Former Congressman Saljander Linked To IARA’s Funding Of Al Qaeda

Mark Deli Saljander, former Republican Michigan congressman and UN Delegate, longtime supporter of bridging the gap between Christians and Muslims, to be indicted for money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, dealing with investigations into funds ($130,000) sent by the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA)  to known Taliban/Al Qaeda terrorist leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Many are going to immediately dismiss this as he did not know they were sending money to the Taliban/Al Qaeda (Iraq too), and he was lobbying in order to help the poor in those countries… Bullshit, if he is going to lobby on their behalf or anyone elses, he should know where their money is going. As a lobbiest it is his job to know who he is doing it for…

Interesting a congressman from Michigan supporting terrorists… Sounds familiar… Michigan is a hot bed of terrorist sympathizers… I wonder how much money flows from Michigan to terror organizations around the world…

I am betting the MO based IARA has ties to the Holy Land Foundation and CAIR…

WASHINGTON —  A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an Al Qaeda and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

A 42-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., accuses the Islamic American Relief Agency of paying Siljander $50,000 for the lobbying — money that turned out to be stolen from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Siljander, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, was appointed by President Reagan to serve as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations for one year in 1987.

His attorney in Kansas City, JR Hobbs, denies all the accusations made against Siljander.

“Mark Siljander vehemently denies the allegations in the Indictment and will enter a not guilty plea,” Hobbs said in an official statement.

“Mr. Siljander, a former Congressman, is internationally recognized for his good faith attempts to bridge the gap between Christian and Muslin communities worldwide. Mr. Siljander was never an officer of the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA), nor was he ever involved in any alleged efforts by IARA to engage in any prohibited financial transactions with any U.S.-designated terrorist, including Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.”

Siljander’s attorneys also say he will turn himself in where the charges were filed in Kansas City, Mo. Siljander is currently in the Washington, D.C., area, and it is not known whether he will go to an FBI office and be escorted to Kansas City or if he will travel there on his own to turn himself in.

The charges are part of a long-running case against the charity, which was formerly based in Columbia, Mo., and was designated by the Treasury Department in 2004 as a suspected fundraiser for terrorists.

In the indictment, the government alleges that IARA employed a man who had served as a fundraising aide to Usama bin Laden.

The indictment charges IARA with sending approximately $130,000 to help Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whom the United States has designated as a global terrorist. The money, sent to bank accounts in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2003 and 2004, was masked as donations to an orphanage located in buildings that Hekmatyar owned.

Authorities described Hekmatyar as an Afghan mujahedeen leader who has participated in and supported terrorist acts by Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The Justice Department said Hekmatyar “has vowed to engage in a holy war against the United States and international troops in Afghanistan.”

The charges “paints a troubling picture of an American charity organization that engaged in transactions for the benefit of terrorists and conspired with a former United States congressman to convert stolen federal funds into payments for his advocacy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein.

Siljander founded Washington-area consulting group Global Strategies, Inc. after leaving the government.

The indictment “paints a troubling picture of an American charity organization that engaged in transactions for the benefit of terrorists and conspired with a former United States congressman to convert stolen federal funds into payments for his advocacy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein.

Siljander founded Washington-area consulting group Global Strategies, Inc. after leaving the government.

Hillary Wins Empty Bag

Hillary’s 55% victory in Michigan is of significant importance because her only rival was Non-Committed, meaning that should the Primaries come to an end with a narrow margin, her rivals can use the non-committeds in MI to tip the scales… and there goes 25 delegates…

Clinton Scores Lonely Victory in Michigan’s Hobbled Democratic Primary

By Marie Horrigan, CQ Staff

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton headed off a potentially embarrassing situation Tuesday when she won Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary — a contest, tarnished by a scheduling dispute between the national and state party organizations, in which she was the only top-tier Democratic candidate on the ballot.

Clinton ended up with 55 percent of the vote in the lightly attended Democratic contest, with 40 percent of the voters choosing the “uncommitted” line.

