The materials in FOIA 2009-0806-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. 2009-0806-F 2 FOIA 2009-0806-F contains materials related to U.S. support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan which promoted the struggle for self-determination for the Afghan people. Congressman Mark Deli Siljander served in the U.S....Read more
The materials in FOIA 2009-0806-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. 2009-0806-F 2 FOIA 2009-0806-F contains materials related to U.S. support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan which promoted the struggle for self-determination for the Afghan people. Congressman Mark Deli Siljander served in the U.S. House of Representatives from April 21, 1981 until January 3, 1987 and represented the Fourth Congressional District which was in southwestern Michigan. Siljander took an interest in conflict resolution, particularly in the Islamic world, and had tried to publicize the common ground between Christianity and Islam. He became associated with the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) which was a Columbia, Missouri based charity that had received monetary support from the U.S. government and had been openly supported by Washington insiders for many years. On January 16, 2008 the former congressman was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on five counts including money laundering, obstruction, and conspiracy related to accusations of lobbying. Siljander alleged that his lobbying consisted of using United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds to subsidize the writing of a book about strategies to undermine the influence of Islamic extremism. The indictment stated that IARA paid Siljander with money that was part of the USAID government funding awarded to the charity years earlier for relief work it promised to perform in Africa. Prosecutors allege Siljander was paid by the IARA to funnel money to an Afghan warlord. [On Wednesday, July 7, 2010, former US Representative Mark Deli Siljander, pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and working as an unregistered agent for a foreign charity linked to global terrorism. As of July 26, a sentencing date has not been set by the federal court judge.] The George Bush Presidential Subject Files contain routine government forms such as White House Correspondence Tracking Worksheets, Department of State Transmittal and Referral Forms, and National Security Council Profile and Summary Report Forms. These forms log correspondence and summarize actions taken on correspondence sent to and from the White House. There are also memos to Brent Scowcroft from staffers regarding a letter written by Afghan Resistance Leader Pir Gailani about U.S. policy toward Afghanistan. Lastly is a fax cover sheet and message from Gailani to President Bush conveying his wishes for a good new year in 1990. The George Bush Vice Presidential Staff and Office Files, which are maintained by individual staff members and offices, also contain a few routine government documents. They are a Spin File Cover Sheet, Scheduling File Tracking Sheet, and Correspondence Tracking Worksheet which log tracking information about incoming correspondence. There are also letters and memos between President Bush's staff and Siljander regarding invitations to speaking engagements, fundraisers, and photograph requests. Lastly, there are copies of radio commentary transcripts entitled "It's Your America" which were short sound bites about the 1988 presidential election. Read less