Friday, November 28, 2008

Ayman az-Zawahiri 28 November 2008



Another 80 minutes of incitement and rhetoric from the futile old maggot. His target this time is the country that he hates above all others: his own country, Egypt. I really think that Ayman az-Zawahiri -- the epitome of Islamist failure -- is still trying to win the Six Day War.

Al-Azhar (pronounced al-az-har) is a training school for imams in Cairo. The Blind Sheikh is from al-Azhar; he is imprisoned for life in the USA.

Zawahiri is probably hiding among children in a madrassa, if he is not a house guest of some rich Pakistani, as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was, until he was betrayed and arrested.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ribaat / Mourabitoune forum was down (updated)

Another enemy forum is having trouble. About this one:

Mostly French text with some Arabic.
Some quite serious bad guys among its members and late members.
Affiliated (I am told) with a Belgian Muslim "cultural centre".
Had an address in Peshawar.
Mourabitoune is or was very orthodox, quickly banning any members who did not toe the Sunni terrorist line. Some of its members would conform to the Salafist superstition of not allowing female faces or even hands to appear in the graphics.

Some background can be found in Rita Katz's testimony to the US Congress.

Update: It's back up, same as before. I don't want to speculate about why it was temporarily down.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Hesbah is "officially" dead

CBS Internet Terror Monitor has the story.

A different theory about the forums called Ekhlaas, Faluja, Boraq, and Firdaws, which disappeared around 10 September, is that it was not just those websites that got busted, but their webmaster -- along with his computer and all the goodies that it contained. That would explain how all the URL's were de-registered or cut adrift, and if this arrest happened in, say, China, it would explain why so little information about the bust has come out.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Rashid Ra'uf probably killed in N. Waziristan

In an American drone strike on 22 November 2008.
CBS
BBC (subject to revision)
The News of Pakistan
ABC

About how Ra'uf walked out of Pakistani custody in 2007:
The News

The reaction to the demise of Ra'uf (not by columnists but by terrorists) will be worth watching.

Update: Fox says in part:
"There is good reason to believe, as the Pakistanis have stated, that a major terrorist is dead," a U.S. official told FOX News, referring to Rashid Rauf.

Update: MSNBC says in part:
A senior U.S. counterterrorism official told NBC News that Rauf and a Saudi militant called Abu Zubair al-Masri were the targets of the strike in North Waziristan.
"These guys are no longer with us," the official said.


The name Abu Zubair al-Masri does not agree with other reports, and "al-Masri" means Egyptian, not Saudi.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Al-Eman "University" website busted

http://www.jameataleman.org/
redirects to
http://sites.securepaynet.net/HostingRedirect.html
which says

"This site is currently unavailable.

If you are the owner of this site, please contact us at 1-480-624-2515 at your earliest convenience."

That telephone number is in Arizona.

For more on Al-Eman see Zindani.

Update: It's back, but not working properly.
Zindani is under an embargo by the US Treasury Department.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Zawahiri on Obama



As-Sahab production, 11 minutes, appeared on the Faluja and other forums 19 November.

This one is getting much more attention in the American press than is normal for a Zawahiri audio. For this one is about something that is already very much in the news: the recent presidential election. And this time, Zawahiri uncharacteristically resorts to a typecasting attack on the opponent, Barack Obama, whom he accuses of playing the "house Negro" and whom he accuses, vaguely, of apostasy. (In reality of course, Obama has never been a Muslim.) The term "house Negro" comes from a video of Malcolm X of which an excerpt is copied into the as-Sahab production.

I'm surprised that Zawahiri makes no mention of Abu Jihad al-Masri (Muhammad Khalil al-Hukaymah), a fellow Egyptian fugitive who was reported killed during the interval between this audio and the previous one.

Another odd thing: Zawahiri applauding "the towering mountain Abu ‘Umar al-Baghdadi". There is no such person, unless AQ has now found someone whom to address by the name of the previously nonexistent leader of the nonexistent Islamic State of Iraq.

The following is a transcript of the English subtitles that accompanied Zawahiri's speech, which was in Arabic.

Exit of Bush and Arrival of Obama

In the Name of Allah, and all Praise is due to Allah, and Prayers and Peace on the Messenger of Allah and on his family, Companions and allies.

Muslim brothers everywhere: Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings. As for what comes after:

Barack Obama has won the presidency of the United States of America, and on this occasion, I would like to send several messages.

