U.S. Congressional Representatives' Stance on Jihad and the War of Ideas

By Jeffrey Imm

Last week, there was an interesting development in the U.S. House of Representatives that will give Americans a clear view as to exactly where their individual representatives stand on the war of ideas in fighting Jihad. Per my previous article...

False Reports of Jihadists "Quitting" or Abandoning Islamic Supremacism

By Jeffrey Imm

Another strategic error in the failure to address the ideological basis of Jihad in Islamic supremacism is that the lack of such a strategic debate allows a series of false and misleading reports about Jihadists allegedly "renouncing" jihad or abandoning...

Jihad and Outreach to Islamic Supremacist Groups

By Jeffrey Imm

One of the most critical aspects of a strategic battle against the ideology behind Jihad, Islamic supremacism, is an honest definition of the term "civil rights and civil liberties." "Civil rights" are based on the American value of equality -...

Crossroads in History: The Struggle against Jihad and Supremacist Ideologies

By Jeffrey Imm

In fighting Islamic supremacism, instead of an approach only based on tactical measures and efforts at clever twists of terminology, what if America had a true strategy that was instead based on the defense of our values on human equality...

Jihad Against Freedom of Speech at the United Nations

By Jeffrey Imm

The United Nations' Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has no problem with its members suggesting that the 9/11 attacks were an "inside job" perpetrated by the United States on itself. The human rights of America's 9/11 victims are not a priority...

Don't You Know There's A War On?

By Jeffrey Imm

I am sending U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy a framed copy of a photograph of the remains of the World Trade Center West building after the 9/11 attacks with a note "Don't You Know There's A War On?". The...

Pakistan and the Growing Threat of a Sharia Mini-State

By Jeffrey Imm

The Pakistan Taliban (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP) is in the process of gaining territory and power within Pakistan, as a result of numerous "peace treaties" and agreements to empower the Taliban to enforce an anti-freedom theocracy based on Sharia law...

Another Pakistan Deal with the Taliban Jihadists

By Jeffrey Imm

Once again, the Pakistan government signs another deal with the Taliban, while counting on an impotent American government and an uninformed American public to continue to provide them billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars as our "ally". This is becoming an...

Unresolved U.S. Strategy on Jihad and the War of Ideas

By Jeffrey Imm

An unresolved question remains who in the U.S. Government is accountable for the wartime "war of ideas" against Jihadists. Last fall, Senator Joe Lieberman questioned the FBI, the DHS, the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)...

Daily Kos and Others on Jihad

By Jeffrey Imm

What do the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), and the Daily Kos all have in common? They are all seeking to define the enemy as other than "jihadists". A. Daily Kos: Jihad Not Terrorism Three...

Jihad and U.S. Intelligence Resources

By Jeffrey Imm

How could the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence authorize "the largest funding increase in the base Intelligence Budget in history", but refuse to include an amendment that calls for identifying the Jihadist enemy we fight? But that is precisely...

The Continuing Debate Over "Jihadists" As The Enemy

By Jeffrey Imm

Last week, the Associated Press reported that the State Department approved National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) guidelines for terminology in defining the enemy created by NCTC's Extremist Messaging Branch, based on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report "Terminology to...

Who is America Fighting - Jihadists or Extremists?

By Jeffrey Imm

Now we officially know the answer - the U.S. Government states that America is definitely not fighting "jihadists", based on new guidelines directing federal agencies not to even use the term "jihadist". So who is America fighting? Defense Secretary Robert...

Where Does America Draw the Line on Consorting with Terror Groups?

By Jeffrey Imm

According to the U.S. State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listing, Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is a federal crime to provide "material support or resources" to a designated FTO. But the Washington Post, the New York Times, at...

Jihad, Islamism, and Non-Interventionism

By Jeffrey Imm

As seen in two recent books by counterterrorism analysts, the ideology of Non-Interventionism is gaining popularity with a segment of the American public. While Non-Interventionist ideology plays off the frustrations of some of the American public with America's handling of...

