Dirty Wars

by Jeremy Scahill

  287 “They shut down my website”: Anwar al Awlaki, interview with Al-Malahem Media, aired May 23, 2010, transcript provided by MEMRI, www.memrijttm.org/clip_transcript/en/2480.htm.

  287 landed in Sana’a: Transcript, “Grand Jury Focuses on NC Man Tied to Jihad Magazine,” Morning Edition with Steve Inskeep, NPR, August 18, 2010.

  287 “He’s a Christmas child”: Author interview, Sarah Khan, April 2012. All information and quotations attributed to Sarah Khan come from the author’s interview.

  287 Samir’s grandparents’ house: Ibid.

  287 classmates recall: Matthew Chayes, Anthony M. Destefano, Robert E. Kessler, Greg Lacour, and Victor Manuel Ramos, “Samir Khan, al-Qaida Figure, Grew Up on Long Island,” Newsday, October 7, 2011; Timothy Bolger, “Slain al Qaeda Mouthpiece Samir Khan’s Westbury Roots,” LongIsland-Press.com, October 6, 2011.

  288 “a practicing Muslim”: Michael Moss and Souad Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers,” New York Times, October 15, 2007.

  288 Islamic Thinkers Society: Ibid.

  288 “Does he think like them?”: Chayes et al., “Samir Khan, al-Qaida Figure, Grew Up on Long Island.”

  288 first of several interventions: Robbie Brown and Kim Severson, “Second American in Strike Waged Qaeda Media War,” New York Times, September 30, 2011.

  288 “If you give Satan an inch”: Chayes et al., “Samir Khan, al-Qaida Figure, Grew Up on Long Island.”

  288 community college: Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers.”

  288 debates with fellow attendees: “American Editor Brings US Savvy to Jihad Outreach,” Morning Edition, NPR, October 12, 2010.

  289 retiring blogs: Alice Fordham, “A ‘Proud Traitor’: Samir Khan Reported Dead Alongside Aulaqi,” Checkpoint Washington (blog), Washington Post, September 30, 2011.

  289 Muslimpad: Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers.”

  289 top 1 percent: Ibid.

  289 “scholars of Islam”: “About,” The Ignored Puzzle Pieces of Knowledge, revolution.muslimpad.com.

  289 Zachary Chesser: “Alleged American Jihadists—Connecting the Dots,” CNN.com, October 10, 2012.

  289 “unlikely foot soldier”: Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers.”

  289 “brought great happiness to me”: Ibid.

  289 told a local news station: Ibid.

  290 hired a lawyer: “American Editor Brings US Savvy to Jihad Outreach.”

  290 following him closely: Michael Moss, “What to Do About Pixels of Hate,” New York Times, October 21, 2007.

  290 “shut [Khan] down”: Fordham, “A ‘Proud Traitor.’”

  290 “FBI dispatched a spy”: Samir Khan, “I Am Proud to Be a Traitor to America,” Inspire 2 (fall 2010), published October 2010. All excerpts of Khan’s writing come from this article, unless otherwise noted.

  290 invited an Imam: Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers.”

  290 “a moderate Muslim”: Steven Stalinsky and R. Sosnow, ”The Life and Legacy of American al-Qaeda Online Jihad Pioneer Samir Khan—Editor of al-Qaeda Magazine ‘Inspire’ and a Driving Force Behind al-Qaeda’s Push for ‘Lone-Wolf’ Terrorist Attacks in the West,” Middle East Research Institute (MEMRI), September 28, 2012, www.memri.org/report/en/print6713.htm#_edn39.

  290 “became very much convinced”: Chayes et al., “Samir Khan, al-Qaida Figure, Grew Up on Long Island.”

  290 “I tried to bring arguments”: Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at US Viewers.”

  290 already received an invitation: Steve Inskeep, “Grand Jury Focuses on NC Man Tied to Jihad Magazine,” Morning Edition, NPR, August 18, 2010.

  291 “How could anyone claim sanity”: Abu Yazeed, “Samir Khan: The Face of Joy,” Inspire 9 (winter 2012), released May 2012. The author claims to be publishing a “last will” left by Samir Khan on his hard drive.

  291 first met Anwar Awlaki: Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, “The Danish Biker and the Trail That Led to al Qaeda’s Most Wanted,” CNN.com, October 24, 2012.

  291 Murad Storm: Ibid.

  291 first armed robbery: Ray Weaver, “Former Biker Infiltrated al-Qaeda,” Copenhagen Post, October 8, 2012.

  292 Bandidos: Ibid.

  292 converted to Islam, moved to Yemen: Ibid.

  292 named him Osama: Ibid.

