Making Sense of Jihad

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XVII)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XVII

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XVII.

Abd−al−Jabbar al−Turkistani: His name was Qurban Muhammad from the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region in China. He traveled to Afghanistan where he trained and joined jihad in support of the Taliban. He fled to the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan where he was killed by Pakistani forces.

Abd−al−Hakim al−Uzbaki: Born in Uzbekistan, he traveled to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan where he received his first military experience before he went to Afghanistan. He fled to eastern Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban where he was later killed.

In both bios, we see how the porous borders between Central Asian countries facilitates AQ recruitment.

Abd−al−Salam al−Turkistani: Born in the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region in China, traveled to Afghanistan where he received his military training and fought for the Taliban before he went to Turkey. He returned to Afghanistan soon before the fall of the Taliban and was forced to flee to the tribal areas of eastern Afghanistan where he mainly Kazakh fighters until he was killed.

This bio inspired questions regarding the role of Turkey as a base for Salafist-Jihadist ideology within the Turkic language communities of Central Asia.

Abd−al−Majid al−Tajiki: His name was Abd−al−Haq (last name not provided) from Tajikistan. He traveled to Afghanistan where he attended religious schools and fought in support of the Taliban. With the defeat of the Taliban, Abd−al−Haq fled to Iran where he spent a year studying in the religious schools of Baluchestan province before he returned to Afghanistan where he was killed in an operation by US forces.

As a Tajik, Abd-al-Salam could easily move between Afghanistan and Iran’s sizeable refugee population.  It is also interesting to see that some AQ members are moving through Iran’s only predominantly Sunni region.

Abd−al−Wakil al−Masri: His name was Mustafa Mahmud Fadl from Egypt. He traveled to Afghanistan where he trained and fought in support of mujahidin against the Soviet invasion. He was later appointed a trainer in Al−Faruq training camp until the break of the civil war. He moved with his group to Sudan and later trained and organized Somali fighters against US forces and was directly involved in the bombings against US embassies in East Africa. He returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban took control and remained there until the US invasion when he was forced to move to the tribal areas where he was later killed.

Clearly a member of AQ’s senior Egyptian leadership, his must have been a blow.  It also highlights the group’s deep  bench, because it is thriving in some areas including Somalia.

Abd−al−Shahid al−Turkistani: Born in Kazakhstan, he traveled to Afghanistan where he received his military training soon before the US invasion. After the defeat of the Taliban, he fled to the tribal areas in eastern Afghanistan where he was killed in an operation by Pakistani forces.

As someone who self-identified as a “Turkistani,” possibly from Western China, it’s interesting that he was born in Kazakhstan.  Such a connection hints at active supporters in a country known for its tolerance.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XVI)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XVI

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XVI.

Abd−al−Aziz al−Uzbiki: His name was Amid Asta from Uzbekistan. He joined jihad in Tajikistan where he received his first military training and took part in attacks against Kyrgyz forces. He traveled to Afghanistan where he continued his jihad until he was killed in Shahi−Kot.

Another example of the significant role of 90s-era Tajikistan to AQ’s presence in Afghanistan.

Abd−al−Rahman al−Aswad al−Libi: He participated in the Afghan war against the Soviet invasion and fought in Bosnia. He returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban took power. He remained there until the fall of the Taliban. He was killed in Peshawar by Pakistani forces.

Another North African, not much to analyze.

Abdallah al−Libi: His name was Sami (last name not provided) from Libya. He joined the Libyan Group in Afghanistan several months before September 11 attack in the US. He fled to Khost region with Abu−al−Layth al−Libi and was later killed in an air raid.

It is interesting to note how many bio subjects are connected to al-Libi.

Abu−Abdallah al−Turkistani: His name was Shawkat (last name not provided) from Kazakhstan. He traveled to Afghanistan and was later given an assignment in Kazakhstan. He returned to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban where he was killed in an operation by Pakistan forces.