Jihad, Islamism, and the American Free Press

By Jeffrey Imm

In the war with global Jihad, words and definitions matter, and in fighting anti-freedom ideologies, the free press and media should be America's greatest ally. Yet the confused and inconsistent reporting on Islamism and Islamist terrorism is another key fault...

Jihad, Islamism, and U.S. Envoy to OIC

By Jeffrey Imm

In the global war against Jihad, America's recurring challenge is the unwillingness of its political leadership to confront the fact that political Islamism is an ideological basis for "Islamist terrorism", as defined in the 9/11 Commission Report. This week, while...

Jihadists, Islamists, and "Extremists" - what's in a name?

By Jeffrey Imm

Another U.S. threat assessment has been issued that refuses to identify the enemy threatening us, and instead defines the enemy only as "extremists". Today's annual threat assessment from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) fails to use the terms "Jihad",...

Jihad, Islamism, and the United Nations

By Jeffrey Imm

In the ongoing battle against Jihad, the most important advances are not tactical, but rather those advances that allow us to define, address, and counter the ideology behind Jihadist actions. As the 9/11 Commission report states, "Islamist terrorism is an...

Accused Al-Qaeda Jihadist Jose Padilla Sentenced

By Jeffrey Imm

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke sentenced Jose Padilla (aka Abu Abdullah al Mujahir) today to 17 years, 4 months in prison based on his August 16, 2007 conviction on conspiracy and material support charges. Jose Padilla faced up to life...

Islamism and Challenges to Resources for U.S. Strategic Planning Against Jihad

By Jeffrey Imm

As previously discussed, in addressing the strategic planning to fight Jihad, any blueprint strategy for national security must define Jihad, must address it within the national security threat, and must also define a national policy on the ideology of political...

Al-Qaeda's Gadahn - Transcript of January 6 Message

By Jeffrey Imm

The following is a transcript by Laura Mansfield of Al-Qaeda's Adam Gadahn January 6, 2008 message. Laura has a summary of the message at her web site, and provides a link to the video. Also: MEMRI posting on Gadahn video....

Al-Qaeda's Zawahiri Denounces Annapolis Conference

By Jeffrey Imm

Al-Qaeda's number 2, Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri, was reported to have released an audio message to Jihadist web sites denouncing the Annapolis Conference. This has been reported by Reuters, AP, SITE Institute, and Laura Mansfield. In addition, Laura Mansfield is...

Dow Jones, Wall Street Journal, and Islamist Financing

By Jeffrey Imm

On November 18, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), published by Dow Jones, is sponsoring a conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on "Islamic and Ethical Finance" to "examine the huge opportunities presented by this high-growth sector". The Wall...

Pakistan: Media Reports on Pakistani Islamists Conceal Their Anti-Freedom Ideology

By Jeffrey Imm

In the media coverage of Pakistan President Musharraf's declaration of emergency and martial law, Islamists objecting to his emergency declaration are being portrayed as defenders of Pakistani freedom, when in fact they represent Islamist anti-freedom ideologies. While there are certainly...

Pakistan Emergency Amidst Growing Talibanization

By Jeffrey Imm

On November 3, Pakistan's President Musharraf declared a state of emergency and martial law in Pakistan, suspending the Pakistan constitution, stating that Pakistan's sovereignty was at stake. This emergency declaration was made as the continuing growth of power and influence...

Al Qaeda's Zawahiri Calls for Attacks Against Western Interests in North Africa, Overthrow of Leaders

By Jeffrey Imm

On November 3, Al Qaeda's number 2 Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri called for attacks on Western interests throughout North Africa, and called for the overthrow of leaders of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Per AP report, the latest Internet audio message...

Pakistan Polls and Growing Support for Islamism

By Jeffrey Imm

Two recent polls of Pakistanis show that between 60 and 76 percent of those polled seek the growth of Sharia throughout Pakistan, which is a key principle in political Islamism. The enforcement of Sharia throughout Pakistan is the stated goal...

Jihad, Islamism, and the Challenge of Anti-Freedom Ideologies

By Jeffrey Imm

As previously discussed, large segments of America and the West have a continuing dangerous denial on Jihad. But what of political Islamism itself? How does it factor into a blueprint strategy in addressing our national security issues?In the documentary "Islam...

