Al Qaeda's Western Recruits

Stratfor's Terrorism Intelligence Weekly ^ | June 26, 2004 | STRATFOR Staff

[yoe]

Summary

Al Qaeda is an international organization that constantly changes and adapts, seeking new ways to avoid detection and catch its opponents off guard. Rather than sending foreigners into other nations to carry out surveillance and strikes, the group has found it can achieve surprise and minimize exposure by recruiting native Western operatives. The examination of some Western al Qaeda operatives offers insights into the group's recruitment methods and plans for operations in the United States, Britain, Australia and other Western nations.

Analysis

Al Qaeda remains a dynamic organization that leverages local expertise and resources in surveilling, planning and carrying out operations. To that end, the group seeks indigenous operatives to carry out pre-strike surveillance and attacks in several nations. An examination of some of these Western recruits provides insights into al Qaeda's methods of recruiting, coordinating, planning and deploying resources.

There are many suspected American and other Western al Qaeda facilitators, operatives and sympathizers. High-profile cases that prove especially insightful include those of:

* Jose Padilla, an American known as the "Dirty Bomber"

* Richard Reid, a Briton known as the "Shoe Bomber"

* Jack Roche, Australia's "Reluctant Militant," who reportedly has ties to al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah

Drawing from the statements given to investigators, each of these cases has similarities and differences from the others -- the most striking similarity being that they were all caught. Though a look at these three offers some insights into al Qaeda's Western recruitment, it should not be assumed that these assessments include all of the group's recruiting and training techniques. The very fact that these men were caught raises questions -- and even suggests al Qaeda was fully cognizant of the potential for detection. The stories of those not yet caught could prove much more interesting and insightful.

Jose Padilla, the Dirty Bomber

Born in 1970 in New York, Padilla had a troubled childhood that led to gang involvement and run-ins with police in Chicago and Florida. In 1992, he was introduced to Islam -- reportedly by his manager at a fast food restaurant in Florida -- though some stories suggest that the introduction occurred while he was serving jail time. By 1993, Padilla had changed his name to Ibrahim and become involved with radical Islamists in the Ft. Lauderdale area.

In 1996, Padilla married and acquired a U.S. passport. Reports indicate that he and his wife lived in a gated community, despite neither having a job -- suggesting that Padilla already was receiving some kind of stipend from the Islamic community. In 1998, he left his wife and traveled to Egypt. He stayed there for just more than a year, marrying an Egyptian woman before heading to Pakistan. Once again, he took a new name -- Abdullah al-Muhajir (Abdullah the Immigrant).

While in Pakistan, Padilla met a Yemeni who introduced him to another al Qaeda recruiter. This acquaintance sponsored Padilla's trip to Afghanistan for weapons training at a camp overseen by Abu Zubaida. There, he was given on-the-job training as a Taliban guard near Kabul -- apparently a test of his loyalty. Afterward, Padilla was approached by Mohammed Atef, who began determining the Westerner's commitment and possible use as an operative.

Padilla was chosen as a potential operative only after he had completed basic training in Afghanistan. This trend seems to follow that of most Western al Qaeda recruits. As will be seen with the case of Jack Roche, the direct recruitment of operatives in Western nations is difficult; waiting for disaffected or otherwise exploitable Westerners to make their way to al Qaeda is preferable.

What came next for Padilla appears to be another common trend in al Qaeda's recruitment. He was sent to Pakistan, where he reported a lost passport and.................

[rageaholic]

Padilla and Ried were both throw-aways. Ried was a borderline intelligence common criminal loser. They were probably anxious to be rid of him ASAP so they sent him on an ill-concieved bombing mission with fuze left damp from his sweaty feet. He got his ass kicked by an American stewardess.

Padilla was Khalid Mohammad's token betrayal in order to get his torture sessions lightened up. Apparently Padilla didn't impress him very much. Why send a high school dropout to perform a science project?

This means either these guys were a disposable "B" team sacrificed to keep the "A" team secret, or Al Kaida just can't find reliable help anymore.

I believe in the coming months run up to elections we'll know the answer.

[yoe]

...sort of like seeing just what our "fire power" is, just how tight our security is. The Iraqi people have a huge problem and those insisting that they take the reins in a few days are leaving those people exposed to more terrorism and a failure of democratic ideals.

[RasterMaster]

Al-Koolaida has "patsies" too....

[rageaholic]

Precisely. The USA will never run out of options, ideas and firepower. The only limit to what America can do is the Will of the People.

Unfortunately that will is being savagely manipulated by the elite liberal media with their hidden agenda. Hopefully the Bush campaign will provide a counterpoint.

[paltz]

Glass half full scenario...The more AQ recruits western individuals the easier it will be for our intelligence communities to infiltrate them.

[blam]

I wonder how many of their 'recruits' are spies? They won't ever trust westerners anywhere near the heart of this organization.

[Starve The Beast]

Glass half full scenario...The more AQ recruits western individuals the easier it will be for our intelligence communities to infiltrate them.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that. Also, a few dedicated people may be able to keep secrets, but a wider bunch of people will almost certainly develop security leaks.

[txhurl]

bttt