Al Qaeda's Yemen branch has aided Somalia militants, U.S. says

L.A. Times ^ | July 18, 2011 | Brian Bennett

[La Enchiladita]

Reporting from Washington— Al Qaeda's powerful branch in Yemen has provided weapons, fighters and training with explosives over the last year to a militant Islamic group battling for power in Somalia, according to newly developed American intelligence, raising concerns of a widening alliance of terrorist groups.

Leaders of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen also have urged members of the hard-line Shabab militia to attack targets outside Africa for the first time, said U.S. officials who were briefed on the intelligence.

[La Enchiladita]

Contacts between Yemeni and Somali militants have taken place in the past. The Shabab has bought weapons and explosives from Al Qaeda contacts in Yemen using money from piracy and kidnap-for-ransom schemes, said a U.S. counter-terrorism official.

Until recently, Shabab insurgents have focused on trying to overthrow the United Nations-backed transitional government in Mogadishu.

..."We are starting to see a conflation of jihadi conflict zones," said Frank Cilluffo, director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University. "Yemen and Somalia are moving together."

[La Enchiladita]

New American intelligence raises concerns about a widening alliance of Islamic terrorist groups plotting to target the U.S.

[DarthVader]

bmfl

[SpaceBar]

Anyone else notice the subtle way the media now describes terrorist groups like corporate entities? Yemen Branch? Well gee whiz, perhaps a sternly worded letter on powerful law firm leaterhead to Al-Qaeda’s human resources department might do the trick.

[cranked]

LA Times is reporting nothing new here....absolutely nothing.

Al Qaeda, in Yemen and elsewhere, aiding the Islamic militants/terrorists (i.e.: Shabab) have long been established and known.

[cranked]

Somewhat, but I have more and more noticed how the media is portraying these militant terrorist groups as national insurgents, etc. Never, ever count on the majority of the lamestream media to call a spade a spade without using some political correct verbiage.

[Cindy]

How “new” this is may be of some debate; but I’m glad this is getting mainstream media attention.

Thanks for the ping La Enchiladita.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks La Enchiladita.

A map of the Sahel region showing where Al Qaeda operates (AFP/Graphic)

[GregB]

How are we supposed to fight this when our President wants us to kiss them!!!

[La Enchiladita]

I have noted that you folks are in the know and it’s not new news, but seeing it in the L.A. Times was like a splash of cold water in the face. I was only unspecifically aware of muslim incursions in African countries, but not of specific al qaeda influence. Thank you for being informed; I wish more people were.

[Cindy]

I agree with you regarding the LA Times.

I noticed in the past several months that they are paying closer attention to terrorism — specifically the global jihad.

And as always, I thank you for the pings and I appreciate them.

It’s easy for me to miss articles because there is so much going on.

[SunkenCiv]

The prez-for-life of Yemen again sez he’s not going to leave office. I expect some kind of third world peace police force, perhaps a cooperative venture by a number of countries in the region (Saudis, Egyptians, Turks, uh, I guess that’s the whole list).

[Lorianne]

UN declares famine in Somalia: How to help
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0720/UN-declares-famine-in-Somalia-How-to-help

I want to see ‘flotillas­’ of aid going to starving Somalis, who are every bit as human as the people of Gaza (who were NOT starving). There had better be boatloads of ‘activists­’ and ‘humanitar­ian relief organisati­ons’ sending ship after ship of food and medicine to the Somalis ...­ If we don’t see that happen, it’s furtherproof that the “Gaza flotillas” were nothing but media stunts to libel Israel, and not to provide ‘aid’ to anyone in Gaza.