Osama Bin Laden Message Urges Jihadists to Unite in Iraq

By Jeffrey Imm

A new message was issued today, purportedly from Osama Bin Laden, to "mujahideen" and to the people of Iraq, urging Jihadists to unite together. Per Laura Mansfield, the new Osama Bin Laden message is being released in time to commemorate...

Pakistan Suicide Bomb Attack on Bhutto - Investigation Update

By Jeffrey Imm

This is a further news roundup update from initial October 18-19 news roundup on the attack on Benazir Bhutto; the previous news roundup included continuing news updates through October 19. Authorities are being reported that they have concluded that at...

Pakistan: Bomb Attack - Attempt to Assassinate Bhutto (Update)

By Jeffrey Imm

A bomb attack occurred near the convoy of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Thursday night, resulting in a major loss of life, but failing to assassinate Ms. Bhutto. The bomb attack happened Thursday night as Bhutto's convoy was traveling...

The Dangerous Denial of Jihad's Threat

By Jeffrey Imm

On October 12, Taliban leader Mullah Omar declared that it had reached a "success point" in its "jehad" (sic) against the Karzai government, and called upon other Jihadist organizations to finish the job in the Taliban's attacks on US and...

Suicide Bombings and Jihadists' "Love of Death"

By Jeffrey Imm

How does America fight an enemy in a war, when the enemy embraces death? This is one of the major unresolved questions that a tactical "war on terrorism" fails to address, because the larger, more vital strategic issues of America's...

Special Correspondent on Lebanon’s Presidential Election (updated)

By Jeffrey Imm

"Karim," the CTB Special Correspondent in Lebanon, who authored four posts for us in the past two years, provides the following regarding Lebanon's presidential election: There are two camps: with the Terrorists or against them Washington DC, October 2, 2007...

Afghanistan's Taliban: US Tactics - Defeat or Negotiate?

By Jeffrey Imm

As Afghanistan President Karzai offers to negotiate with the Taliban and provide them a place within the Afghanistan government, a visible split in tactics is evident between the U.S. State Department and the U.S. military. In my previous posting, I...

Austria: Attack on US Embassy in Vienna Foiled

By Jeffrey Imm

Three weeks after the arrest of suspected Jihadists in Austria, today the U.S. Embassy in Vienna foiled an apparent nail bomb attack by a 42 year old Bosnian man. The Bosnian man, who lives in Austria, was stopped with a...

Are the Taliban "The Enemy" or Not?

By Jeffrey Imm

Once again, another national leader of an American "ally" in the "war on terror" has offered to help the Taliban regain political power. AP has reported that Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai offered "to meet personally with Taliban leader Mullah Omar...

Fault Line on Jihad: Why the Omeish Reaction is Important

By Jeffrey Imm

On September 28, the Investigative Project on Terrorism's (IPT) Lorenzo Vidino was on FOX news addressing IPT's release of videos regarding Muslim American Society (MAS) president Esam Omeish showing his documented support of Jihad. The interview points out once again...

Terror Finance Case: "Operation Cash-Out"

By Jeffrey Imm

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced today that a federal grand jury indicted 39 defendants and one business in an international money laundering case that includes one person accused of concealing terrorist financing. The terror finance case, "Operation Cash-Out", had an...

Bin Laden "Come to Jihad" Pakistan Message Transcript

By Jeffrey Imm

From Laura Mansfield - complete transcript of Osama Bin Laden September 20, 2007 message "Come to Jihad" Image from Laura Mansfield Complete message video link - from Laura Mansfield CTB Analysis posting - September 20, 2007 "Come to Jihad: A...

Al Qaeda Bin Laden Message Declares War on Pakistan President Musharraf

By Jeffrey Imm

View image Images from Laura Mansfield UPDATE - 3:30 PM ET: Bin Laden Message Transcript -- from Laura Mansfield Complete message video link - from Laura Mansfield Jihadist web site monitoring groups and media organizations report that Osama Bin...

