U.S. officials on Monday charged Maher “Mike” Hawash, an Arab-American who had been detained since March, with conspiracy to help a suspected cell of people accused of aiding al Qaeda and Taliban forces. Maher Mofeid Hawash, 39, of Hillsboro, Oregon, was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to levy war against the United States, conspiracy to provide material support to al Qaeda and conspiracy to contribute services to al Qaeda and the Taliban. Hawash, a software contractor with Intel, had been held since March 20, sparking an outcry from supporters who protested the high level of secrecy surrounding legal proceedings against him. The Justice Department said in a statement that Hawash was believed to be involved in the same activities as the “Portland Six” — a group indicted in the fall of 2002 and accused by Attorney General John Ashcroft of being part of a “suspected terrorist cell.” Hawash was charged with the same violations as Jeffrey Leon Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Ahmed Abrahim Bilal, Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal, Habis Abdullah Al Saoub and October Martinique Lewis. All six previously charged defendants had lived in Portland, Oregon. Five of the six are in custody. Al Saoub is still at large and is believed to be outside the United States. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.