Virginia Fusion Center
VA Department of State Police
March 2009

Our organization is dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of homegrown jihad and has a great pride and regard for Virginia law enforcement agencies throughout the state.  We honor all the brave men and women who put their lives at risk every day to try and ensure the safety of the public.  We have worked with local law enforcement and have shared information that we have generated about terror threats.

We located a report issued in March, 2009 by the Virginia Fusion Center (VFC) assessing the threat of terrorism in the State of Virginia, but which is seriously deficient on matters within our research.  Included in the report is a section on an organization called Jamaat ul Fuqra, about which the Christian Action Network has performed extensive research and investigation.  Not only has our organization produced a documentary film on Jamaat ul Fuqra called, "Homegrown Jihad: The Terrorist Camps Around U.S.", but has also produced a 31-page booklet entitled, "Homegrown Terrorism: The Enemy Camps Surround U.S."

Included in the report is a section on an organization called Jamaat ul Fuqra, of which the Christian Action Network has performed extensive research and investigation.  Not only has our organization produced a documentary film on Jamaat ul Fuqra called, "Homegrown Jihad: The Terrorist Camps Around U.S.", but has also produced a 31-page booklet entitled, "Homegrown Terrorism: The Enemy Camps Surround U.S."

To the great dismay of our organization, the Virginia Terrorism Threat Assessment report contains this provocative statement regarding Christian Action Network's booklet and film.

The report states: "Although some of the content of these materials is based in fact, many inaccurate conclusions are drawn based on outdated information and speculation, with the apparent attempt to recruit members for their 'Paul Revere Brigade.'"

Despite our working relationship with local law enforcement, this purported VFC report belittles our contribution and suggests that we have an improper motive.  If the report is genuine, we respectfully request the Virginia Fusion Center to point out ANY "inaccurate conclusions," "outdated information," or "speculation" in either our film or booklet.  It should be noteworthy that nowhere in its report does the Virginia Fusion Center give examples, testimonials or citations of any "inaccurate conclusions," "outdated information," or "speculation" in our works.

After risking the safety of dedicated staff and taking significant financial risks, we are disappointed at what we read in the report as a direct attack on the integrity, legitimacy and work of our organization by the Virginia Fusion Center.  This report encourages Virginia law enforcement agencies to be dismissive of the material, evidence and reports of terrorist activity that we have provided (and continue) to provide to law enforcement.

During the same month as the release of the VFC report that denigrates our organization, CAN was meeting with federal authorities to release evidence and photographs of some of the most dangerous material ever found in the hands of Islamic extremists INSIDE the United States. 

We invite any Virginia law enforcement agency to look at our material, research and evidence to determine firsthand whether our information is outdated, speculative or inaccurate.  VFC has never contacted our organization prior to, or after, the release of this report.  The VFC report fails to identify which of our information it considers accurate and which it does not.  If the work that we share with law enforcement contains inaccuracies, the VFC should provide specifics for the benefit of local law enforcement, if not for us. 

Rather than criticize the work of Christian Action Network, the VFC would do better to take a critical look at the deficiencies in its own report on Jamaat ul-Fuqra, also known as Muslims of America (MOA).

The "2009 Virginia Terrorism Threat Assessment" report states: "…surveys were sent to all Virginia local law enforcement agencies to determine the extent of terrorism activities throughout the state."  (Page 6)

These surveys were meant to glean information on "event-specific data," "traffic stops," or "activities consistent with pre-operational attack planning." (Page 6)

The problem with these surveys is obvious within its own report.  The two main sites of MOA in Virginia are located in Charlotte County (Red House) and Prince Edward County (Meherrin). 

Yet law enforcement in NEITHER of these two counties responded to the surveys sent by VFC.  In fact, among the seven counties surrounding Charlotte and Prince Edward only two law enforcement agencies ever responded to the VFC surveys - Mecklenburg and Buckingham.  Given how Sheikh Gilani's MOA followers are spread throughout some of the surrounding counties (in particular, Campbell), it should be significant that law enforcement in Campbell, Appomattox, Cumberland, Lunenburg and Halifax gave "no response" to the VFC surveys.

