Category Archives: Taliban

Joe Wilson joins with Al Jazeera to perpetuate baloney about Saddam and Al Qaeda

1 SeppmWed, 07 Sep 2011 19:27:57 -06002011-09-07T19:27:57-06:0007 2009 – 19:27

It’s been a long time since anyone cared about Joe Wilson, the erstwhile career diplomat selected by his wife to travel to Africa to find out about Saddam Hussein’s quest for uranium. Things must be slowing down for poor old Joe and that government pension courtesy of US taxpayers must not be providing the life style that he so richly desires. So, Joe is talking with Al Jazeera, the news network of Jihad and Islamofacism.

Joe is playing Al Jazeera’s tune, perpetuating the narrative that Saddam Hussein had no ties to Al Qaeda. Al Jazeera even trotted out some former Army National Guard soldier named Geoff Miller who they quote as saying that Al Qaeda in Iraq had no connection to Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda.

Make no mistake about it. That is a bald-faced lie. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would beg to differ. But, according to Al Jazeera, Miller says the US created Al Qaeda in Iraq. Well, the moron conspiracy theorists in the Islamic world are at least getting more creative. They didn’t blame this one on the Mossad for a change. Al Jazeera gives no indication of what Miller’s qualifications are, nor do they cite any evidence at all to back up this incredible statement.

It appears that despite their efforts at a makeover, Al Jazeera still really is the propaganda arm of Al Qaeda.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/the911decade/2011/09/201197155513938336.html

This gives us an opportunity to revisit the subject of Saddam Hussein’s involvement with Al Qaeda and its allied Jihadists. The facts are very different from what most people have heard. It just so happens that this blogger wrote on this very subject for Human Events a few years ago shortly after the Pentagon commissioned a report on the subject based on analysis of intelligence gathered on the ground in Iraq. The reality doesn’t match Al Jazeera’s narrative and the US news media actively sought to smother the evidence in this report when it came out over 3 years ago. I have reproduced my original article here:

The Truth About Saddam and Terrorism

by Christopher Holton

Human Events, March 21, 2008

Saddam Hussein’s Iraq had extensive ties to terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda, according to an official report published by the Pentagon’s Institute for Defense Analyses and released through the Joint Forces Command.

That report, Saddam and Terrorism: Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents, came up with some startling revelations in its 59 pages:

• Saddam’s Iraq trained terrorists for use inside and outside Iraq and in 1999 sent 10 terrorist-training graduates to London to carry out attacks throughout Europe. (Page 1)

• Saddam’s Iraq stockpiled munitions (including explosives, missile launchers and silencer-equipped small arms) at its embassies in the Middle East, Asia and parts of Europe. (Pages 3-4)

• In September of 2001, Saddam’s Iraq sought out and compiled a list of 43 suicide-bomb volunteers in a “Martyrdom Project.” (Pages 7-8)

• The report contains language from a captured Iraqi document which references an attempted assassination of Danielle Mitterand, wife of French President Francois Mitterand, by car bomb. (Page 11)

• The report’s authors describe Saddam’s Iraq as a “long-standing supporter of international terrorism” including several organizations designated as international terrorist organizations by the US State Department. (Page 13)

• Among the organizations that captured Iraqi documents indicate were supported by Saddam’s Iraq were: (Pages 13-15).

> Fatah-Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal Organization). (Author’s note: Abu Nidal was generally considered the world’s most dangerous terrorist in the late 1980s.)

> Palestine Liberation Front (led by Abu al-Abbas). (Author’s note: Abbas was the mastermind of the Achille Lauro hijacking and the murderer of American Leon Klinghoffer.)

> Renewal and Jihad Organization, which the Iraqi documents describe as a “Secret Islamic Palestinian Organization” that “believes in armed jihad against the Americans and Western interests.”

> Islamic Ulama Group, a radical Islamist group in northern Pakistan.

> The Afghani Islamic Party, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. (Author’s note: Hekmatyar is an Afghan mujahideen warlord who is worked with Osama Bin Laden during the 1990s. US intelligence agencies have lost track of Hekmatyar, but believe that he was trying to join Al Qaeda in 2002 when he released a video message calling for armed jihad against the United States. Reports from BBC-TV and CNN claim that Hekmatyar helped Osama Bin Laden escape from Tora Bora in 2002.

> Islamic Jihad Organization (Egyptian Islamic Jihad). This is perhaps the most startling revelation in the report. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was founded and led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, now Al Qaeda’s co-leader. The group is most infamous for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Zawahiri is known to have worked in the Al Qaeda organization since its inception, while he was still leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad in fact. Al Qaeda was started around 1989 and Zawahiri is said to have been a senior member from its earliest days. He was present in Afghanistan with Bin Laden at the time and later he was in Sudan with Bin Laden until being expelled in 1996 and eventually returning to Afghanistan. In 1998, Zawahiri formally merged Egyptian Islamic Jihad with Al Qaeda and has served as co-leader of Al Qaeda ever since. Iraq’s relationship with Egyptian Islamic Jihad was so close that captured documents indicate that Iraq was able to request that the group hold off on operations against the regime in Egypt in 1993.

In other words, Saddam’s Iraq had a longstanding relationship with the co-leader of Al Qaeda.

• Captured documents show that Saddam’s Iraq was training non-Iraqis in Iraqi training camps a decade before Operation Desert Storm, including fighters from the following nations: Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Eritrea, and Morroco. (Pages 15-16)

• A captured memorandum shows that Saddam’s Iraq had an agreement with an Islamist terrorist group to conduct operations against Egypt during the first Gulf War. (Page 16)

• A detailed, captured document from 1993 “illuminated how the outwardly secular Saddam regime found common cause with terrorist groups who drew their inspiration from radical Islam.” (Page 17)

• In January 1993, as the American military’s humanitarian mission was begun in Somalia, Saddam directed that Iraq “form a group to start hunting Americans present on Arab soil, especially Somalia.” (Page 18) Interestingly, Osama Bin Laden was setting up identical operations at the same time.

