Army Charges GI With Trying To Inform Al-Qaida

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SEATTLE -- The U.S. Army has charged a U.S. soldier with trying to provide information to the al-Qaida terrorist network, an Army official confirms.

The soldier under investigation is Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, a National Guardsman stationed at Fort Lewis outside Tacoma, Wash.

Lt. Col. Stephen Barger, Fort Lewis' public affairs officer, made a brief statement Thursday.

"Specialist Anderson will be held at the Fort Lewis Regional Corrections facility pending criminal charges of aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaida terrorist network," he said.

It's not known what information Anderson is accused of providing.

Anderson, 26, is a member of the Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, which is set to depart for a one-year deployment in Iraq.

Anderson converted to Islam five years ago, his wife told The Herald newspaper of Snohomish County, Wash., last week.

Anderson graduated from Washington State University in 2002 with a degree in military history, emphasizing the Middle East, the newspaper reported.