Saturday, December 3, 2016

Anonymous Author Identification and Threat Analysis


To do successful Anonymous Author Identification is something that comes from years of diligent study, application, correction, and interaction from other analysts.  

To assess the level of threat, know the one making a threat and you can know more of the level of the threat.  Be guided by the language.  

There is, however, a few times when rather easy threats are discerned as deceptive, which we saw in several in 2016.  

Relentlessly Gay

Attn:  African-American Family 

are two such, and the recent Anonymous letter sent against Muslims is also one  of them.   It is a "fake hate" letter written by a Muslim.  

These relatively easy ones can be useful for instruction as well as confidence building, though they can also backfire for growth because most are not like these; with plain signals of deception.  

Statement Analysis training begins with lie detection. With a reported shop lifting event: 

"I went to the store with a friend.  Got what I needed and left."

This is not difficult to discern with basic principles applied. 

"I went to the store with a friend" is 90% likely to be truthful.  It begins with the strong, psychological presence of the subject, as seen in his pronoun, "I" and uses the continued strength of the past tense verb "went."

Then we have the word "with" found between persons, which indicates distance.  

What does "distance" mean?

It could mean quite a number of things. 

He could be distancing himself from "friend" because:

a.  he just met him (or her)
b.  the friend stole
c.  he does not want to be associated with the friend
d.  he does not like friend
e.  friend did not want to go to the store
f.  he did not want to go to the store with friend
g.  friend does not like him
h.  he wanted to go to a different store
i.  friend wanted to go to a different store 
j.  one of them did not want to steal 
k. friend wanted one item; subject wanted a different item 
l.  he does not want to reveal identity of friend 

and on it goes. 

So, which one do you choose?

I often encounter over-eager analysts who rush to choose one, and this becomes a pattern.  Eventually, this rush will lead to error.  

It always does. 

it is proper to cite the principle of distance but not to conclude anything unless the statement, moving forward, reveals the nature of the distancing language.  He did not say "My friend and I" but chose to put "with" between himself and the gender-neutral friend. 

The rush to conclusion is guess work; not analysis.  I saw one such use of this in the word "that" where the analyst's conclusion was in error.  Why?

Because "that", which showed distancing language (rather than "this"), was due to geographical distance; not a criminal need to separate oneself from conspiracy to commit a crime.  The error, by itself, ruined the conclusion for the analyst.  Something this simple, due to the desire to 'perform' or rush to judgment, hit the analyst's confidence.  It did not have to be.  

Next we have "a friend" and not "my friend", without a close relationship or even the gender revealed.  

Why?

Why does the subject want to conceal the gender?
Does the subject want to conceal the gender?  If it is a male, he is not going to say "my boyfriend", so maybe the subject does not want to actually conceal the gender. 

Next...

What does the analyst do if he or she learns that the subject was never at the store?

"I went to the store" is 90% likely to be reliable, yet the video from the store showed:  

he did not go to the store.  

The analyst is now faced with more possibilities:

a.  This subject is a very strong, habitual liar (10%) 
b.  He went to the store on a different date, and is using this as part of deception 
c.  Could there be an error in the security camera?
d.  If he never went to the store, why the need to drop the pronoun after the first sentence.  Why didn't he signal the deception with:

"Went to a store with a friend..." as so many do?


As difficult as Anonymous Author Identification is, not only is there new principles to learn, but more importantly, 

there must be a great deal of repetition as well as inclusion of ideas from others.   This helps reduce 'remote references' by the 'odds' or statistical likelihood. even where no one specific stat exists. 

It is a form of 'guidance' that helps the analysis along, leaning always towards the most likely answer, at any point along the way.  

Of course, this has its risks. 

Then, once taken, the question is posed:

Will the rest of the statement affirm, deny, or remain neutral, towards this specific position?

Once someone feels 'strongly' about a specific opinion about a point, the analyst is lost.  In AAI, this is a personality trait that works against success.  

