Counterterrorism Blog

PS: I've posted a quick analysis of the "Azzam al Amriki" (AKA, Adam Gadhan) few days ago. This is the longer version reading of the 45 minutes tape. It include the short one plus additional thoughts. Because of web links, I will leave the two versions. A short note will be posted later analyzing the "reaction" of media and analysts. W.P.

It includes: Who is behind the message, who is it destined to, the ideological paltform, argumentation tactics, the enemies of Jihad in America, the friends of al Qaeda, the al Qaeda offer.

The video tape issued by al Qaeda’s “as-sahhab” production, in which Ayman Zawahiri introduces Jihadist Adam Gadahn to the world as a senior speaker (in English) to the American people on behalf of the movement, should be taken seriously. Not necessarily at the level of detecting the next Terror attack but at the level of understanding this prelude to Future Jihad both in America and within the West. I wasn’t surprised at all by the 45 minutes elaboration by convert Gahdan regarding all of the issues he raised. For “Azzam al Amriki” is the clearest specimen of Jihadism’s second generation within the US, in as much as the 7/7 videos revealed the type of future Jihadists for Great Britain’s second generation. However, when one would listen carefully to the taped video, you’d find a treasure of knowledge and indicators for the current state of thinking of al Qaeda and its ideologues. In short it is a sample of what is on the mind of Salafi Jihadists for the United States and the West. Following are few of the issues I noted:

1) The hand behind the message

When Arabic and English languages experts listen to the speech and compare his debit and shifting from one idiom to the other, they would conclude that M Adam Gadahn has been under an intense linguistic program to learn the Arabic language. He attempts to speak it rather like Bin Laden’s Peninsula accent then Zawahiri’s Egyptian intonation. Besides, he has also developed significant skills in Koranic citations as well as media training. However, when it comes to the logic of the arguments as presented in English, and compare them with literature disseminated in North America, or with online chats in English, or even with speeches by radical clerics touring US and Canadian cities, the “language” is amazingly one. For any seasoned analyst of Jihadi rhetoric in English, or even North American English, it is a fact that the level and type of arguments, the chain of issues cited, and other details, if anything could indicate that the “speech writer” may well be a well-versed leading militant in Jihadi affairs with academic training and American political know how. In short, Azzam’s videotaped message is indeed “American.” Experts have heard it in US and Canadian cities and on internet.The bones of the speech are Jihadi but its beef is American. Whether Gadahn was reading from a prompter or not –and I believe he was with great skills- I tend to believe that such a speech –rather than being dismissed as mere propaganda- is a message coming to us from what’s already inserted inside America, which leads me to the second point

2) Who is it destined to?

Many commentators rushed in multiple directions to determine the target audience of Gadahn’s video. Some argued that it is basically to boast about al Qaeda as a way to compete with other groups, such as Hezbollah. Others said it is “mere propaganda.” More focused analysis projected a direct link with upcoming Terrorist strikes. Let me admit, with the deplorable state of our Jihadism studies in North America, reading the mind of al Qaeda in terms of strategy is still a real challenge. In fact, the speech is a little bit of all what was mentioned. Yes, it brags, it competes, it is propaganda and it is a warning for what is to come. And surely, a classical interpretation of the Jihadi doctrine could interpret Gadahn’s message as “convert or we strike,” or also “this is your last chance before we strike.” But in the center of “Azzam’s” 45 minutes there is a road map with some side paths. It is basically addressed to those who will carry a “Jihad in America,” possibly asserting Adam Gadahn as their leader. Also, this is a very intelligent move to pierce the linguistic shield of America’s media and reach US citizens directly, as a way to spread confusion at least among those who have a hazy understanding of the Jihadists. By the way, expect this speech to be aired on al Jazeera’s English Channel in the near future, repetitively.

3) The ideological platform

“Azzam” lays out the ideological and political pillars of Jihad against America and the West, in English. In a summary, as he clearly assert, the essence of Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and other religions are false and against Allah’s will. In his words, “Islam is the only true religion,” and not following it as prescribed, “will lead to fire afterlife,” but also to defeat to infidels in this world. Gadahn reveals the extent of his group’s hatred against Christianity and Judaism and against the other (what he coin as “Pagan”) religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Al Qaeda’s speeches in the past included attacks against other religions but rarely was the whole speech dedicated to that effect. Besides, Gadahn attacked the Muslims who believe in coexistence with other religions and who do not follow Jihadism. In short, the “Azzam” video reconfirms clearly (in an English language what "academic translators" won’t be able to distort and camouflage) that al Qaeda’s movement worldwide and in the United States is seeking total annihilation or conversion of the enemy: American and other democracies.

