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| Gitmo Inmate: Osama Called Himself Prophet |
| 2006-03-04 |
| SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A Pakistani millionaire held at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay testified that he met osama bin laden twice, and the al-Qaida leader called himself "a prophet." The testimony of New York Institute of Technology graduate Saifullah A. Paracha was included in thousands of pages of transcripts released Friday by the Pentagon because of a successful Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The Associated Press. F*ck the associated press.... they are hurting this country, b/c they only really print bad news. And worse yet, all for the sake of making President Bush look bad. The associated press and many Americans don't fully realize we are at war. Paracha testified in English, beginning with a joke about a doctor, an engineer and a politician. He said he owns seven businesses, including a news agency, a construction agency and a manufacturing company in Pakistan and travel agencies in New York, Washington, San Francisco, and Chicago His son has been convicted in New York of aiding terrorists. In 1999, Paracha said, he met bin Laden in Afghanistan. The following year, he returned to Afghanistan to interview bin Laden for his news agency, Universal Broadcast Ltd. "He delivered (preached) the Quran, and said he was a prophet," Paracha said. "He said very nice things, very impressive." But Paracha denied all the accusations raised in the January 2005 tribunal, conducted to determine whether he was properly classified as an "enemy combatant." Those accusations included money laundering for al-Qaida, plotting to smuggle explosives into the United States and recommending that nuclear weapons be used against U.S. soldiers. Paracha said he had written to President Bush and other U.S. officials when his son, Uzair Paracha — who faces up to 75 years in prison after his November conviction in New York for providing material support to terrorists, was arrested in May 2003. Saifullah Paracha said he was "illegally, immorally" arrested at Bangkok's airport in July 2003 and held for several days with his hands and legs bound and his eyes and ears covered before being flown to Afghanistan. He was detained there for 15 months. "I was never in hiding, and offered my availability. It was very ugly and unprofessional how I was picked (up)," he testified. Paracha, who said he lived in the United States from 1971 to 1986, said he repeatedly offered his services to his interrogators. "I can help control terrorism," he said. The U.S. Air Force colonel running the hearing, whose name was crossed out in the transcripts, told Paracha he eventually would have a chance to pursue his case in American courts. "I've been here 17 months — would that be before I expire?" Paracha asked. "I would certainly hope so, especially since you are under the care of the U.S. government," the colonel said. Paracha said he did not know why he was arrested, and that none of the charges against him were valid. "Am I being considered human being or animal, or is USA my god?" he wrote in a handwritten plea to the tribunal. "I am not your slave." this guy should be happy he is not shot in the head immediately and that we have law and order in America. |
| Posted by:bgrebel |
| #7 Doesn't matter if it's bullshit or not. This is valuable propaganda. Fake but accurate cuts both ways. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2006-03-04 20:57 |
| #6 If bin Laden really is calling himself a prophet, his neck is due for a date with a rusty sword. That's why I think this story is bullshit. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-03-04 17:49 |
| #5 "Paracha said he did not know why he was arrested, and that none of the charges against him were valid." Apparently he doesn't know the charges, but he denies them anyway. "Paracha testified in English, beginning with a joke about a doctor, an engineer and a politician." We engineers aren't taking any more crap. Fry him. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-03-04 17:48 |
| #4 If bin Laden really is calling himself a prophet, his neck is due for a date with a rusty sword. After all, we all know Mohammed was the last, final, ultimate prophet, and none may come after him. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-03-04 17:09 |
| #3 Correct me if I'm wrong... Isn't it a big no-no from a muslim to proclaim himself a "prophet"? Big Mo was supposed to be the last prophet, right? |
| Posted by: markawarka 2006-03-04 16:55 |
| #2 "He delivered (preached) the Quran, and said he was a prophet..." Prophet, no. God pretender, yes. |
| Posted by: Jules 2006-03-04 16:43 |
| #1 You aren't our slave, you're our bitch... |
| Posted by: RMcLeod 2006-03-04 16:30 |