First, a message of congratulations to the Muslim Ummah on the American people’s admission of defeat in Iraq. Although the evidence of America’s defeat in Iraq appeared years ago, Bush and his administration continued to be stubborn and deny the brilliant midday sun. If Bush has achieved anything, it is in his transfer of America’s disaster and predicament to his successor. But the American people, by electing Obama, declared its anxiety and apprehension about the future towards which the policy of the likes of Bush is leading it, and so it decided to support someone calling for withdrawal from Iraq.

The second of these messages is to the new president of the United States. I tell him: you have reached the position of president, and a heavy legacy of failure and crimes awaits you. A failure in Iraq to which you have admitted, and a failure in Afghanistan to which the commanders of your army have admitted. The other thing to which I want to bring your attention is that what you’ve announced about how you’re going to reach an understanding with Iran and pull your troops out of Iraq to send them to Afghanistan is a policy which was destined for failure before it was born. It appears that you don’t know anything about the Muslim Ummah and its history, and the fate of the traitors who cooperated with the invaders against it, and don’t know anything about the history of Afghanistan and its free and defiant Muslim people. And if you still want to be stubborn about America’s failure in Afghanistan, then remember the fate of Bush and Pervez Musharraf, and the fate of the Soviets and British before them. And be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them.

As for the crimes of America which await you, it appears that you continue to be captive to the same criminal American mentality towards the world and towards the Muslims. The Muslim Ummah received with extreme bitterness your hypocritical statements to and stances towards Israel, which confirmed to the Ummah that you have chosen a stance of hostility to Islam and Muslims.

You represent the direct opposite of honorable black Americans like Malik al-Shabazz, or Malcolm X (may Allah have mercy on him). You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims, and pray the prayer of the Jews, although you claim to be Christian, in order to climb the rungs of leadership in America. And so you promised to back Israel, and you threatened to strike the tribal regions in Pakistan, and to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan, in order for the crimes of the American Crusade in it to continue. And last Monday, your aircraft killed 40 Afghan Muslims at a wedding party in Kandahar. As for Malik al-Shabazz (may Allah have mercy on him), he was born to a black pastor killed by white bigots, but Allah favored him with guidance to Islam, and so he prided himself on his fraternity with the Muslims, and he condemned the crimes of the Crusader West against the weak and oppressed, and he declared his support for peoples resisting American occupation, and he spoke about the worldwide revolution against the Western power structure.

That’s why it wasn’t strange that Malik al-Shabazz (may Allah have mercy on him) was killed, while you have climbed the rungs of the presidency to take over the leadership of the greatest criminal force in the history of mankind and the leadership of the most violent Crusade ever against the Muslims.

And in you and in Colin Powell, Rice and your likes, the words of Malcolm X (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning “House Negroes” are confirmed.
You also must appreciate, as you take over the presidency of America during its Crusade against Islam and Muslims, that you are neither facing individuals nor organizations, but are facing a Jihadi awakening and renaissance which is shaking the pillars of the entire Islamic world; and this is the fact which you and your government and country refuse to recognize and pretend not to see.

As for the third message, it is to the Muslim Ummah. I tell it: America, the criminal, trespassing Crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it, in order for it to come to its senses, because its criminal, expansionist Crusader project in your lands has only been neutralized by the sacrifices of your sons, the Mujahideen. This, then, is the path, so stick to it.

As for the fourth message, it is to the lions of Islam, the Mujahideen. I tell them: may Allah reward you in the best way for your historic heroics, which have ruined America’s plans and rendered its projects ineffective. So be firm and resolute. Your enemy’s stagger has begun, so don’t stop hitting him.

And I say to my brothers the Mujahideen in Iraq in general and the Islamic State of Iraq in particular, and to its Amir, the towering mountain Abu ‘Umar al-Baghdadi: your enemy has admitted defeat, and the forthcoming stage is expected to be dominated by conspiracies and betrayals in order to cover the American withdrawal, so you must persevere, for victory is in an hour of perseverance.

And I tell my brothers, the lions of Islam in Somalia: rejoice in victory and conquest. America is gathering its wounds in Iraq, and Ethiopia is looking for a way out, and for this reason, the stage of conspiracies and machinations has begun. So hold tightly to the truth for which you have given your lives, and don’t put down your weapons before the Mujahid state of Islam and Tawheed has been set up in Somalia.

