2011 – Page 103

Check out my new post at al-Wasat: "Review of Manuel R. Torres Soriano’s “The Road to Media Jihad- The Propaganda Actions of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb”"

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Aaron Y. Zelin

The most recent issue of Terrorism and Political Violence was released in January. As usual, it had an excellent collection of articles. In particular interest to me was the one written by Manuel R. Torres Soriano “The Road to Media Jihad- The Propaganda Actions of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.” I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss it briefly since it somewhat dovetails with the spirit of this website.
Soriano provides a descriptive analysis of Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC) and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) media strategy from 1998-2009. This article fills an important lacuna in the literature since many in the Anglosphere have not focused much on GSPC and AQIM. As such, it provides a solid foundation for future researchers to build off of it. One can divide GSPC/AQIM’s media output into three phases: (1) under the leadership of Hassan Hattab and Nabil Sahraoui following the break from Groupe Islamique Armé (GIA), 1998-2004; (2) under the leadership of Abdelmalek Droukdal prior to the merger with al-Qaeda, 2004-2007; and (3) post-merger with al-Qaeda 2007-2009.
Read the rest here.

New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: "American Senators Admit, More Troops Mean More Casualties"

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Aaron Y. Zelin

John Kerry, Chairman, American Congress’ Foreign Relation Committee, says he does not agree with troops surge strategy which is aimed at sending more troops to Afghanistan. He says, the surge failed to end the war or turn the tide. Now it has been proved that increase in troops is accompanied by casualties proportionately. The American daily The Boston Globe in its recent report has quoted John Kerry as saying that he had come to the conclusion that the war in Afghanistan must be reviewed anew rather than focusing on reinforcement.
It should be mentioned that previously John Kerry, agreed with the troops surge, supporting the strategy. He says all factors leading to American troops failure to defeat Taliban or weaken them, must be considered once more. John Kerry is a senior politician of the American ruling democratic party. His assertions reflect that the war of Afghanistan has made the Western rulers and the European people exhausted and disappointed. This is in addition to the despondency being observed among the general masses and the American people. Jon Kerry, an eminent politician of the ruling party, concedes this reality that the war of Afghanistan has seen no spectacular advancement. Moreover, the Muajhideen have not been weakened, even in the near future, no vista of hope is seen to point to an impending military gain.
Trailing the blaze, John Kerry has called on the Administration to be cautious and not to send extra troops to Afghanistan as it will yield loss rather than gain.
The Taliban are combat-hardened people. The more, there are troops, the more they will be capable to inflict casualties on them. A few days ago, before the assertions made by John Kerry, another military officer, the Australian defense ministry’s forces chief showed his concern over the growing casualties of troops of that country. He disclosed that usually they do not reveal identities of troops killed in combat unless the families get inkling of their death. He adds the reason for their not revealing the identities is because of their fear that it might spark up uprising in Australia. Thus the people’s opposition to the war will increase.
With an eye to the assertions made by the American and Australian rulers, observers believe that the American and Western rulers are at a loss to justify the war of Afghanistan to their people and lessen their negative view as regards it. This is because the American and Western claims have already proved futile which said that they were fighting those elements in Afghanistan who want to carry out subversive activities in America or target people there. The Western and the American people know that the war in Afghanistan started on mere pretexts and has no legitimacy. Had there been any rationale for justification of this war, the Afghan people would have supported the current war. They would not have stood by the Mujahideen side by side.
It is now crystal clear that the resistance against the foreign troops has evolved into a national resistance movement and a popular uprising. This uprising will continue until the Americans and Westerners put an end to this fake and phony war and pull out their troops.

al-Fajr Media presents a new statement from the Islamic State of Iraq [al-Qā’idah in Iraq]: "To Our Muslim Family in Beloved Egypt"