Who assigned him to Kazakhstan and what he was assigned to do remains a mystery, but it suggests that AQ was interested in building networks of support throughout Central Asia.

Abdallah al−Shami: His name was Ziyad al−Shayib from Syria. He traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he received his military training. He was killed in a bombing in eastern Afghanistan.

Not enough information to analyze this bio.

Abdallah al−Mu'athin al−Uzbaki: Born in Afghanistan, Abdallah al−Uzbaki left Uzbekistan for Tajikistan where he received his military training with the Uzbek jihadist group before he continued to Afghanistan. He fled to Shahi−Kot after the fall of the Taliban and was later killed in an operation in eastern Afghanistan.

This bio hints at the strategic significance of the 90s-era jihad in Tajikistan.  It’s an area and era of violent jihad that has received little analytical attention.

Abdallah Haydarah: His name was Abd−al−Rahman al−Husaynan from Saudi Arabia. He served in the Saudi Armed forces and traveled to Afghanistan after September 11 attacks in the US. He moved to eastern Afghanistan where he was later killed.

Like I’ve said in previous posts, the 9-11 attacks played a significant role in drawing new recruits into the group.

Abu−Abdallah al−Sumali: Born in Somalia, he participated in jihad against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and was active in training and financing jihad activities in Somalia. After his name appeared on the FBI wanted list, he fled Sweden where his family lived to Somalia and then to Afghanistan where he was killed.

An interesting bio highlighting the Western character of and the deep connection to AQ for Somalia’s Salafist-Jihadist. It suggests that many members of the Somalian AQ cadre could jump between Western diaspora communities and regions of violent jihad.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XV)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XV

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XV.

Abu−Abd−al−Rahman Bin al−Masri: His name was Sami Bin−Muhammad Bin−Fahmi Tufankashi from Egypt. He traveled to Afghanistan from Saudi Arabia to support the Afghan mujahidin against the Soviet invasion. He began his journey in Jalalabad and was described as "one of the twelve founders of what became known later as Al−Qa'ida Organization." Sami Tufankashi left Afghanistan after the civil war broke out and returned again after the Taliban took power. Like most the Taliban and Al−Qa'ida fighters, he fled to the tribal areas after the US invasion. He died when his BM rocket exploded prematurely.

After a long, distinguished career, it’s interesting that this AQ “founding father” was still performing the grunt work of firing rockets.  It suggests that the group was under severe strain during this time.

Abd−al−Rahman al−Uzbiki al−Khawarizmi: His name was Ulughbik Asta from Uzbekistan. He fled a government crack down on the Islamists to end up in Afghanistan where he joined pro−Taliban fighters. He fled to the eastern region of Afghanistan after the US invasion and was later killed in Shahi−Kot in an air bombing.

An interesting bio, because it shows the fluid character of the jihadi identity.  Members of regional jihadi groups will often be absorbed into AQ, giving persistence to the regional ones, and opening AQ to a new region of influence.

Abd−al−Rahman al−Najdi: His name was Abd−al−Ilah al−Musa from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he received his military training and fought in support of the Taliban in Kabul. He fled to the eastern part of Afghanistan after the US invasion and was allegedly killed in a suicide operation against a German convoy.

Another Saudi, this one chose to be a suicide bomber.

Abd−al−Rahman al−Masri: His name was Iyyad al−Sayyid from Egypt. He traveled to Afghanistan during the Taliban rule. He fled to Khost after the US invasion where he was later killed by a landmine.

Nothing to add here.

Abd−al−Rahim al−Uzbiki: His name was Qawandiq Suji from Uzbekistan. He fought alongside the Taliban forces until the US invaded Afghanistan. He fled to eastern Afghanistan where he was later killed in an air bombing.

The number of Uzbeks involved in both AQ and Taliban operations is a curiosity, and would be interesting to study.  There are staggering implications for future jihad in the region from this large a cadre of Uzbeks.  Even if NATO takes control of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan the jihad may just migrate into other regions of Central Asia.