This is an area in which "digging in the heels" is almost always ending in error.  This is why personality traits rises, naturally, to the surface, for new analysts.  The 'unresolved' psychological issues present themselves and allow for a choice:

a.  Do I confront them (or it), which may be painful, or go up against all of my defenses, and even my personal beliefs, or...

b.  Do I ignore it and press on?

b will lead to failure in analysis.  It leads, at times, to self preservation in life, but eventually, the analysis has a way of coming back and haunting the analysts. 

Many (close to most) experience a crisis of sorts during formal training.  They are reassured that their experience is not singular, and are encouraged to face "the worst possible outcome" that could exist. 

Once this is embraced and accepted, the outlook always improves.   

I believe every life is fascinating and worth of having the story told.  I love autobiographies; especially of ordinary people, though their works are not nearly as abundant.  Even family published home journals are amazing to read and are life affirming.  

I continue to see some good ideas here, but with AAI, this is not the place for any personal correction.  I can't predict how one will react, even when addressed anonymously, as it can be very painful.  

In training, analysts learn, just like in professional chess, to embrace and even enjoy corrections.  When their foundation is strong enough, I encourage them to reach out to others, who are at or near the same level of development, and begin to increase volume.  

Anonymous Author Identification and the subsequent Threat Assessment Analysis come from a progression of study:

I.  Statement Analysis Deception Detection
II. Content Analysis 
III.  Psycho-Linguistic Profiling 
IV.  Anonymous Author Identification and Threat Assessment 

The Psycho-linguistic profiling teaches that our words reveal:

1.  Our Backgrounds
2.  The things we have experienced in life
3.  Our priority (in the statement, which sometimes has multiple priorities)
4.  Our personality traits --this is, sometimes, enough to see a full diagnosis, though we do not diagnose and we recognize that the DCM changes frequently, sometimes even due to intrusion from politicians.  Therefore, we lay out the dominant traits.  

We don't "see" what does not exist, therefore, if the wording reveals "oppositional", the same wording in other statements should reveal the same.  

In detecting deception, we are at or near 100% accuracy.  

In content analysis, with the conclusion of deception detection, we find strong, 90% plus, accuracy in guiding us to what happened, when it happened, and often why it happened. 

In psycho-linguistics, we should be 80% to 85% accurate.  This is critical for the final step:

In identifying the author of an anonymous letter, yes, sometimes we can say "the subject, himself, wrote the letter" but often we are able to identify:

The subject (writer's) background.  
The subject's experiences in life, including trauma. 

What the subject's priority is:  does he seek attention?  Is he for real?  Does he want money?  Go Fund Me is very popular. 

The subject's personality traits emerge and are acutely useful for interview and interrogation strategy.  

This often tells us if we should use a male or female investigator to conduct the interview (sometimes both), whether or not we confront, or remain passive, and where we aim our questions.  (The analysis has already told us where, in the statement, to aim our questions; this is about where, in the personality of the subject, to aim). 

My example:

I asked an ADA to ask a subject if he knew about the men that visited his home while he was in jail. 

She refused.  

I asked her, via a note, to ask the question. 

She pushed the note back and shook her head "no."

I pushed it back at her and she whispered, "it'll be objected to."

I said, "I know.  Ask it."

She did.

The defense attorney vehemently objected. 

Too late. 

The subject left the witness stand and had to be restrained.

He was going to attack his wife. 

Result:  baby saved from life that included violence, drugs, and a grandfather with child pornography.  

In my interview with the subject, (in jail), I asked him,

"Are you going to attack me?"

(or, "are you going to kill me?"; it is a regular question I ask violent subjects).  

I always listen carefully to the answer and note if I am able to disarm, with a bit of humor, a dangerous subject.  If one answers, "Why should I want to hurt you?", have another present for the interview.  It's a lot wiser than relying upon a 'micro-expression' you saw on television; especially if the subject has a history of 'successful' violence.  

As the personality emerges, the identification of an anonymous author is an inexact science.  

This is why 'easy' ones can lead to error. 

Being able to identify many of the major traits, including personality of the subject, allows for us to appropriately assess the threat level.  

