Why? It’s an “all-American” thing to do. Via the Marietta Times:

Holding up newspaper clippings depicting their clients during their high school football days, defense attorneys of two Michigan men charged with aiding in terrorism called them “All-American kids” who were arrested because of a rush to judgment based on their names and race.

Prosecutors say they are confident the men are linked to a terrorist network and filed additional felony charges Thursday relating to the buying and selling of specific microchips found in only a few types of cell phones.

The two men were arrested in Marietta Tuesday.

Authorities say the phones are being modified by terrorists to make untraceable international calls and also in the production of roadside bombs.

Charged after purchasing several of the phones in Marietta earlier this week were Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, 20, and Ali Houssaiky, 20, both of Dearborn, Mich. The two appeared Thursday in Marietta Municipal Court for a bond and arraignment hearing.

The Dearbornistan duo’s lawyer bemoans the targeting of the men:

“They are All-American kids that unfortunately in this day and age — since 9/11 — have names that call them into question,” said Rolf Baumgartel, retained counsel for Houssaiky, a Wayne State University student studying to become an elementary school teacher.

It’s not their names, Rolf. It’s their actions.

This seems key:

Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Susan Vessels said Abulhassan and Houssaiky knew the phones were being used for illegal activity. She said the men were found in possession of a list detailing the specific types of phones to buy, based on the kind of microchips they use.

“Mr. Abulhassan made a statement to officers that he knew what they were doing was wrong and that he knew no one would ever use over 600 phones for legal purposes,” Vessels said. “(He also stated) he did not know for sure, but that he believed the phones and chips were being shipped overseas.”

Who gave them the list? Someone “all-American,” too?

I love the fair and balanced headline of the Marietta Times article, by the way. It’s: “Racial profiling?” Talk about burying the lede.

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Late-night tracfone shopping sprees
The Dearbornistan duo
Dearbornistan terror arrests:
Flight docs and 600+ tracphones

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