NEFA Report: "Inside As-Sahaab: The Story of Ali al-Bahlul and the Evolution of Al-Qaida’s Propaganda."

By Evan Kohlmann

The NEFA Foundation has released a new report that I have written titled “Inside As-Sahaab: The Story of Ali al-Bahlul and the Evolution of Al-Qaida’s Propaganda.” The report is based upon previously unseen evidence presented during the recent Guantanamo Bay military commissions trial of Yemeni national Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al-Bahlul. In November 2008, a military jury convicted al-Bahlul of conspiracy, solicitation, and providing material support to terrorism. During questioning conducted by FBI and NCIS agents, Al-Bahlul admitted that he had been “personally appointed” by Usama Bin Laden to take charge of As-Sahaab, allegedly writing the final “martyrdom” wills of 9/11 hijackers and producing one of Al-Qaida’s most enduring terrorist propaganda films, “The Destruction of the U.S.S. Cole” (otherwise known as “State of the Ummah”). The report also analyzes the significance of another exhibit submitted by prosecutors in their case against Mr. al-Bahlul - the rough-cut recorded “martyrdom” will of 9/11 hijacker Ziad Jarrah. As I described in the report, “this revealing video footage seems to suggest that the theatrical ‘martyrdom’ wills of Al-Qaida suicide operatives are much more carefully scripted and deliberately orchestrated than the As-Sahaab Media Foundation would otherwise wish to acknowledge.”

The report can be downloaded from the NEFA Foundation website.

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