• Saddam’s secret intelligence service (IIS) hosted 13 conferences in 2002 for various terrorist groups. (Page 19)

• Captured Iraqi documents say that the IIS issued passports to known members of terrorist groups. (Page 19)

• Saddam’s Iraq had close ties and provided funding to Hamas, the Palestinian jihadist organization. Captured documents indicate that Hamas offered to carry out attacks for Saddam’s Iraq in return for his support. In fact, Hamas representatives informed the Iraqis that the organization had 35 armed cells around the world hidden among refugees, including in France, Sweden and Denmark. (Pages 24-25).

• Saddam’s IIS manufactured bombs in the early 1990s for terrorist Abu Abbas to conduct attacks against American and other interests. Three instances of these bombs failing are evidently the only thing that prevented terrorist attacks against these interests: (Page 30)

“A bomb intended to destroy the American ambassador’s residence in Jakarta, Indonesia failed.”

“Bombs designed to destroy the American Airlines office and Japanese embassy in the Philippines exploded prematurely and damaged only the front of the office, while killing one and wounding another of the terrorists transporting the explosives.”

• Saddam’s Iraq carried out terrorist attacks on members of humanitarian organizations operating in the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq, including Doctors Without Borders, Handicap International and UN-affiliated organizations. (Pages 31-33)

• The IIS was willing to reach out to jihadist terrorist groups, including those known to be affiliated with Al Qaeda. This includes the “Army of Muhammad” in Bahrain, which had threatened Kuwaiti authorities and had plans to attack American and Western interests. (Pages 35-36)

• The report concludes with the following question: “Is there anything in the captured archives to indicate that Saddam had the will to use his terrorist capabilities directly against the United States?” The Institute for Defense Analyses then provides the answer:

Yes.

Conclusion

Those who claim that Saddam had no “direct, operational ties” to Al Qaeda are attempting to narrow the definition of “terrorist-sponsoring nation” to an impossible scope. By this definition, a nation, like Saddam’s Iraq, can provide money, arms, safe haven and cooperation to jihadist terrorist groups and not have “direct, operational ties” to terrorists.

This was never the standard by which a nation found itself on the US State Department’s list of terrorist-sponsoring nations and implies that, unless a dictator is found directly ordering a terrorist attack, that dictator cannot be considered as linked to a terrorist group.

The “direct, operational ties” standard was invented after the overthrow of Saddam and is a ridiculous standard that can never be met.

Five years after United States forces overthrew Saddam Hussein, the Pentagon has produced a blockbuster report that has been both misrepresented and ignored. That report shows that Saddam’s Iraq had extensive ties to international terrorist groups, both Islamist and secular, including organizations that were part of Al Qaeda. No ginned up definition invented for domestic political consumption can change the truth.

By terrortrends | Also posted in Al Jazeera, Al Qaeda, Iraq, Jihad, Saddam Hussein, Zarqawi, Zawahiri | Comments (0)

Just Who ARE These “Rebels” in Libya?

1 SeppmFri, 02 Sep 2011 20:28:33 -06002011-09-02T20:28:33-06:0008 2009 – 20:28

Unfortunately, more and more evidence indicates that at least some of the Libyan rebels, including some real important ones, are Jihadists. Some have ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Take Abdul Hakeem Belhaj. He’s one of the rebel leaders and he got to where he is today by first joining the LIFG (Libyan Islamic Fighting Group). He fought in Afghanistan and left in a hurry when US forces toppled the Taliban regime. He ended up in Malaysia, where he was arrested and eventually shipped back to Libya where he was put in prison. He was either freed or escaped during the course of the uprising and now he is a rebel leader.

 

This doesn’t give us a good feeling at all, especially given the fact that Libya has stocks of uranium yellowcake and chemical agents.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/09/02/libya.belhaj.profile/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/africa/02islamist.html?_r=1

 

 

By terrortrends | Also posted in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Libya, LIFG Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, WMD | Comments (2)

Was Bin Laden in Charge and Will his Death Defeat Jihad?

1 MaypmSun, 15 May 2011 14:59:23 -06002011-05-15T14:59:23-06:0002 2009 – 14:59

In the wake of the killing of Osama Bin Laden, there is a debate as to the extent that Bin Laden was operationally in charge of Al Qaeda. There have also been those who have naively speculated that Bin Laden’s death means an end to the war on terror or even Jihad altogether.

It seems apparent that Bin Laden was actively communicating with Al Qaeda elements, but it wasn’t in real time. He used a system of couriers to relay messages via email and the internet, but went to great pains to securely communicate. This means no direct internet connection and no phones, cellular, satellite or landline.

This would preclude any real dialogue with operators and cells. It seems as if Bin Laden was able to communicate in general terms about his “commander’s intent,” but was in no position to take part in detailed planning. Bin Laden wanted his followers to carry out mass casualty attacks, he wanted the attacks to occur on important anniversaries and holidays, and he was especially interested in attacks on trains, which is not hard to believe given that Jihadists have been targeting trains in the UK, Spain, France, Germany and India in recent years.

Unfortunately, what this probably means is that the loss of Bin Laden will not operationally hinder Al Qaeda. It may hurt the group’s morale and it may erode some of the group’s financial and moral support, but it might also energize those who seek to avenge Bin Laden’s death at the hands of US special operations forces.