The peculiar contest resulted from the hard line taken by the Democratic National Committee against Michigan’s rule-breaking Jan. 15 primary date, which ultimately led to the national party’s revocation of all 156 of the state’s delegates to the party’s August national convention. The DNC’s demand that most states, including Michigan, stick to a Feb. 5 starting date for the presidential nominating process prompted Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards — Clinton’s chief rivals for the nomination — to withdraw their names from the ballot.

Clinton, though she observed the party’s ban on active campaigning for the Michigan primary, left her name on the ballot; she was accompanied only by two severe longshots, Ohio Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel , and Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd , whose very poor performance in the campaign-opening Iowa caucuses Jan. 3 caused him to drop out of the race. As a result, voters who might otherwise have preferred to support Obama or Edwards had only the alternative of voting “uncommitted.”

Despite these circumstances, Clinton’s campaign declared a significant victory. “Tonight Michigan Democrats spoke loudly for a new beginning,” Clinton Campaign Manager Patti Solis Doyle said in a statement. She added: “Your voices matter. And as president, Hillary Clinton will not only keep listening, but will make sure your voice is always heard.”

The diminished status of the Michigan Democratic primary was underscored by the fact that even while the votes were being counted, the three remaining top-tier candidates for the party’s nomination — Clinton, Obama and Edwards — were participating in a national televised debate in Las Vegas in advance of the Nevada caucuses scheduled for Saturday.

It was clear that the scheduling flap depressed turnout in the Democratic primary, well below levels that would have been expected in a state where Democrats hold the governor’ office and both U.S. Senate seats and where Democratic nominees have prevailed in four consecutive elections. According to complete, unofficial returns, turnout for the simultaneous Republican primary exceeded that for the Democratic contest by more than a quarter million voters. Former Massachusetts governor (and Michigan native) Mitt Romney finished first ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain in the GOP primary.

But the state Democratic Party declared Tuesday’s primary a victory in its effort to break the overwhelming influence that the “first in the nation” Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary have long maintained in the presidential nominating process.

“It’s been painful and disappointing, I don’t want to minimize that, but I think we have expanded the national debate about reforming the system,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer told CQ Politics in the wake of his party’s hobbled primary.

“I’m hoping that because of what we’ve done this campaign season, that by 2012 we’ll have reform and no state will be guaranteed the right of always going first,” he added.

Although the national party has stripped the state of its delegates, Michigan Democrats insist they will have their full delegation restored at the national convention in Denver because of Michigan’s importance as a battleground state in the general election.

Brewer added that the skewed turnout for the primary was not an omen for the partisan contest to come. “I can tell you regardless of turnout tonight there’s enormous energy among Democrats in this state just as there is elsewhere in this country, and I expect that we’re going to have record high turnout in the fall,” he predicted.

Romney Wins Michigan – Mostly Hot Air

Mitt Romney won his home state of Michigan, however when one looks at the factors, this might not be as big of a win as the media wants you to believe.

Factors influencing the race are it is Mitt’s home turf, this father was govenor of MI for three terms, his father was President of AMC so the old timers from the auto industry know the name and probably home that Mitt can bring some manufacturing back to the US, Mitt has teamed up with terrorist supports for Hezbollah, which in Michigan is a large minority of voters especially in and near Dearbornistan, and lastly the DailyKOS made the campaign to get democrats to cross lines and vote for Romney to increase Republican bitterness, guess they are hoping the Republicans launch some Hillary/Obama tactics… The last factor is very important as MI was a loss for the Democratic rivals since they all, but Hillary, pulled out of the Primaries, leaving Hillary with an empty win and the Non committed a hanging count for later wild card usage…

Considering all of these factors you would think Romney could have at least pulled out a 50%-60% win, not a mere 39% with the closes rival at 30%…

I am curious as to how many democrates actually crossed lines to bolster Romney… I am also curious as to how many Dearbornistan Hezbollah sympathizers voted for Romney…

 Mitt Romney could only savor his Michigan primary victory for so long before having to start all over again Wednesday with the rest of the GOP presidential candidate mix in South Carolina.

