86.Hayley Tsukayama, “Inside How Twitter Decides Which Images to Block,” Washington Post, August 21, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/08/21/inside-how-twitter-decides-which-images-to-block/.
87.Lance Whitney, “Twitter Staff Received Death Threats from ISIS, Admits CEO,” CNET, October 10, 2014, http://www.cnet.com/news/twitter-staff-received-death-threats-from-isis-admits-ceo/.
88.Suspended accounts were logged from a list of approximately 3,000 ISIS-supporting Twitter users monitored by J. M. Berger. The count of suspensions, which is periodically refreshed, did not include multiple iterations of some major accounts that returned and were immediately suspended in between refresh periods.
89.Garling, “Twitter C.E.O. Dick Costolo on Receiving Death Threats from ISIS”; Whitney, “Twitter Staff Received Death Threats from ISIS, Admits CEO.”
90.Caitlin Dewey, “Twitter Just Overhauled Its Abuse-Reporting Policy. But Is It Enough to Stop Harassment?” The Washington Post, December 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/12/02/twitter-just-overhauled-its-abuse-reporting-policy-but-is-it-enough-to-stop-harassment/.
91.Based on the analysis of 76,747 tweets posted in August 2014, collected on August 29, 2014, against 105,245 tweets posted in October, collected October 31, 2014. On each date, the last 200 tweets from a list of ISIS-supporting accounts were collected. This methodology has the effect of exaggerating the number of retweets (but in a roughly consistent manner between the two periods). The true average number of retweets is lower in both months. Comparisons are for tweets posted in August versus tweets posted in October.
92.ISIS Twitter strategy document, September 12, 2014; Shayba al-Hamdi; http://justpaste.it/h26t.
93.ISIS Twitter strategy document, November 25, 2014, http://justpaste.it/jpabout.
94.J. M. Berger, Twitter post, September 30, 2014, https://twitter.com/intelwire/status/517125173175390209.
95.Jasper Hamill, “Anonymous Hacktivists Prepare for Strike Against ISIS ‘Supporters,’”Forbes, June 27, 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/jasperhamill/2014/06/27/anonymous-hacktivists-prepare-for-strike-against-isis-supporters/.
96.http://alplatformmedia.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64480, accessed November 3, 2014.
97.Mujahideen Twitter Handbook; http://justpaste.it/h1sg.
98.Data collected September 15 and November 3, 2014.
99.Ali Fisher and Nico Prucha, “ISIS Is Winning the Online Jihad Against the West,” Daily Beast, October 1, 2014, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/01/isis-is-winning-the-online-jihad-against-the-west.html.
100.J. M. Berger, “Resistible Force Meets Moveable Object,” IntelWire, October 2, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/10/resistable-force-meets-movable-object.html.
CHAPTER 8. THE AQ-ISIS WAR
1.Brynjar Lia, “Abu Mus’ab al-Suri’s Critique of Hard Lined Salafists in the Jihadist Current,” CTC Sentinel, December 15, 2007, https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/abu-musab-al-suri%E2%80%99s-critique-of-hard-line-salafists-in-the-jihadist-current.
2.Portions of this section were adapted from J. M. Berger, “The Islamic State vs. Al Qaeda: Who’s Winning the War to Become the Jihadi Superpower?” Foreign Policy, September 2, 2014, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/09/02/islamic_state_vs_al_qaeda_next_jihadi_super_power.
3.World Islamic Front, “Jihad against Jews and Crusaders,” statement, February 23, 1998, http://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm. Al Qaeda did formally change its name to “Qa`idat al-Jihad to commemorate the merger, but the vernacular never embraced the new name.
4.“Jama’a al-Islamiya rejects Assem Abdel Magued,” Egypt Independent, May 12, 2013, http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/jama-al-islamiya-rejects-assem-abdel-magued.
5.Michael Smith, “Analysis: Al-Qa’ida Renews Its Allegiance to Mullah Omar,” Downrange blog, July 21, 2014.
