Counterintelligence - Espionage - Spy Case

Name	ANDERSON, Ryan G. aka Amir Abdul Rashid
Employer	US Army National Guard
Dates of Employment	May 2002-February 2004
Employee Type
Job Title/Duties	M-1 tank crew member with the 81st Armor Brigade in Fort Lewis, WA--a unit that was about to be deployed to Iraq
Military Rank	Specialist
Clearance Level	Secret

Spying For	Attempted for Al-Qaeda
Codename
Spying Dates	17 January-10 February 2004
Co-conspirators
Methodology	Used Islamic Jihadists chat room
Possible Motivations, Problems	Allegiance to Islam
Finances
Identified/ Investigation	My Cyber Counter-Jihad, by Shannen Rossmiller
Arrest Date/Location	12 Feb 2004: Arrested in Government sting operation for attempting to aid the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaeda terrorist network in violation of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice
Charges	Charge 1: Attempting to provide intelligence to the enemy Charge 2: Attempting to aid the enemy Charge 3: Discrediting the armed forces by providing military information to people he thought were terrorists
Court	Military court martial at Fort Lewis, Washington
Lawyers
Status	3 September 2004: a nine-member officer's panel at Ft. Lewis found Specialist Ryan G. Anderson guilty of five counts of seeking to aid the enemy during a time of war and attempted espionage. Sentenced him to five concurrent life terms.

Date/Place of Birth	1978, Washington state
Citizenship	US
Residences	Summer of 2003: Cambridge Square Apartments, Lynnwood, Washington Eastview Ave, Everett, Washington
Education	1995 graduate of Cascade High School, Everett, WA 1995-2002: Washington State University, graduated with degree in Military History with emphasis on the Middle East
Family	Father Bruce, Step-Mother Jaclyn Wife Erin
Other Employment
Additional Bio	Anderson said he was raised in a "zombie Lutheran home". Converted to Islam in 1999. Very large Muslim population in the Everett, WA area. According to Sept 2000 Seattle Post-Intelligencer, almost 90% of the area's Muslims are immigrants. An average of 10,000 to 12,000 people move into the Puget Sound from overseas each year, often from countries such as India, Pakistan, Somalia and Cambodia, which have large Muslim populations. In 1976, a wealthy Saudi benefactor, the father of Boeing's Saudi Airlines representative, funded construction of the first mosque (Idriss Mosque) built from the ground up, a multimillion-dollar project in Northgate that remains the area's largest. Vice president of the school’s Junior Statesmen of America club, in which students debated and discussed politics, government and the law

Documents	Charge Sheet (18 Feb 04)
Quotes	"I wish to desert from the U.S. Army. I wish to defect from the United States. I wish to join al-Qaeda, train its members and conduct terrorist attacks." National Guardsman Ryan Anderson, on an FBI sting videotape From Classmates: “It's shocking, but it's not too shocking, knowing how Ryan is. He was always a paramilitary type of guy, really into military weaponry. Ryan's kind of a weird type of guy who made up a lot of stories that seemed really far-fetched.” “He never caused any problems. He was liked and didn’t have any enemies. Something must’ve changed between high school and now.” “He was kind of a follower.” "He yearned to be accepted by his peers and tried to ‘reinvent’ himself again and again to fit in with different cliques." Ryan Anderson: "I am interested in joining a local area militia, but for the life of me cannot find anyone who is willing to give me any sort of information….All I want is a little information from a local area commander or something about joining up. I have three rifles, I can supply all my own equipment and ammo, and I have the time for weekend ops and whatnot. I am a die-hard Christian, and I do believe in America, I believe a great deal of what I have been told the Militias are defending against, even if only ideologically”. --1996 post to a militia email group “If you aren't a patriot, what right do you have to be a citizen? I believe in this country so strongly that I joined the military to fight for it, and I swore an oath to uphold and defend its ideals and Constitution -- its unabridged Constitution.” --1999 Letter to the Everett Herald "“In my three years as an observant Muslim, I've encountered nothing but kindness, patience, courtesy and understanding from them. On the other hand, I have experienced bigotry, hatred and mindless rage from so-called 'educated thinkers' here in the U.S.”--2002 Letter to the Everett Herald "I wish to meet with you, I share your cause, I wish to continue contact through conversations and personal meetings."--2004 email to a person he thought was an Al-Qaeda operative Reaction from Fellow Soldiers: “I can't even imagine. ... Our unit is tight. We're all like brothers. It’s not about religion, it’s about the person.” “You have to keep your eye on other troops. There’s been cases like this all through history.” “It’s really scaring us. You can’t even trust your own.”
Case Links	My Cyber Counter-Jihad, by Shannen Rossmiller
BOOKS

News:

