THIS FAR AND NO FURTHER
A Timeline of Events Surrounding the Radical Right's Attempt to Subvert American Democracy
Written and Compiled by Black Max
1993
March
- March: Ali Mohamed, a high-ranking al-Qaeda official, is arrested by Canadian authorities.
Islamist terrorism
The Canadians release him on the request of the FBI, who claims he is a US agent. Mohamed will go on to become the head of Osama bin Laden's personal security force and lead the terrorist cell that blows up the US Embassy in Kenya in 1998, among other accomplishments. He also will pass some information to the FBI between 1993 and 1997. In 1998 he will be arrested and convicted for his role in the embassy bombing. It is interesting to speculate about Mohamed's credentials. Either he is a double agent for al-Qaeda and plays the FBI and CIA for fools, or he is a true US agent, in which case the question arises: why couldn't the US assassinate bin Laden if the head of his personal security was one of their own? (CCR) - March 18: Dr. David Gunn is shot three times in the back outside the Pensacola Women's Medical Center in Pensacola, Florida, becoming the first US doctor killed during an anti-abortion demonstration.
Domestic terrorism
Anti-abortionist Michael Griffin remains on the scene, and confesses to police that he is the shooter. An employee of the office park where the clinic is located says Griffin's fellow protesters act "just happy" after the shooting. It is evident that Griffin's fellow protesters knew that Griffin was focusing his attention on Gunn, and cooperated with Griffin in some manner; the previous Sunday, Griffin asked fellow churchmembers, who include many local anti-abortion protesters, to join him in praying for Gunn's soul, and today, for the first time, protesters come armed with signs that read, "David Gunn Kills Babies." Kate Michelman, head of the National Abortion Rights Action League, calls the shooting another instance of "antichoice terrorism" and urges Congress to pass the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances bill, which would severely restrict the access of anti-abortion protesters to clinics and patients. Last summer, members of Operation Rescue distributed "Wanted" posters of Gunn at a rally in Alabama, where he lives, with his photo, phone number, and address on them; Operation Rescue personnel say they knew nothing of the posters. Griffin will be convicted one year later of first-degree premeditated murder and is serving a life sentence. (CBS, Washington Post)
