Ryan G. Anderson This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Khaleej Times Online

   www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayar - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/14/2004   Last Visited: 2/14/2004

   Ryan Anderson Khaleej Times Online
   ...
   Ryan Anderson
   ...
   Ryan G. Anderson, a National Guardsman, suspected of trying to share military information with Al Qaeda was arrested on Thursday and was being held at Fort Lewis.
   ...
   Anderson, 26, is a Muslim convert who complained bitterly in a letter to a newspaper about "bigotry, hatred and mindless rage" in the United States.
   
   The tank crewmember from the Guard's 81st Armor Brigade was taken into custody just days before he was to leave for duty in Iraq.
   
   Long before his arrest, he had made some of his beliefs known in strongly worded letters to the editor.
   
   "In my three years as an observant Muslim, I've encountered nothing but kindness, patience, courtesy and understanding from them," he wrote in a November 2002 letter to the Herald of Everett. "On the other hand, I have experienced bigotry, hatred and mindless rage from so-called `educated thinkers' here in the US"
   
   Anderson also suggested that his allegiance to the United States was conditional.
   
   In a 1998 letter published by The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, he warned: "Today I am a young soldier, sworn to protect and defend this country. But if tomorrow I find that this nation is no longer the one based upon the freedom I was taught to love, I'll have little choice but to go where I can live in freedom."
   
   And in a 2001 letter to the Spokane newspaper, Anderson said he feared war in Afghanistan, because "elements in our own society who would rob us of our individual liberties and freedoms can use the auspices of national security to steal them."
   
   Net connection
   
   Speaking on condition of anonymity, defence officials said Anderson signed on to extremist Internet chat rooms and tried to get in touch with Al Qaeda operatives. It is unclear how the US government got wind of his alleged offer to supply military information to the terrorists. It does not appear he transmitted any information to Al Qaeda, authorities said.
   
   Anderson grew up in this city 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Seattle, graduating from Cascade High School in 1995. He then attended Washington State University, where he earned a degree in history in 2002. He began studying Islam in 1999, according to his most recent letter to the Hearld in 2002.
   
   'Not too shocking'
   
   The arrest is "shocking, but it's not too shocking, knowing how Ryan is," said Nathan Knopp, a high school friend.
   ...
   Knopp, who is in the Navy, declined to talk about Anderson to The Associated Press Friday, saying the Navy asked him not to discuss the case.

2. 2. Khaleej Times Online

   www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayAr - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/14/2004   Last Visited: 2/16/2004

   Ryan Anderson Khaleej Times Online
   ...
   Ryan Anderson
   ...
   Ryan G. Anderson, a National Guardsman, suspected of trying to share military information with Al Qaeda was arrested on Thursday and was being held at Fort Lewis.
   ...
   Anderson, 26, is a Muslim convert who complained bitterly in a letter to a newspaper about "bigotry, hatred and mindless rage" in the United States.
   
   The tank crewmember from the Guard's 81st Armor Brigade was taken into custody just days before he was to leave for duty in Iraq.
   
   Long before his arrest, he had made some of his beliefs known in strongly worded letters to the editor.
   
   "In my three years as an observant Muslim, I've encountered nothing but kindness, patience, courtesy and understanding from them," he wrote in a November 2002 letter to the Herald of Everett. "On the other hand, I have experienced bigotry, hatred and mindless rage from so-called `educated thinkers' here in the US"
   
   Anderson also suggested that his allegiance to the United States was conditional.
   
   In a 1998 letter published by The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, he warned: "Today I am a young soldier, sworn to protect and defend this country. But if tomorrow I find that this nation is no longer the one based upon the freedom I was taught to love, I'll have little choice but to go where I can live in freedom."
   
   And in a 2001 letter to the Spokane newspaper, Anderson said he feared war in Afghanistan, because "elements in our own society who would rob us of our individual liberties and freedoms can use the auspices of national security to steal them."
   
   Net connection
   
   Speaking on condition of anonymity, defence officials said Anderson signed on to extremist Internet chat rooms and tried to get in touch with Al Qaeda operatives. It is unclear how the US government got wind of his alleged offer to supply military information to the terrorists. It does not appear he transmitted any information to Al Qaeda, authorities said.
   
   Anderson grew up in this city 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Seattle, graduating from Cascade High School in 1995. He then attended Washington State University, where he earned a degree in history in 2002. He began studying Islam in 1999, according to his most recent letter to the Hearld in 2002.
   
   'Not too shocking'
   
   The arrest is "shocking, but it's not too shocking, knowing how Ryan is," said Nathan Knopp, a high school friend.
   ...
   Knopp, who is in the Navy, declined to talk about Anderson to The Associated Press Friday, saying the Navy asked him not to discuss the case.