6.Vahid Brown, “The Façade of Allegiance: Bin Ladin’s Dubious Pledge to Mullah Omar,” CTC Sentinel 3, no. 1 (January 2010), https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-facade-of-allegiance-bin-ladin%E2%80%99s-dubious-pledge-to-mullah-omar.
7.Aaron Zelin, “The War Between ISIS and al-Qaeda for Supremacy of the Global Jihadist Movement,” Research Notes, Washington Institute, no. 20 (June 2014), http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/ResearchNote_20_Zelin.pdf.
8.Liz Sly, “Al-Qaeda Disavows Any Ties with Radical Islamist ISIS Group in Syria, Iraq,” Washington Post, February 3, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/al-qaeda-disavows-any-ties-with-radical-islamist-isis-group-in-syria-iraq/2014/02/03/2c9afc3a-8cef-11e3-98ab-fe5228217bd1_story.html.
9.“This Is the Promise of Allah,” Al Hayat Media Center, 2014, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/shaykh-abc5ab-mue1b8a5ammad-al-e28098adnc481nc4ab-al-shc481mc4ab-22this-is-the-promise-of-god22-en.pdf; J. M. Berger, “Gambling on the Caliphate,” IntelWire, June 29, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/06/gambling-on-caliphate.html.
10.J. M. Berger, “The State of the ‘Caliphate’ Is . . . Meh,” IntelWire, July 2, 2014.
11.J. M. Berger, “IS Backlash Spills Over on Jabhat al Nusra,” IntelWire, July 12, 2014.
12.Greg Miller, “Fighters Abandoning Al-Qaeda Affiliates to Join Islamic State, U.S. Officials Say,” Washington Post, August 9, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fighters-abandoning-al-qaeda-affiliates-to-join-islamic-state-us-officials-say/2014/08/09/c5321d10-1f08-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html.
13.“Senior Al-Qaeda Leader Calls for Followers to Support ISIS,” National News Yemen, July 5, 2014, http://nationalyemen.com/2014/07/05/senior-al-qaeda-leader-calls-for-followers-to-support-isis/.
14.Walid Ramzi, “ISIS Caliphate Spilts AQIM,” Magharebia, July 18, 2014, http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/07/18/feature-01; Mawassi Lahcen, “Islamic State Tempts Morocco Jihadists,” Magharebia, November 14, 2014, http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/reportage/2014/11/14/reportage-01.
15.“Jailed Indonesian Terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir Has Been Funding ISIS: Anti-Terrorism Chief,” Straits Times, November 18, 2014.
16.“Abu Bakar Bashir’s Sons Reject ISIS, Form New Group,” Khabar Southeast Asia, August 16, 2014.
17.Michelle FlorCruz, “Philippine Terror Group Abu Sayyaf May Be Using ISIS Link for Own Agenda,” International Business Times, September 25, 2014, http://www.ibtimes.com/philippine-terror-group-abu-sayyaf-may-be-using-isis-link-own-agenda-1695156.
18.John Simpson, “Afghan Militant Fighters ‘May Join Islamic State,’” BBC Asia, September 2, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29009125.
19.Jon Boone, “ISIS Ascent in Syria and Iraq Weakening Pakistani Taliban,” Guardian, October 22, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/22/pakistani-taliban-spokesman-isis-pledge.
20.“Nigeria Rejects Boko Haram ‘Caliphate’ Claim,” Al Jazeera, August 25, 2014.
21.“Local Support for Dreaded Islamic State Growing in Pakistan: Report,” Times of India, November 14, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Local-support-for-dreaded-Islamic-State-growing-in-Pakistan-Report/articleshow/45149421.cms.
22.Simon Speakman Cordall, “8,000 Young Tunisian Men Are Eager to Join Islamic State,” Newsweek, August 28, 2014.
