Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09EFTOASMARA34
2009-01-28 15:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS

Tags:  PREL PTER SO ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 281504Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0123
INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS E F T O ASMARA 000034 


FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER SO ER
SUBJECT: LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS

The following is an informal translation of the letter to
President Obama from Sheikh Aweys, head of the hardline
faction of the ARS resident in Asmara. A copy of the Arabic
text was sent to the desk on January 26. The original has
been pouched to the desk, registration number 4666720 Post
appreciates the assistance of Embassy Sanaa in providing the
translation.

Begin text:
In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah
And Peace and Blessing be upon the Prophet, and his Companions

Third letter: Letter of advice to Barack Obama on the day of
his inauguration as President of the United States of America.

When I heard and followed your speech during your
inauguration, I found that your speech carried new visions
toward Muslims which encouraged me to offer you this advice.

What is terrorism? What are the reasons for it? How to deal
with it? And, who are the terrorists targeted today?

Terrorism: Two types: Defamed and desired:

Defamed terrorism is the killing of a human being, fighting
him with no right, taking his money, or intimidating him
unjustly and out of aggression. Muslims call this type of
terrorism Muharabah (fighting),and those commiting it are
called Muhariboon (fighters),or bandits. The Islamic
judgment against them is known.

Or fighting to evade paying rightful dues, or for the purpose
of coercing others to give up what is in their hands.

Desired terrorism is fighting for a lawful right such as
fighting for a cause of Allah, self defense, or against
perversive aggressors on earth. This type of terrorism is
desired and loved by all nations across history.

Causes and types of condemned terrorism:

Arrogance, jealousy, desire, and doubt.

Arrogance is what caused the Fascists and Nazis to fight all
nations, take over their lands and wealth, and for that
reason, the Second World War commenced when man felt he had
enough weapons and financial strength.

Jealousy is what caused the Serbs to kill Muslims
(Bosnia-Herzegovina).

Desire is what caused those colonial countries in past
centuries to occupy people, and impose their authority on the
whole world.

Doubt is when one thinks that he is fighting for a rightful
purpose when he is not, as the fighting of a group of the
Prophet's (Peace Be Upon Him) companions in Damascus (Syria)
against a similar group in Kufa (Iraq). Muslims call these
fighters aggressors, and fighting them is also known.

Or, fighting for power, and Muslims call this a sedition
fight.

Or, fighting to take money, kill people unjustly, or
intimidate them. In Islam, this is called Al-Hirabah,
(fighting belligerents).

Fighting to force the payment of rightful fees as alms
(charity) in Islam.

How to deal with all of these:

After proving evidence against them, repel and fight them, or
repel any other possible method. This is agreed upon.

And who are the terrorists of today: I don't doubt, and
don't think any reasonable people doubt, that what is meant
by the term "terrorism" and "terrorist" is Islam and Muslims
of today as they fight, despite their weakness, war of the
weak.

The strong usually accuse the weak fighters with distasteful
names so as to alienate, find a reason to fight them, and
solicit as much assistance from others as possible against
them.

But what is the reason for that war:

No doubt, Muslims see themselves maltreated by the West,
deprived of their rights, stripped of their land, oppressed
politically, socially, economically, militarily, morally,
historically and scientifically. They were even deprived of
the industrial boom that included the whole world, and it
became a red line they cannot get close to. They either give
in to the painful reality that only adds to their
humiliation, or move. And, if they want to move, how?

Either with advice and preaching! Only a few are affected by
this method. Books and articles in newspapers and magazines,
plays, stories and others? Not too many are affected.

Politics and political parties? This is relatively stronger
(more effective) than the previous, and achieved some kind of
change, but the West stood in the way, and fighting became a
necessity for them as they found no other effective or
permissible method. The fight is unmatched (unequal),
unorganized, and unauthorized for them, and they are
terrorists any way.

Fighting for Muslims

Fighting for Muslims is a type of worship as they have a
promise from Allah (God) for one of two good outcomes (of
life): either victory or martyrdom for the path (cause) of
Allah. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for them to
surrender and raise the white flags as the Germans and
Japanese did. If a group is martyred, others carry the flag
and so on. If they all are killed, they receive their full
rewards from Allah. Also, they look at this life as nothing,
even if their homes were destroyed and wealth taken, as their
real homes are in the hereafter. They also believe that
fighting is an obligation upon each individual when the enemy
is on their land. That is why they fight as individuals and
groups, young and old, women and children. However, they
adopt extremely good war principles including peace with the
peace giver, war with the warrior, honoring promises
(commitments),good treatment, fairness, and kindness. They
are well known with these characteristics in history.

There is another reason that made them hate the West,
especially Americans, and that is their creation of the
Jewish State in the middle (east?) oppressively, offensively,
and displacing and killing of Palestinians for these people.

My advice to you toward them is the following:

UNCLAS E F T O ASMARA 000034


FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER SO ER
SUBJECT: LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS

The following is an informal translation of the letter to
President Obama from Sheikh Aweys, head of the hardline
faction of the ARS resident in Asmara. A copy of the Arabic
text was sent to the desk on January 26. The original has
been pouched to the desk, registration number 4666720 Post
appreciates the assistance of Embassy Sanaa in providing the
translation.

Begin text:
In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah
And Peace and Blessing be upon the Prophet, and his Companions

Third letter: Letter of advice to Barack Obama on the day of
his inauguration as President of the United States of America.