Having won his second state in the Republican race for the White House, the Michigan native, who has emerged as the delegate and raw vote front-runner, was scheduled for a busy day beginning in Bluffton, S.C., and continuing until Saturday’s Republican primary.

Romney was beaming Tuesday night after winning the affection of home state poll-goers, pulling out an upset against rival John McCain by appealing to the Republican base with a strong economic and values message.

With 100 percent of the voting in, Romney earned 39 percent of the vote over McCain with 30 percent. Mike Huckabee had 16 percent while Ron Paul polled at 6 percent. Fred Thompson had 4 percent and Rudy Giuliani was at 3 percent.

“Tonight proves you can’t tell an American there’s something they just can’t do because Americans can do whatever they set their hearts on, and tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism,” Romney said to a raucous crowd of supporters in Southfield, Mich. “The lobbyists and the politicians realize that America now understands that Washington is broken and we’re going to do something about it.”

Democratic delegates are not being seated at the national convention and most of the party’s candidates withdrew from the Michigan race, leaving Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel the only active contenders on that ballot.

With 100 percent of precincts in, Clinton had won 55 percent compared to 40 percent for “uncommitted,” 4 percent for Kucinich and less than 1 percent for Gravel.

The win put Romney in a strong position heading into Saturday’s South Carolina primary, Florida’s primary on Jan. 29 and Super Tuesday on Feb. 5.

“It’s incredibly validating for the campaign,” said a senior Romney campaign official, adding that Romney is content to let his opponents — McCain, Thompson and Huckabee — go at each other as they vie for the top spot in South Carolina.

“We’ve been in the middle of all the fights so far. We’re going to let them fight for awhile. Second, third or even fourth is fine for us in South Carolina. We will be strong in Florida, regardless,” the official said.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said Romney’s message on the economy resonated with Michigan voters.

“We feel very good, very optimistic about the turnout we’ve had,” he told FOX News, adding that the governor’s message appealed to voters “who want to see somebody who can bring together economic conservatives, social conservatives and national conservatives, but also who’s the leader for the future, who’s going to bring the Republican Party back, who’s going to help bring Michigan’s economy back and the American economy back.”

McCain called Romney after the race to wish him congratulations. He then addressed supporters in South Carolina, where he and Huckabee arrived Tuesday afternoon rather than facing their expected defeats in Michigan.

“For a minute there in New Hampshire, I thought this campaign might be getting easier, but you know what? We’ve gotten pretty good at doing things the hard way, and I think we’ve shown them, we don’t mind a fight,” McCain told supporters in Charleston.

But as if there weren’t enough ill will between the two camps, McCain’s concession speech was stepped on by Romney’s delivery of his victory speech. The campaign’s two managers apparently tried to choreograph the appearances, but the Romney camp mis-timed their candidate’s arrival. McCain was coming out to make his speech as Romney’s brother was making the introduction for his sibling. As the networks went to cover the Romney remarks, McCain was cut off, leaving his camp none too pleased with the outcome.

On a different note, Huckabee, who spoke to his backers before the two other candidates got tangled up in airtime, was upbeat despite his third place finish and noted that he was outspent 50 to 1 in Michigan.

“I congratulate Mitt Romney, he won a great race. He worked hard, of course he has a great base there … So it looks like I won Iowa, John McCain won New Hampshire, Mitt Romney won Michigan, but ladies and gentleman, we’re going to win South Carolina,” he told supporters from Lexington, S.C.

“We put a flag in the ground here Saturday. We’re going to make it real clear that the first in the South primary is going to give their support to the first in the South candidate, who understands that his nation needs leadership and leadership that comes right from the earth and right from the heart of the people,” Huckabee continued.