The journey begins with disciplined study.  

By the time the analyst has reached an advanced level of working through the psycho-linguistics, he or she has already had many hours of training with others, openly making mistakes, and embracing them.  

Statement Analysis is a science of communication.  It is, therefore, impossible to reach a level of proficiency alone. 

The professional chess instructor highlights the weaknesses in the student's game, and thus prescribes the recommended avenues of study.  Then, when the study is done, the instructor now 'proofs', or corrects and improves the areas of weakness, while also stressing the growth of successful areas. 

This is one of the most powerful secrets of success in detecting deception: 

"iron sharpens iron."

Some of you saw an example of a live 'training' session.  A comment is made regarding a specific word or portion of a statement.  The comment is then addressed:

a.  it must come from principle
b.  it must be supported by principle (including precedent)
c.  the principle must be understood (this goes beyond parroting) 
d.  there is a need to apply the principle over and over and over. 

This is done while others are 'voting' (in a sense) on the comment, seeking to learn if the statement will support it, or will deny it.  

By working with minds stronger than my own, I benefit.  

If you associate with wealthy people, over time, you may begin to imitate their ways...sacrificing, saving, investing, and...

By urging highly trained professionals to enter a training, I am being privileged to work with some of the best investigators in the nation and Europe.  

When said professionals act like "little children at Christmas", filled with excitement and wonder and incessantly learning, 

it is inspiring and I learn.  

A week ago, I was reviewing my files on analysts when I decided it was time to encourage a very sharp female analyst to take a role at teaching.  My plan was for her to take a team of new student analysts through a statement, perhaps in a session of under 2 hours, in discerning not only deception, but 'what happened.'

I have enjoyed watching her growth and her speciality area being 'subordinated' to principle.  We call this "tethering", like a strong dog on a leash, to basics, before moving into the deeper levels of analysis and it requires self restraint.  No "jumping" and no "excited pronouncements" that are highly entertaining, but only sometimes accurate.  

The last few months she has found 'peace' in surrendering her intellect, insight and experiences to principles of analysis.  

She is now 'free' to deeply explore the psycho-linguistics of advanced analysis because she is self disciplined.  She is very likely to maintain a very high level of accuracy because her foundation is not only strong, but her embracing of her foundation is strong.  

Confident in the principles, her latent talent is now permitted to 'fly' into some exciting levels.  



Solomon pointed this out thousands of years ago:


Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

This is truth. 

It is timeless. 

Time, culture, weather, opinion, nor anything else can change or affect truth.  

*****************************************************

It may seem overwhelming at times, but keep in mind that in formal training, success in detecting deception comes early and is very rewarding.  

For those enrolled in a statement analysis course, there is the opportunity to enroll in the live monthly training where all of their work, all of their study, and all of their effort is put to task, in real situations with real consequences. 

It is thrilling. 

When one enrolls in the complete Statement Analysis Course, we always include one free invitation to the live training. 

In fairness, I warn them:

it is addicting. 

When they experience what it is like to see their learning put to use in society, for justice, for victims, for the sake of truth, they are hooked; marvelously so. 

The short session on the McCann case was a glimpse of what analysts did, the night before, for more than 5 hours of live labor.  Well beyond parroting, there is exploration.  

It is exciting.  

The comments on the above anonymous "fake hate" letter show an interest in learning.  The letter contains no threat.  

It is written by a Muslim.  

                                  Can you discern:

The Sex of the author? ("his", now used for both)
The approximate age of the author?
Is English his first language?
His education level?
His possible experiences in life?
Has he experienced trauma from war torn Islamic lands?
Is he from "generation Jihad"?  (these are Islamists who are at least 2nd generation Americans, are are 'more religious' than their parents; something Europe is now noticing more and more), or
is he someone who immigrated to the U.S.?
What is his personality like?
Is his "impoverished" and lashing out from anger of poverty?

What is his priority?  In other words, why did he write this?


There is a disciplined way of taking raw talent and letting it, in the words of the subject, "shine."  