Al Qaeda doctrinal leader Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri still lives and he has been by far more active in communicating in recent years than Bin Laden was. Anwar Al-Awlaki is still at large in Yemen and he has been the one who has successfully trained and inspired Jihadi attacks on US targets in recent years, such as the Fort Hood Jihadi murderer, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the Underwear Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Little Rock Jihadist murderer, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad (aka Carlos Bledsoe) and the unsuccessful plot to send bombs embedded in printer cartridges from Yemen to the US on board cargo and passenger airliners.

Muslim Brotherhood apologist Peter Bergen maintains that Awlaki is a small player and that the war on terror should end with the killing of Bin Laden, but this is hardly surprising that Bergen essentially built a career around Bin Laden, including perpetuating the illusion that Bergen himself was some sort of expert on Jihad because he had managed to spend a few hours with Bin Laden in a tent 13 years ago or so.

On top of all this, there is the additional issue of groups and organizations sympathetic to Al Qaeda and allied with Al Qaeda, but not actually part of Al Qaeda. Two significant organizations fall into this category: the Taliban and Lashkar e Taiba.

The Taliban need no introduction, but many people do not realize two things about the Taliban: Taliban leader Mullah Omar specifically declined to merge with Al Qaeda and refused to take an oath of loyalty to Bin Laden. Because of this, Bin Laden exercised no operational control over the Taliban. Second, the failed Times Square bomb plot appears to have been a Taliban operation, vice an Al Qaeda operation: https://terrortrendsbulletin.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/new-york-times-square-car-bomb-bulletin/

The significance of this is that the Taliban are willing and able to attempt terrorist attacks here in America. Adding to this worry is the recent news that six American Muslims, including Imams at a Florida mosque, appear to have been raising money for the Taliban: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387185/Imam-Florida-mosque-sons-arrested-charges-financing-Taliban-Pakistan.html  Moreover, there is no ignoring the Taliban’s recent bombing attack against a Pakistani paramilitary training facility in northern Pakistan, which was declared as vengeance for Bin Laden’s death–with the promise of more to come.

Unfortunately, the slaying of Osama Bin Laden will have no operational impact on Taliban operations.

Then there is Lashkar e Taiba, the Pakistani Jihadi terrorist group which carried out the horrific Mumbai attacks. Again, this is a group that is often misidentified as an Al Qaeda affiliate, but, like the Taliban, LeT is a separate, standalone organization that declined to pledge any oath to Osama Bin Laden.

What does LeT have to do with America? Two things:

1. The Jihadist who conducted recon ahead of the Mumbai attacks was an American from Chicago named David Coleman Headley:

https://terrortrendsbulletin.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/18-american-jihadist-terrorists/

In fact, Headley also conducted recon on an Indian nuclear power plant as well:

https://terrortrendsbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/chicago-jihadi-conducted-recon-on-nuke-plant-for-lashkar-e-taiba/

2. LeT is known to be active in America:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/927uxqry.asp

Members of the group fought against US forces in Iraq back in 2004. The group is known to have a presence in Germany and the UK as well.

These are just two examples of Jihadi organizations that pose a threat to America that will not be impacted at all by the death of Bin Laden.

Then there is the “lone wolf” threat, the so-called “sudden jihad syndrome” threat in which enraged Muslims commit acts of violence because they were inspired by organizations like Al Qaeda and people like Osama Bin Laden. There have been examples of this, the most recent being the case of a Yemeni-American who tried to storm the cockpit door of an American Airlines flight whilst screaming “AllahuAkbar!” Fortunately, the reinforced door was securely locked and there were a retired Secret Service agent and retired police officer on board who subdued the subject:

http://www.examiner.com/headlines-in-san-francisco/did-yemen-man-yells-allahu-akbar-incident-outside-cockpit-door-video

Officials have issued warnings about such “lone wolf” attacks in the wake of Bin Laden getting his brains blown out:

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/05/10/bin.laden.attacks/

What of Al Qaeda itself? At least four Al Qaeda affiliates have either declared their intent to avenge Bin Laden’s death or issued veiled threats to carry on with the Jihad:

Somalia’s Al Shabaab, including Daphne, Alabama-born Jihadist, Abu Mansur Al-Amriki, mourned Bin Laden’s passing in a radio communication, confirming, incidentally, Al Qaeda’s role in fighting US forces in Somalia way back in 1993:

http://www.raxanreeb.com/?p=95817

In Indonesia, Jemmaah Islamiyah leader Abu Bakar Bashir, mourned Bin Laden and issued a veiled threat:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/jemaah-islamiyahs-abu-bakar-bashir-says-death-of-bin-laden-wont-kill-al-qaeda/story-fn3dxity-1226049072983

And, finally, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (which has been especially active in hostage taking in recent months and years) and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, both vowed to carry on with Jihad after Bin Laden’s death:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.312069e9fc4253641862a854552f7c85.8b1&show_article=1

http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/05/al_qaeda_affiliates_weigh_in_o.php

None of this takes two other significant Jihadi terrorist threats into account: Hezbollah and HAMAS.

Hezbollah has not issued any comments on Bin Laden’s death, but a former Hezbollah leader mourned Bin Laden as a hero who defended Islam:

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=45936

Hezbollah has not targeted Americans with terrorism in recent years, but they did take an active combat and advisory role against US forces in Iraq and they are believed to have a substantial presence inside the USA. Most recently, reports have once again surfaced of the group’s presence along the American-Mexico border:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4692389/terror-on-the-border/

What could touch off renewed attacks by Hezbollah? A confrontation with Iran for one.

