Jihad Joe

by J. M. Berger

  71. “NIA Charge Sheet against David Headley Soon,” Hindustan Times, July 7, 2010.

  72. “David Headley Used Choicest Hindi Expletives for NIA Grillers,” India Today, July 10, 2010.

  73. See https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html, retrieved August 11, 2010.

  74. Xan Rice, “Somali Hardliner Calls for Foreign Jihadists,” Observer, December 24, 2006.

  75. Mohamed Abdi Farah, “Somalia: ICU Leaders Resign as Ethiopian Army Nears the Capital,” SomaliNet News, http://web.archive.org/web/20070110230438/http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6223, retrieved August 11, 2010.

  76. Country Reports on Terrorism 2009, U.S. State Department, retrieved August 11, 2010, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140900.htm.

  77. Nir Rosen, “How Did Al Shabab Emerge from the Chaos of Somalia?” Time, August 20, 2010.

  78. Testimony by Stevan Weine, M.D., professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, Hearing on Violent Extremism: How Are People Moved from Constitutionally Protected Thought to Acts of Terrorism? December 15, 2009.

  79. Weine, Hearing on Violent Extremism; question by the author to Terrance Ford, director of Intelligence and Knowledge Development, United States Army African Command at a Foreign Policy Research Institute conference on September 27, 2010.

  80. Weine, Hearing on Violent Extremism.

  81. Kristina Davis and Michael Stetz, “Acquaintances Recall Terror Suspect,” San Diego Union-Tribune, August 7, 2010; USA v. Jehad Serwan Mostafa, Case 3:09-cr-03726-WQH, Grand Jury Indictment, October 9, 2009; and Terry Rodgers, “‘No War,’ Crowds Implore: Thousands Rally at Park against Conflict in Iraq,” San Diego Union-Tribune, March 17, 2003.

  82. The following section is derived mainly from the following two exceptionally reported pieces: Andrea Elliott, “The Jihadist Next Door,” New York Times Magazine, January 31, 2010; and “American Jihadi,” Vanguard, Current TV, air date June 30, 2010.

  83. USA v. Daniel Maldonado, 4:07-mj-00125, Criminal Complaint, Affidavit of Jeremiah A. George.

  84. USA v. Zachary Adam Chesser, CR 1:10 MS504, Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint.

  85. Ambush At Bardal, Al Shabab propaganda video.

  86. Ibid.

  87. Ibid.

  88. Various nasheeds, Al Shabab propaganda videos.

  89. Festival for the Children of Martyrs, Al Shabab propaganda video.

  90. Nicole Santa Cruz, “San Diego Woman Accused of Aiding Somalia Terrorist Group,” Los Angeles Times, November 28, 2010.

  91. Derrick Nunnally, Kathleen Brady Shea, and Larry King, “‘JihadJane’s” Life Like a ‘Country Music Song,’” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 11, 2010.

  92. Ian Urbina, “Militant Views Were Expressed Online but Unknown to Neighbors,” New York Times, March 11, 2010.

  93. Carrie Johnson, “JihadJane, an American Woman, Faces Terrorism Charges,” Washington Post, March 10, 2010.

  94. Stephanie Simon, “Paulin-Ramirez’s Actions Raised Mother’s Concerns,” Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2010; Devlin Barrett, “Jamie Paulin-Ramirez Charged In ‘Jihad Jane’ Case, Plot To Kill Swedish Cartoonist,” Huffington Post, April 2, 2010, retrieved December 3, 2010, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/02/jamie-paulinramirez-will-_n_523648.html.

  Chapter 11. The Keyboard and the Sword

  1. U.S. v. Muhamed Mubayyid, Emadeddin Muntasser, and Samir Al Monla, Criminal Action No. 05-40026-FDS (2007), Exhibit 514A, transcript of phone conversation of January 27, 1996.