  292 video from 2005: Cruickshank and Lister, “The Danish Biker and the Trail That Led to al Qaeda’s Most Wanted.”

  292 student at Iman University: Ibid.

  292 “talked freely”: Ibid.

  292 “not what I thought”: Weaver, “Former Biker Infiltrated al-Qaeda.”

  292 claimed he approached: Cruickshank and Lister, “The Danish Biker and the Trail That Led to al Qaeda’s Most Wanted.”

  292 saw me as his friend”: Ibid.

  292 “materials and electronic equipment”: Ibid.

  292 “discussed the terrorist attacks”: Ibid.

  292 “part of a conspiracy to get Anwar”: E-mail sent to author from Awlaki family, December 2012.

  293 married a second Yemeni wife: Author interviews, Awlaki family members, August 2012.

  293 “companion in hiding”: Cruickshank and Lister, “The Danish Biker and the Trail That Led to al Qaeda’s Most Wanted.”

  293 “There are two things”: Duncan Gardham, “Morten Storm: A Radical Life,” Telegraph, December 3, 2012.

  293 launched an assault: Cruickshank and Lister, “The Danish Biker and the Trail That Led to al Qaeda’s Most Wanted.”

  293 “overjoyed”: “The Terrorist’s Bride,” Jyllands-Posten documentary, 12:11, December 16, 2012.

  293 “The idea was to find someone”: Ibid.

  293 “That was the plan”: Weaver, “Former Biker Infiltrated al-Qaeda.”

  31: Blowback in Somalia

  294 plastic surgery: Profile of Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, United Nations Security Council al-Qaida Sanctions List, accessed August 14, 2012, https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/sc10755.doc.htm.

  294 “senior trainer”: US diplomatic cable 09NAIROBI1395, from Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, US Embassy Nairobi, “Somalia—the TFG, Al-Shabaab, and Al Qaeda,” July 6, 2009, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/07/09NAIROBI1395.html.

  294 burst through the door, Wilson Airport: Author interview, Clara Gutteridge, July 2011.

  294 “They put a bag on my head”: Author copy of written testimony of Ahmed Abdullahi Hassan.

  294 taken to a secret prison: Author interview, Clara Gutteridge, July 2011.

  295 “former personal assistant”: Author copy, Kenyan intelligence report, October 2010.

  295 “CIA no longer operates”: Leon E. Panetta, “Message from the Director: Interrogation Policy and Contracts,” Central Intelligence Agency, April 9, 2009, https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/directors-statement-interrogation-policy-contracts.html.

  295 “United States provided information”: Author interview, US official, July 2011.

  295 “right-hand man”: Author interview, Somali intelligence official, June 2011.

  295 took off in helicopters: Sean D. Naylor, “JSOC Closes Chapter on al-Qaida Leader: Somalia Raid Nets Body of Man Wanted in Bombing,” Army Times, September 18, 2009.

  295 regular trips: Bill Roggio, “Commando Raid in Somalia Is Latest in Covert Operations Across the Globe,” Long War Journal, September 15, 2009.

  295 According to witnesses: Ewen MacAskill, “Somali Insurgents Vow Revenge for US Killing of Leader,” Guardian, September 15, 2009.

  295 collected at least two: Jeffrey Gettleman and Eric Schmitt, “U.S. Kills Top Qaeda Militant in Southern Somalia,” New York Times, September 14, 2009.

  295 “any alleged operation”: MacAskill, “Somali Insurgents Vow Revenge.”

  295 al Shabab confirmed: Gettleman and Schmitt, “U.S. Kills Top Qaeda Militant in Southern Somalia.”

  296 “I am a firm believer”
: Author interview, Malcolm Nance, May 2011. All quotations of Malcolm Nance come from the author’s interview.

  296 “like summary executions”: Naylor, “JSOC Closes Chapter on al-Qaida Leader.”

  296 “The truth is closer to the opposite”: Ibid.

  296 free to interrogate the prisoners: Author interview, Somali intelligence official, June 2011.

  296 “Hassan’s case suggests”: Statement, legal team of Ahmed Abdullahi Hassan, July 2011.

  297 at least seven US citizens: Bobby Ghosh, “Domestic-Terrorism Incidents Hit a Peak in 2009,” Time, December 23, 2009.

  297 issued his update: Mark Mazzetti, “U.S. Is Said to Expand Secret Actions in Mideast,” New York Times, May 24, 2010.

  298 “purely military solution”: Peter Spiegel, “Gates Says Somalia Government Is Key to Problem,” Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2009.

  298 “National Security Council”: Johnnie Carson, prepared testimony, “Developing a Coordinated and Sustainable Strategy for Somalia,” Hearing of Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, May 20, 2009, www.state.gov/p/af/rls/rm/2009/123729.htm.

