US targets al Qaeda's al Furqan media wing in Iraq

The Long War Journal ^ | 10/28/2007 | Bill Roggio

[Tennessean4Bush]

Al Qaeda in Iraq's media cells and organization. Click to view.

Coalition and Iraqi special operations forces continue to target al Qaeda's propaganda capabilities. Over the summer, US forces scored a major victory with the capture of Khalid Abdul Fatah Da’ud Mahmud al Mashadani, also known as Abu Shahed. Mashadani was al Qaeda's minister of information and served as the go between for al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al Masri and Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri. The capture of Mashadani has shed light on al Qaeda's media operations, and has allowed Multinational Forces Iraq to roll up al Qaeda's media cells throughout Iraq.

"Since the surge began, we’ve uncovered eight separate al Qaeda media offices and cells, have captured or killed 24 al Qaeda propaganda cell members and have discovered 23 terabytes of information," said Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, the chief Public Affairs Officer for Multinational Forces Iraq in a press briefing. Most recently, four members of al Qaeda's al Furqan media cell in Mosul were captured, "including the media emir of Mosul, the former head of Mosul’s media cell who had established the al Qaeda communications hub in Baghdad, a foreign terrorist from Saudi Arabia who is proficient in video editing and special effects, and a computer graphics specialist," the Armed Forces Press Service reported. Cells have also been broken up in Baghdad, Diyala, Tarmiyah, Samarra and Karma.

The Mosul cell members echoed recent statements made by Osama bin Laden on the dire situation in Iraq. "(They) have indicated that al Qaeda propaganda efforts have been degraded in recent months,” Smith said. "There is almost nothing left of (al Qaeda in Iraq)."

Al Furqan's cell in Mosul. Click to view.

The video editor and graphics technician are the lowest ranking and most easily replaceable members of the media cells, according to Nick Grace, the host of Global Crisis Watch and an expert on al Qaeda's media operations in an interview with The Long War Journal. "The cell members are entry level positions in al Qaeda's media wing, and start off in the field with al Furqan or al Fajr," said Grace. "If they show skills they may then graduate to work for As Sahab, al Qaeda's parent media organization, and work in Pakistan." Grace also noted the effort al Qaeda put into its propaganda programs, and likened the city cells to local television news stations subordinate to US television networks.

The Al Furqan Institute for Media Production, along with the al Fajr Media Center, is one of two al Qaeda media organizations that operate inside Iraq. A recent Radio Free Liberty / Radio Europe study on insurgent media described al Furqan as "the primary media production center for ISI [Islamic State of Iraq]/Al Qaeda. It produces virtually all ISI/al Qaeda films, audio and videotaped addresses, and the ISI/al Qaeda-affiliated periodical Biographies Of Notable Martyrs. An al Qaeda-affiliated center, al Furqan distributes its products to websites through the al Fajr Media Center."

Kavkaz Center, a website run by Chechen al Qaeda, noted the Islamic State of Iraq formed al Furqan in November of 2006, when al Qaeda was at its zenith in Iraq. "This Institute is a milestone on the path of Jihad; a distinguished media that takes the great care in the management of the conflict with the Crusaders and their tails and to expose the lies in the Crusaders' media," the ISI press release noted.

The scope of al Furqan's operations was highlighted during a raid on one of its offices in Samarra in June 2007. The cell "produced CDs, DVDs, posters, pamphlets, and web-related propaganda products and contained documents clearly identifying al Qaeda in Iraq's intent to use media as a weapon," said Brigadier General Kevin Bergner, a spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq during a briefing in July. "The building contained 65 hard drives, 18 thumb drives, over 500 CDs and 12 stand-alone computers... In all, this media center had the capacity of reproducing 156 CDs in an eight-hour period and had a fully functioning film studio."

US forces also found "a sampling of other propaganda documents: a letter that gives instructions on how to use the media to get out the al Qaeda message most effectively; an al Qaeda activity report highlighting car bomb, suicide, missile, mortar, sniping and IED attacks; a propaganda poster that encourages filming and distributing videos, showing al Qaeda attacks on coalition forces; and a pamphlet and a CD cover of their sniper school."

[ryan71]

“...and has allowed Multinational Forces Iraq to roll up al Qaeda’s media cells throughout Iraq.”

I wish they would “roll up” Al Qaeda media cells in the US, too.

CNN, ABC, MSNBC, NYT, LAT, etc.

[jveritas]

...give an Internet voice to the muslim villagers who have endured such evil at the hands of al Qaeda in Iraq. Not just provide a blog and a digital camera, but also a PR hand so that the masses of muslims across the world understand precisely what living with al Qaeda would be like.

That is an excellent idea. Once thing I and others can do is to contact local folks in Iraq and tell us their stories about the horror of Al Qaeda and their allies. I know about some "good Iraqis" websites who may be able to help regarding this issue.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Yeah, I just think while we want to be shutting al Qaeda down wherever possible, the long-term answer is to win the war of ideas with them. If the testimony of fellow muslims can be given a promoted and accessible voice, and we provide a forum for discussion and give-and-take so that the lies and propaganda can be met with the response necessary to expose its falsehood, it will grow into something real effective. It must be handled in a way that is transparent and does not give the impression that these folks are just hand-picked pro-american apologists, but I don’t think that would be too difficult to do.

[Allegra]

Excellent to hear. In the meanwhile I and others are targeting the terrorist websites and forums that carry Al Furqan terrorist propaganda and violent terrorist materials.

GREAT! Stay safe. They're sore losers.

[jveritas]

Thank you Allegra, I will stay safe, there are already death threats against me in the terrorist forums.

[Recon Dad]

My son is in Afghanistan and has been in five battles since 9-1. They are kicking asses and taking names, just follow the news in Southern Afghanistan.

Good luck to your niece’s husband.

[Blue State Insurgent]

What? No pajamas?

[Blue State Insurgent]

What? No pajamas?

[ArmstedFragg]

The video editor and graphics technician are the lowest ranking and most easily replaceable members of the media cells

Wow! Working for AQI is just like working for American television networks!

[jveritas]

LOL... my mistake, next picture will be in pajams :)

[dixiechick2000]

"There is almost nothing left of (al Qaeda in Iraq)."

The news from Iraq keeps getting better and better!

Thank you for the post and ping!

[dixiechick2000]

WOW!

You are awesome!

Take good care of you, and yours.
Stay safe...

[jveritas]

I will try to stay safe. On the terrorist forums, the terrorists now are increasing their death threats against me.

[dixiechick2000]

I’m very sorry to hear that!

You be very careful...okay?

[jveritas]

I will try to be careful.