Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The first prime minister of Syrian rebels has been
linked to U.S. Islamist groups financed by Saudi Arabia.

Ghassan Hitto, an American, was identified as a former senior member of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, linked to Hamas and the Muslim
Brotherhood. CAIR was deemed an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of
the Holy Land Foundation nearly a decade ago.

“But this is just one of his many ties to Muslim Brotherhood entities,”
Islamist Watch, which monitors Islamist groups in the West, said.

The 50-year-old Hitto, who received 35 votes out of 63 members of the
Syrian National Coalition, is also said to have worked for the the Islamic
Society of North America and North American Islamic Trust, also listed as
unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land trial. Islamist Watch said Hitto was also connected to the Muslim American Society, described by prosecutors as “the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in America.”

“Given this record, it would strain credulity to suggest that Hitto is
not an Islamist,” Islamist Watch said.

Hitto, a telecommunications executive who has long lived in Texas, was
one of several American Islamists who play a key role in the Syrian
opposition. Islamist Watch identified them as Najib Ghadbian, Louay Safi and Yaser Tabbara.

“Though their involvement does not bode well for Syria’s future,
consider the bright side: the more they focus on promoting Islamism over
there, the less time they can devote to it over here,” Islamist Watch said.

  Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ghassan Hitto, Islamist Watch, Muslim Brotherhood, Newly-chosen Syrian rebel leader has links to Islamist group CAIR, Syrian National Coalition