Ignoring the Signs

on September 22, 2017

Sudan sends Jihadists to demonstrate against sanctions at White House while back home in Khartoum military leader threatens United States

The Trump Administration is now deciding whether or not to permanently lift terrorism sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Sudan, lifted by Barack Obama just before he left office. Sudanese officials and their American representatives such as Squire Patton Boggs have lobbied for lifting, saying that Sudan’s behavior and allegiances have changed. But there are alarming signs that this is not true. And sometimes, in spite of Sudan’s “charm offensive,” those signs spills over into evidence that only the most willfully blind would miss.

On Friday, September 15, Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, was warmly welcomed to the U.S. Institute of Peace to meet with NGO’s, congressional aides, and its own eager staff. The next day, a very interesting demonstration took place in front of The White House.

Demonstrations about Sudan have been a regular occurrence at The White House for decades. Activists have gathered there to protest Sudan’s genocidal jihad against Sudan’s marginalized, black African people groups from Nuba Mountains, Darfur, and Blue Nile State, and its ambitions to displace other indigenous Sudanese – Nubians and Beja especially – and build a Caliphate. (ISIS was not the first to announce this intention.)

U.S. policy has neglected the factor that caused the need for humanitarian assistance, and makes Sudan a global security threat – Sudan’s jihad.

Step back in time a decade and beyond and there were protests of Sudan’s genocidal jihad against southern Sudan – now the Republic of South Sudan. Sudan has a recurring pattern – genocidal jihad – war against those who stand in the way of the Islamization and Arabization of all of Sudan and then all of Africa. In both cases, the United States responded with great compassion and humanitarian assistance. But U.S. policy has neglected the factor that caused the need for humanitarian assistance, and makes Sudan a global security threat – Sudan’s jihad.

Several dozen Sudanese gathered to demand that the U.S. permanently lift its sanctions on Sudan. As pro-Khartoum Sudanese living in the U.S. they are among the most wealthy and powerful – definitely not fleeing persecution and oppression like Sudan’s marginalized people. But brave counter-protestors and videographers reported that some protestors were flown in from Khartoum especially for the occasion. At times these protestors waved Qurans at the counter-protestors saying they were “traitors” and “agents.”

One face of Saturday’s protest had Sudanese men, women, and children, including pretty young girls in head scarfs, waving American flags. Many wore t-shirts adorned with both American and Sudanese flags and imploring “More Friendship” and “More Peace.” But one young woman, the first speaker in the Sudan Embassy’s video of the event, opted for the shirt of Muslim Student Association (MSA) that is found on many U.S. college campuses. The MSA is #2 in a list of organizations under the Muslim Brotherhood umbrella according to the Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America presented in the Texas Holy Land Foundation terrorism trial.

The typical “Hey, hey, ho, ho” chant continued “Sudan sanctions have got to go.” But a few folks got carried away. They apparently forgot they weren’t rallying with AntiFa, and shouted, “Donald Trump has got to go (2:07).” Again, it is Sudan’s marginalized people who are true friends of the United States and truly want peace. They reported that these pro-Khartoum, anti-Trump Sudanese had used this chant throughout the election cycle, as well.

It might be helpful for President Trump to know that these pro-Khartoum Sudanese are not M.A.G.A. types, unless you believe that making America great means establishing the caliphate here.

One of the justifications for the permanent lifting of the sanctions is Sudan’s claim that it is no longer a threat to global and American security. In fact, Sudan’s apologists, like the lobbyists and the International Crisis Group, argue that Sudan is providing the United States with counterterrorism intelligence. (ICG also said, laughably, that it “appears” that Sudan has stopped sending military aid to insurgent groups in South Sudan.)

U.S. supporters agree with Sudan’s marginalized people that even if it is true that Sudan provides intelligence to the West, it would not exonerate it from brutal, racist, jihad . But the truth is Sudan would never provide any intelligence that was not more beneficial for them than for us. Are they getting tired of some terrorist freeloading off the largesse of the Khartoum regime? Give him up to the Americans!

The other face of Saturday’s demonstration made this point with more pointed sign! Unlike the conciliatory Sudan/America love fest signs, there were some signs that said, “We demand the U.S. lift sanctions.” As one activist said, “Basically they demand the U.S. fund their jihad.” The U.S. sanctions were blasted as “crimes against the Sudanese people” by some. And some less-than-reticent demonstrators called for the destruction of Israel.

It’s all on video. But Khartoum is betting that Americans, including the government, are too lazy or too naïve to investigate.

Jihadist in Dawa clothing at The White House (photo: activist)

And what about the fellow in the strange, bright green one piece outfit, trimmed with red? Just bizarre foreign clothing to most of us. The counter-protestors, the Sudan marginalized people (who could be such an amazing resource to the U.S. government and provide real intelligence) were horrified. They explained that the man was wearing the clothing that is worn when jihad is declared – Islamic Dawa cloth and a sibha around the neck. “This is very serious,” one counter-protestor exclaimed. Another explained that these were the traditional clothes of the followers of the Mahdi, who ruled Sudan in the late 19th century.

Maybe the guy’s other suit was just in the cleaners? Khartoum makes itself clear in a statement from General Abdel Rahman M. Moussa, the head of Sudan’s Popular Defense Force. The PDF is a brutal militia that is waging genocide along with the Sudan Army, in Darfur, Blue Nile, and the Nuba Mountains. Moussa’s statement was published and spread widely in Sudan and America in Arabic.

Roughly translated, Moussa salutes “the jihadist brothers” standing at The White House and says that Sudan received the sanctions for “holding on the embers of jihad and fighting disbelief.” He says shame to the American people, “the country of blasphemy” for punishing the Father nation, and lot of other things that you will get the gist of if you can read Arabic. Among the threats, Moussa declares that “the arrogance of America and its rulers will be captured in the hands of the mujahedeen” and that America’s women and daughters will be slaves to the believers.

You can take this as “inflamed rhetoric.” That’s what the State Department usually does. Or you can believe that they mean it. It’s up to you. But if the United States permanently lifts the sanctions on Sudan, it is ignoring some pretty blatant signs. And America will be signaling that it is siding with the jihadists and mujahedeen over the victims of genocide.

Head of Sudan’s Popular Defense Force militia, Abdelrahman M Moussa

 

  1. Comment by GHEIS HAASAN on September 22, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    The sanctions should not be lifted. The regime is fascist in the of Islam but the truth nothing to do with the Islam.
    I am Nubian from north part of Sudan victim of the high dam and this regime want to build more dans Kjbar and Dal to destroy the Nubian civilization.

  2. Comment by Penny on September 25, 2017 at 12:24 am

    Thank you for trying to explain the whole Sudan situation. It is confusing and different sources seem to have their own facts. I hope someone in the government is paying attention.

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