The same can be said for the Palestinian Jihadist terrorist group HAMAS. Like Hezbollah, HAMAS is greatly dependent on Iran for financing, arms and training. Any confrontation with Iran carries with it the danger of HAMAS terror attacks. Many Americans do not remember that Palestinian terrorists used to target Americans with regularity. They stopped, not out of love for America, but to avoid being targeted by American power. HAMAS has the same basic goals as Al Qaeda and issued a eulogy honoring Bin Laden in which they bestowed upon him the honorific title “Sheikh:”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDapb1rrvk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8488479/Osama-bin-Laden-dead-Hamas-condemns-killing-of-bin-Laden.html

HAMAS is known to have conducted extensive fundraising inside America and, like Hezbollah, is believed to have a major presence inside our country.

So, we have no answers but certainly some educated guesses:

• Bin Laden was unlikely to have played an active operational role in Al Qaeda in recent times; most likely he was limited to expressing “commander’s intent” via intermediaries with little or no direct contact with operatives around the globe.

• The Jihad will of course continue.  Jihad is not limited to a few groups and it didn’t commence on September 11th, 2001. It’s been going on for a millennium and is based on Shariah doctrine, not just the personal philosophy of Osama Bin Laden. Jihad, however, can be made dormant for a period through strong resistance since, according to Shariah, Muslims are specifically not supposed to wage Jihad if they are not strong enough to do so, therefore the situation is far from hopeless.

Al Qaeda and its affiliates have pledged to continue the Jihad and allied Jihadist groups still pose an independent threat above and beyond Al Qaeda. In fact Bin Laden’s death may ironically spur them to action. This says nothing of the threat from Jihadists that were not aligned with Bin Laden, such as Hezbollah and HAMAS, who pose an ongoing, if dormant, threat to Americans.

Now is no time to rest or become complacent. Just the opposite.

By terrortrends | Also posted in 5th Column, Abu Sayyaf, Al Qaeda, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al Shabaab, Al Shahab, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Anwar Al-Awlaki, Carlos Bledsoe, Faisal Shahzad, Fort Hood Massacre, Germany, Great Britain, HAMAS, Hezbollah, Homegrown Jihad, Homeland Security, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jemaah Islamiyah, Jihad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, London transit bombings, Madrid train bombing, Mexico, Mumbai attack, Muslim Brotherhood, Nidal Malik Hasan, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Palestinian terrorism, Philippines, Somalia, Sudden Jihad Syndrome, terrorism funding, Times Square bomb attack, Uncategorized, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zawahiri | Comments (0)

Ongoing Osama Bin Laden Slaying Thread

1 MaypmMon, 02 May 2011 14:18:29 -06002011-05-02T14:18:29-06:0002 2009 – 14:18

By now all of our readers are aware of the fact that Navy SEALs killed Osama Bin Laden over the weekend in a daring raid in Pakistan.

Rather than rehash what is already being reported, TTB will establish an ongoing thread on this monumental event, with links to news articles and analysis from around the world:

Philip Klein at the Washington Examiner points out the years of work, hunting, training and rehearsals that went into accomplishing the mission of taking out Bin Laden. It is also important to point out that if not for the detention center at Guantanomo Bay, Cuba and enhanced interrogation techniques, both of which President Obama has opposed, we’d have never gotten close to finding Bin Laden:

Some time after Sept. 11, detainees held by the U.S. told interrogators about a man believed to work as a courier for bin Laden, senior administration officials said. The man was described by detainees as a protégé of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and “one of the few Al Qaeda couriers trusted by bin laden.”

Two years ago, intelligence officials began to identify areas of Pakistan where the courier and his brother operated, and the great security precautions the two men took aroused U.S. suspicions. 

While the two brothers, the couriers, had no known source of income, the compound was built in 2005 and valued at $1 million.

After exploring every angle for months, they concluded that all signs pointed to this being bin Laden’s residence.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/05/raid-got-bin-laden-was-culmination-years-work-sr-admin-official-s?utm_source=feedburner+BeltwayConfidential&utm_medium=feed+Beltway+Confidential&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeltwayConfidential+%28Beltway+Confidential%29feed&utm_content=feed&utm_term=feed

Here are some articles with brief introductions to SEAL Team 6, also known as DEVGROUP, the unit that carried out the mission that killed Bin Laden:

http://nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden-20110502

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-team-that-killed-bin-laden-seal-team-6-2011-5

From the same source, here is a Timeline for the operation to kill Bin Laden:

http://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-of-bin-laden-discovery-2011-5

Here is an article with some thoughts on how Al Qaeda may retaliate against the US for killing Bin Laden. It lists possible categories of targets. We think some of the targets are certainly likely, but that this list may not go far enough, given what we know of Al Qaeda’s prior plans. There is reason to be worried about shopping malls for instance. Security breaches at chemical and bio facilities seem remote, but attacks on petrochemical refineries and similar facilities would certainly be a concern. The article also assumes that airports and airliners are off the target list, though Al Qaeda’s history suggests they will keep trying in this sector, especially after the successful attack in an airport terminal in Moscow not long ago. We have airliners bottled up tight, but there is no security to speak of in airport terminals, where large numbers of passengers have to stand in line and are vulnerable. Then there are sporting events and music concerts. Jihadists attacked a group in Africa watching the World Cup on TV last year. Not a great article, but not a total waste of time either…

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-will-al-qaeda-militants-get-their-revenge-2011-5

Here is a similar article from ABC News, including a report that a US Marine NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Warfare unit has been urgently recalled from Japan. This indicates that there is at least some concern that Al Qaeda or its allies could have a WMD capability of some sort…

http://abcnews.go.com/US/osama-bin-laden-triggers-security-alert-recall-marine/story?id=13505844

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory about potential retaliation, though it includes scant few details:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/02/general-us-bin-laden-warnings_8444923.html