  298 “following the course”: Daniel Volman, “Obama Administration Budget Request for AFRICOM Operations and for Security Assistance Programs in Africa in FY 2010,” African Security Research Project, May 2009, http://concernedafricascholars.org/african-security-research-project/?p=18. The figures of US budget requests for FY 2010 come from Volman’s report.

  298 government of the Seychelles: Craig Whitlock and Greg Miller, “U.S. Assembling Secret Drone Bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Officials Say,” Washington Post, September 20, 2011.

  298 “It would be a mistake”: Volman, “Obama Administration Budget Request for AFRICOM Operations.”

  298 expanded to 5,200: “Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1872 (2009),” United Nations Security Council, October 2, 2009.

  299 post-Ramadan offensive: Mohammed Ibrahim and Jeffrey Gettleman, “African Union Base in Somalia Is Hit,” New York Times, September 17, 2009.

  299 two UN Land Cruisers: Details of the attack are from ibid.

  299 single deadliest attack: Malkhadir M. Muhumed (AP), “Death Toll Rises to Twenty-one in Somalia Suicide Attack,” Seattle Times, September 17, 2009.

  299 “We have got our revenge”: Ibrahim Mohamed, “Suicide Car Bombers Hit Main AU Base in Somalia,” Reuters, September 17, 2009.

  299 speaking English: Ibid.

  299 was a US citizen: Jeffrey Gettleman, “American Helped Bomb Somalia Base, Web Site Says,” New York Times, September 25, 2009.

  299 established in 2002: “Overviews,” Benadir University website, www.benadiruniversity.net/Overviews.aspx.

  299 video of the ceremony: Author copy, video of graduation ceremony at Benadir University, December 2009. Many details of the attack are from the video.

  300 five Somali government ministers: “Somalia Ministers Killed by Hotel Suicide Bomb,” BBC.co.uk, December 3, 2009.

  300 higher education minister: Stephanie McCrummen, “Attack at Graduation Ceremony Kills Nineteen in Somali Capital,” Washington Post, December 4, 2009.

  300 health minister: Allie Shah, “Minneapolis Surgeon Feels Calling Back to Somalia,” Star Tribune, December 19, 2009.

  300 “Suddenly, the hall shook”: Abdinasir Mohamed, “‘I Looked to My Right and Saw a Colleague Dead and Bleeding,’” Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2009.

  300 “national disaster”: Associated Press, “Bomber Dressed as Woman Kills Twenty-two Somalis,” FoxNews.com, December 3, 2009.

  300 “We beg the world”: McCrummen, “Attack at Graduation Ceremony.”

  300 Danish citizen: “Somalia Suicide Bomber ‘Was from Denmark,’” BBC.co.uk, December 10, 2009.

  301 “did not mastermind that explosion”: Ibrahim Mohamed, “Somali Rebels Deny They Carried Out Suicide Bombing,” Reuters, December 4, 2009.

  301 “The struggle against violent extremism”: Transcript, “Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” West Point Military Academy, December 1, 2009.

  301 “Perhaps the most profound issue”: Transcript, “Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize,” Oslo, Norway, December 10, 2009.

  302 “superb,” “tough”: Tweet from CBS White House Correspondent Mark Knoller (@markknoller), December 11, 2009, http://twitter.com/markknoller/status/6567810262.

  302 “liberal president”: Margaret Talev, “Unlikely Support: GOP Loved Obama’s Nobel Speech,” McClatchy Newspapers, December 11, 2009.

  302 “most explicitly pro-war speech”: Glenn Greenwald, “The Strange Consensus on Obama’s Nobel Address: Why Did So Many Liberals and Conservatives Both Find So Much to Cheer in the President’s Foreign Policy Speech?” Salon.com, December 11, 2009.

  32: “If They Kill Innocent Children and Call Them al Qaeda, Then We Are All al Qaeda”

  303 three alleged AQAP members: Daniel Klaidman, Kill or Capture: The War on Terror and the Soul of the Obama Presidency (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), p. 199.

  303 just forty-five minutes: Ibid.

  303 some seventy-five officials: Ibid., p. 200.

  303 “near the village of al-Majalah”: Ibid., p. 199.

  303 “heavy pressure exerted”: Ibid., p. 210.

  304 BlackBerry started ringing: Author interview, Sheikh Saleh bin Fareed, January 2012. All information and quotations attributed to bin Fareed are from the author’s interview, unless otherwise noted.

  304 read a press release: “‘Dozens Killed’ in Yemen Raids,” AlJazeera.com, December 18, 2009.

  304 arrived in southern Yemen: Paula Dear, “Britain’s Long Relationship with Yemen,” BBC News Magazine, January 12, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8441263.stm.

