With all the current news of a suspected terror training camp found in New Mexico I can say unequivocally there is nothing new here. Terror training camps have been known and documented all over the United States for years. Although training camps exist to support multiple ideologies, the Islamic extremist camps should be the ones that cause the most concern. Most of these camps and locations are ran by the Muslims of the Americas (MOA) formerly known as Jamaat Ul Fuqra.
These camps have been known and reported on by the FBI for decades with very little main stream media coverage. More recently a FBI Intelligence Bulletin reported:
Pakistan-based Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani founded Jamaat Ul Fuqra, now known as the Muslims of the Americas (MOA), in New York City circa 1980. MOA is a North American Sufi Islamic group consisting predominantly of African-American Muslims. The group has approximately 1500 dedicated members, who reside in nine rural jamaats (communities) in the United States: Hancock, New York (headquarters); Coldwater, Michigan; Dover, Tennessee; Sweeny, Texas; Commerce and Odum, Georgia; York, South Carolina; Red House and Meherrin, Virginia. Two are outside the United States in Barry’s Bay, Canada, and Las Lomas, Trinidad.
Organizations such as the Clarion Project report in detail on the existence and dangers these camps pose. According to their reporting:
"The first FBI document is dated November 27, 2009 and labels the Muslims of the Americas, Inc. as “armed and dangerous.” It begins by summarizing the group’s consistent history of extremism, terrorism and crime:"
“Jamaat ul-Fuqra, aka Muslims of the Americas (MOA), have a history of violence and/or violent acts. Use extreme caution when dealing with confirmed members or individuals who are believed to be associated with this group”
"The report says that Sheikh Gilani is “thought to be supportive of al-Qaeda,” perhaps referring to the group’s links to al-Qaeda affiliates like Hizbul Mujahideen, to which Fuqra has a history of ties and publicly supports event today"
Their reporting has generated so much material it prompted them to create a separate open source website. This is where they post updates regarding the Jamaat-ul–Faqra and the MOA for public viewing.
Yet another report by the Regional Organization Crime Information Center (ROCIC) identified these Suspected Jamaat ul-Fuqra Activities and locations as of 2004.
ROCIC is one of six Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) centers, serving thousands of law enforcement member agencies in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands.
Other reports indicate the reach is much more than indicated by the ROCIC. A simple search will show that the current estimate is that there are many more suspected islamic terror training camps within the USA.
Why is this a concern? Just because jihad hasn't been in the news it doesn't mean its gone away or is going away. Ideology, websites and online magazines such as Inspire, Dabiq and Rumiya still exist. Individuals still consume this material, radicalize and want to commit mass murder.
Understanding the islamist ideology of the extremest is simple, if you are not muslim they want to kill you. They also have patients and will wait to strike when their targets least expect it. This has been preached by clerics and sheiks since Islam began. That is why this new so called revelation of a training camp should not be a surprise.