Being supported by other professionals, particularly 'off training', where you constantly work through various statements on the news, is a strongly effective method.  

There is no substitute for volume and there is no by-passing the necessity of time. 

But when you have analyzed many anonymous statements, with guided training, patterns and expectations become clearer, and so do results.  

Stay tuned for an update on the Employment Analysis for human resource professionals, hiring police departments, and business professionals who warrant discernment in hiring protocol. 

The need for trained analysts is acute.  

How do cyclists learn to go faster?

by going faster. 

How do chess players learn to play better chess?

by playing those better than themselves as well as study. 

Analysts who develop professional relationships with other analysts can cause significant increase in growth from regular contact, via email, weekly or even daily, as statements present themselves.  

In the criminal world, it is the same thing:  

We see that pedophiles often seek out other pedophiles.  This is obvious in facilitating their unnatural crimes against children, but it is also for support, as they are able to assist each other in quelling the conscience.  The notion of a pedophile "ring" is often discounted, but not by those who investigate child abuse.  






30 comments:

Statement Analysis Blog said...

When seeking to learn the sex of the subject:

think context.

It is already revealed that the author is a Muslim and it is a "fake hate" without any threat to Muslims. This is not uncommon, as some call it "the religion of grievance" which is a natural outworking of supremacy ideology. Nothing is every satisfying, nor is future and innovation weighted.

But is it a male or female?

Here is where to start in the context of muslim grievances:

Do some research on, specifically, Muslim females making complaints of any type. Limit yourself to America and female Muslims, including fake hate or genuine complaints.

Look for patterns...

What do their complaints look like?

Have any patterns emerged?

Then, compare it to what you see here.

The author does give us a lot to identify self, including sex.

Remember to try to avoid guess work, instead try to rely on 'odds' or 'statistical like' views.

Regarding the discussion of a song: how likely is it that the subject heard a song that many people have not heard of, at the republican convention AND that this song stuck in his or her brain so long that it enters here?

Compare this to: errant phraseology of someone trying to sound American and not Muslim.

This is a little insight into how analysts successfully identify authors and it also brings to the surface our own personalities. If we bristle that our idea is rejected, we will not find much success in analysis. If we dig our heels in, instead, we will fail. Worse, if we dig our heels in, and are correct here, we are now very likely to fail tomorrow. It comes down to attitude towards our own view point.

We look at what is 'more' likely. A remote or distant observation may sound really smart, but if it is remote, what are the odds of our subject knowing it?

If it is well known and well used, pointing it out will not make me seem very smart, but the odds of accuracy, that is, following the most likely trail, increase.


If this doesn't make sense, let me know and I will re-word it. It is critical for success.

Peter

Statement Analysis Blog said...

In AAI, avoid a novelty like you'd avoid a highly contagious infection.

Peter

Nic said...

- Reagan (Reaganomics - 1981 to 1989), also starred in western movies,

- Shiny - developed on the Colorado College campus http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/shiny, more cowboys. Colorado College is known as a liberal arts college, so could we say, activist oriented?

- God Bless the USA - #7 in 1984 and played at the Republican National Convention

- From the NY Times about the fear of Ronald Regan becoming POTUS:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/opinion/election-night-2016/the-example-of-ronald-reagan

“I am scared that if Ronald Reagan gets into office, we are going to see more of the Ku Klux Klan and a resurgence of the Nazi Party,” Coretta Scott King said in November, 1980. “I’m afraid things are going to blow sky high during this next term,” a nursing student said. He’s a “nitwit,” added a Democrat. “He’s shallow, superficial and frightening,” one of that year’s historic numbers of “undecideds” insisted.
______________

I think the author was vehemently against Ronald Reagan being elected POTUS and was politically active, motivated to get their candidate elected.

On the previous thread I wrote:
Speaking from a Canadian's perspective, our kids today learn to print, but they don't learn cursive. Girls usually enjoy teaching themselves, anyway, but generally speaking, boys won't make the effort. I think (<-- weakness) it is because mastering the fine dexterity skill (holding the pencil correctly and making small lines) is a lot of effort to begin with. Learning cursive, when they have access to a notepad/keyboard, in the classroom is more than required, so they have a tendency not to bother.

