Yes, I would have thought this would have gotten a bit more attention.
This blog points my attention to Friday story about Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, a reasonably large contributor to Republican congressional committees (more than $15,000 in the 2002 and 2004 campaign cycles). Alishtari was arrested on Thursday. And on Friday he was charged in federal court with attempting to secretly send $152,000 to Pakistan and Afghanistan to purchase equipment for terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.
Late Update: Funny. TPM Reader B points out that the New York Post chose a rather different way of reporting this story. Their lede: “A Westchester businessman and purported peace activist was nabbed by the feds for allegedly plotting to funnel more than $150,000 to terrorists at training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
No mention of Republican ties. Let me know when they follow up …
Later Update: In fairness, the Daily News ran it pretty much the same way.
Never too Late for this Story Update: Oh that’s interesting. Cunning Realist found this CV purportedly posted by Mr. Alishtari. In addition to other GOP donor awards, Alishtari says that he was appointed to something called the “White House Business Advisory Committee” in 2003. And CR ends with this point, referencing Alishtari’s CV: “Note the entrepreneurial business background with a focus on technology/security. Have any of those businesses ever received government contracts or funds? Any direct or indirect contact in the past with anyone from the Bush administration or Congress?”
Never Too Late Update: Not sure how or if this might relate to Mr. Alishtari’s indictment. But Alishtari’s company EDI Secure’s claim to fame seems to have been a patent for something called the ‘Single Use Credit Card Number.’
