Readers, I’m pleased to link to my double-feature in ForeignPolicy.org that hit today.
The headline piece, entitled, “Al-Qaida’s Armies of One,” introduces readers to the next generation of jihadist pundits. It provides one of the first historical overviews of post-9/11 al-Qaida web punditry and seeks to situate Abu Dujana al-Khorasani in this broader genre of literature.
Money quote:
For years, Web jihadists have had ample access to both ideological material that teaches them why they should commit terrorism, and the requisite tactical knowledge of how to kill. Nevertheless, cases of Web jihadists entering the battlefield have been anomalous. The online jihadisphere is decentralized, even democratic, making mass mobilization next to impossible without a leader to rally the troops. The recent phenomenon of Web jihadists joining the physical fight, culminating with Balawi, seems to have provided just the kind of role model for which al Qaeda Web users have been longing. If so, countries across the world — and particularly the United States — should brace themselves for an exodus from the Web forums and onto the battlefield by self-styled al Qaeda armies of one.
The second piece is a side-bar entitled, “The Worst of the Worst.”
This piece offers an annotated list of current and rising stars within the global jihadist online movement. I also stuck in a representative excerpt from their writings. The pundits who I profile include:
- Asad al-Jihad2
- Abd al-Rahman al-Faqir
- Hafid al-Hussain
- Shaykh Abu abd al-Rahman al-Yafi’i
- Abu Shadiyah
- Ziyad Abu Tariq
- Shaykh Abu Ahmad Abd al-Rahman al-Masri
- Yaman Mukhaddab
My hope is that these pieces will stimulate more thinking both inside and outside of the US government about the role of these jihadist authors.
SNIPPET from your article: AL QAEDA’S ARMIES OF ONE:
“The number of Web jihadists who make the transition to real-world terrorists is growing.”
Noted.
Mr.Brachman thank you for the informative information. I was just wondering about that portrait with the lion wearing a jihadi headband. Is it a hint of this year’s fashion trend or is it more of a visual aid in building the rebellious self-image that so many young jihadists aspire to?
The psychology of the self is a very important element that jihadists in the west in particular, often have to develop as part of self- or gradual indoctrination.
The headband may look “cute”, but I’m sure it’s long term purpose is not so adorable.
Thank you again sir.
Andrew
Talking about armies of one, what’s happened to Yusuf al-Khattab and Samir Khan? They seem to have gone rather silent lately.
Do you think the recent terrorist incidents in the US have scared them off?
Our present government will do nothing with this information. In their eyes, we in the West are at fault, and deserve the “chickens coming home to roost”.
-If you really want action to be taken, forward this list to Rusty at the Jawa Report. In fact, I’ll bet he’s already on the job, along with his readers…Internet Hagana (sp?) is another group doing good things in this regard.
In fact, with your (constantly) self-professed knowledge, I am forced to ask you why YOU haven’t notified the Internet companies that host these cretins, and informed them of the relevant laws pertaining to the support of terror-groups?
JB,
Is this or an updated version available online?
Mapping the Salafi-Jihadi Movement: A Bibliometric Approach