How can an accurate conclusion on Jamaat ul-Fuqra in Virginia be assessed when local law enforcement hosting the two main sites of MOA does not even participate in the "terrorism threat assessment" study?

Further, why did VFC completely ignore Sheikh Gilani's "Soldiers of Allah" terrorist training tape in its report - which our organization has reported on, written about, shown in our documentary and is available to any law enforcement agency at its request?

Sheikh Gilani is seen on this tape recruiting members by saying, "You are most welcome to join one of the most advanced training courses in Islamic military warfare."

We believe this would be valuable information for Virginia law enforcement, especially since the VFC report states: "In the past, there have been paramilitary drills involving MOA members using firearms."

We also remain absolutely puzzled why VFC would use the words "in the past" when referring to the paramilitary training being conducted on Sheikh Gilani's MOA camps. 

Even the Regional Organized Crime Information Center, in a 2006 report, states:  "Several covert paramilitary training compounds exist within some of the communes.  Law enforcement are aware of seven training facilities in the ROCIC region: Marion, Alabama… Red House, Virginia."

Wouldn't it also be valuable information for Virginia law enforcement to be aware of these statements by Sheikh Gilani found on his terrorist training tape:

"We have already established a fabric of an organization under the auspices of Muslims of the Americas Incorporated.  Our organization is called 'Soldiers of Allah.'"  And elsewhere on the tape: "We will train you to be like tigers and lions."  And this statement: "I want you to understand, if any calamity comes upon you in combat, you need to understand that it will be taken care of."

The VFC "terrorism threat assessment" report concludes that the "attack capability" of Jamaat ul-Fuqra is "low."  It further states: "very little data from the past five years suggest that this group possesses the material or human resources needed to commit an attack in Virginia or the U.S."

Christian Action Network has current information that Jamaat ul-Fuqra has the "material" needed to commit an attack on the United States, though we will not say more in such a public rebuttal.  We are happy to share our information with local law enforcement as we have shared with federal authorities.

But for the VFC to also conclude that Jamaat ul-Fuqra does not have the "human resources" necessary to commit an attack on the U.S. is preposterous on its face.   It only took 19 airline hijackers inside the United States to launch the greatest attacks ever seen on American soil.  By its own admission, the VFC states: "Current estimates of active [Jamaat ul-Fuqra] membership range from 3,000-5,000 members, with some living in rural compounds."

How many active members does the VFC think its takes to launch a terrorist attack on the United States? 

As recently as June 2007, several MOA members in Hancock, NY were arrested in the terrorist plot to blow fuel tanks at JFK International Airport.  This information can easily be obtained from former Congresswoman Sue Kelly, who served 12 years in the House of Representatives (1995-2007), and was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations.    Is there a serious communication gap between anti-terrorism officials in different states?

VFC states that current "Activities by MOA members in Virginia include narcotics trafficking, surveillance and counter-surveillance efforts, attempted government infiltration, fraud, trafficking in counterfeit goods, and fundraising."

And these activities take place just in Sheikh Gilani's Virginia locations and compounds!  What does VFC think is happening in other such Gilani-controlled locations in New York, South Carolina and Georgia, to name but a few of the MOA camps, compounds and villages in America?

Does the VFC seriously believe it can assess the total danger of Jamaat ul-Fuqra by simply looking at the Virginia camps? 

Perhaps VFC investigators should make a surprise visit to Commerce, GA and spend the night observing the camp on Madinah Road before attempting to analyze the dangers of MOA.  Certainly, this would be much more productive than sending out information-gathering "surveys" that go unanswered.

Christian Action Network stands ready, willing and able to assist law enforcement in combating the dangerous threat posed by Jamaat ul-Fuqra and assisting the VFC in producing an accurate assessment of the threat.  No useful purpose is served by denigrating our efforts or by issuing deficient assessment reports.  The appropriate officials of the VFC are invited to contact us.