And I tell all Mujahideen everywhere: the Hubal of the age has begun to falter and recede, and Allah has granted you success and honored you by making you the most important cause of that, so be resolute on the path of Jihad until you meet your Lord while He is pleased with you.

And my fifth message is to all the world’s weak and oppressed. I tell them: America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always. And the Mujahideen of Islam, by the grace of Allah, continue to be the spearhead of the resistance against it to restrain it from injustice, aggression and arrogance.

As for my final message, it is to the American people. I tell it: you incurred defeat and losses from the foolish actions of Bush and his gang, and at the same time, Shaykh Usama bin Ladin (may Allah preserve him) sent you a message to withdraw from the lands of the Muslims and refrain from stealing their treasures and interfering in their affairs. So choose for yourself whatever you like, and bear the consequences of your choice, and as you judge, you will be judged.
And our final prayer is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace on our Master Muhammad and his family and Companions.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Hesbah forum appears dead

Seems to have been de-registered on 17 November.
More when I know more.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Bev Giesbrecht of Jihad Unspun reported kidnapped in Pakistan

Rumour from the Pakistani press is that she has been kidnapped en route from Peshawar to Miranshah, possibly by the North Waziri Taliban: Taliban claim abducting Canadian woman (for money), from Daily Times, Pakistan.

Bev Giesbrecht alias Khadija Abdul Qahaar is a bizarre individual. In my line of work, she would unknown except for the fact that she runs the pro-terrorism website called Jihad Unspun, abbreviated JUS. She does it for money. She is never mentioned by the real mujahideen except when, occasionally, one of them warns the others that she is not a real Islamist. As far as I know, she never even attends a mosque, nor reads the qur'aan. She is rarely quoted by the serious news media, who have learned to distrust her, owing in part to the document called A Trio of Disinformers from the US Department of State.

As far as I know, Giesbrecht understands no languages other than English. She definitely does not have any Arabic. On her website, she routinely asks the readers to volunteer as translators. The text on Jihad Unspun mostly comes from other terrorism-friendly English-language sources, such as Kavkaz. Nearly all the original writing is by Giesbrecht herself, sometimes under aliases such as Ubaidah al-Saif.

From the press reports, it seems she traveled from her home (on the Pacific coast of Canada) to the UK in April 2008 and from there to Pakistan in August. Two Britons vouched for her business visa to Pakistan. If anyone can tell me about other contacts she had in the UK, please do.

There is a little detail here at the reliable Canadian paper The Globe & Mail. Some al-Jazeera member does not deny the earlier report that Giesbrecht was vetted by al-Jazeera.

I have recently heard that Giesbrecht's fellow Taliban sympathizer Yvonne Ridley is also in NWFP. Giesbrecht's website has in the past identified Ridley as a contributor, but that could be fiction by Giesbrecht.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Abu Qatada re-arrested

Omar Mahmoud Othman
عمر محمود عثمان
better known as Abu Qatada the Palestinian
أبو قتادة الفلسطيني
is one of the top three clerics in al-Qa'ida, along with Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi and Omar Abdur-Rahman. He has had political refugee status in the UK since 1993. Earlier he had lived in Kuwait, who expelled him after Desert Storm. In 1993 he fled from Jordan or Ramullah to the UK on a forged Emirati passport and has been operating in the UK ever since, except for interludes in which the Law Lords allowed the government to keep him off the street.

Abu Qatada was arrested Saturday morning 8 November and will appear at some sort of immigration hearing Wednesday 12 November. The British press says that he was preparing to flee the UK. His intended destination is not yet publicly known, but it is said to be in the Middle East. One rumour, quoted by the Hizbullah mouthpiece Lebanon Daily Star, is that Lebanon was a probable destination. It isn't.
An absurd condition of his release on bail back in June is that he may not be in possession of a passport. Since Abu Qatada's status in the UK is that of a political refugee, why should London prevent him from leaving? Be that as it may, he would need papers of some sort, presumably supplied to him by some al-Qa'ida benefactor. The benefactor I have in mind is in Yemen.

Update 13 November from Associated Press, which is following the court proceedings in London. It mentions Abu Qatada's fundraising activities on behalf of Islamists in the UK, but not on behalf of al-Qa'ida elsewhere, such as Russia.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Eric Breininger dead in Afghanistan, says a Hesbah member

He "has carried out a martyrdom operation in Afghanistan" says "Khabib bin 'Adi". That's all he says. No corroboration yet. More info on Breininger.

