Former Gitmo detainee featured as commander in al Qaeda tape

LONG WAR JOURNAL.org ^ | May 28, 2010 | THOMAS JOSCELYN

[Cindy]

Note: Photo included.

PHOTO CAPTION: "Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Othman Ahmed al Ghamdi, in a tape released by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula."

SNIPPET: "A videotape released by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) earlier this week says that a former Guantanamo detainee is now a commander within the terrorist organization.

The former detainee, Othman Ahmed al Ghamdi, has risen to the rank of operational commander within AQAP as other senior terrorists within the organization have been killed in recent strikes. The tape, which is titled “America and the Final Trap,” confirms that three AQAP leaders were killed in a strike last December.

According to a translation of the tape obtained by the Long War Journal, al Ghamdi denounces the airstrikes, claiming that America refuses to confront al Qaeda directly on the battlefield. (Of course, al Qaeda itself prefers terrorist attacks against civilians, rather than direct warfare.)

Along with other AQAP leaders featured in the video, al Ghamdi portrays counterterrorism operations in Yemen as part of a crusade led by America against the Muslim world. This is a standard part of al Qaeda’s propaganda.

Also featured in the tape are Qasim al Raymi, AQAP’s military commander, and Fahd al Quso, an al Qaeda operative wanted for his role in the USS Cole bombing.

In the tape, AQAP threatens America with further terrorist attacks."

[Danae]

Damn straight, and its not like we don’t know its comin, we just don’t know how. I am afraid that we won’t until its too late.... God save us. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, the Administration just goes and makes this nation even weaker. Like that’s gonna help...

sigh...

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP

[Cindy]

Thank you for the bump Lancey Howard.

[isom35]

thanks keith olbermann!