I believe the author is male. A couple of posters have referred to the circle over the i's, but if you look at Arabic writing examples, there are circles.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/monthly_01_2009/post-24596-1231895598.jpg

I'm going to take your advice and research muslim women complaints, Peter.


Nic said...

My above post might make me sound like I believe the author is on the young side. I don't believe that. I believe, at a minimum, the author is 50. The author addresses "children" (followers) - individuals who would look up to him/listen to him. So perhaps he is professor and/or a leader, within the muslim community.

I previously posted in the other thread that Allahu Akbar used to be Libyan's national anthem. Most Libyans practice Islam that incorporates both spiritual guide and government policy. State and religion are NOT separate. Their leaders (imam) are elected.

The author incorporates both politics and religion in the letter, which I believe is a reflection of their own personal dogma.

jmo

Mimsie said...

Side issue, kind of: http://www.torontosun.com/2016/12/02/toronto-doctors-disappearance-worries-neighbours-friends

Anonymous said...

Am I missing something? I am open to understanding if Im not "getting" what he is saying or Im missing the artistry here.

Bobcat said...

Hassam Ayloush

Activist
Male, age 46
Educated in Texas and Beirut
Executive Director at CAIR
https://www.mylife.com/hussam-ayloush/hussamayloush

Anti-Trump Fake Hate Propaganda

Bobcat said...

Hussam, not Hassam

Hey Jude said...


I think
It is written in a notebook because it's a page from a school exercise book
It was written by the owner of the exercise book
It was addressed to 'children of Satan' because it was written by a young person to other young people
The author insults the parents of the 'children of Satan'
The author uses insults learned at home
The author probably lives with grandparents or in multi-generational family
The author is female and possibly used to hearing about how filthy, vile, and in need of cleaning she or the environment is
'American Way' is a food brand sold in Europe.
'American Way' is also an inflight magazine in the US.

I think a young American Muslim who would like to be more American and less Muslim - wants a better way to be American than as an American Muslim allows. Maybe immigrated to US from Europe or has visited Europe.

The 'Americans for a better Way', made me think of the food brand, 'American Way', and that the author is as dissatisfied with her life in America as with the food brand, which is not like real American fare.

Filthy, vile, cleanse, shine, better. Might reflect domestic responsibilities/concerns, or self-loathing

---

I looked it up and found the first note was sent to a Muslim school - It could be by one of its students.

---

It like a childish hand and cliched message to me. It seems more a complaint than a threat.

---

I am willing to accept that I might be more than a bit wrong. Sort of. :) Really, I will shut up for at least a month if I am very wrong.




Bobcat said...

http://www.iioc.com/2012/hussam-ayloush/

Hussam Ayloush has five children.

His 2012 bio includes:
"Hussam has been a lifelong human rights activist who is passionate about promoting democratic societies, in the US and worldwide, in which all people, including immigrants, workers, minorities, and the needy enjoy freedom, justice, economic justice, respect, and equality.

Hussam holds a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Texas, Austin in 1994 and an M.B.A. degree from California State University, Fullerton in 1999. He took his current position as Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Southern California in 1997. Hussam has appeared on local, national and international media programs such as CNN,MSNBC, KABC,KCBS, FOX,AL-JAZEERA, KTLA, PBS,KOCE, VOA, BBC, NPR, KNX, KFWB, and KFI. He has also been interviewed and has regularly written for a number of local and national newspapers such as the LA Times, The Press-Enterprise, The Daily Breeze, The Daily Bulletin, Orange County Register, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, Pasadena Weekly, Press Telegram, San Jose Mercury News, and various newswire services on American Islamic issues.

Mr. Ayloush is a regular speaker at many California colleges, schools, Islamic centers, churches, conferences, and universities. As someone whose own close family members include Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Mormons and Jews, Hussam is an active member of various interfaith groups promoting pluralism, dialogue, understanding and cooperation among America’s and our world’s diverse faith communities. Hussam is a member of the West Coast Muslim-Catholic Dialogue and the Abrahamic Faith Peacemaking Initiative.