Life sentence recommended for Guardsman

…Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, 27, a tank crew member whose 81st Armor Brigade unit is in Iraq, was convicted late Thursday on all five counts of trying to give the al-Qaida terrorist network information on U.S. troop strength, tactics and vulnerabilities…..(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4 September 04)

Guardsman Anderson accused of "betrayal" as court martial begins

Ryan G. Anderson was awkward, prone to exaggerate and liked to pretend he was somebody he wasn't, his military lawyer said yesterday in the first day of Anderson's court-martial. ……..(Seattle Times, 31 Aug 04)

Military trial begins for guardsman accused of trying to aid terrorists

…….But Anderson's counsel described a very different soldier: a misguided young man with mental problems "who likes to pretend he's someone he's not" and whom a government sting duped. In opening statements and in questioning of prosecution witnesses, Maj. Joseph Morse, Anderson's primary counsel, tried to establish that undercover intelligence agents who devised a strategy to catch Anderson knew of the 26-year-old guardsman's previous bouts with depression, an attempt at suicide and that a staff sergeant described him as "living in a fantasy land most of the time." ……..(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 31 Aug 04)

Soldier's mental health disputed

A Lynnwood soldier betrayed his country, the Army and his fellow soldiers when he contacted people he thought were members of the al-Qaida terrorist network, military jurors were told Monday……..(Everett Herald, 31 Aug 04)

Court-Martial Opens in al-Qaida Aid Case

……..(AP, 30 Aug 04)

Accused Guardsman Faces Court Martial

The defense for Spc. Ryan Anderson faces a black-and-white challenge: The tank crewman is shown on videotape willingly sharing military information with federal undercover agents he believed to be al-Qaida members……(AP, 30 Aug 04)

Trial Set for Soldier on al-Qaida Charges..……(AP, 29 Aug 04)

Soldier accused of plot is on video

Spc. Ryan Anderson is shown on videotape willingly sharing military information with federal undercover agents he believed to be al-Qaida members……..(Olympian, 30 Aug 04)

Soldier's military hearing begins

Army Spc. Ryan G. Anderson had a fascination for guns in recent years, and he spoke often against attempts to restrict them………(Everett Herald, 30 Aug 04)

Talk of defecting shown in video

In a covered parking garage near Seattle Center, National Guard Spc. Ryan Anderson sat in an SUV with two men who spoke with Arabic accents……….(Seattle Times, 13 May 04)

'Net sleuth' tells court of hunt that snared Guardsman

Montana city judge who doubles as an Internet sleuth helped catch a National Guard member accused of trying to help al-Qaeda, according to testimony given Wednesday at a military hearing for the guardsman………..(AP, 13 May 04)

Video records soldier's plans to join al-Qaida

Army Spc. Ryan Anderson talked with his lawyer and wrote on a notepad yesterday, but didn't look up at the screen showing an undercover video of his meeting near the Space Needle in February with two federal investigators posing as al-Qaida terrorist recruiters……….(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 13 May 04)

Evidence aired in spying case

Army Spec. Ryan G. Anderson eagerly explained to two people posing as Islamic terrorists how to kill crew members of an M1A1 Abrams tank, yet leave the tank undamaged……..(Everett Herald, 13 May 04)

Hearing Begins for Accused U.S. Soldier………(AP, 12 May 04)

Guardsman faces hearing today

A National Guardsman accused of trying to share information on U.S. troops and weapons with al-Qaida is to go before the military's equivalent of a grand jury today at Fort Lewis……..(Seattle Times, 12 May 04)

Hearing set for soldier accused of trying to aid terrorists

….Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, a member of the Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, was arrested in February and charged with four counts of attempting to provide the terrorist network with information about U.S. troop strength and tactics, as well as methods for killing Army personnel……(AP, 12 May 04)

Accused soldier faces panel

It was a warm day, probably in the summer about 16 years ago when Ryan G. Anderson and his father came to meet their new pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Everett………(Everett Herald, 12 May 04)

Hearing Set For Lynnwood Guardsman Accused Of Trying To Aid Terrorists

A 26-year-old Washington National Guard member faces a military hearing on charges that he tried to give information to al-Qaida………(KOMO-TV, 12 May 04)

Spy Suspect Was Devoted to God, Guns

Ryan Gilbert Anderson liked to shoot things. He shot coyotes for neighbors. While at college, he picked off birds from his apartment window. Mostly, he liked the weapons themselves — the feel of them, their heft and design. He was clean-cut, well-liked, devout first as a Lutheran and then later as a Muslim. But Anderson, the 26-year-old National Guardsman who stands accused of trying to help Al Qaeda, had alarmed authorities before.....(Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb 04)

Guardsman Charged With Trying to Spy for Al Qaeda

The Army has charged a member of the Washington State National Guard with attempting to supply intelligence of Army organizations and weapons systems to the Qaeda terrorist network....(New York Times, 19 Feb 04)

