Al-Qaida names new leader: Egyptian Islamic Jihad operative directs military command

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Friday, December 14, 2001

[JohnHuang2]

The al-Qaida terrorist group, blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other mass casualty incidents, has a new leader.

Islamic extremist sources in Egypt revealed to the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi, also known as Sayf-al-Adl, is the new al-Qaida military commander. The authoritative newspaper, which is owned by Saudi Arabians, said Makkawi replaced Ahmad Atif (Abu-Hafs al-Masri) after the latter was killed in recent U.S. bombing raids in Afghanistan.

Makkawi, an Egyptian who was trained as an officer in the Egyptian special forces, has been charged by the Cairo government with terrorism related to the Islamic Jihad organization activities in the past.

Makkawi is considered a first-generation leader of Islamic Jihad and has his differences with Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current Jihad leader and close aide to Osama bin Laden. Makkawi broke ranks with al-Zawahiri because he favors military-style tactics.

The FBI is offering a reward for up to $25 million for Makkawi’s arrest, for his role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. He is also a key suspect in plotting the Sept. 11 attacks.

Makkawi left Egypt in 1988 and lived in Saudi Arabia before moving on to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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[JohnHuang2]

Quote of the Day by Always Right

[A CA Guy]

The fish stinks from the head. So less cut off more heads!

[StoneColdGOP]

This is the funniest thing I've read all day! (Admittedly, it's been a slow day)

This reminds me of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz taking over as Fuehrer of the Third Reich after Hitler offed himself, and one week before Doenitz surrendered the Reich to the Allies.

[JohnHuang2]

LOL

[StoneColdGOP]

Hey, history has a funny way of repeating itself...

[JohnHuang2]

Sure does, amigo.

[Hugin]

This reminds me of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz taking over as Fuehrer

Yeah, but Doenitz lived.

[StoneColdGOP]

I have a feeling this dude won't.

[mvonfr]

Hmmm, are not the Al Queda guys being very helpful? Telling us whom to hunt. Should we believe them indeed?

[JSteff]

Yeah I agree but the problem with this is that Al-Qaida is not as infra-structure dependant as a state military like Germanies was. We would be foolish to think they were gone until they are really gone.

I actually think that Bin Laden if he does escape may be damaged goods and not as powerfull because of both his statement to fight to the death (while hiding in caves the whole time), and because no special forces agent would have much respect for a man who was stupid enough to talk about his operations on video. Especially how some of the operatives were deceived into going along not knowing it was a one way trip. Bad for recruiting.

[Cacique]

A FORMER MUSLIM PROFESSOR ON WHY HE LEFT ISLAM (click on picture)

The Hardcover edition.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Islamic extremist sources in Egypt revealed to the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi, also known as Sayf-al-Adl, is the new al-Qaida military commander newest candidate to receive a Tomahawk missile through his front window.