"Abassi, who previously resided in Canada, traveled to the United States in mid-March 2013, where he remained until his arrest. While in the United States, Abassi, who was under surveillance by law enforcement agents at all times, maintained regular contact with an FBI undercover officer (the UC) and also met with Chiheb Esseghaier in New York City. Esseghaier, who was recently arrested in Canada and is currently incarcerated there on terrorism charges, was previously radicalized by Abassi. During Abassi’s discussions with Esseghaier and with the UC, which were recorded by the UC, Abassi discussed his desire to engage in terrorist acts against targets in the United States and other countries and his intention to provide support and funding to organizations engaged in terrorist activity—including the al Nusrah Front, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of State as an alias for Al Qaeda in Iraq—and to recruit other individuals for terrorist plots. In particular, Abassi discussed with the UC a number of individuals known to Abassi and/or to his associates, whom he described as like- minded and who, in his view, would be willing to engage in terrorist activity."
More info on Al Qaeda in Iraq and Al Nusrah Front:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/Al%20Qaeda%20in%20Iraq/common/
LONG WAR JOURNAL: “Results tagged “Al Qaeda in Iraq”
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“Social Media Jihad: Cheerleading al Qaeda’s new ‘Islamic State’”
By THOMAS JOSCELYN
April 9, 2013 1:57 PM
SNIPPET: “Jihadist groups are already cheering on the announcement by al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) emir Abu Bakr al Baghdadi yesterday that his organization and the Al Nusrah Front in Syria will now operate under the same name, the “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.” The Al Nusrah Front is a creation of al Qaeda’s affiliate in Iraq and has been under al Baghdadi’s command from the beginning.”
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2013/04/social_media_jihad_cheerleadin.php