Abd−al−Salam al−Turki: His name was Umar (last name not provided) from Turkey. He traveled to Afghanistan where he died in an ambush against a US convoy.

Turkey has contributed a sizeable number of AQ recruits.  This cadre could pose future problems for the EU, and may act as a conduit between the EU and Central Asia in any future AQ expansionism.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XIV)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XIV

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XIV.

Abu−Abdallah al−Jaddawi: His name is Muhsin Bin−Abdallah Bin−Salih al−Awlaqi from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Afghanistan where he received his military training in Kandahar. He fled to the tribal areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan and was later assigned with other Al−Qa'ida fighters to go to Jalalabad to recruit and reorganize. He was killed in an operation against their position.

This Saudi’s bio shares a common element with several others in the collection: after the fall of the Taliban, AQ went through a period of recollection and regrouping.  It’s training capabilities moved quickly to the other end of Pakistan (just how would make for an interesting research paper), and some members were scattered throughout Afghanistan with the task of reconstituting the group’s support among the local tribes.  It may appear to be so much old news, but these reformative years actually provide insights into how current AQ (and other future groups) respond to extreme pressures.

Abdallah Jan al−Afghani: His name is Salwalah from Afghanistan. He worked in the clandestine service of Al−Qa'ida alongside Abu−Zubaydah and was charged with recruiting foreign fighters to Afghanistan and smuggling them to Pakistan as secret agents. He joined Abu−al−Layth al−Libin in eastern Afghanistan where he was killed in a US air bombing.

What the hell is the “clandestine service”?!  This is very interesting, because it suggests that AQ has some kind of secret apparatus (a la the Muslim Brotherhood) that helped move recruits into Pakistan for some unclear purpose, possibly training (?), after the Taliban fell.  It also suggests that Zubaydah had some leadership role other than being the group’s “#3” after the death of Abu Hafs al-Masri. 

Abdallah Bin al−Basri: His full name is Abdallah Bin Sami Bin−Muhammad Bin−Fahmi Tufankashi born in Saudi Arabia to Egyptian parents. He traveled at an early age to Afghanistan with his father who participated in jihad against the Soviet invasion. They left and returned after the Taliban took control of Kabul. Abdallah Tufankashi received his military training in Kandahar. He fled to eastern Afghanistan after the US invasion where trained new recruits and was later killed in an operation by US forces.

Here is another example of family-centered Salafist-Jihadism.  Clearly not all AQ members and supporters convert to the group’s ideology.  Some men are raised into it.  It’s difficult to say whether the generational Salafist-Jihadis are better represented into the current incarnation of the group, but it suggests that father-son relationships sometimes play a role. 

Abdallah al−Afghani: His name was Muhammad Anwar from Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was a member of the Taliban who was assigned the role of an interpreter. He died in a battle against government forces in Zabul, Afghanistan.

Interesting to see that even the Taliban apparently needs interpreters.

Abu−Ubaydah al−Banshiri al−Shahri: His name was Sa'd Bin−Khalid al−Shahri from Saudi Arabia. He served in the Saudi armed forces before he traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He fled to the tribal areas of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban and later died in Shankay area.

How many more members of the “Saudi armed forces” are active supporters of AQ?

Abu−Ubaydah al−Hijazi: His name was Muhammad bin Dulaym al−Asmari from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Afghanistan through Iran. His arrival to Kandahar coincided with the fall of the Taliban and was forced to flee to the tribal areas among Abu−al−Layth al−Libi's fighters. He was killed in Shankay, Afghanistan.

Another Saudi – this one is known to have transitted through Iran – who died in Shankay, apparently a victim of bad timing. 

Abu−Abd−al−Rahman al−Kanadi al−Masri: His name was Ahmad bin Sa'id bin Khudr from Egypt. He traveled to Afghanistan to support mujahidin against the Soviet invasion. He returned to Afghanistan from Canada and remained there until the fall of the Taliban. He fled to the eastern region of Afghanistan where he was later killed.