One of the most promising aspects of the Bin Laden raid is the potential treasure trove of intelligence captured. No doubt, Al Qaeda operatives and supporters around the globe are holding their breath and scrambling because they can’t be certain if the next knock on the door, or the next helicopter that passes by, could be some of America’s finest come to bring down death and destruction on them…

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20058885-503543.html

CBS News has also published a story on one intriguing aspect of this event, namely that waterboarding at Gitmo produced the initial intelligence that made it possible to track down Bin Laden. It is entirely possible–in fact LIKELY–that had Khalid Sheikh Mohammed not been waterboarded, we’d still be guessing where Bin Laden is today. And had he, and other Al Qaeda terrorists, not been classified as enemy combatants and housed in detention at Gitmo, they would never have undergone the waterboarding in the first place. It is worth noting that President Obama is now taking credit for an operation that could never have occurred had he had his way with regard to Gitmo and “enhanced interrogation” techniques…techniques which we no longer employ by the way…

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20058921-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

Another article that credits “enhanced interrogation techniques” for uncovering the intelligence that enabled US forces to find and kill Bin Laden–Obama has ended the use of those techniques…

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13512344

Now we have an article from The Telegraph in Great Britain that alerts us to the reality that Al Qaeda will not be stopped by Bin Laden’s death. The organization has been franchising itself globally for some time. It even suggests that Bin Laden was never fully in control of the global Jihadist movement, something that TTB definitely agrees with:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8488662/Al-Qaeda-The-next-generation.html

In fact, Al Qaeda has affiliates around the world now and tomorrow’s Al Qaeda leaders may comes from several affiliated terrorist organizations:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/following_bin_ladens_death_al_qaeda_affiliates_in_africa_middle_east_poised_to_produce_new_leaders/2011/05/02/AFaJIwYF_story.html

The next two articles are sad reminders of the tens of thousands of lives Osama Bin Laden’s evil touched through violent Jihad. Back in August of 1998, hundreds of people were killed in East Africa in what was, up to that point, Al Qaeda’s bloodiest attack. Then in 2002, Al Qaeda struck in Bali, Indonesia, killing hundreds of mostly Australian tourists…

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/tears-kenyas-1998-us-embassy-bombing-somalias-al-114638162.html

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/relief-for-bali-bombing-victims-following-osama-bin-ladens-death/story-e6frf7jo-1226048732274

We find the whole emphasis on handling the monster Bin Laden’s remains according to “Islamic tradition” to be troubling as hell. It was almost as if we were showing respect for a mass murderer. Had he been any religion other than Islam there would have been no thought or mention of the religious aspects of how his remains were to be treated. The SEALs do the heavy lifting while the geeks continue to insist that we chase our tails.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/02/bin-laden-given-religious-funeral-prior-sea-burial/

National Journal has aerial photos of Bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan. Hard to believe the Pakistani military didn’t know he was there…

http://www.nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/pictures-u-s-photos-of-the-bin-laden-compound-20110502#photo_0

It’s almost impossible to believe that the Pakistani military didn’t know where Bin Laden was. The available evidence suggests that they were harboring him…

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN_BIN_LADEN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-02-18-25-32

Now that Bin Laden is dead, his sympathizers and allies are making threats. In Great Britain, a guy who really needs to be in prison, Anjem Choudary, has predicted another “7/7” attack as a result of Bin Laden’s death…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8487822/Osama-bin-Laden-dead-followers-warn-of-another-77.html

As a result of veiled and overt threats, we are seeing examples of increased security and warnings from terrorism experts.

There are very visible signs of increased security in New York and Washington, the two targets of the September 11th attacks:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-02/security-heightened-in-new-york-washington-following-killing-of-bin-laden.html

Logan Airport in Boston was one of the airports transited by the September 11th hijackers a decade ago. Today, that airport has instituted tighter security precautions:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/east_boston/2011/05/at_logan_airport_and_around_bo_1.html

There is understandably widespread euphoria across America about Bin Laden’s demise, unfortunately, the Jihadist’s death may not make us any safer. This analysis comes from Steve Emerson’s Investigative Project on Terrorism:

That threat could come from “lone wolf” terrorists as much as from al-Qaida followers. In recent years, bin Laden has been viewed more as an iconic figure for al-Qaida rather than the controlling hand he enjoyed before the 9/11 attacks. The group has split into smaller, autonomous cells and networks, and its ubiquitous Internet presence reaches

In February, U.S. intelligence officials identified Yemen-based American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki as a bigger threat than bin Laden. Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan and attempted Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad are among those Awlaki communicated with or inspired. During his sentencing, Shahzad defiantly told the court he tried to wage war against America because he believed the country was at war with Islam.

Meanwhile, a series of plots by homegrown radical Islamists were prevented only because of pro-active sting operations initiated by the FBI.

To close out this posting for 2 May, Jihadists around the world are making threats to avenge Bin Laden:

Jihadists in the Philippines have declared Bin Laden a martyr:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/02/11/moro-rebels-call-bin-laden-martyr

Hamas has condemned the killing of Bin Laden:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/02/hamas-leader-condemns-killing-usama-bin-laden/

The Taliban have vowed to avenge Bin Laden’s death:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/osama-how-he-died/

Less well-known Jihadis have chimed in on Bin Laden’s death too:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/02/us-binladen-militants-idUSTRE74147320110502

By terrortrends | Also posted in Al Qaeda, al Shabaab, Al Shahab, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Anwar Al-Awlaki, Guantanomo, Homeland Security, Jemaah Islamiyah, Jihad, Kenya, Lashkar-e-Taiba, LIFG Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, London transit bombings, Madrid train bombing, Morocco, Obama, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia | Comments (0)

Ron Paul: Blame America First for Jihad

1 ApramTue, 26 Apr 2011 06:22:11 -06002011-04-26T06:22:11-06:0006 2009 – 06:22

Ron Paul is at it again.

