalas, and Common Sense"
  (February 14, 2009)
• "Why Don't I Write About [insert website name here]? "
  (February 14, 2009)
• "Islamic Website Called for 'Forest Jihad' - But Still No Evidence in Victoria"
  (February 9, 2009)
• "Australia's Victoria Fires: Mass-Murdering Muslims, a Media Hoax, or Something Else?"
  (February 9, 2009)
• "Australia's Victoria Bushfire: Arson, Probably; Muslim Plot? Unlikely!"
  (February 8, 2009)
• "Murderous Muslims, Catholic Extermination Camps, and Common Sense"
  (February 8, 2009)
• "Castro, Cuba, Guevara, Traditional Gatekeepers, and the Information Age"
  (January 30, 2009)
• "Another War-on-Terror Blog and Simplistic Views"
  (January 11, 2009)
• "Hamas, Palestine, Israel, and How to Seem Sophisticated"
  (January 3, 2009)

News and views:

• "Accused arsonist 'lit fires monthly'"
  Herald Sun (February 15, 2009)
• "Jihadists celebrating Victoria fires; taking joy in the scenes"
  The Australian (February 15, 2009)
• "Australian firefighters close to containing blazes"
  Reuters (February 14, 2009)
• "They died on their knees in prayer"
  TimesOnline (February 14, 2009)
• "Keep out: blunt message for fire 'tourists' "
  The Age (February 14, 2009)
• "Fires fuel the blame game"
  nzherald.co.nz (February 14, 2009)
• "Vigilante fears as man held"
  The Sydney Morning Herald (February 14, 2009)
• "Kiwi fire victim died trying to protect wife"
  stuff.co.nz (February 13, 2009)
• "Suspect arrested in deadly Australia fires"
  The Associated Press (February 12, 2009)
• "Benbrika case shows limits of current Australian counter-terrorism strategy"
  Jurist (February 9, 2009)
• "Terror sentences: criminalising talk"
  Green Left (February 7, 2009)
• "Abdul Nacer Benbrika and six followers jailed"
  Herald Sun (February 3, 2009)
• "Trial told of AFL grand final 'terror plot' "
  The Age (April 15, 2008)
• "Terrorism accused 'planned grand final attack' "
  ABC News (Australia) (April 15, 2008)

Fires in California: a Reality Check

As if we didn't have enough problems already: Wildfires are burning in California from Malibu to San Diego. About 226 square miles are involved. If the fires were all in one place, they'd cover a square about 15 miles on a side.

Arson seems to be the cause of one of the fires in Orange county. Make that all three in that county, I heard on televised news.

As for the rest, it's probably early days to say how they started.

It's certainly odd, even given the weather, that a series of fires broke out pretty much simultaneously all the way from Malibu to San Diego.

About a quarter of a million people have been evacuated in the San Diego area.

What I haven't heard, or read, in news is any connection with the War on Terror.

Except for a comment left on AOL News' "Raging Calif. Fires Burn Scores of Homes." I'm quoting the whole thing, exactly as it appeared, so you can get the full flavor of this pronouncement.

"jerdking 09:54:13 PM Oct 22 2007
Report This!

"IMPEACH TERRORIST BUSH, CHENEY, WHAT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? WHILE THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES EVAPORATE, IMPERIALIST BUSH, CHENEY ARE PURSUING FRAUDULENT OIL WARS, WHEN THE WORLD SHOULD BE ON TRACK AND BURNING CLEAN VEGETABLE OILS IN DIESELS AND CLEAN BURNING ALCOHOL FUELS IN GAS ENGINES. DUMP CRIMINAL REPUBLICONS WHO ENABLE TERRORISTS BUSH, CHENEY TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD. IF INDY 500 CARS CAN TRAVEL 200 PLUS MPH ON ALCOHOL FUELS, SO CAN INDUSTRY AND AUTOMOBILES. IMPEACH TERRORIST BUSH, LOVE AMERICA."

(The same comment was posted in the same place 09:54:12 PM Oct 22 2007, and 09:54:10 PM Oct 22 2007.)

Of course, that's not news: it's someone's idea of a comment on a news item.

What's the Point of this Post?

Although I seriously doubt that the California fires are connected with the War on Terror, it isn't out of the question.

Attacking the western states of the United States with wildfires has been tried before. Around 1944, balloons from Japan started landing around the west coast of America. The balloons carried three types of bombs: explosive antipersonnel devices, and two kinds of incendiary devices.

All the effort the Japanese put into the balloon bomb program succeeded in some useful propaganda programming, and six American fatalities: five kids and a woman near Bly, Oregon. It looks like they were clustered around the balloon, and someone tugged at it the wrong way.

(There's a detailed, discussion of Japan's remarkable weapon system at "The Great Japanese Balloon Offensive.")

It Could Happen Again

The habit Islamic fanatics have of using human agents, like suicide bombers, makes arson a distinct possibility.

A handful of people with weapons no more complicated than a four-gallon backpack weed sprayer filled with alcohol or gasoline could, under the right conditions, send a nearly-unstoppable wildfire toward towns and cities in southern California.