According to an analysis of presidential advertising by the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Romney put at least $20 million of his personal fortune into his bid, campaigned in the state more than his rivals and spent more than $2 million in TV ads in Michigan. McCain paid for more than $740,00 in ads and Huckabee spent more than $480,000.

Giuliani’s campaign also issued a statement congratulating Romney.

“We congratulate Mitt Romney for wining his home state of Michigan. It’s clear after tonight that while the race remains fluid and competitive, our strategy remains on track. Rudy is going to continue to campaign aggressively in Florida and after the energy we’ve seen on the trail this past week, we’re confident that we’ll be successful on the 29th,” said senior adviser Tony Carbonetti.

Giuliani did not compete in Michigan, and has been saving his big day for Florida. A RealClearPolitics average of polls in Florida showed a tie at the top with McCain and Giuliani at 21.3 percent, Huckabee at 18.3 percent and Romney at 17 percent.

In South Carolina, Huckabee leads with 26.5 percent compared to McCain with 22.8 percent, Romney at 16.8 percent and Thompson at 10.3 percent. Giuliani has 6.8 percent and Paul is at 5 percent in that spread.

Thompson offered congratulations to Romney, but tempered his effusiveness by saying Romney tailors his message to each audience, and that kind of positioning leaves him vulnerable. In fact, Thompson, who also didn’t campaign in Michigan, said all the other candidates are flawed.

“I have drawn distinctions myself between not only Mitt Romney but John McCain,” Thompson told FOX News. “But it’s not a matter of who you’re attacking, it’s a matter of who’s the one consistent conservative and has the record to back it up in this race, and you’re talking to him.”

Low turnout appeared to help Romney in Michigan’s 2008 Republican presidential primary race, as the more committed party types braved frigid temperatures despite a night of snowfall that made traveling hazardous on Tuesday.

Only about 20 percent of eligible voters showed up at polling stations across the state, with about 12 percent of them voting in the GOP primary. All registered voters can participate in either party’s primary.

Compared to the 2000 GOP Michigan primary when more than 1.3 million people voted, and nearly 550,000, or 41.5 percent, of those votes went to George W. Bush, only about 868,000 showed up to vote Tuesday, or 65.5 percent of the 2000 vote. Romney received nearly 338,000 of those votes.

According to FOX News exit polls, of those voting in the Republican primary, 25 percent were independents and 68 percent were Republicans. Of self-identified Republicans, 40 percent favored Romney compared to 25 percent for McCain.

The independents liked McCain, going for him 34 percent to 23 percent for Romney. Of that group, 20 percent support said they supported Paul and 15 percent chose Huckabee.

The biggest driver for Republicans to go to the poll was the economy. Slightly more than half — 55 percent — of those polled said the economy is the most important issue to them. Of those voters, 41 percent voted for Romney compared to 29 percent for McCain and 14 percent for Huckabee.

Romney also won conservatives, especially those who say they’re “very conservative.” Forty-five percent of those went for Romney compared to 25 percent to Huckabee. McCain came in third among this category here with 11 percent.

The news is not all bad for McCain. For one, it appears that Romney’s attacks on McCain as a “Washington insider” incapable of bringing real change did not resonate with voters. While 30 percent said Romney is the candidate to bring about change, a close 28 percent favored McCain for that task.

As to the candidate’s character, the most important aspect for 44 percent of Michigan GOP primary voters was whether the candidate “shares my values” while 28 percent prioritized someone who says what he believes and 21 percent thought experience was the most important quality in a candidate.

In that contest, values voters sided with Romney 30 percent to Huckabee’s 27 percent, with 17 percent going for McCain and 10 percent for Paul.

As for those who made up their minds going into the voting booth, 39 percent said they voted for Romney while 25 percent went for McCain and 23 percent chose Huckabee.

FOX News’ Carl Cameron, Megyn Kelly, Jake Gibson and Sharon Kehnemui Liss contributed to this report.