23.Kevin Sullivan, “Tunisia, After Igniting Arab Spring, Sends Most Fighters to Islamic State in Syria,” Washington Post, October 28, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/tunisia-after-igniting-arab-spring-sends-the-most-fighters-to-islamic-state-in-syria/2014/10/28/b5db4faa-5971-11e4-8264-deed989ae9a2_story.html.
24.“Revolution Muslim Leader Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Threatening Jews,” ADL blog, April 25, 2014.
25.Shaikh Abdullah Faisal, “Is the New Caliphate Valid?” audio recording, July 21, 2014, http://www.authentictauheed.com/2014/07/audio-is-caliphate-valid.html.
26.Murray Wardrop, “Anjem Choudary: Profile,” Telegraph, January 4, 2010, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6930447/
Anjem-Choudary-profile.html; Scott Kaufman, “CNN Host Stunned When Radical Muslim Cleric Makes 9/11 Joke During Soundcheck,” RawStory, August 31, 2014; “Anjem Choudary held in London terror raids,” BBC, September 25, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29358758; Griff Witte, “In Britain, Islamist extremist Anjem Choudary proves elusive,” Washington Post, October 11, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/in-britain-islamist-extremist-anjem-choudary-proves-elusive/2014/10/11/eb731514-4e43-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_story.html; Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” The Guardian, September 6, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.
27.Michael Safi, “Radical Preacher Back in Melbourne After Deportation from Philippines,” Guardian, July 22, 2014.
28.Niraj Warikoo, “U.S.: Dearborn Cleric Popular with ISIS Fighters Owes $250K for Fraud,” Detroit Free Press, August 21, 2014; Shiv Malik, and Michael Safi, “Revealed: the radical clerics using social media to back British jihadists in Syria,” The Guardian, April 15, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/15/preachers-spiritual-cheerleaders-social-media-syria-london-university; Joseph A. Carter, Shiraz Maher and Peter R. Neumann, “Greenbirds: Measuring Importance and Influence in Syrian Foreign Fighter Networks,” International Centre for the Study of Radicalization, April 2014, http://icsr.info/2014/04/icsr-report-inspires-syrian-foreign-fighters/; Clarissa Ward, “US Cleric Inspiring Jihadists in Syria?”, CBS News, April 15, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fiery-speeches-lure-americans-to-fight-in-syria/.
29.Although Twitter had shut down ISIS’s official accounts, individual accounts remained on Twitter and on file-sharing services that the authors have determined are operated by members of ISIS’s official media team. For the occasion, ISIS also launched a new website for uploading its press releases.
30.Dabiq no. 5, November 2014, 24.
31.Shadi Bushra, “Egypt’s Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis Swears Allegiance to ISIS: Statement,” Al Arabiya, November 4, 2014, http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/11/04/Egypt-s-Ansar-Bayt-al-Maqdis-swears-allegiance-to-ISIS.html; “Egypt Militant Group Denies Pledging Loyalty to Islamic State: Twitter,” Reuters, November 4, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/04/us-egypt-militants-islamicstate-denial-idUSKBN0IO19F20141104.
32.“The Charge of the Ansar (supporters),” video, November 15, 2014; http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/11/14/uk-egypt-security-claim-idUKKCN0IY2HL20141114.
33.Data collected from Twitter, November 2014.
34.Pledge from Libya to the Islamic State, November 10, 2014; “Libya’s Islamist Militant Parade with ISIS Flags,” video, Al Arabiya, October 6, 2014, http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2014/10/06/Video-Libya-s-Islamist-militants-parade-with-ISIS-flags.html; Aaron Zelin, “The Islamic State’s First Colony in Libya,” Washington Institute, October 10, 2014, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-islamic-states-first-colony-in-libya.
35.Leela Jacinto, “Jund al-Khalifa: The IS-linked Group That Shot into the Spotlight,” France 24, September 25, 2014, http://www.france24.com/en/20140923-terrorism-france-algeria-jund-al-khalifa-kidnapping-islamic-state/.