Hussam was recently elected as a delegate for the 71st Assembly District and Executive Board member to the CA Democratic Party (CDP) and later as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention (DNC)."

-------------------

Why does the apparently unused aerospace engineering degree bother me?

Katrina said...

A Muslim friend of mine on fb is extremely upset about this letter which was sent to a Mosque she used to attend. Muslim people are finding the letter extremely devastating. I tried reassuring her to not let an anonymous coward have power over her emotionally no matter how hurtful the words, but I don't think it helped. Apparently it has been sent to many mosques throughout the country and was sent out of CA, and the FBI is presently trying to identify the writer.

I did not feel comfortable suggesting to her that it may have actually been written by a Muslim, I simply reassured her that the FBI is on it.

I'm not sure why people, including Muslims, don't take a moment to contemplate whether the writer of the letter deserves to be given so much emotional weight considering it could as has been suggested here, be a middle-school aged kid. Apparently, the insults in the letter are very devastating.

Katrina said...

Hey Jude wrote

"Filthy, vile, cleanse, shine, better. Might reflect domestic responsibilities/concerns, or self-loathing"

That is an interesting observations Hey Jude. It really does seem to evoke an image of someone who frequently cleans dishes, bathrooms, etc, making things "shine". The self-loathing is apparent also.

Bobcat said...

In his own words.

http://virtuecenter.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2013-07-17-14/declarationhussamayloush.pdf

HUSSAM AYLOUSH declares under penalty of perjury that the following is true to the best of my knowledge:

1. I have been a lifelong human rights activist who seeks to promote societies in which all people, including immigrants, workers, minorities, and the needy enjoy freedom, justice, economic justice, respect, and equality.

2. I hold a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Texas, Austin in 1994 and an M.B.A. degree from California State University, Fullerton in 1999.

3. I have been Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) in Southern California since 1998. I have appeared in, and written for, local, state, and national media on American Islamic issues.

4. I was recently elected as a delegate for the 60th Assembly District and Executive Board member to the CA Democratic Party for a second term and earlier as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2012. Through CAIR's work of education and engagement, I have sought to maintain close contact with public officials and various law enforcement agencies to ensure a better understanding and treatment of Muslims. I serve on the board of the Muslim American Homeland Security Congress. I also formerly served on the Multi-Cultural Advisory Council (MCAC), which advises the Los Angeles bureau of the FBI.

5. I have known and worked with Cyrus McGoldrick and Linda Sarsour for years. All of us are aware of Steven Emerson’s hostility to Muslim activists in general and to CAIR in particular, and we are familiar with his frequent references to CAIR as an “unindicted coconspirator” in the case involving the Holy Land Foundation.

6. On November 19, 2012, I received a tweet from Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour), who tweeted to @cyrusmcgoldrick) and me the link to an article by Emerson with the comment, “damn these Islamophobes love us.” I understood, as would any follower of ours, that this comment about Emerson’s affection for us was not to be taken as fact, but was a sarcastic and humorous reference to how much Emerson seems to dislike CAIR, and how often Emerson tries to smear CAIR.

7. On the same day I received a tweet from McGoldrick, addressed to myself and Sarsour. “@lsarsour @hussama Steve Emerson is an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest child pornography case in US history.” I, of course, understood that McGoldrick did not mean the statement literally. Referring to Emerson as a co-conspirator in a child pornography case was obviously a way of ridiculing Emerson’s comment, which he makes frequently, that CAIR was an “unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism financing case in history.”
_________________________________
HUSSAM AYLOUSH
July 14, 2013

Katrina said...

Bobcat, are you suggesting he may have penned the letter?

Katrina said...

Oh, I see you are concerned about his degree in aerospace engineering. Could you articulate why you have posted these things so it is not left to us to guess?

Anonymous said...

The penmanship is childish. Perhaps it was dictated?