Third 9/11 Jihadist Video Calls For Attacks on West (Updated)

By Jeffrey Imm

September 18 Update with additional SITE report Media reports state that a third 9/11 Jihadist video, reportedly by Al Qaeda, has been released via Islamist web sites today, calling for Jihadist terror acts on the West to be a daily...

Report: Muslim Brotherhood U.S. Front Groups a Threat

By Jeffrey Imm

On September 10, Douglas Farah posted a CTB Blog report on a DOD memorandum "Analysis of Muslim Brotherhood's General Strategic Goals for North American Memorandum". The Washington Times is reporting on additional comments on the Muslim Brotherhood from a Pentagon...

Bin Laden Video Calls For More Jihadists, Testament of 9/11 Hijacker

By Jeffrey Imm

A new message from Osama Bin Laden has been received, in which he praises the 19 9/11 Jihadists and calls for additional Muslims to become Jihadists. Reuters reports that a "U.S. intelligence official said the voice appeared genuinely to be...

9/11 and the Inconvenient Truths about Jihad and Islamism

By Jeffrey Imm

Six years after the 9/11 attacks, the key strategic issue regarding the global war has not yet been addressed by American leadership and the American people: a clear definition of the global enemy we are fighting and a clear definition...

SITE Transcript and Video Link to Bin Laden Video (Updated)

By Jeffrey Imm

Image from SITE Institute Bin Laden Video Link Update: Video Link to latest Bin Laden Video from Laura Mansfield -- with subtitles in English SITE Institute Video Transcript The following is the transcript of the latest Osama Bin Laden...

9/11 6th Anniversary: Bin Laden Video Details Emerge

By Jeffrey Imm

4:45 PM ET UPDATE: SITE Institute: Transcript of Osama Bin Laden video (PDF file 7 pages long) SITE Institute: One minute video clip of new Osama Bin Laden video Per SITE Institute: The "solution", as bin Laden presents it, is...

9/11 6th Anniversary: Bin Laden Video Being Analyzed by US Govt and Islamist "Special Gift" Promised (updated)

By Jeffrey Imm

UPDATE: September 7, 2007: --- US government has copy of Bin Laden tape and is analyzing. Reuters, CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC report that the US government has a copy of the Bin Laden video and that the US government...

German Jihad Plot Investigation (Updated)

By Jeffrey Imm

Since the arrest of three Jihadist suspects on Wednesday, the investigation into the German Jihadist plot continues. 1. Identity of the three arrested suspects. The International Herald Tribune (IHT) reports that the arrested suspects are being identified as follows: "Fritz...

Germany foils Jihadist bomb plot

By Jeffrey Imm

Media sources have reported today that German police have arrested 3 Jihadists involved in the final stages of an "imminent" bomb plot. The International Herald Tribune reports that the plot was to be "against several sites frequented by Americans, including...

ISNA and Jihad: Why DOJ's Involvement in ISNA Conference Sends The Wrong Message

By Jeffrey Imm

Regarding DOJ's involvement in the ISNA conference, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross states that the thrust of his comments about the recent news story on DOJ's involvement in the ISNA conference is "that many of the attorneys in DOJ's civil rights division are...

US Justice Dept to Co-Sponsor Convention of ISNA - Unindicted Co-Conspirator in HLF Trial

By Jeffrey Imm

The Washington Times reports today that the Justice Department (DOJ) is co-sponsoring a convention held by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Chicago. U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison will also be the keynote speaker at this conference on September...

CAIR Cites Counterterrorism Blog in HLF Legal Filing

By Jeffrey Imm

In the case of United States versus Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), et al, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) clearly doesn't like it when the Counterterrorism Blog and the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) is presenting...

Pakistan President Seeks Mainstream Taliban

By Jeffrey Imm

Nearly a year after agreeing to a peace truce with the Pakistan Taliban in Waziristan, Pakistan's President Musharraf is now calling for the political mainstreaming of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Musharraf's views were reported in the August 13, 2007 Pakistan...

Why The New York Times Can Legally Help The Enemy in The War on Terror

By Jeffrey Imm

In July 2007, the Washington Post gave a Hezbollah supporter full coverage of an online column on Jihadism, and in June 2007, both the New York Times and the Washington Post printed editorials by a Hamas figure. This week, the...