Update: The report is false, according to another Hesbah guy, "abuabdullah". If it is true it should be confirmed soon on the Turkish-language IJU website. Not yet.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Hani al-Siba'i endorses Maqdisi again

It's not a big deal, but there is little of any real interest on the Arabic forums these days.

Al-Siba'i says he heard from some young brother, who seems to have been seeking advice on which "scholars" to follow, and specifically about Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi. It comes as no surprise that al-Siba'i endorses Maqdisi's doctrines unconditionally.

Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi is the clerical-tribal pseudonym of Isam Mohammad Tahir al-Barqawi of Jordan. He has been held incommunicado in Jordan since 2005. Maqdisi is one of the top three clerics in al-Qa'ida, along with Omar Abdur-Rahman (jailed for life in the USA) and Abu Qatada (under some sort of house arrest in England, incommunicado as far as I know).

This is from Hesbah thread number 198236. Hani has not yet copied this one to his own Maqreze website, but he might, along with the responses. Al-Siba'i has problems of his own with London at the moment. Flattering Maqdisi won't help.

Update: Hani has copied it to his Maqreze website, but without the responses.

Update 9 February 2009: In the recent spat between Maqdisi's people and Massari's Medaad group, al-Siba'i has joined in on the side of Maqdisi, sparking an unusually strong exchange of insults between al-Siba'i and his fellow Londonistani fugitive Massari.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

"Lion of Jihad 2" talking about money and politics

His username on the forums is

أسد الجهاد2

He is a relatively well-known and quite vicious al-Qa'ida forum participant.

He or an assistant of his has uploaded a 19-page document, in PDF and DOCX formats, which talks about the recent bank failures and related financial stuff. To make a long story short, Lion of Jihad 2 undertakes to "explain" that all the bad news is due to the world's resistance to al-Qa'ida and Salafist totalitarian rule. And like all Salafists, he says that there is no difference, but only rivalry, between the two American political parties.

I think the only remarkable thing about this piece, and other recent vague essays like it, is that it illustrates that AQ has been degraded to the point where its public communications are often nothing more than reactions to news of events in the real world, about which the al-Qa'ida members can do nothing.

Monday, November 3, 2008

KSA prevented a terror attack on USA in 2003, they claim

So says the heavily policed Saudi press, in this case al-Watan.

The Arabic original.

AP's account of the claim, in English.

According to al-Watan, the cell leader was

Ali al-Faqasi
علي الفقعسي

who might be the guy previously identified as

علي عبد الرحمن الغامدي
Ali Abdur-Rahman al-Ghamdi

who reportedly surrendered in KSA in June 2003. Al-Watan now says al-Faqasi was extradited to the USA in February 2005 and sentenced to 30 years, which is untrue.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Pakistani official tells AFP that Abu Jihad al-Masri is dead


Such press reports -- an unnamed official in Islamabad tells a Western media organ that a specific terrorist has been killed in a specific strike -- are usually false. Just yesterday, such a story said that Abu Akash was killed, and that claim has now been withdrawn. But Abu Jihad al-Masri is a big fish, so here you are:

AFP source, 1 November 2008

It begins:

Al-Qaeda propaganda chief killed in Pakistan strike: officials

ISLAMABAD (AFP) — An Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative described by the United States as the terror network's propaganda chief was killed in a missile strike in Pakistan, security officials said Saturday.
Abu Jihad al-Masri was among several rebels killed when two missiles fired by a suspected US spy drone hit a truck in the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Friday night, they said.
The United States has offered a one-million-dollar bounty for the death or capture of al-Masri, who has appeared in an anti-Western video introduced by Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's number two.


US State Dept. hotsheet on Abu Jihad al-Masri.

I am nearly certain that his real surname is al-Hukaymah, not al-Hakim.

Update: Ash-Sharq al-Awsat has the story, and they include a little of Abu Jihad's biography. Also, a lament appeared today on the Maqreze website of Hani al-Siba'i, but it does not name any specific "martyr".

Update 2 November: Radio France Internationale tells the same story about Abu Jihad, and says it originates from the Pakistani security services.

Update 4 November: Daily Times of Pakistan reiterates that one of the dead in Mir Ali was Abu Jihad al-Masri. As yet there is no firm statement either way from the enemy, whose communications in Waziristan are in poor shape, especially if Abu Jihad was killed along with about 20 others, as is being reported.