A Muslim student at the University of Arkansas, upset that his doctoral dissertation would require another six-months to defend, decided to leave off his studies and become a terrorist.

Federal agents arrested Arwah J. Jaber, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Palestine, on a criminal complaint accusing him of knowingly attempting to provide support to a foreign terrorist organization.According to a criminal affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith, an anonymous tipster from Fayetteville placed a call earlier this month to the Department of Homeland Security to inform them that Arwah Jaber, a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at UA, intended to go to Palestine to fight in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

A video of the May 14 graduation at the University of Arkansas shows Jaber joining thousand of of other students in commencement exercises. Jaber was a candidate in the program for the last four years, and according to the affidavit, had only six months left to go before he had completed his studies. But just days before graduation, Jaber's attitude had suddenly shifted as evidenced in an e-mail Jaber sent to his doctoral advisor on May 11. The professor turned over the e-mail after being questioned by investigators. It reads in part:

“Since Dr. Wilkins was unable to help me graduate this May, I have decided to take an honorable job in Palestine with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Organization to pursue a more noble cause -- freedom, justice and peace for the Palestinians and to fight the Israeli terrorism. This action will make it impossible for me to return to the states to defend my dissertation -- assuming I am still alive."

Gee, and when my thesis wasn't ready, all I did was complain about the cost of the extra semester hours.

On June 13, government officials interviewed Jaber’s wife at their Fayetteville home. She revealed that her husband had told his Ph.D. advisor in an e-mail about his plans to fight for the jihad. Investigators also interviewed Jaber that same day. He told them he would rather die fighting for freedom against what he referred to as “Israeli terrorists” than stay another six months at UA trying to complete his Ph.D.

On June 14, investigators talked with Jaber's Ph.D. advisor in the chemistry department at the university. He told them Jaber had been a student of his for five years and had never been any trouble, but that recently he had become upset when his advisor told him May was too early for him to defend his dissertation. The university confirms that Jaber was scheduled to present his dissertation on June 13, but declined to say whether that ever actually happened.

Jaber was apprehended later that day by federal agents at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport where he had plans to travel to Jordan by way of Memphis and Amsterdam, accompanied by his wife. According to the affidavit, Jaber told agents at the airport, "if he (Ahwar) died an honorable death, his wife would be taken care of financially for at least five years. His wife had no knowledge of his plan, and his knowledge of chemistry would help the jihad cause."

Now I see a real inconsistency here. The wife was able to supply information qbout his plans to the FBI, but supposedly knew nothing of this guy's plans? Hold on -- who is lying here? Probably the perp. Was the wife involved in a more substantial way, and does she need to be looked at more closely? Is she a sleeper?

The neighbors, of course, tell us these folks were such a nice, quiet couple. Makes you wonder.

How do i want this guy dealt with?

Find an isolated cell. Lock him in it. Lose the key.

Posted by: Greg at 07:13 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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