  2. Andrew North, “Pro-Jihad Website Draws Readers,” BBC News, February 15, 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1823045.stm, retrieved July 24, 2010; “The Battle to Banish Babar Ahmad,” BBC News, November 16, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4441680.stm, retrieved July 24, 2010.

  3. See http://www.islamicawakening.com/helpus.php, retrieved July 24, 2010; Al-Jihad: The Neglected Duty, Muhammad Abdul Salam Faraj (Boston: CARE International, undated).

  4. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/, retrieved July 24, 2010.

  5. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/america-one-sick-place-24585/, retrieved on various dates.

  6. See http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136079.htm, and http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136083.htm, retrieved July 26, 2010.

  7. Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, “Arrested Men Attended Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group,” CNN.com, June 11, 2010.

  8. Andrea Elliott, “Queens Muslim Group Says It Opposes Violence, and America,” New York Times, June 22, 2005; Bradley Hope, “Islamic Thinkers Society Called ‘Destructive,’” New York Sun, April 25, 2006.

  9. Cruickshank and Lister, “Arrested Men Attended Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group.”

  10. Elliott, “Queens Muslim Group Says It Opposes Violence, and America.”

  11. Ibid.; also see http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/2010/07/what-weekend-planed-for-authentic.html, http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/2010/05/sheikh-anwar-al-awlaki-muslim-for-sake.html, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  12. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/feds-arrest-man-behind-southpark-threats-37052/, retrieved July 24, 2010; http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/p/authentic-tawheed-paltalk.html, retrieved July 30, 2010; Judgment in Appeal of Crown v. El Faisal, Supreme Court of Judicature, Court of Appeal, March 4, 2004, http://nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/RoyalCourtsofJustice_AlFaisal.pdf, retrieved July 30, 2010; “Jamaican Muslim Cleric Back in Kenya Prison,” Xinhua News, January 11, 2010.

  13. “The Brooklyn Jew Who Became a Radical Muslim,” Details, September 2003.

  14. Interview with Roxanne Euben, professor of political science, Wellesley College, June 2, 2010.

  15. See http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/, various dates.

  16. American Al Qaeda, CNN, aired May 15, 2010, and numerous news broadcasts.

  17. John Doyle and Janon Fisher, “Sick in the Jihad; America-Hater in Qns. Hails Hood Massacre,” New York Post, November 8, 2009.

  18. Yousef Al Khattab, “Why I Left Revolution Muslim,” retrieved August 20, 2010, http://www.yousefalkhattab.com/p/why-i-left-revolution-muslim.html.

  19. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/feds-arrest-man-behind-south-park-threats-37052/, retrieved July 24, 2010.

  20. Revolution Muslim Street Dawah, March 26, 2010. The video was posted online but subsequently removed by Revolution Muslim. Audio captured by the author.

  21. Revolution Muslim Street Dawah at Muslim Day Parade, October 2009. The video was posted online but subsequently removed by Revolution Muslim. Audio captured by the author.

  22. Aaron Y. Zelin, “Revolution Muslim: Downfall or Respite?,” CTC Sentinel, November 2010; http://www.islampolicy.com/2010/11/anwar-awlaki-to-make-it-known-and-not.html, retrieved Dec. 3, 2010; http://www.islampolicy.com/2010/12/bin-laden-abdullah-azzam-exposing-saudi.html, retrieved Dec. 3, 2010; and http://www.islampolicy.com/2010/12/whoever-prepares-fighter-has.html, retrieved Dec. 3, 2010.

  23. Anti-Defamation League, “Backgrounder: Revolution Muslim,” retrieved July 30, 2010, http://www.adl.org/NR/exeres/48925123-070C-411E-A42F-E23160C76E5D,DB7611A2-02CD-43AF-8147-649E26813571,frameless.htm.

