Posted on 11/13/2006 1:25:19 AM PST by bd476
"...Given the level of attrition al Qaeda has suffered in the past several years -- and particularly with the death of al-Zarqawi in Iraq -- there are not many at the moment who have the broad public recognition, the background or the respect needed to fill the void that will be left by al-Zawahiri.
Though a number of tactical commanders and leaders (such as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, al Qaeda's new leader in Iraq) have risen up to replace those killed or captured, most are not well-known by al Qaeda's supporters and grassroots followers.
That is significant: The man who replaces al-Zawahiri will need to be both recognizable and respected. One way to gain that recognition and respect is turn the person into a media personality -- a celebrity, if you will, in the jihadist universe.
Since As-Sahab is al Qaeda's most recognized and authoritative media outlet, a look at those featured in its videos over the past year could provide some clues as to who the current leaders might be grooming for future leadership positions.
Prominent speakers include:
...Abu Nasir al-Qahtani, or (true name) Mohammed Jafar Jamal al-Khatani: Al-Qahtani is a Saudi national and one of four suspects -- the Bagram Four -- who escaped from a U.S. military jail in Bagram, Afghanistan, on July 11, 2005.
Al-Qahtani has appeared in one As-Sahab video, from April, which touched on the need to apply experiences and lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan to jihadist efforts in Saudi Arabia. This militant supposedly is leading al Qaeda attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan. He has not been heard from since the April video was released.
(Excerpt) Read more at stratfor.com ...
And it looks like that's a wrap for Al-Qahtani's potential leadership role and career in Al Qaeda videos.
Looks like our guys have recaptured Al-Qahtani hiding out in Afghanistan.
Al Qaeda escapee caught in Afghanistan: report
Never underestimate an enemy that doesn't play by the rules.These guys will do something that will finally wake everyone up as to how dangerous they truly are.But as usual, those on the fringes and those who are disintersted won't get it.
Never underestimate an enemy that doesn't play by the rules.These guys will do something that will finally wake everyone up as to how dangerous they truly are.But as usual, those on the fringes and those who are disintersted won't get it.
That's good advice and certainly applies now, Screaming Eagle2.
The enemy has already taken many actions which should have awakened anyone in possession of a working hard drive within their cranium.
Unfortunately, some of those on the fringes and those who are disinterested have now been elected to public office.
True.
I can see it now.
5 years from now....major U.S. cities hit by terrorist attacks....and the people chanting in the streets. 'BUSH WAS RIGHT, BUSH WAS RIGHT'
Too bad they didn't get it a week ago.
As one poster put it....
"the loons are in charge" God help us.
True.
I can see it now.
5 years from now....major U.S. cities hit by terrorist attacks....and the people chanting in the streets. 'BUSH WAS RIGHT, BUSH WAS RIGHT'
Too bad they didn't get it a week ago.
As one poster put it....
"the loons are in charge" God help us.
But Bush was not right and is not right. He cannot make a proper impression on a world of Saracens who think Allah is leading them to Victory. It takes some major and strategic destruction, like eliminating Baghdad and Teheran from the List of Extant Cities. Democritizing the Iraqis is nice but we cannot do it for the reasons that we are being forced out right now. We cannot fight a long war and we cannot occupy a country for a long time against opposition and it truly only serves to keep us in place up against Iran which I suspect may have been at least a big part of the original reason for going in. We should have established the necessary bases and offered the Kurds protection and pretty much let the Shias and Sunnis duke it out with the occasional air strike to keep things interesting. But Bush is a "Compassionate Conservative." Compassion has no place in a war for survival, not until the enemy is crushed, not just the enemy's fighting force, but the population also. We understood that as long ago as Sherman's March To The Sea and as recently as WWII.
You are correct.For now. THere is a little thing called RECALL.And it is a wor d no liberal EVER wants to hear.
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