But let’s not get to worked up about the crazy old loon. After all, he’ll be 76 in August. That will make him 77 by the time the next president is inaugurated. That’s nearly the age President Reagan was when he left office after two terms.

Ron Paul isn’t in this race to win. He’s one of those perpetual candidates for president who just adores the attention.

In his latest appearance on Fox News, Paul manages to stick to his McGovern-like “Blame America First” script with the tired old assumption that Jihad is being waged against us just because we are in Saudi Arabia, or Iraq, or Afghanistan, or especially because we are an ally of Israel. Paul appears to be a disciple of Michael Schuerer, who has been spouting that line since BEFORE he left the CIA.

Anyway, the good folks at Gateway Pundit posted Paul’s appearance. My comments follow the link:

http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2011/04/crazy-ron-paul-still-blames-the-us-for-islamic-extremism-video/

Here are my thoughts:

It is interesting that Ron Paul bases his entire philosophy on the global Islamic insurgency on the opinions of Michael Sheuer. Michael Sheuer epitomizes all that is wrong with America’s bureaucratized counterterrorism apparatus. First of all, he broke longstanding CIA regulations at the encouragement of his politicized superiors to write a book while in active service. This alone makes him a scumbag in my book. Thousands of honorable CIA operators could have done the same, but none did. There is a reason. It’s called honor. Second, Sheuer had a uniquely disturbing career in the CIA. A career analyst with no field experience, he was somehow allowed to become a case officer and eventually found himself in charge of the CIA unit tasked with killing or capturing Bin Laden. He failed miserably. Moreover, if you actually read his work, it is readily apparent that Sheuer has at best a superficial level of knowledge of Islamic threat doctrine. He is appallingly ignorant for someone who was in the position he was in. This has resulted in his belief that we are only being attacked because of things we have done and especially for our support for Israel.

I ask my friends:

Is Jemmaah Islamiya attempting to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia because the US supports Israel?

Are the Chechyan jihadists waging Jihad against Russia because the US supports Israel?

Is Abu Sayyef attempting to establish an Islamic state on Mindanao because the US supports Israel?

Are Jihadists attempting to establish an Islamic state in southern Thailand because the US supports Israel?

Have Nigerian Jihadists attacked innocent Christians repeatedly because the US supports Israel?

Is Al Shabaad conducting terrorist attacks in Kenya and Somalia on innocent civilians because the US supports Israel?

Are Jihadists attempting to create an Islamic state in India’s Kashmir because the US supports Israel?

Have Jihadists killed thousands in attacks on innocent civilians in Morocco, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, the UK, Spain, Jordan and Bangladesh because the US supports Israel?

Are young Jihadis rioting in France because the US supports Israel?

Why is all this happening? Could it be that there is something more to this global violence than the simple “blame America first” concept that Ron Paul supposes?

Why hasn’t he bothered to learn about the enemy threat doctrine?

By terrortrends | Also posted in 5th Column, Abu Sayyaf, Al Qaeda, al Shabaab, appeasement, India, Indonesia, Islam, Israel, Jemaah Islamiyah, Jihad, Kenya, Madrid train bombing, Nigeria, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Thailand, United Kingdom, Yemen | Comments (1)

Al Qaeda advises Libyan Insurgents to Stockpile Weapons to Establish an Islamic State

1 AprpmMon, 25 Apr 2011 16:22:02 -06002011-04-25T16:22:02-06:0004 2009 – 16:22

Terrorist organizations affiliated with Al Qaeda are advising Libyan insurgents to stockpile weapons in preparation for the post-Gaddafi phase, saying the war in Libya is expected to continue even after the fall of the current regime.

  • Six terrorist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda called on insurgents who want to create an Islamic emirate in Libya to take steps and be ready for after Gaddafi, adding that the next enemy will be the pro-Western Libyan opposition.
Libyans have long played a prominent role in Al Qaeda. The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) trained in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime and supported the Taliban in a number of ways during the 1990s, in return for the Taliban granting them safe haven.
Some claim that a Libyan named Abu Yahya al-Libi will be the successor to Osama Bin Laden to lead Al Qaeda. Yahya Al-Libi actually was captured in Afghanistan but escaped from US custody at Baghram air base in July 2005.
Another prominent Libyan who has been involved with Al Qaeda and the Taliban is Abu Laith al-Libi. This terrorist was arrested in Saudi Arabia in the crackdown following the Khobar Towers bombing in 1995, but, like so many Jihadis, he managed to escape from prison and ended up in Afghanistan, where he became a spokesman for Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Finally, a Libyan named Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was also a member of LIFG and was imprisoned in Algeria in the 1990s. By 2000, either by escape or being set free, al-Rahman ended up in Afghanistan and became a part of Al Qaeda’s leadership cadre. He reportedly remains near the top of Al Qaeda today and is said to handle the organization’s liason with global Jihadist organizations and Iran.
The point of all this is that there are many Libyans–some of them quite prominent–who are active in Jihad and who very likely are involved in the new insurgency in Libya…the insurgency that NATO and the Obama administration have decided to support…
By terrortrends | Also posted in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Jihad, Libya, LIFG Libyan Islamic Fighting Group | Comments (2)

Taliban Stage Mass Prison Escape

1 AprpmMon, 25 Apr 2011 14:34:45 -06002011-04-25T14:34:45-06:0002 2009 – 14:34

Nearly 500 Taliban, including commanders, escaped recently from prison in Afghanistan.

You can bet that this was an inside job. 5 prisoners escaping can be chalked up to incompetence. Not 500. 500 is certainly collusion.

This is a scenario that has been oft-repeated throughout the Islamic world, though not involving such large numbers.