Army airs charges against Lynnwood guardsman

The Army has formally charged a National Guardsman from Lynnwood with attempting to supply military intelligence, including methods of killing American soldiers and destroying U.S. weapons systems, to the al-Qaida terrorist network....(Seattle Times, 19 Feb 04)

Charges filed against soldier in al-Qaida inquiry

Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, 26, who grew up in Everett and was slated to be deployed with a National Guard tank crew to Iraq next month, is accused of "knowingly" trying to "wrongfully aid and dishonorably provide" intelligence to the enemy, according to charging documents released by the Army....(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 19 Feb 04)

Lynnwood soldier is charged

National Guard Spec. Ryan Anderson of Lynnwood will face a court-martial on four charges of attempting to pass along information to the al-Qaida terrorist network.....(Everett Herald, 19 Feb 04)

Anderson charged in al-Qaida sting

Military officials at Fort Lewis announced formal charges against National Guard Spec. Ryan Gibson Anderson during a brief press conference Wednesday afternoon.....(Everett Herald, 18 Feb 04)

U.S. Soldier Charged in al-Qaida Probe

A National Guardsman is accused of trying to pass intelligence to U.S. military personnel who were posing as al-Qaida operatives, allegedly telling the phony terrorists that "I share your cause."......(AP, 19 Feb 04)

Soldier charged with trying to aid al Qaeda

A National Guard soldier stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington, was formally charged Wednesday with attempting to aid al Qaeda after he was caught in a sting operation involving the military, FBI and Justice Department....(CNN, 18 Feb 04)

Army formally charges former WSU student

Spc. Ryan Anderson, a tank crew member in the 81st Armored Brigade and 2002 WSU graduate, has been formally charged by the U.S. Army for attempting to aid al-Qaida.....(Daily Evergreen, 19 Feb 04)

Military court could try Lynnwood man

A Lynnwood man accused of trying to contact al-Qaida terrorists would be tried in a military court if he is charged with the current allegations against him...(Everett Herald, 15 Feb 04)

Sting Suspect Stressed Military Prowess

Ryan G. Anderson, a National Guardsman caught in a federal sting operation for allegedly trying to pass weapons information to al Qaeda, has been bragging for years on the Internet about his mastery of guns and his passion for all things military......(Washington Post, 14 Feb 04)

Arrested Soldier Wrote of Bigotry in U.S.

Long before his arrest, a National Guardsman suspected of trying to share military information with al-Qaida suggested that his allegiance to the United States was conditional.....(AP, 14 Feb 04)

Soldier's family responds to arrest

-- Here is the text of a written statement from the parents of Spc. Ryan Anderson, a National Guardsman from Lynnwood who is accused of aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaida terrorist network....(AP, 14 Feb 04)

Local soldier accused of trying to give al-Qaida info

Since his conversion to Islam, a National Guardsman developed an extremist ideology that led him to try to share military information with al-Qaida, defense officials say....(AP, 14 Feb 04)

Soldier held in al-Qaida probe tried to join militia group

A National Guardsman jailed for his alleged attempts to share military intelligence with the al-Qaida terrorist network apparently spent months trying to join a militia group in the mid-1990s....(AP, 14 Feb 04)

Guardsman held over links to al-Qa'ida

An American National Guardsman who converted to Islam has been arrested on suspicion of trying to pass information to al-Qa'ida....(The Independent, UK, 14 Feb 04)

Al Qaeda 'Spy' Nut's Gun Scare

In May 1998, Ryan Anderson created a major scare in his hometown of Everett, Wash., when he was spotted walking by an elementary school carrying two rifles....(New York Post, 14 Feb 04)

Spy-rap Guard hit war talk

The National Guardsman who allegedly tried to spy for Al Qaeda spoke out against war on Afghanistan in a letter published just after the Sept. 11 attacks....(New York Daily News, 14 Feb 04)

Osama Bin Laden's US spy

.....And yesterday it was revealed that he was also arrested six years ago — for waiting outside a school with a GUN....(The Sun, UK, 14 Feb 04)

Misfit soldier left trail: E-mails, chat room posts paint disturbing picture

A soldier from Lynnwood accused of using the Internet in an attempt to pass intelligence information to the al-Qaida terrorist network had a history of using computers to get in touch with people who promoted violent ideas....(Everett Herald, 14 Feb 04)

Accused soldier known for opinions on Islam, patriotism

A National Guardsman accused of trying to share military information with the al-Qaida terrorist network was passionate about firearms, his conversion to Islam in college and the military...(The Olympian, 14 Feb 04)

