Radical Muslims in Rural Virginia -- Feb. 13, 2002

Radical Muslims in Rural Virginia -- Feb. 13, 2002

A radical Muslim group with ties to international terrorism is seeking to create a patchwork of "hide-outs" in rural southern Virginia for would-be terrorists and other extremists. The Washington Times quoted law enforcement authorities in Farmville, Virginia in its Monday edition.

The Times reports these sanctuaries, which are communes located throughout the sparsely populated, hilly countryside, have been established to follow the teachings of Sheik Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani. He is a Pakistani cleric who founded a tax-exempt Muslims of the Americas sect in 1980. This outfit is linked to a terrorist group with a stated commitment of bringing "jihad" against the United States.

Now my question is probably the same as yours: why is this group still in our country? Why hasn't it been closed down and its members deported? Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of illegal aliens remain in America. They should be gone by now. Why aren't they? I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

Radical Muslims in Rural Virginia -- Feb. 13, 2002