Nashville News Blog

Dave Gaubatz

According to Dave Gaubatz--a former agent for the U.S. Air Force's Office of Special Investigations and a suspected right-wing loon--Nashville could be a breeding ground for Somali jihadists.

In a story on the überhawkish "security moms" website Family Security Matters--titled "Exclusive: Are Somali Jihadists in Nashville?"--Gaubatz jumps to the extreme conclusion that Nashville's Al-Farooq Islamic Center is advocating terrorism following some fairly vague assertions about materials that purportedly encourage jihadist activities. On his blog, he includes photos of some of these materials, which feature clearly seditious titles such as "A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam" and "The Concept of God in Islam."

Now keep in mind, Gaubatz is the guy who claims to have found WMDs in Iraq--or at least he found sites that weren't searched and he's certain there were WMDs there, which is the same thing, right?--and believes the Bush administration was involved in a massive cover-up to hide the discovery of WMDs (which, if you're completely out of your mind, makes a whole lot of sense).

"In short," Gaubatz opines, "I opine the leadership of Al-Farooq in Nashville advocates Islamic Jihadist activity against America and innocent people."

See the basis for his reckless contentions and much more, after the jump...

My analysis is based on the following:

1. Material (lectures, books, and manuals) by convicted terrorist supporters such as Ali al-Timimi and others is available and provided to worshippers (to include children).
2. Worshippers advocate Sharia law in its entirety.
3. A child informed my female researcher the Islamic teachers "hit" them during Islamic studies, and "her leg hurts."
4. Worshippers advised polygamy is being practiced by some men of the mosque.
5. My female researcher was escorted by an Al-Farooq worshipper to a Somalian store "hidden" in a section of Nashville that could only be located if taken there. The worshipper informed my researcher the "store" had moved because of "government problems." "Bootleg" copies of Islamic lectures/films were being provided at the store (observed by my researcher) and this store was involved in financial transactions such as sending money from America to Somalia/other locations.
6. I reviewed many of the materials distributed by the mosque and there are statements advocating killing people and destroying countries who do not live their lives under Sharia law and who oppress Islam/Muslims.
7. Sedition and treasonous activity is being advocated through the distribution of Islamic Jihadist materials.

Gaubatz goes on to say, "It is my professional opinion the people (Muslim and non-Muslim) of Nashville face potential violence being advocated by the leadership of Al-Farooq, and a 'slow and calculated' implementation of Sharia law."

In fairness, the concept that Somali jihadists are being recruited in the U.S. is not without foundation. Just a few days ago, NPR reported that the FBI believes Somali-Americans in MInneapolis are being recruited as terrorists. The folks at NPR certainly can't be accused of being right-wing shills.

But then again keep in mind that Gaubatz is behind the "Mapping Shari'a in America Project" of SANE, The Society of Americans for National Existence, whose mission is as follows:

The Society of Americans for National Existence or SANE is what its name declares: a society of sane Americans dedicated to preserving and strengthening America's national existence. By national existence we mean what you normally mean when speaking of such matters. America is a unique people bound together through a commitment to America's Judeo-Christian moral foundation and to an enduring faith and trust in G-d and in His Providence. America's founding, and its greatness was neither accident nor staging ground for some better existence or world state. America was the handiwork of faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost entirely white, who ventured from Europe to create a nation in their image of a country existing as free men under G-d. This constellation of forces existed no where else in the world and resulted in a unique people and nation.

Yes, you read that right. "faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost entirely white." Clearly Mr. Gaubatz has no agenda other than protecting U.S. citizens. Or almost entirely white U.S. citizens anyway.

It's not inconceivable that what seems be happening in Minneapolis could also happen here. The problem is that, absent any clear evidence from a legitimate, unbiased source, Gaubatz's story sounds a lot like a racist, fear-mongering, Islamophobic rant.

As if it wasn't already hard enough being a Muslim in the South.