  24. USA v. Mohamed Alessa and Carlos E. Almonte, 2:10-mj-08109-MCA, Criminal Complaint, June 4, 2010.

  25. American Al Qaeda, CNN; Bryant Vinas timeline, http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/11/timeline.bryant.vinas/index.html, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  26. Michael Powell, “U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda Trains Foreigners,” New York Times, July 24, 2009.

  27. American Al Qaeda, CNN.

  28. Ibid..

  29. Powell, “U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda Trains Foreigners.”

  30. American Al Qaeda, CNN; Bryant Vinas timeline, retrieved July 30, 2010, http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/11/timeline.bryant.vinas/in
dex.html.

  31. Powell, “U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda Trains Foreigners.”

  32. Claire Suddath, “Bryant Neal Vinas: An American in Al Qaeda,” Time.com, July 24, 2009; Bryant Vinas timeline, http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/11/timeline.bryant.vinas/index.html, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  33. Bryant Vinas timeline, retrieved July 30, 2010, http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/11/timeline.bryant.vinas/index.html.

  34. Wisdom Martin, “Classmate’s Shock: ‘I Didn’t Know How Far He Was Taking It!’” Channel 5 Fox, Washington, D.C., retrieved July 23, 2010, http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/virginia/former-high-school-classmate-discusses-va-man-charged-with-supporting-terror-group-072210.

  35. Tara Bahrampour, “Terror Suspect Took His Desire to Belong to the Extreme,” Washington Post, July 25, 2010.

  36. Aaron Zelin, Interview with Ab Talah Al Amrk, retrieved July 23, 2010, http://azelin.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/exclusive-interview-with-abu-tal%E1%B8%A5ah-al-amriki-of-revolution-muslim/.

  37. Yousef Al Khattab, untitled posting, July 23, 2010, http://yousefalkhattab.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_23.html, retrieved July 23, 2010.

  38. Anti-Defamation League, “Backgrounder: Revolution Muslim.”

  39. USA v. Zachary Adam Chesser, CR 1:10 MS504, Affidavit of Mary Brandt Kinder; for another example, see Abu Talha Al Amriki, “Counter Counter Terrorism: Misguided Salafis,” retrieved August 20, 2010; http://www.jamiahafsaforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6412, Anti-Defamation League, “Abu Talhah Al Amrikee: An Extensive Online Footprint,” July 23, 2010, retrieved September 6, 2010, http://www.adl.org/NR/exeres/3F7463DE-4DA9-4696-BA38-F6D67881AA7C,DB7611A2-02CD-43AF-8147-649E26813571,frameless.htm; and J. M. Berger, “Counter-Counter-Counter-Terrorism: The Positive Power of Dissent,” retrieved April 24, 2010, http://news.intelwire.com/2010/04/counter-counter-counter-terrorism-power.html, Intelwire.com.

  40. Zelin, Interview with Ab Talah Al Amrk.

  41. See http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/2010/04/counter-counter-terrorism-8-fomenting.html, retrieved July 23, 2010.

  42. Abu Talha Al Amriki, “South Park Aired Episode Insulting the Prophet (Salaa Allahu ‘Alayhi Wa Salam),” Revolution Muslim, retrieved April 15, 2010; the link was subsequently deleted.

  43. Dave Itzkoff, “South Park Episode Altered after Muslim Group’s Warning,” New York Times, April 22, 2010.

  44. USA v. Zachary Adam Chesser, CR 1:10 MS504, Affidavit of Mary Brandt Kinder.

  45. Ibid.

  46. Spencer S. Hsu and Michael Alison Chandler, “Graduate of Va.’s Oakton High Charged with Trying to Join Terrorist Group,” Washington Post, July 22, 2010.

  47. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/feds-arrest-man-behind-south-park-threats-37052/, retrieved July 23, 2010. The thread was later deleted by the forum’s moderators.

  48. Michael Moss and Souad Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at U.S. Viewers,” New York Times, October 15, 2007.

  49. Inshallahshahid, “The Destiny of Israel,” retrieved July 31, 2010, http://inshallahshaheed.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_archive.html.