36.“A Statement About What Was Contained in the Speech of Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ‘Even If the Disbelievers Dislike It,’” video, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, November 21, 2014.
37.Aaron Zelin, “The Islamic State’s Archipelago of Provinces,” Washington Institute, November 14, 2014, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-islamic-states-archipelago-of-provinces.
38.Dabiq no. 5, 24.
39.Declan Walsh, “Allure of ISIS for Pakistanis Is on the Rise,” New York Times, November 21, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/world/asia/isis-pakistan-militants-taliban-jihad.html.
40.J. M. Berger, “IS Closes In on JN in Hastag Battle, but Attention Is Divided,” IntelWire, October 22, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/10/is-closes-in-on-jn-in-hashtag-battle.html; J. M. Berger, “Gaza Dominates Talk in Jihadist Finance Networks; IS Still Struggles for Acceptance,” IntelWire, August 9, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/08/gaza-dominates-talk-in-jihadist-finance.html; J. M. Berger, “IS Backlash Spills Over on Jabhat Al Nusra,” IntelWire, July 12, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/07/is-backlash-spills-over-on-jabhat-al.html; Ruth Sherlock, “ ‘Moderate’ Syrian Rebels Defecting to ISIS, Blaming Lack of U.S. Support and Weapons,” National Post, November 11, 2014, http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/11/moderate-syrian-rebels-defecting-to-isis-blaming-lack-of-u-s-support-and-weapons/.
41.Jamie Dettmer, “ISIS and Al Qaeda Ready to Gang Up on Obama’s Rebels,” Daily Beast, November 11, 2014, www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/11/al-qaeda-s-killer-new-alliance-with-isis.html-via=mobile&source=email; Deb Riechmann, “AP Sources: IS, Al-Qaida Reach Accord in Syria,” Associated Press, The Big Story, November 13, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c71e3be959414e69bde25f792e18aad6/ap-sources-al-qaida-reach-accord-syria; “Did IS Refuse Truce with Syrian Islamist Factions?” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, November 13, 2014, http://www.rferl.mobi/a/islamic-state-truce-syria-factions-islamist/26690340.html; Nick Paton Walsh, “Al-Nusra Advances in Syria’s Idlib Area, Pushing Back Moderates, Activists Say,” CNN World, last update November 3, 2014, http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/03/world/meast/syria-al-nusra-front/.
42.Thomas Joscelyn, “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Calls for Reconciliation Between Jihadist Groups,” Long War Journal, July 2, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/07/al_qaeda_in_the_isla.php; Thomas Joscelyn, “Ansar al Sharia Tunisia Leader Says Gains in Iraq Should Be Cause for Jihadist Reconciliation,” Long War Journal, June 14, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/06/ansar_al_sharia_tuni_8.php#; Thomas Joscelyn, “Saudi Cleric’s Reconciliation Initiative for Jihadist Draws Wide Support, then a Rejection,” Long War Journal, January 27, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/01/saudi_clerics_reconc.php#; Thomas Joscelyn and Bill Roggio, “Shabaab Leader Calls for Mediation in Syria, Says Zawahiri is ‘Our Shiekh and Emir,’” Hiiran Online, http://hiiraan.com/news4/2014/May/54709/shabaab_leader_calls_for_mediation_in_syria_says_zawahiri_is_our_sheikh_and_emir.aspx#sthash.ldvgpZxe.dpbs, last updated May 17, 2014.
43.Kristina Wong, “al Qaeda in Yemen Declares Support for ISIS,” Hill, August 19, 2014, http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/215480-al-qaeda-in-yemen-declares-support-for-isis; Joscelyn, “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Calls for Reconciliation Between Jihadist Groups”; Sam Jones, “AQ Group Offers Support to ISIS,” Financial Times, September 17, 2014, http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d964dcb6-3e82-11e4-adef-00144feabdc0.html.