Jihadis have made their escape in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia over the years, almost certainly with the aid of those who were supposed to be guarding them.

The global Jihadist insurgency is much wider and involves many more people than Western observers generally suppose. It would be better if we would wake up to the magnitude of the threat…

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/04/talibans_great_escape_frees_hu.html

By terrortrends | Also posted in Afghanistan | Comments (0)

Key man behind Kandahar hijack held in Chile

1 AprpmTue, 12 Apr 2011 22:43:01 -06002011-04-12T22:43:01-06:0010 2009 – 22:43

Jihad is global. We are in a world war. Need proof? A wanted Jihadist terrorist from Pakistan was just arrested in…Chile…

Key man behind Kandahar hijack held in Chile

In a major breakthrough, Abdul Rauf, one of the masterminds of the 1999 Kandahar hijack and a brother-in-law of dreaded terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar, has been arrested in Chile. Masood Azhar, the boss of the Jaish-e-Mohammed was one of the three persons released from a jail in Jammu in exchange of more than 150 passengers held hostage at Kandahar on board the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814.

The flight had taken off from Kathmandu on December 24 1999 and the hostage crisis lasted some six days. The Central Bureau of Investigation, in its chargesheet in the case had named Rauf, a Pakistan national, as one of the key financiers and plotters of the hijack.

A reward of Rs 10 lakh had been announced and he is wanted in India in the hijacking case. As per the CBI, he should be about 37 years of age. The last time the name of Abdul Rauf surfaced was when he was reportedly “called in” by Pakistani authorities in October 2009 to negotiate the release of 42 persons taken hostages by pro-Taliban militants at a military garrison in Rawalpindi. This indicated that some one in the Pakistan establishment knew where to contact Rauf.

A joint team of the CBI and the Research Analysis Wing (RAW) will be going to Chile tomorrow to verify whether arrested Abdul Rauf is the same person wanted in this country.

The CBI’s task is daunting as it does not have Rauf’s picture or his fingerprints. In its recent tranche of leaked cables, Wikileaks had suggested that in 2005 India had of more than 150 passengers held hostage at Kandahar on board the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814. The flight had taken off from Kathmandu on December 24 1999 and the hostage crisis lasted some six days. The CBI, in its chargesheet in the case had named Rauf, a Pakistan national, as one of the key financiers and plotters of the hijack. A reward of Rs 10 lakh had been announced and he is wanted in India in the hijacking case.

As per the CBI, he should be about 37 years of age. The last time the name of Abdul Rauf surfaced was when he was reportedly “called in” by Pakistani authorities in October 2009 to negotiate the release of 42 persons taken hostages by pro-Taliban militants at a military garrison in Rawalpindi. This indicated that some one in the Pakistan establishment knew where to contact Rauf.

A joint team of the CBI and the Research Analysis Wing (RAW) will be going to Chile tomorrow to verify whether arrested Abdul Rauf is the same person wanted in this country. The CBI’s task is daunting as it does not have Rauf’s picture or his fingerprints.

In its recent tranche of leaked cables, Wikileaks had suggested that in 2005 India had asked the US for his photograph besides seeking permission to interrogate Mansoor Akhtar, ex-Civil Aviation Minister in the Taliban Government of Afghanistan, and Akhtar Usmani, the Taliban corps commander in Kandahar – both reportedly in the custody of the American authorities. The latter two were at the helm when the hijack took place.

Sources in the government said the CBI was informed that a person Abdul Rauf had been nabbed for travelling on forged documents. An Interpol Red Corner notice was pending against Rauf.

A team would be soon going to Chile to ascertain his identity as well as question him, the sources said, adding some help could be asked from friendly intelligence agencies.According to the confessional statement of Abdul Latif, one of the conspirators who is in an Indian jail at present Abdul Rauf and Yusuf Azhar, a brother of Masood Azhar, criss-crossed India and Nepal several times. It was in July 1999 that the hijack plot took shape.

In August, Abdul Latif was told about the plan and he forged passports and travel documents for the five hijackers. At a crucial meeting of the gang in the Kathmandu on December 13, Latif was told he would not be on the hijacked plane but should remain as the gang’s point-man in Mumbai.

When the Hijacking took place Abdul Rauf called up Abdul Latif, asking him to call up the BBC offices in London and give details of the hijacking. The call was intercepted by the Mumbai police and Latif was picked up even as the Indian agencies negotiated for the release of passengers.

http://surgar.net/english/-news-pg-Article-NewS-895.html

By terrortrends | Also posted in Chile, Hijacking, Hostage taking, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jihad, Kidnapping & Hostage-taking, Pakistan | Comments (1)

18 American Jihadist Terrorists

1 JulpmWed, 07 Jul 2010 22:12:23 -06002010-07-07T22:12:23-06:0010 2009 – 22:12

It’s all too easy to forget that Jihad is not just something that is happening in Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s happening here in the USA and we’ve got photographic evidence to remind Americans of the enemy within. We must never forget…

Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, aka Carlos Bledsoe. In June 2009, Muhammad shot two unarmed US Army soldiers outside a Little Rock, Arkansas recruiting center, killing one and wounding the other.

Daniel Patrick Boyd. In July 2009, Boyd, who received terrorist training in Pakistan, was arrested in North Carolina in connection with a plot to carry out a terrorist attack on Marine Corps Base Quantico

Abdul Rahman Yasin. Yasin is on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He was born in Bloomington, Indiana.

Adam Yahiye Gadahn. This native of California played in a heavy metal band before traveling to Pakistan to join Al Qaeda.

Anwar al Awlaki. This New Mexico native is now the Imam of choice for Al Qaeda, essentially leading the organization's operations in Yemen.