  50. Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at U.S. Viewers”

  51. See http://www.google.com/search?aq=0&oq=inshallahsha&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=inshallahshaheed, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  52. Moss and Mekhennet, “An Internet Jihad Aims at U.S. Viewers”; Alison Gendar, “Former New Yorker Samir Khan behind Graphics of New Al Qaeda Recruiting Magazine Inspire: Officials,” New York Daily News, July 18, 2010.

  53. Jihad Recollections, no. 1, April 2009; Jihad Recollections, no. 4, September 2009; “Would-Be Portland Bomber Mohamed Osman Mohamud (a/k/a “Ibn al-Mubarak”): “Getting in Shape Without Weights,” Flashpoint Partners, retrieved Dec. 2, 2010, http://www.globalterroralert.com/miscellaneous/723-would-be-portland-bomber-mohamed-osman-mohamud-aka-ibn-al-mubarak-getting-in-shape-without-weights.html.

  54. Gendar, “Former New Yorker Samir Khan behind Graphics of New Al Qaeda Recruiting Magazine Inspire: Officials”; Paul Cruickshank, “U.S. Citizen Believed to Be Writing for al Qaeda Website, Source Says,” CNN.com, July 18, 2010, retrieved July 30, 2010, http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/18/al.qaeda.magazine/index.html.

  55. Inspire, Summer 2010, Al Malahem Media (al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula).

  56. Inspire, Issue 3, obtained by the author, November 2010.

  57. Shelley Murphy and Milton J. Valencia, “Details Emerge on Plot Suspects: Two Young Men Reportedly Met at Sharon Mosque,” Boston Globe, October 23, 2009; USA v. Tarek Mehanna, Cr. No. 09-10017-GAO, Government’s Proffer and Memorandum in Support of Detention.

  58. Murphy and Valencia, “Details Emerge on Plot Suspects: Two Young Men Reportedly Met at Sharon Mosque.”

  59. USA v. Tarek Mehanna and Ahmad Abousamra, 1:09-cr-10017-GAO, Second Superseding Indictment, June 17, 2010.

  60. Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122-LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009.

  61. Charles A. Radin, “From N.H. to Somalia: Recalling a Suspect’s Zeal,” Boston Globe, February 17, 2007.

  62. USA v. Tarek Mehanna and Ahmad Abousamra, 1:09-cr-10017-GAO, Second Superseding Indictment, June 17, 2010.

  63. Shelley Murphy, “FBI Calls Sudbury Suspect Inept but Serious Terror Plotter,” Boston Globe, October 22, 2009; Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009.

  64. USA v. Tarek Mehanna, 1:09-cr-10017-GAO, Second Superseding Indictment, June 17, 2010.

  65. Confidential interview with senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, February 19, 2010.

  66. Murphy, “FBI Calls Sudbury Suspect Inept but Serious Terror Plotter.”

  67. USA v. Tarek Mehanna, 1:09-cr-10017-GAO, Second Superseding Indictment, June 17, 2010.

  68. Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122-LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009. Although Abousamra’s travel habits suggest that he was serious about joining violent jihadists, it should be noted that his story of continual rejection does not square with the experiences of other American jihadists—consider Bryant Vinas, who managed to get quite far into al Qaeda without an apparent facilitator. According to Abousamra, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba had rejected him because he was “not an Arab,” but the organization had accepted other white Americans—certainly whiter than the ethnically Syrian Abousamra. The Taliban had rejected him for “lack of experience,” but other cases suggested that this would not normally be an obstacle.

  69. “The Chronicles of Daniel J. Maldonado,” retrieved July 29, 2010, http://istighfar.wordpress.com/2007/09/01/the-chronicle-of-daniel-j-maldonado/.