  304 Crown colony: Ibid.

  304 British withdrew: Ibid.

  305 but he had overslept: Phil Hirschkorn, “Who Was Fahd al-Quso?” CBSNews.com, May 7, 2012.

  305 “People saw the smoke”: Author interview, Muqbal, January 2012. All quotations of Muqbal come from the author’s interview.

  306 “I was making bread”: Author interview, female survivor, January 2012.

  306 fourteen women and twenty-one children: Amnesty International, “Yemen: Cracking Down Under Pressure,” August 25, 2010.

  306 three more people were killed: Chris Woods, “The Civilian Massacre the US Neither Confirms Nor Denies,” Bureau of Investigative Journalism, March 29, 2012.

  306 “We were only exposed to Western media”: Author interview, Kamal Sharaf, January 2012. All quotations of Kamal Sharaf come from the author’s interview.

  306 his relationship, through marriage: Ibid.

  306 US Treasury Department–designated: Specially Designated Nationals List, Office of Foreign Assets Control, US Department of the Treasury, January 17, 2013, www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/t11sdn.pdf.

  307 tried on a suicide vest: See, for example, Gregory D. Johnsen, The Last Refuge: Yemen, Al-Qaeda, and America’s War in Arabia (New York: W. W. Norton, 2013), pp. 235–238.

  307 “Special Access Program”: Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti, and Robert F. Worth, “Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents,” New York Times, August 14, 2010.

  307 US-Yemen joint operations center: Dana Priest, “US Military Teams, Intelligence Deeply Involved in Aiding Yemen on Strikes,” Washington Post, January 27, 2010.

  307 surveillance aircraft: Woods, “The Civilian Massacre the US Neither Confirms Nor Denies.” According to Woods, local residents had noticed a “spotter plane” overhead well before the strike.

  307 another strike: Kimberly Dozier, “U.S. Leading Assaults on al Qaeda in Yemen,” CBSNews.com, January 3, 2010.

  308 preparing for strikes: Robert F. Worth, “Yemen Says Strikes Against Qaeda Bases Killed Thirty-Four,” New York Times, December 17, 2009.

  308 a big fish: US diplomatic cab
le 09SANAA2250, from Ambassador Stephen Seche, US Embassy Sana’a, “Yemen Abuzz with Talk of CT Operations; Attention Slowly Turns to U.S. Role,” December 21, 2009, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/12/09SANAA2250.html.

  308 “an imminent attack”: Brian Ross, Richard Esposito, Matthew Cole, Luis Martinez, and Kirit Radia, “Obama Ordered U.S. Military Strike on Yemen Terrorists,” ABCNews.go.com, December 18, 2009.

  308 “JSOC operation with borrowed Navy subs”: Author interview, military source, November 2010.

  308 “successful pre-emptive operations”: Ian Black, “Yemen ‘Kills Thirty-four al-Qaida Members in Raids,’” Guardian, December 17, 2009.

  308 “carried out simultaneous raids”: Embassy of the Republic of Yemen; Office of Media and Public Affairs, Washington, DC, “Press Statement,” December 24, 2009.

  308 “thank him for his cooperation”: “Obama Hails Yemen’s Efforts in Fighting Terror in Phone Call to President Salih,” Yemen News Agency (SABA), December 17, 2009.

  308 Hosni Mubarak also phoned: “Saleh Receives Phone Call from Egyptian President,” Yemen News Agency (SABA), December 17, 2009.

  308 questioned whether Yemen: Amnesty International, “Yemen: Cracking Down Under Pressure.”

  308 BLU 97 A/B cluster bomblets: Ibid. Details of the bomblets and munitions are also from the Amnesty International report.

  308 Yemen’s arsenal: Kim Sengupta, “US Cruise Missile Parts Found in Yemeni Village Where Fifty-two Died,” Independent (UK), June 7, 2010.

  309 “We’ve actually done quite a bit”: Gordon Lubold, “Yemen’s Air Strike on Al Qaeda May Signal New US Focus,” Christian Science Monitor, December 24, 2009.

  309 “largely nomadic, Bedouin families”: US diplomatic cable 09SANAA2251, from Ambassador Stephen Seche, US Embassy Sana’a, “ROYG Looks Ahead Following CT Operations, but Perhaps Not Far Enough,” December 21, 2009, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/12/09SANAA2251.html.

  309 gathering of tribal leaders: Author interview, Sheikh Saleh bin Fareed, January 2012. The author relies on bin Fareed’s account for his description of the tribal gathering.

  311 “Al Qaeda’s war in Yemen”: Johnsen, The Last Refuge, pp. 255–256.