4) Argumentation tactics:

“Azzam’s” speech exposes the streams of ideologies he is attempting to merge. While his rhetoric is pure Jihadist, he uses many arguments produced by radical anti-American intellectuals, mixing American politics with Islamist concepts. The “speech writer,” emulating many commentators on al Jazeera or al Manar, hopes to rally many among those who “hate Bush and Blair” but stops short of stating that Jihadism will hate all future US Presidents and British Prime Ministers “if they do not convert.” The California convert mixes all the historical dramas worldwide from Crusades, Inquisition, Hiroshima, Concentration camps, with killings in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obviously, the “writer” skips the Genocides of Sudan, and the massacres of Algeria, the Kurds, Shiites perpetrated by Salafists or Baathists.

5) The enemies of Jihad in America

All citizens-taxpayers are legitimate targets for al Qaeda, repeats Gadahn after Bin laden and Zawahiri. But now Americans can hear it in an American accent not through the translations offered by the networks. Only those who are actively fighting the enemy are to be spared. Otherwise the wrath of al Qaeda will punish the infidels at large and the American and European “Crusaders” in particular. In addition to the traditional threat against the chief executives of the two worse enemies, the US and British Governments, George W Bush and Toni Blair, sensationally but not unexpectedly, an al Qaeda spokesperson –American for the circumstance- “name” a number of intellectual-enemies in this country: Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson, Robert Spencer and Michael Sheuer. In my observation of the movement, this is a crossing of a red line. Rarely Jihadi Terrorists at this high level media exposure, named symbols of their enemy’s intelligentsia. But more troubling is the fact that scholars Pipes and Spencer, and journalist Emerson have been consistently “marked” for political attacks by US-based Islamist organizations and web sites. A simple internet search (you may google it instantly) would show readers that these three leading critics of what they have always described as “radical Islam” have been already portrayed by lobbies in this country and under its laws, as “Islamophobes.” The convergence of qualification between al Qaeda and these American organizations of US intellectuals is certainly disturbing. As far as the naming of Michael Sheuer on that list, it could be analyzed as a reminder of his past role as a chief of the Usama Bin Laden unit at the CIA years ago. And in addition to “experts” named in the tape, Gadahn goes on a ferocious attack against American “Tele-Evangelists” and their media (you can easily figure out who) showing the other type of foes al Qaeda is very upset with.

6) The “friends” of al Qaeda?

“Azzam” performs another unusual move in this speech. He names “sympathetic” personalities for whom he has messages for action because of –what he considers- good deeds or sympathy to al Qaeda’s cause. Regardless of what would this identification leave as political consequences in the US and Britain, the “American” voice of al Qaeda, M Gadahn, calls on well known journalist Seymour Hirsh to “reveal more” than what was published in a New Yorker article on the War: Obviously an open call by al Qaeda to M Hirsch to resume the verbal attack against the present US War on Terror. Then “Azzam” turn to two British journalists and thank them for their “admiration and respect for Islam” and encourage them to do the final step: Convert. He names British MP George Galloway and journalist Robert Fisk. M Galloway has been very vocal in his support of the Jihadist causes worldwide and has accused the West of planning on “destroying the Arab and Muslim peoples,” including on al Jazeera, few days ago. M Fisk is a long time critic of Western policies and has for many times sided with the arguments of radical regimes and organzations against their opponents in the region. But more troubling in Gadahn’s tape was his direct call to Jihadists within the US Armed forces to work patiently till the time comes. He reveals that “they” have been involved in a large number of “conversions”, and that they “should continue to aggregate while escaping the surveillance of their military authorities.” This theme, which I covered briefly in Future Jihad, is of great concern to US national security. The “Azzam” speech brings further concerns as to the credibility of this threat.

7) The Al Qaeda offer: Conversion or fire

“Azzam”’s mission in this tape was to deliver a message. His bottom line is this: We –the Jihadists- have you cornered everywhere and you are not going to win this war. He seems to say that the US led coalition won’t win the War in Iraq, Afghanistan and no where else. And he announces that war will ravage this country (America) as well. He tells Americans that the Jihadi hand is already inside the US and “Azzam” is the kind of voice you will be hearing in the future. His central message is typically Jihadic: “Surrender, convert or the fire:” Meaning war on Earth, all of it, and Hell fire after death.

This fascinating and revealing taped-speech bring the American public even closer to what lays ahead for this generation and the next one as long as the Jihadist ideology is spreading inside America and worldwide. For what turbaned Adam Gahdan said inside that professional studio other “Azzams” are hearing inside American and worldwide madrassas.

Dr Walid Phares is a Senior Fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a visiting Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy. He is the author of Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies against America. Phares@walidphares.com