Katrina said...

This is kind of a random thought, but in looking at the letter, I almost wonder if the writer could be someone who listens to heavy metal music, due to some of the phrases

"To the children of Satan"

"You are evil"

"You worship the devil"
(I wonder if someone has said this to the author "you worship the devil", perhaps parents who said this to their child who listens to heavy metal music? Could it be a young Muslim who wrote the letter partly our of anger at his or her parents?)

"day of reckoning"

Katrina said...

A quick google search brought up a heavy metal song by Pentagram called "Day of Reckoning"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TPoH8zxPes

To me, "Children of Satan" would be a great name for a heavy metal band or album.

Katrina said...

Or, there is a heavy metal band called "Destruction" that has both an album and a song on that album called "Day of Reckoning"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiX4SBCC8Nk

Bobcat said...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/emerson-382418-muslim-muslims.html

"American Muslim organizations and student groups have made positive social contributions across many fields and institutions. Similarly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is proud of its efforts to defend civil liberties and foster mutual understanding through its coalition work and peace-building initiatives. But the likes of Emerson aren't interested in such efforts to promote peace, justice, and unity. This track record undermines their aims to conflate Islam and its 1.6 billion followers worldwide with extremism. The toxic rhetoric of Islamophobes like Emerson results in a greater susceptibility to hate-based attacks among American Muslim, Middle Eastern and Sikh communities.

Recent history has taught us that the crimes of hateful groups like the Ku Klux Klan in the U.S. and the Nazis in Germany were the natural result of a deliberate attempt to dehumanize others through their vitriolic speech and propaganda. It is a shame that the Register and Cohen would give space to the likes of Emerson whom we believe aim to marginalize the American Muslim community, and divide Orange County and America."

Mr. Ayloush fits the analysis profile. His self-proclaimed activism (Why does an activist earn an aerospace engineering degree?), writing, education, and the places he has lived and worked in his life connect him to many of the towns the letters were sent to.

Katrina said...

Lyrics to a song called "Church of Disgust" on the "Day of Reckoning Album" where the singer sings about how much he hates the Catholic Church and equates it with Satan bc of the sexual abuse scandals within the church (if I'm interpreting the lyrics correctly).

Is there a possibility the writer was displacing his hatred for the Catholic Church onto Muslims?

ESpecially with the phrase involving "cleansing"...have we considered whether that could be indicative of sexual abuse in the writer's background?

Katrina said...

Bobcat, Very interesting. You may be onto something. It really would seem too that whoever is behind the writing of the letter has some very odd political aims with the intention of making Muslims think everyone hates them, so Mr Ayloush seems to fit the profile in that way also. Excellent work Bobcat.

I am also interested in whether Peter thinks the "cleansing" reference in the note could suggest the writer has a sexual abuse history.

Foolsfeedonfolly said...

I think the writer is college-educated, with English is second language learned early. Sentence structure and verb tense usage is awkward in spots (“But, your Day of Reckoning has arrived.”. )

I *think* the author is a young (16-28 yr old + or -) Muslim male, but I could be wrong and probably am. :)

1. Muslim- Lots of Islamic phrasing and imagery. The majority of t’s have precise horizontal strike through lines. Many Arabic letters require precise horizontal mid-lines. The k’s are similar in form to Arabic k’s in the slant of the “v” piece. In Arabic, all writing is in cursive, with the letters of words flowing together (except for a few stand alones). The letter spacing, both within individual words and between words, is abnormally sporadic. In line 3, note the distance between the first 3 letters in “mother”. In line 4, in “dogs” the letters are all touching and “you are” nearly creates one word…yet “evil” is too widely spaced. In the signature line Americans for a better way, “for a” nearly becomes one word and the t’s in “better” literally do flow into each other, with blobs at the bases where the writer seems to pause, as if mindful to disconnect them.

2. Handwriting style is similar to most guys/men I know, based on my experience (the exception being left handed men-because most English letters are formed right to left, their letters require more effort and concentration, so they tend to be more carefully made="neater"). Men tend to view writing as just something that has to be done. Most girls/women tend to be more stylized, viewing handwriting as an outward expression of their personalities and personal sense of style.

