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The Eternal WarHistorical pattern could link 21st Century al Qaeda to 11th Century Nizari Assassin cult![]() Many drew an immediate connection between al Qaeda and the infamous Islamic radical sect of the 11th century, the Nizaris, best known today as the Assassin cult. These early comparisons were often more glib than apt; many glossed over important gaps that created a seemingly insurmountable gulf of history and theology between the two movements. But a still-closer examination of the two movements reveals fascinating parallels between al Qaeda and the Assassins, even suggesting a possible path for a historical link between the two. INTELWIRE's J.M. Berger has written a four-part analysis of the topic on behalf of the Rotten.com library. The result is an intriguing hypothetical scenario that could have major implications for the War on Terrorism as it is understood today. Click here for an index of the articles |
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Commentary: Fighting al Qaeda 'There' Instead of 'Here' Makes Iraqi Civilians Into Cannon Fodder For TerroristsDuring last week's vice-presidential debate, Dick Cheney reiterated a key tenet of the administration's policy on the Iraq War: "We need to battle (terrorists) overseas so we don't have to battle them here at home." President Bush has struck the same theme several times since the beginning of the war in Iraq, mentioning it during the first presidential debate."Cannon fodder" has always referred to soldiers sacrificed in an impossible battle, but the invasion of Iraq has cast the term in a new light. The deployment of U.S. troops as cannon fodder for terrorists is bad enough, but the "there not here" strategy is also drafting Iraqi civilians to die as victims of terrorism in the place of American civilians. Read Full Commentary |
Details of Extremist Web Site That Published Beheading Video
The Ansar-Alsunnah Web site (http://ansar-alsunnah.s5.com) has posted a video of an Iraqi hostage being beheaded. The Web site is registered as a subdomain on s5.com, a provider of free hosting. Portions of the site, including several graphics, are also hosted on the Lycos Tripod network of free Web sites. s5 is owned by United Group, a Woodland Hills, Calif. consumer Internet company that provides services to NetZero and Juno. The beheading video, which appears to have been disabled, was hosted through a file sharing service called yousendit.com.
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Strategy Analysis: Is The U.S. Losing The Information War?When John Kerry outlined his plan for fighting terrorism, he offered a sharp alternative to President Bush's prosecution of the War on Terror so far. But while Kerry made several key changes in execution, his plan is based on many of the same underlying assumptions that fuels the Bush Administration's policy toward terrorism.This article addresses information management strategies employed by al Qaeda and the United States. This topic, which has not been discussed extensively by either candidate, has been raised by the 9/11 Commission. The information issue is integral to the conflict between Western governments and the global network of terrorist groups generally referred to under the heading of "al Qaeda." Read Full Story |
Independent Research of NoteLike INTELWIRE, these Web sites feature independent researchers and reporters who are working to cover aspects of the War on Terror that have been neglected in the mainstream media. Although INTELWIRE does not necessarily endorse the conclusions found on these sites, they are thought-provoking reads which offer a fresh perspective.Terror Tracker: The Web site of Neil Doyle, author of Terror Tracker. Doyle covers al Qaeda's computer infrastructure, and his book also deals with the arrest of Abu Hamza al Mazri in some detail. Forensic Intelligence: Includes copies of FBI 302s detailing the little known intelligence gathered by mob boss Gregory Scarpa against his fellow inmates on the cell block, Ramzi Yousef and Abdul Hakim Murad. Fascinating and provocative reading that includes some intimations about Yousef's involvement in terror attacks beyond the WTC bombing. The Memory Hole: The premier Freedom of Information Act source on the Web. Author Russ Kick uncovers documents, photos and information on terrorism, national security, the war in Iraq and a host of other topics the government would prefer not to discuss. Anthrax and al Qaeda: A look at the investigation into the post-9/11 anthrax mailing, with lots of detailed citations of media reporting that has slipped through the cracks. The site seeks to establish a possible connection between the anthrax attack and al Qaeda. By Ross Getman. Was Abderraouf Jdey the Anthrax Mailer?: Another look at the anthrax case, examining information recently leaked to the Canadian press. An interesting theory of the case, including a look at the crash of American Airlines Flight 587. |
Exclusive: U.S. Secretly Detained bin Laden Brother-in-Law For Four Months After Purported May 1995 DeportationControversial 9/11 Commissioner Jamie Gorelick Signed 1/95 Order Sending Mohammed Jamal Khalifa To Face Death Sentence; Major al Qaeda Intel Obtained Soon After![]() The Jordan deportation had been authorized by then-Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick, at the request of Secretary of State Warren Christopher. A member of the independent commission investigating the September 11 attacks, Gorelick came under fire in 2004 for possible conflicts arising from her role in the Clinton administration's war on terrorism. Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, an alleged terrorist financier married to a sister of bin Laden, was arrested in San Francisco, Calif., in December 1994. Within a month, the Justice Department instituted extradition proceedings to deport Khalifa to Jordan, where he had been convicted in absentia for his alleged involvement in a terrorist plot to bomb movie theaters. According to a public statement by the INS, that deportation was completed on May 3, 1995. But new evidence obtained by INTELWIRE shows the case is more complex than it seemed. Read The Full Story Read the Gorelick Letter Read Khalifa's Bureau of Prisons Inmate Record |
MEMRI Analysis: Mistranslated Message Threatens U.S. States That Support BushFrom MEMRI: The tape of Osama bin Laden that was aired on Al-Jazeera(1) on Friday, October 29th included a specific threat to "each U.S. state," designed to influence the outcome of the upcoming election against George W. Bush. The U.S. media in general mistranslated the words "ay wilaya" (which means "each U.S. state")(2) to mean a "country" or "nation" other than the U.S., while in fact the threat was directed specifically at each individual U.S. state. This suggests some knowledge by bin Laden of the U.S. electoral college system. In a section of his speech in which he harshly criticized George W. Bush, bin Laden stated: "Any U.S. state that does not toy with our security automatically guarantees its own security." || Full StoryCNN: For the first time, al Qaeda leader claims responsibility for 9/11al Jazeerah: bin Laden accuses Bush of deceiving America |