Omar Hammami. This Alabama native was raised in the Bible Belt of Dixie but nevertheless turned to Jihad and now is a member of Al Shabaab Jihadist group in Somalia

Nidal Malik Hasan. US Army Major who shot dozens at Fort Hood, Texas in November 2009, killing 13 and wounding 30

Najibullah Zazi. This Denver resident travelled to Afghanistan where he received terrorist training. Upon his return, he plotted to bomb New York subways.

John Walker Lindh. A Washington D.C. native, the infamous American Taliban was captured in Afghanistan during the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001. He is serving a 20 year prison sentence.

David Coleman Headley. Formerly known as Daood Sayed Gilani, is a Pakistani American from Chicago, who conspired to launch the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India. He changed his name to hide his Muslim identity.

Colleen Larose, aka Jihad Jane, this Michigan native/Philadelphia resident, plotted to kill a cartoonist who drew a picture of the muslim prophet mohammed.

Faisal Shahzad. This Connecticut resident/Pakistani immigrant attempted to bomb Times Square in New York City

Moussa Ali Hamdan. Former New Jersey resident and Hezbollah member, was arrested in Paraguay on June 17th in connection with 31 crimes, including terrorism financing.

Aman Hassan Yemer, Ahmed Abdulah Minni, Waqar Hussain Khan, Ramy Zamzam, and Umar Farooq. These five American citizens from Virginia travelled to Pakistan to join the Jihad, only to be caught by authorities there and imprisoned.

By terrortrends | Also posted in 5th Column, Al Qaeda, Fort Hood Massacre, Hezbollah, Homegrown Jihad, Homeland Security, India, Islam, Islamic Jihad, Jihad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lebanon, Mohammed Cartoons, Mumbai attack, New York, Nidal Malik Hasan, NYC subway plot, Pakistan, Somalia, terrorism funding, Times Square bomb attack | Comments (6)

CNN Editor Mourns Death of Hezbollah “Giant”–UPDATE: She’s Done

1 JulpmTue, 06 Jul 2010 20:00:30 -06002010-07-06T20:00:30-06:0008 2009 – 20:00

Octavia Nasr: CNN's Jihadist Terrorist Sympathizer

In what simply must be one of the more disgusting displays of sympathy for evil in recent memory, CNN’s senior editor of Middle East affairs, Octavia Nasr, a Lebanese native now enjoying the fruits of liberty as a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, released the following statement on her Twitter account upon hearing of the death of Hezbollah terrorist ideologue Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah:

“Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah… One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.”

Hezbollah Ideologue Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah

First of all, Nasr’s use of the honorific title “Sayyed” is particularly telling. This is a title meant to belie esteem and is reserved for those who are thought to be descendants of the Islamic prophet mohammed.

Fadlallah was best known as the inspirational leader and key ideologue for the terrorist group Hezbollah. This makes Nasr’s admiration for him disturbing to say the least. There is no other word for it: sympathizer. Fadlallah was a Jihadist terrorist. He may not have killed with a sword, but he most assuredly inspired thousands of others to do so.

And hundreds of the victims were Americans.

Yet CNN’s Octavia Nasr “respected” him–“a lot.”

Let us examine the implications of a Hezbollah groupie in a leadership role in one of America’s largest (yet shrinking) media organizations.

Hezbollah burst onto the world scene in April 1983 when they bombed the US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans.

US Embassy Beirut, Lebanon, after Hezbollah Islamikaze attack

On October 23rd, 1983, Hezbollah struck again, attacking the Marine Barracks at the Beirut International Airport, killing 241 servicemen acting as peacekeepers for the United Nations.

US Marines performing grim task of casualty evacuation after Hezbollah Islamikaze attack

In 1985, Hezbollah terrorists hijacked TWA Flight 847 and killed US Navy sailor Robert Stethem who happened to be a passenger on board.

Hezbollah continued their terrorist ways in the late 1980s with the kidnapping and murder of US Marine Colonel William Higgins, who was also on a UN mission.

Colonel William Higgins, USMC

Some people thought that Hezbollah was no longer an enemy of the USA by the time September 11th, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom rolled around. Not so.

Though it has not received much attention, on at least two occasions, Hezbollah terrorists have been captured in Iraq fighting US forces:

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iraq/troops-capture-top-hezbollah-officer-1.188167

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/07/02/iraq.hezbollah/index.html

More recently, a long-time Hezbollah terrorist involved in the 1985 TWA 847 hijacking was killed by US forces in Pakistan, near the Afghan border…

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/23626/breaking-us-drones-kill-hezbollah-terrorist-who-murdered-stethem-hezbollah-now-working-w-taliban/

It seems the terrorist, Mohammed Ali Hamadi, upon being released from prison in Germany, decided that the thing to do was go work for the Taliban. A coincidence we’re certain…

These are the monsters that Fadlallah inspired. And CNN’s Octavia Nasr respected him…a lot.

UPDATE: Octavia Nasr gone from CNN after pro-Jihadist comments

Mediate.com obtained an internal CNN memo which says of Nasr: “We believe that her credibility in her position as senior editor for Middle Eastern affairs has been compromised.” (That’s putting it mildly to say the least.)

In a blog post expanding on her position, Nasr wrote that it “was an error of judgment for me to write such a simplistic comment and I’m sorry because it conveyed that I supported Fadlallah’s life’s work.” (It didn’t CONVEY anything. It’s what she WROTE.)

More from Aaron Klein at WorldNetDaily:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=176001


By terrortrends | Also posted in 5th Column, Hezbollah, Hostage taking, Iran, Islam, Islamic Jihad, Islamikaze attack, Jihad, Kidnapping & Hostage-taking, Lebanon, Pakistan, Suicide Bombing, Terrorist attack, terrorist group listings | Comments (2)