44.Joanna Paraszczuk, “Which Dagestani Caucasus Emirate Groups Are Switching To IS?”, From Chechnya to Syria, http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23223.
45.J. M. Berger, “Zawahiri Falls off the Map, Is Rebuked by Top al Nusra Figure,” IntelWire, August 18, 2014, http://news.intelwire.com/2014/08/zawahiri-falls-off-map-gets-rebuked-by.html.
46.Andres Perez, “With ISIS Stealing Its Thunder, al Qaeda Declares Jihad on India,” Week, September 4, 2014, http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/267515/speedreads-with-isis-stealing-its-thunder-al-qaeda-declares-jihad-on-india; “Overshadowed by ISIS, al Qaeda Claims Expansion,” CBS News, September 4, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/overshadowed-by-isis-al-qaeda-leader-zawahri-expansion-india/.
47.Arif Rafiq, “The New Al Qaeda Group in South Asia Has Nothing to Do with ISIS,” New Republic, September 5, 2014, http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119333/al-qaeda-indian-subcontinent-not-response-islamic-state.
48.Data collected from Twitter, September and October 2014.
49.Faith Karimi, Omar Nor, and Jason Hanna, “Al-Shabaab Names Successor to Slain Leader; Somalia on High Alert,” CNN, September 7, 2014, http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/06/world/africa/somalia-godane-high-alert/; “Al-Shabab Names New Leader After Godane Death in US Strike,” BBC Africa, September 6, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29093200; Thomas Josce
lyn, “Shabaab Names New Emir, Reaffirms Allegiance to al Qaeda,” Long War Journal, September 6, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/09/shabaab_names_new_em.php.
50.“Some Ruminations on the Syrian Foreign Fighters Problem,” Haganah Forum, http://forum.internet-haganah.com/ipb/index.php?/topic/2642-some-ruminations-on-the-syrian-foreign-fighter-problem/, accessed November 24, 2013.
51.For example, Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, attempted Fort Hood assailant Jason Abdo, Seattle plotter Khalid Abdul Latif, the Fort Dix Six, and many others. See J. M. Berger, “Why U.S. Terrorists Reject the Al Qaeda Playbook,” Atlantic, July 19, 2011, http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/07/why-us-terrorists-reject-the-al-qaeda-playbook/242019/.
52.Katherine Zimmerman and Alexis Knutsen, “Warning: AQAP’s Looming Threat in Yemen,” American Enterprise Institute, August 14, 2014, http://www.aei.org/publication/warning-aqaps-looming-threat-in-yemen/.
53.Jack Jenkins, “The Book That Really Explains ISIS (Hint: It’s Not the Quran,” Think Progress, September 10, 2014, http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/09/10/3565635/the-book-that-really-explains-isis-hint-its-not-the-quran/.
54.“Libya, Calvinball, Solidarity: Reflections on Refelctions,” Abu Aardvark blog, November 19, 2014, http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/2014/11/reflections-on-reflections.html.
55.“Oklahoma Beheading: FBI Probing Suspect’s Recent Conversion to Islam,” Fox News, September 27, 2014, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/09/27/woman-beheaded-at-oklahoma-food-distribution-center-police-say/; “Oklahoma Beheading Suspect Described as a ‘Little Odd,’” CBS News, September 27, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alton-nolen-oklahoma-beheading-suspect-described-as-a-little-odd/.
56.Henry Lee, “Guns Seized from Man Who Wanted ‘We Love ISIS’ Hat,” SFGate, November 13, 2014, http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Guns-seized-from-man-who-wanted-We-Love-ISIS-5890600.php.
57.James Gordon Meek and Josh Margolin, “NYC Ax Attacker Was Consumed by Desire to Strike U.S. Authority Figures, Police Say,” ABC News, November 3, 2014, http://abcnews.go.com/US/nyc-ax-attacker-consumed-desire-strike-us-authority/story?id=26664787.
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