Replies

It strikes me that Azzam is the real thing (in the sense of being run by al-Qaeda) and that Jihad Unspun is the wannabes.

I agree. Azzam seems to tell the biggest lies. Terrorist experts such as ICT claim that site is the one (in English) setting the direction of Al-Qaeda along with several Arabic ones.

Maybe "bin Laden" can post a fatwa or two in Azzam's favor to settle the argument.

Actually, Azzam has already claimed that they were given an 'exclusive' statement from bin Laden himself just last month.

I personally see Azzam (along with Taliban News and a couple others) as being the main links to their English-speaking followers now that more conventional methods of communication are being disrupted. In the absence of any coherent message from the leadership, the websites keep the communication lines open and help to keep the morale up of al-Qaeda's sleepers, supporters, and sympathizers here in the West.

"Actually, Azzam has already claimed that they were given an 'exclusive' statement from bin Laden himself just last month."

Yeah, I saw that. My personal opinion is that a lot of these messages being attributed to bin Laden are actually being written by either Suleiman Abu Ghaith (the latest message sounds a lot like his last communique over the summer) or Abu Hafs the Mauritanian (al-Qaeda's principle theologian, who is currently receiving VIP treatment in Iran). If bin Laden is alive (and the recent testimony of the captured Dr. Amir Aziz, combined with the recent letter bearing his signature, seems to indicate that perhaps he is), I expect that he's either wounded and is being treated in Iran or he's hiding out somewhere planning his next attack, not issuing propaganda statements. He still has more than enough flunkies to do that without his immediate approval.