Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has concluded that Al Qaida sought
American weapons for attacks in Iraq.

Officials said Al Qaida in Iraq, or AQI, tried to procure U.S.-origin
Stinger surface-to-air missiles for the Sunni insurgency network. They said
AQI might have sent Iraqis to the United States to acquire Stinger as well
as other weapons.

On Aug. 21, Iraqi national Mohanad Hammadi pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism in a U.S. district court in Kentucky. The 24-year Hammadi as well as co-defendant Waad Alwan, arrested in an FBI undercover operation, have been charged with attempting to export Stingers to AQI in Iraq.

“None of the weapons, including Stinger missiles, nor any of the money delivered by Alwan or Hammadi in connection with the CHS [confidential human source] in the United States were provided to AQI, but instead were carefully controlled by law enforcement as part of the undercover operation,” the Justice Department said. “Neither was charged with plotting attacks within the United States.”

Hammadi is said to have represented an AQI plot to acquire American weapons from the United States. The former Iraqi resident, first indicted in May 2011, faced at least 25 years in prison on 12 counts that included attempting to support AQI.

“In open court today, Mohanad Hammadi admitted to engaging in terrorist activities here in the United States,” U.S. federal prosecutor for western Kentucky, David Hale, said. “He admitted that he tried to send numerous weapons from Kentucky to Iraq to be used against American soldiers.”

Prosecutors said Hammadi and Alwan, both arrested in May 2011, had long
been under FBI surveillance. They said both Hammadi and Alwan entered the
United States in 2009 and settled in Bowling Green Ky. where they were
approached by an undercover FBI agent. Prosecutors did not say how Hammadi
managed to enter the United States.

The undercover agent was said to have asked Alwan to help ship money and
weapons to AQI in Iraq. Prosecutors said Alwan agreed and in January 2011
recruited Hammadi, who told the agent that he had participated in the
bombings of U.S. troops in Iraq. Sentencing for Hammadi was scheduled for
Dec. 5.

“Hammadi also admitted his involvement in insurgent activities while
living in Iraq, including his membership in an insurgent group and his
participation in various attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq,” the Justice
Department said.

The FBI has participated in numerous stings of Middle East nationals in
the United States. Over the last two years, the agency has also sent
officers who posed as representatives of the Mossad to expose potential
spies for Israel.

“Using our growing suite of investigative and intelligence capabilities,
FBI agents and Analysts assigned to our Bowling Green office were able to
neutralize a potential threat,” FBI special agent Perrye Turner said.

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