Posted on February 8, 2011May 8, 2019 by Aaron Y. Zelin

UPDATE 2/9 7:14 AM: Here is an English translation of AQI’s statement below:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, the Truthful and Trustworthy, and upon all his family and companions. To proceed:
O’ Muslims of Egypt and those nearby. Asalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakaatuhu.
In the midst of these rapid events taking place in the honored land of “Kinanah (Egypt)”, the huge uproar and the size of the international reaction, and due to the fact that there can be some dangerous results if the true people do not stand for the truth, we present to you some facts which we have noted in summary, which we believe to be part of fulfilling the obligation of supporting [our brothers], implementing the hadeeth of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam, in which he said:

(الدّين النصيحة) -ثلاثًا-, قلنا: لمن؟، قال: (لله ولكتابه ولرسوله ولأئمّة المسلمين وعامّتهم)

“Religion is sincerity and well-wishing,” thrice. We asked, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their masses.”
So we say, seeking help in Allah:
1) Understand well, may Allah have mercy upon you, that Allah created you for His worship and Tawheed, and He has made you successors on earth to establish His Religion, to govern with His Shariah, to rule with His Book, and so His Word reigns supreme and His Religion reigns superior over all other ways of life. Indeed this is the crux of Tawheed of Worship, which is the very reason behind why Allah created, and the goal to which Muslims must give preference over themselves and their belongings. If all Muslims were to be killed in fulfilling this great goal, it is still better for them than to live even one day under the un-Islamic rule of the Taghoot. You are Muslims who Allah has chosen over his creation, has raised your rank by his alliance and protection, and has honored you through His religion. Give this its due rights and bite on to it with your molars. This, by Allah, is the true success in this life and the next.
Do not replace that which is better with that which is worse. Beware of the tricks of un-Islamic ideologies, such as filthy and evil secularism, infidelic democracy, and putrid idolic patriotism and nationalism, all ideologies which are sought by some to govern your land, after the rulers of Egypt made it a grazing field for its proponents, and thus it gaining popularity and them increasing in their evil. Are not most of the dilemmas faced by the Muslim Ummah today due to their empowerment? Be fully aware of reversion and being satisfied with the current state of affairs and seeking ends through [unlawful] means which falsely seem to be advantageous, for this is from the tricks which Satan plays so his followers can steal the fruits [of other’s efforts]. The Believer is intelligent and wise and does not get stung from the same hole twice.
2) Allah has obligated Jihad in Hs Cause upon His monotheist slaves. Fighting the enemies of Allah and repelling them with one’s life and wealth in the current condition of the Ummah today is an individual obligation upon every mature and sane person amongst you. This matter is clear and one which the Muslims have agreed to past and present. Here in your midst has the market of Jihad opened and become easy to reach as it is in your own homeland. The doors of martyrdom have opened, and the sales have been documented by the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. No mature, able-bodied has any excuse to stay behind with those who refrain from making Jihad. Remember that Allah’s commodity is expensive and surrounded by things disliked by human nature. It can not be attained except by those with defiant souls and high motivation…
[poetry]
3) The enemy you are facing is one which is sinful and depraved, who hold no value for either kinship or covenant. They have waged a war against Allah and have ridiculed His religion. They have allied with the enemies of Allah and have inflicted much harm on His believing slaves. They have empowered the depraved, lowly and promiscuous, and have usurped blood, honor and wealth. Their kufr and tyranny has reached its extent. Their day of reckoning and defeat has already or nearly arrived. The Way of Al-Jabbar (The Compeller), Al-Muntaqim (The Avenger) in their regards and the regards of their likes from the Taghoot has come into effect, and this is a gift from Allah which you, O’ people of Tawheed, should show no shortcoming in its regard, nor should you let it slip from your hands. You are the hope of the weak and oppressed, and the vanguard of the Ummah for change and rescue from the darkness of confusion, and blind tunnel of ignorance into which some seek to to force the Ummah for even more decades. You have no other choice, O’ people of Tawheed, in the likes of these times, except to confront, repel, and stand for the truth, so that Islam and its call is empowered over all others, and the flag of Pure Tawheed is raised over the land of Kinanah once again, by Allah’s leave.
[poetry]
4) Organize yourselves, and do all possible to convene. Call each other by phone and gather yourselves and your resources. Try as much as possible to join those who are more experienced in this field, and if it is not possible, organize yourselves into small areas and appoint an Ameer over you from the best of you who all agree to and like and not differ about. Seek secrecy in all matters, and secure your homes, villages and areas. Be good to the masses around you and help the weak, seek justice for the oppressed, and try to gain the favor of their leaders and elders and leave aside the ignorant. Show people the mercy of Islam and its manners and the justice of the Shariah. Place your trust in Allah in all your affairs, for it is He who helps and aids the Believers, and He will not let your deeds go to waste. Understand that it is the strong and armed who will be listened to and heard, while his feet are firm and heavy after the dust of these events settle and the ranks become clear and divided. Show no concern for the number of demised opposers nor the deserting fitnah-mongers. Do not feel alone due to the patient few in this path, for indeed this is the path of the Prophets and the Way of Allah in regards to their followers:

{لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَيَّ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ}

“…so that those who were to be destroyed (for their rejecting the Faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live (i.e. believers) might live after a clear evidence.” (Al Anfal:42)
5) Fear Allah in regards to the Muslim prisoners in the prisons of oppression! Indeed freeing the prisoners is from the foremost of obligations upon you. Do not let things settle unless you free every last one of them, and then, seeking Allah’s help, turn them into pulverized dust, with no one brick left to support another.
6) Do not fear that which will be said to you about the plots of the enemies and thestrength of the “Greater Nations”, the disadvantages of enticing them, and other tricks of Satan. Know that Allah has given you what other Mujahideen dream about. America today is is weaker than ever, and its military might has drowned in Afghanistan and Iraq. It eyes the legion of truth in Yemen, Somalia and the Islamic Maghreb, while its body trembles under the pressure of their exhausting financial and economical crisis, ready to fall and go bankrupt. Your activities in the heart of the global geography will only increase their blunders and the hasten their fall and digression.
7) Indeed your Jihad today, O’ brothers, is in defense of the religion of Allah, in defense of the weak and oppressed of Egypt, in defense of your fellow Muslims in Gaza, in defense of your fellow Muslims in Iraq, and in defense of every Muslim affected by the tyranny of the Taghoot of Egypt and his leaders in Washington and Tel Aviv. Be defenders, supporters and helpers of Allah, and think well of your Lord. Fulfill your duties and take to your fronts, and be careful that the Muslims are not harmed due to your shortcomings. Allah says:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ * تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ * يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ * وَأُخْرَى تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ * يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُونوا أَنصَارَ اللَّهِ…}

“O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger and that you and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives: that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise; that is indeed the great success. And also (He will give you) another (blessing) which you love, – help from Allah (against your enemies) and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the believers. O you who believe! Be you helpers (in the Cause) of Allah…” (As-Saff: 11-14)
And our final prayer is that all praise is due to Allah. Was-Salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh

The Ministry of War The Islamic State of Iraq Source: Al-Fajr Media Center

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NOTE: This is the first official communication from al-Qā’idah as it pertains to Egypt. It will be interesting to see whether AQ Central, AQAP, or AQIM chime in regarding the events in Egypt. al-Qā’idah in the Islamic Maghreb already released two messages dealing with Tunisia, which you can see here and here. For more jihadist reactions to the continuing uprisings in the Arab world check out this list that I collated.
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الحمدُ للهِ ربّ العالمين، والصلاةُ والسلامُ على نبيّنا الصّادق الأمين محمّد، وعلى آلهِ وصحبِهِ أجمعين، وبعدُ:

أيها الإخوةُ المسلمونَ في مصر وما حولها… السلامُ عليكم ورحمةُ اللهِ وبركاتُهُ،
في خضمّ الأحداث المتسارعة التي تمرّ بها أرض الكِنانة العزيزة، وارتفاع صخبها وتعاظم تفاعلاتها الإقليميّة والدّولية، وما قد يترتّبُ على ذلك من نتائج خطيرة إن لم يتواصى أهل الحقّ بالحقّ فيما بينهم، نضع بين أيديكم بعض الحقائق التي قُيّدت ملخّصة