An Arab-American pleaded innocent Monday to charges he tried to join up with Taliban and al-Qaida forces fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Maher “Mike” Hawash, 39, a U.S. citizen of Palestinian descent, is charged with conspiracy to levy war and conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaida, along with conspiracy to contribute services to both al-Qaida and the Taliban. Authorities said Hawash and six others — five men and a woman — were in on the alleged plot. Five of the other suspects are in custody and have pleaded innocent. The sixth remains at large. Hawash, a self-employed software engineer, is accused of traveling to China in October 2001 with the other men in a failed attempt to enter Afghanistan. The woman is accused of wiring money to the men. Full Story