  70. USA v. Daniel Maldonado, 4:07-mj-00125, Exhibit, handwritten letter from Daniel Maldonado.

  71. Exhibit, second handwritten letter from Daniel Maldonado; Criminal Complaint, Affidavit of Jeremiah A. George.

  72. Affidavit of Jeremiah A. George.

  73. “The Chronicles of Daniel J. Maldonado.”

  74. USA v. Daniel Maldonado, 4:07-mj-00125, Exhibit, handwritten letter from Daniel Maldonado.

  75. Ibid., Affidavit of Jeremiah A. George.

  76. “The Chronicles of Daniel J. Maldonado.”

  77. Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122-LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009.

  78. Tarek Mehanna Blog, retrieved December 11, 2008, http://iskandrani.wordpress.com.

  79. For example, http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f47/aafia-siddiqui-i-saw-abu-sabaya-15153/, retrieved December 11, 2008.

  80. Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122-LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009.

  81. USA v. Tarek Mehanna, Cr. No. 09-10017-GAO, Government’s Proffer and Memorandum in Support of Detention.

  82. Search and Seizure Warrant, Case No. 09-122-LTS, Affidavit of Heidi L. Williams, October 20, 2009.

  83. See http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f47/, retrieved July 29, 2010, among others; also see http://freetarek.com/, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=159128188381, http://
twitter.com/freetarek, retrieved July 29, 2010.

  84. USA v. Tarek Mehanna, Cr. No. 09-10017-GAO, Second Superseding Indictment.

  85. See http://news.intelwire.com/2010/07/aqap-inspire-magazine-is-nothing-new.html, retrieved July 30, 2010; http://news.intelwire.com/2010/07/AlQaedas-new-magazine-or-was-it-web.html, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  86. “5 D.C.-Area Men Held in Pakistan,” CBS.com, December 9, 2009, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/09/world/main5951110.shtml, retrieved July 30, 2010.

  Chapter 12. The Future of American Jihad

  1. USA v. Holy Land Foundation et al., Memorandum Opinion Order, July 1, 2009, http://www.scribd.com/doc/43380629/2009-order-on-Holy-Land-Foundationunindicted-coconspirator-list, retrieved December 4, 2010. CAIR petitioned a federal judge to have its name stricken from a list of unindicted coconspirators in a Hamas financing case. A federal judge rejected CAIR’s request, ruling that there is “at least a prima facie case as to CAIR’s involvement in a conspiracy to support Hamas.”

  2. Interview with Alyas Karmani, the director of STREET program (Strategy to Reach, Empower and Educate Teenagers), London, August 10, 2010.

  3. Confidential interviews, 2010.

  4. Abdullah Azzam, Join the Caravan (Boston: Care International, 1995), 12.

  5. Bill Gertz, “Inside the Ring: Al Qaeda-Trained Americans,” Washington Times, August 25, 2010.

  6. J.M. Berger, “Gadahn and Awlaki, Together At Last?,” Intelwire.com, October 23, 2010, http://news.intelwire.com/2010/10/gadahn-and-awlaki-together-at-last.html, retrieved December 4, 2010.

  7. See, among others, Aaron Weisburd, “Ansar Al Mujahideen: Zombie Forum Badly in Need of Brains,” Internet Haganah, retrieved September 6, 2010, http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006972.html#006972.

  8. J. M. Berger, “Jihadists Add Strong Encryption to Terrorist Toolbox,” Intelwire.com, February 2, 2008. “Mujahideen Secrets 2” encryption software obtained by the author.

  9. Gertz, “Inside the Ring: Al Qaeda-Trained Americans”; Sami Yousafzai and Ron Moreau, “Inside Al Qaeda,” Newsweek, September 4, 2010, retrieved September 6, 2010, http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/04/inside-Al Qaeda.html; and Leah Farrall, “Death of a Hoary Old Chestnut?” All Things Counter Terrorism blog, September 7, 2010, retrieved September 6, 2010, http://allthingsct.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/death-of-a-hoary-old-chestnut/.