3. The writer is possibly left-handed. In forming the letter “o”, they are consistently completed on the left hand side instead of at the top of the circle or on the right side. Likewise, the y’s are exacting to the point of almost being over exaggerated. The spiral binding on the left side of a notebook would cause the y’s to be more difficult to write (and therefore more pronounced).

4. Familial Priorities: The letter is addressed to the children first. That any children be raised Muslim is one of the father's most important priorities in Islam.

5. Mother's purity is the next reference: A man's honor is bound in the purity of the women of his household and must be maintained at all cost. This insult is one of the most damaging, often with fatal consequences for the family's women. The only way to restore the man's honor is by he/his sons/a close male relative killing the offending woman. The woman's purity is actually almost more culturally important than the man's reputation. It is the men who cast this aspersion to other men. It is “man’s insult” to another man. (Likewise, the “Your fathers are dogs.”)

6. The Sherriff and get out of Dodge references seem immature, in a letter that is supposed to be threatening. It’s almost as if the writer got caught up in his personal snarking of Trump and the "fun" of the deception, momentarily forgot his audience (the Muslim community and their community activist supporters) and his purpose (to instill fear and to inflame anger via anonymous “hate mail”).

Bobcat said...

There is another person to consider, Douglas "Dougie" Ibrahim Hooper.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/06/17/cair-blasts-breitbart-you-are-anti-muslim-bigots/

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed by your work Peter. I've just listened to your talks on blogtalk radio (Crimewire) about Jonbenet Ramsey. The parallels to the McCanns are undeniable. It's a shame your facebook page has descended in to chaos with all the immature arguments, when it, and you, should be respected, with proper discussion.
Best wishes, Julie

GlassWizzard said...

Mr. Hyatt, this short but important message is not related to the above post. Please address David Seamen's (of PizzaGate fame) many deceitful statements. PizzaGate will be used to cripple free speech and is a complete lie. This is so important.

I'm sorry if I should not have wrote this here, but I didn't know any other way to ask you.

Qwerty said...

The insults 'your mothers are whores' , 'your fathers are dogs', 'you worship the devil' are typical of an arabic or muslim culture. It's probably the reason why the muslims receiving the letter are so upset about it, but it makes it unlikely to have been written by someone from a non-arabic/western culture.

Bobcat said...

"Sheriff" leakage?:

http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160501/la-sheriffs-official-resigns-over-racially-insensitive-emails

LA Sheriff’s official resigns over racially-insensitive emails

The emails that led to Angel’s resignation included insensitive comments about women, Latinos, African-Americans and Muslims.

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Greater Los Angeles area chapter, said Sunday he was relieved to hear that Angel had taken ownership of his actions.

“At a time when we as a nation are dealing with issues of police brutality, abusive power and other items that impact trust of police in general, there should be zero tolerance for those who conduct themselves in such an un-befitting manner,” Ayloush said.

He added that Angel’s resignation and [Sheriff] McDonnell’s prompt acceptance of it, should serve as reminders to the rest of the country about the importance of respecting different communities.

Anonymous said...

My two cents, from a fairly new reader:

This person is Muslim.
They are female, older, highly educated, and not a recent immigrant. Maybe born and raised to young adulthood in a place like Egypt or Lebanon, someplace that has been more secular in recent decades and has educated women.
They are interested in motivating other Muslims to action, but not interested in risking their own career and reputation.

I'm making these statements based on the format of the note, the wording of insults, the choice of metaphors, familiarity with American culture from years ago, and what seems like holdover jingoistic language from the '60s and '70s.

Qwerty said...

Another thing, the mentioning of 'the devil' and 'satan' indicates that the writer of the letter is a religious person. The letter intends to convey that the writers religion is another religion than islam. However, the most logical advice to the muslims in that case would be something like, convert to the real God. Or even mention the real God. It's strange for a religious person not to mention that option. This indicates deception.