U.S. News Media and Terror Group Figure Editorials

By Jeffrey Imm

In the battle against global Jihadist organizations, the challenge of how to effectively deal with Jihadist terror group propaganda remains a national issue that needs to be addressed. Individuals who are either members of or supporters of Foreign Terrorist Organizations...

United Kingdom Terror Investigations Update - week ending July 22

By Jeffrey Imm

Roundup and update of UK terror investigation news stories for the week ending July 22: British radicals 'are a danger to America' The Daily Telegraph reported on the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) and comments by DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff....

UK Terror Investigations - Update and News Roundup - July 16

By Jeffrey Imm

Update and news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: UK Car Bomb Suspects Status: Three Charged, Three Released, Two Being Questioned: UK Car Bomb Suspects Charged: -- July 6, 2007: Iraqi Dr. Bilal Talal Samad Abdullah...

Newly Released Message: Osama Bin Laden Calls for Islamic Martyrdom

By Jeffrey Imm

Osama Bin Laden appeared in a 50 second clip in an As Sahab video posted on Jihadi web sites today, promoting Islamic martyrdom and quoting Muhammad. CNN and Laura Mansfield have released translations of the Bin Laden comments today. The...

Al Qaeda to Pakistanis: Join The Jihad

By Jeffrey Imm

Al Qaeda's Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri issued a new videotape on Wednesday titled "The Aggression against Lal Masjid". This message is focused on the clashes between the Pakistan Army and Islamic students at the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Pakistan, in...

US Govt Concern About Potential Al Qaeda Attack on US Homeland This Summer

By Jeffrey Imm

Both ABC News and the Associated Press are reporting new U.S. government concerns of an attack on the U.S. homeland this summer, and in the case of ABC News, reports of an Al Qaeda cell intending to attack a government...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 10

By Jeffrey Imm

July 10 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: Al Qaeda's Zawahiri Threatens Retaliation Against Britain for Rushdie Knighthood of Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses". AP reports Ayman al-Zawahiri's 20 minute speech entitled "Malicious...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 9

By Jeffrey Imm

July 9 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: Four Guilty of Conspiracy to Murder in July 21 Bomb Plot. BBC reports that '[f]our men have been found guilty of plotting to carry out suicide bombings...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 8

By Jeffrey Imm

July 8 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: UK Security Minister Views 15-year Fight Against Terror. The Daily Telegraph reports that the UK's top security minister, Admiral Sir Alan West, has stated that the battle...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 7

By Jeffrey Imm

July 7 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: -- London Remembers July 7, 2005 Bomb Attacks. Sky News reports: "The second anniversary of the July 7 London bombings will be marked today by survivors and...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 6

By Jeffrey Imm

July 6 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: First Car Bomb Terror Plot Charge. Daily Telegraph reports that prosecutors have given the approval to police for Dr. Bilal Abdulla to be the first Jihadist car...

UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 5

By Jeffrey Imm

July 5 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news: -- 45 Muslim doctors planned US terror raids. Daily Telegraph reports that "45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in...

Al Qaeda's Zawahiri Urges Muslims to Join Jihad

By Jeffrey Imm

Al Qaeda's number 2, Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, released a new video today calling for Muslim unity behind Al-Qaeda, and calling for global Muslims to join jihad. According to SITE Institute: "Touching upon a variety of issues pertinent to the jihadi...

UK Terror Plot Investigation - News Roundup - July 4

By Jeffrey Imm

July 4 news roundup on the ongoing UK terror plot investigations: -- British Cleric: 'Al-Qa'eda leader told me of bomb plot'. Daily Telegraph reports that in April, British Anglican Canon Andrew White "met an unnamed al-Qa'eda leader on the sidelines...

UK Terror Plot Investigation - News Roundup - July 3

By Jeffrey Imm

July 3 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities: -- Terror Attacks: 'All Key Suspects Held'. Sky News reports "Police investigating the failed terror attacks on London and Glasgow believe they now have their key suspects in custody. But...