“Ask Al Qaeda”

[nerdgirl 0]

Something bordering on bizarre blatantly stolen from Wired Danger Room.

“Al-Qaeda wants your questions”

“Al-Qaeda sympathisers have been asked to send in their questions for the terror network's second in command, which he will then answer in an online interview next month.

“The bizarre stunt was announced in a new video [available at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22935702-2,00.html] posted on the internet in which al-Qaeda's number two, Ayman al-Zawahri, mocked yeterday's British handover of security in southern Iraq to local forces as a sign that insurgents are gaining the upper hand..

”The websites invited readers to send in questions during the next month for Zawahri to answer in an "open interview." How the interview would work was not immediately clear.”

From Intel Center:

“As-Sahab Foundation for Islamic Media, in coordination with Al-Fajr Center, is pleased to announce the organizing of an open meeting with Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri, in which he will reply to questions directed to him by individuals, organizations and all information media outlets.
Anyone wishing to direct a question to him should send it to one of the sites which will be specified for collection of questions during a period of one month commencing from the release of this announcement. Please try to keep the question brief and focused. Organizations and media outlets are requested to give their name at the end of the question, and we request the brothers supervising the collection of questions to transmit them as is without any changes or alteration, whether they be friendly or hostile. As-Sahab will do its best to publish the reply of Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri to as many questions at possible at the nearest possible opportunity, with Allah's help and guidance.”

As surreal as the whole thing is … I’m also wondering about the motivation and what does it say – if anything – regarding al-Zawahiri’s perception of vulnerabilty?

Is this desperation ... or indication that Al Qa'eda feels confident in their ability to evade US/allies?

Is this an effort to legitimize al-Zawahiri to Muslims around the world, i.e, public relations AQ-style?

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[1969912 0]

After "defeating" one of the greatest military powers in the world, they're entitled to feel pretty good about themselves

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[warpedskydiver 0]

The answer is "D" all of the above.

[Skyrad 0]

People mock Al Qaeide for being cave dwelling people living in the middle ages. This image is wrong and dangerous. Al Qaeida have always used the media and new media to spread their message. In this respect they are far from being from a previous age and are better thought of as contempory marxists in their MO. Acting as the vanguard for an international religious revolution. Their propergander unit seems to be able to teach the Pentagons a thing or two as they have gone from being a small group of fanatics to a new world wide philosophy which inspires acts of terrorism on a scale never seen before.
Even Marx wasn't able to achieve that. This move by them is simply the next tactic in a long standing high tech media stratergy.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[nerdgirl 0]

Quote

Al Qaeida have always used the media and new media to spread their message. In this respect they are far from being from a previous age and are better thought of as contempory marxists in their MO. Acting as the vanguard for an international religious revolution. Their propergander unit seems to be able to teach the Pentagons a thing or two as they have gone from being a small group of fanatics to a new world wide philosophy which inspires acts of terrorism on a scale never seen before.
Even Marx wasn't able to achieve that. This move by them is simply the next tactic in a long standing high tech media stratergy.

Interesting analogy.

Another analogy has been to the classical Anarchist movement of the late 19th-early 20th centuries, e.g., The Economist “For Jihadist, Read Anarchist.” Do you see that as a part or parallel to the Marxist analogy?

Like global Salafism/Jihadist terrorist network, radical Anarchism was a transnational endeavor, had global aspirations, and presented an unprecedented degree of violence for its era. Today, most people would obviously see the Anarchists as a failed attempt to take over the global system and model it according to their ideology, i.e., destabilizing and putting an end to the nation-state (Westphalian).

The Anarchist movement emerged in an era where the dominant philosophy was against them, but the information & communications technology of today was not available. Once can argue that forced the Anarchists to operate more locally. Clearly Al Qa’eda does not have the same limitations, as illustrated by the original post in this thread.

Historically, there are other comparisons too, e.g., the Hashashin (11-13th CE) & centuries worth of pirates, who as early as the first century BCE were threatening the commerce of the entire Roman Empire.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[SpeedRacer 1]

"Dear Osama,

My goat has told me that we should "see other people". I am heartbroken! What should I do?

signed,

Loveless In Tora-Bora"

Speed Racer
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[rickjump1 0]

It's a pity the American public does not see the reality that we as a nation, are at war with these people. Now the enemy has their own "drive-by" media to shape public opinion. Crafty bastards.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[SpeedRacer 1]

Quote

t's a pity the American public does not see the reality that we as a nation, are at war with these people.

hmm, makes you think maybe the Bush administration could have followed the Constitution and had Congress make a formal declaration of war. (according to the Constitution, only Congress can declare war)

But no, for the last 5 decades the policy has been to skip that little detail & go to war anyway. Then the Prez can go to war anywhere he likes.

Speed Racer
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[rickjump1 0]

Wonder why congress didn't do it after 9/11.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.