Accused Guardsman 's online posts show zeal for guns, military

A National Guardsman accused of trying to supply military intelligence to the al-Qaida terrorist network once described himself as a "die-hard Christian" who spent months unsuccessfully trying to join a right-wing militia group....(Seattle Times, 14 Feb 04)

Letters, old friends reveal guardsman's two passions

A National Guardsman accused of trying to share military information with the al-Qaida terrorist network had strong opinions about gun ownership, patriotism and what he described as bigotry and "mindless rage" he encountered as an observing Muslim.....(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 14 Feb 04)

Guardsman outspoken on Islam, patriotism

In a letter to the editor published in his hometown newspaper, Ryan Anderson comes across as having a firm grasp of his adopted faith as a convert to Islam....(The Olympian, 14 Feb 04)

Friends React To Soldier Arrest

A day after the arrest of 26-year-old Army Specialist Ryan Anderson his friends are shocked by the news....(KXLY-TV, 14 Feb 04)

Terror Sting Nets National Guardsman

Federal officials arrested a National Guardsman yesterday in Washington state and accused him of trying to provide information to al Qaeda's terrorist network. The soldier, Spec. Ryan G. Anderson, was caught in what government officials called a sting operation that involved federal law enforcement agents posing as al Qaeda representatives. An Army official said Anderson was offering to provide "information about the capabilities and vulnerability of some U.S. weapons systems."......(Washington Post, 13 Feb 04)

Guardsman faces charges of aiding terror network

The Army yesterday arrested a National Guardsman on suspicion that he attempted to give intelligence on the U.S. military to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.....(Washington Times, 13 Feb 04)

Guardsman Taken Into Custody and Examined for Qaeda Tie

A member of the Washington State National Guard was taken into custody on Thursday to face possible charges that he tried to pass information to Al Qaeda terrorist network.....(New York Times, 13 Feb 04)

Army Reservist Held as Alleged Spy for Al Qaeda

.....Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, a 26-year-old M-1 tank crew member with the 81st Armor Brigade in Fort Lewis, Wash., was apparently motivated by "ideology" rather than money when he allegedly tried to contact Osama bin Laden's organization to offer information on his unit's capabilities, weapons and movements, defense officials said.....(Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb 04)

U.S. Soldier Charged in Al Qaeda Sting

A U.S. National Guardsman in Washington state has been charged with trying to pass military secrets to the Islamic militant group al Qaeda after being caught in a sting operation......(Reuters, 13 Feb 04)

Soldier Accused of Trying to Aid al-Qaida ......(AP, 13 Feb 04)

Soldier held on suspicion of espionage.....(CNN, 13 Feb 04)

US soldier accused of aiding al-Qaida

A US soldier has been taken into custody for allegedly attempting to communicate with and pass information to al-Qaida.....(Al-Jazeera, 13 Feb 04)

Local soldier accused of trying to give al-Qaida info

About two years ago, a young man using the screen name "akagunfighter" joined a local Islamic Internet chat room. His real name was Ryan G. Anderson, and he could hardly have been less welcome.....(Seattle Times, 13 Feb 04)

Soldier accused of trying to aid al-Qaida
......In his Everett high school, Anderson showed a strong interest in government. At Washington State University, he worried about his right to possess rifles on campus and inquired about converting to Islam. And later in Seattle, he tried to interest fellow Muslims in shooting.....(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 13 Feb 04)

Al-Qaida probe leads to Lynnwood soldier

A Lynnwood soldier on the eve of joining the war on terror in Iraq has been accused of being a spy for the terrorist network al-Qaida.....(Everett Herald, 13 Feb 04)

Letters to The Herald voiced strong opinions

Ryan Gibson Anderson is a young man with strong opinions about his faith, his country and his right to collect firearms, according to letters he wrote The Herald over the years.....(Everett Herald, 13 Feb 04)

Guardsman in al-Qaida sting

Washington State University spokeswoman Charleen Taylor, in Pullman, said Anderson was a 2002 graduate with a degree in history. Anderson graduated from Everett's Cascade High School in 1995, the Herald of Everett reported, and at WSU studied military history with an emphasis on the Mideast. Anderson is the second Muslim soldier with Fort Lewis connections to be accused of wrongdoing related to U.S. military campaigns. Capt. James Yee, 35, a former Fort Lewis chaplain, is accused of mishandling classified information from the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba......(The Olympian, 13 Feb 04)

Area Muslims react cautiously

The arrest of a Washington National Guard member accused of trying to communicate with members of the al-Qaida organization has increased already heightened concerns among soldiers' families and the South Sound Muslim community.....(The Olympian, 13 Feb 04)

WSU graduate accused of terrorism
......It is unclear how the government got wind of his alleged offer, but authorities began monitoring his communications, the officials said. It does not appear he transmitted any information to al-Qaida.....(Daily Evergreen, 13 Feb 04)