The Mullah Krekar Show: Is this the man behind the Oslo terrorist bombing?

Foreign Policy ^ | 7/22/11 | J.M. BERGER

[markomalley]

Two years ago this month, the U.S. television network NBC had the bright idea to create a reality show about vigilante terrorist hunters who would do something unspecified to terrorists who had evaded the long reach of justice.

The first episode of the execrable series, "The Wanted," put the spotlight on Mullah Krekar, an Iraqi national flagged by the United States, the U.N., and Interpol for his involvement with Iraqi terrorist groups.

The program showed NBC's terror team stalking Krekar on the streets of Oslo, a venture that was depicted as extremely dangerous, although Krekar was always just a phone call away from any media outlet that would give him air time. Somehow Krekar escaped NBC's brand of rough -- or at least itchy -- justice. For a while, at least.

"The Wanted" was canceled after two episodes, but The Mullah Krekar Show continued until last week, when he was arrested for threatening Norwegian politicians.

Today, at least one bomb went off in Oslo, targeting government buildings. It's far too soon to draw any conclusions about who is responsible for the attacks, but Krekar's long history in Norway will likely be thrust into the spotlight after today's events.

An Iraqi Kurd, Krekar fled Saddam Hussein's regime after years spent working with Islamist and jihadist movements. He relocated to Norway under refugee status in 1991.

In Oslo, Krekar enjoyed tremendous freedom to operate as a preacher and an organizer.

Allegedly traveling freely in violation of Norwegian asylum law, he helped create Ansar al-Islam, an Islamist group that enforced Taliban-style governance in Kurdish areas of Iraq prior to the U.S. invasion. After the invasion, Ansar al-Islam became part of the Salafist insurgent alliance known as Ansar al-Sunna.

[markomalley]

Heard Steyn mention this. Sounds like a plausible enough reason to wreak terror upon a country: the deportation order on a radical. At least that's a more rational reason than they usually have (and that ain't saying much).

[MestaMachine]

This has been ongoing for quite awhile. He was ordered deported, bur refused to leave and the Norwegians sort of backed off him out of fear. That he might well be responsible for this would not surprise me in the slightest.

[nuconvert]

you might want to read this...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2747276/posts

[AnAmericanAbroad]

I’d heard about this fool. And what’s even more hilarious is that if NBC had wanted to talk to this guy, just give him a call; he’d be happy to talk to you.

I wouldn’t be so surprised to discover that the late Mr. bin Laden would’ve cheerfully responded to a press request. After all, he’d been out of the limelight lately, and egomaniacs love to see themselves on the tube. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate irony?

Hey........maybe there’s a great way to get some of the clowns. Call them up (or put the word out on the street) and tell them that so-and-so from XYZ network wants to have a little face time with them. Except of course, that the “journalist” and “cameraman” and “sound guys” are from SEAL Team 6.