When I heard and followed your speech during your
inauguration, I found that your speech carried new visions
toward Muslims which encouraged me to offer you this advice.

What is terrorism? What are the reasons for it? How to deal
with it? And, who are the terrorists targeted today?

Terrorism: Two types: Defamed and desired:

Defamed terrorism is the killing of a human being, fighting
him with no right, taking his money, or intimidating him
unjustly and out of aggression. Muslims call this type of
terrorism Muharabah (fighting),and those commiting it are
called Muhariboon (fighters),or bandits. The Islamic
judgment against them is known.

Or fighting to evade paying rightful dues, or for the purpose
of coercing others to give up what is in their hands.

Desired terrorism is fighting for a lawful right such as
fighting for a cause of Allah, self defense, or against
perversive aggressors on earth. This type of terrorism is
desired and loved by all nations across history.

Causes and types of condemned terrorism:

Arrogance, jealousy, desire, and doubt.

Arrogance is what caused the Fascists and Nazis to fight all
nations, take over their lands and wealth, and for that
reason, the Second World War commenced when man felt he had
enough weapons and financial strength.

Jealousy is what caused the Serbs to kill Muslims
(Bosnia-Herzegovina).

Desire is what caused those colonial countries in past
centuries to occupy people, and impose their authority on the
whole world.

Doubt is when one thinks that he is fighting for a rightful
purpose when he is not, as the fighting of a group of the
Prophet's (Peace Be Upon Him) companions in Damascus (Syria)
against a similar group in Kufa (Iraq). Muslims call these

fighters aggressors, and fighting them is also known.

Or, fighting for power, and Muslims call this a sedition
fight.

Or, fighting to take money, kill people unjustly, or
intimidate them. In Islam, this is called Al-Hirabah,
(fighting belligerents).

Fighting to force the payment of rightful fees as alms
(charity) in Islam.

How to deal with all of these:

After proving evidence against them, repel and fight them, or
repel any other possible method. This is agreed upon.

And who are the terrorists of today: I don't doubt, and
don't think any reasonable people doubt, that what is meant
by the term "terrorism" and "terrorist" is Islam and Muslims
of today as they fight, despite their weakness, war of the
weak.

The strong usually accuse the weak fighters with distasteful
names so as to alienate, find a reason to fight them, and
solicit as much assistance from others as possible against
them.

But what is the reason for that war:

No doubt, Muslims see themselves maltreated by the West,
deprived of their rights, stripped of their land, oppressed
politically, socially, economically, militarily, morally,
historically and scientifically. They were even deprived of
the industrial boom that included the whole world, and it
became a red line they cannot get close to. They either give
in to the painful reality that only adds to their
humiliation, or move. And, if they want to move, how?

Either with advice and preaching! Only a few are affected by
this method. Books and articles in newspapers and magazines,
plays, stories and others? Not too many are affected.

Politics and political parties? This is relatively stronger
(more effective) than the previous, and achieved some kind of
change, but the West stood in the way, and fighting became a
necessity for them as they found no other effective or
permissible method. The fight is unmatched (unequal),
unorganized, and unauthorized for them, and they are
terrorists any way.

Fighting for Muslims

Fighting for Muslims is a type of worship as they have a
promise from Allah (God) for one of two good outcomes (of
life): either victory or martyrdom for the path (cause) of
Allah. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for them to
surrender and raise the white flags as the Germans and
Japanese did. If a group is martyred, others carry the flag
and so on. If they all are killed, they receive their full
rewards from Allah. Also, they look at this life as nothing,
even if their homes were destroyed and wealth taken, as their
real homes are in the hereafter. They also believe that
fighting is an obligation upon each individual when the enemy
is on their land. That is why they fight as individuals and
groups, young and old, women and children. However, they
adopt extremely good war principles including peace with the
peace giver, war with the warrior, honoring promises
(commitments),good treatment, fairness, and kindness. They
are well known with these characteristics in history.

There is another reason that made them hate the West,
especially Americans, and that is their creation of the
Jewish State in the middle (east?) oppressively, offensively,
and displacing and killing of Palestinians for these people.

My advice to you toward them is the following:


1. Withdrawal of all foreign forces from their lands (from
Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and others).


2. Offering a new reconciliation with them.


3. Allowing serious political change from the corrupt
governments in their countries.


4. Opening scientific processes in commercial, politcal
economic, military, and social fields,


5. Place responsibilities upon them, and not consider them
unfit.


6. Give them the rights you would like to have without
preferring over them with dicussion on the potential improper
(unclear).


7. Fair resolution of the axial issue, which is the
Palestinian issue.


8. Abandon your persistence not to resort to Islam for
settling issues as it is an obligation upon them.

As far as Somalia is concerned:

We complain of Americans on the following issues:

Extending to Ethiopians finance, military, media and
political support against us.

Fighting and killing of the Somali people from land, sea and
air.

Supporting warlords against nations, especially Muslims.
Supporting corrupt governments of that nation.
Failing those selected by the nation, who are expected to
repair what has been damaged by people.
Lack of respect for the choice of our people, especially if
the choice is Islam.

We want you to respect our choice as you would like to be
respected, and assist us towards charity, God-fearingness,
justice and kindness, and not towards sin and aggression, and
not assist our enemy against us.

Peace.

Hasan Taher Awes
Chairman
Alliance for Reliberation of Somalia
Asmara, Eritrea
22/1/2009
26/1/1430 (Hegira)


MCMULLEN