An Egyptian by birth, this jihadi’s bio suggests at how easy it has been for some Western passport holders to travel to and from regions of active violent jihad.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XIII)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XIII

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XIII.

Sayfallah al−Zahrani: His name is Muhannad al−Zahrani from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Iraq where he received his first military training then moved on to Afghanistan. He joined Al−Qa'ida fighters in the tribal area between Pakistan and Afghanistan where he finished his military training and was later killed in a bombing of their position.

Al-Zahrani’s bio seems typical of the current generation of Saudi AQ members: Iraq, Afghanistan, and then…where?  Yemen?  Somalia?

Talut al−Ta'ifi: Khalid Husayn al−Qathami from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he received military training and fought in Kabul and northern Afghanistan against the northern alliance until he was injured. He moved to Pakistan for treatment and was later killed in the tribal areas on Pakistan−Afghanistan borders.

Another Saudi easily transiting the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Had he survived, he would be a senior member of an AQ cadre.

Abu−A'id al−Falastini: His name is Khalil Bin−Sa'id al−Dik. He is a Palestinian from Jordan. He began his studies in the US as student of civil aviation then went on to graduate as a computer engineer. He accompanied Abdallah Azzam (central figure in rallying support for Afghan mujahidin against the Soviet invasion) during his tour in the US. He fought with Afghanistan and Bosnia before he settled in Peshawar, Pakistan where he was the first to publish the popular military encyclopedia and Abdallah Azzam's sermons and writings on compact disk. He was arrested in Jordan before he returned to Afghanistan where he met Abu−Zubaydah for the first time. He moved to Shahi−Kot after US Afghanistan where he remained until he was assassinated by an alleged "Pakistani agent."

Khalil al-Deek is one of the most well known subjects in the document.  He was a US-based AQ supporter who worked for the same “charity” as Adam Gadahn in SoCal. The bio notes with confidence what Western CT officials would only suggest: that he was one of the authors of AQ’s pre-9/11 Encyclopedia of Jihad.  It’s difficult to say whether this is information drawn from AQ knowledge of al-Deek or from circular reporting available on the Internet. However, this bio does highlight the murky lines between charity work and violent jihad, between non-profit media production and incitement to violence. 

Abu−Amir al−Sudani: His name is Mustafa (last name not provided) from Sudan. He was killed in an air raid in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A Sudanese native, probably one of many, who could easily return to their home country to fight if US or other Western forces feel compelled to occupy parts of southern Sudan.

Abu−Amir al−Falastini: He grew up in Kuwait and traveled to Afghanistan from Yemen where he earned a living as a trader. He fought in Kandahar after the US invasion then fled to Shahi−Kot area after the fall of the Taliban where he was killed in an air bombing.

This biography highlights the fluid nature of violent jihad, where average men will participate in fighting, return to the daily grind, and jump back into it at the first sign of opportunity.  It suggests a deeper, spiritual role than a simple call to fight.

Abu−al−Abbas al−Kurdi: He is from Kurdistan, Iraq. He traveled to Afghanistan where he fought in support of the Taliban until the US invasion. He moved to Shahi−Kot in eastern Afghanistan where he was killed in a battle with US and Afghan forces.

This bio highlights the connections between the so-called independent jihadi groups of pre-2003 Northern Iraq and AQ.  Apparently, al-Kurdi never got the memo that there were no connections between the Iraqi groups and AQ.

Abdallah al−Mudir al−Libi: His name is Bashir (last name not provided). He traveled to Sudan and Yemen before he joined mujahidin in Afghanistan where he played various roles. He fled to the tribal areas in Afghanistan after the US invasion where he was later killed in an air bombing.

A Libyan by birth, this jihadi moved easily into Sudan – probably in the 1990s – through Yemen and into Afghanistan.  His bio suggests here too the fluid borders between North Africa, East Africa, and the regions of AQ’s most significant fighting.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XII)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XII

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XII.

Al−Zubayr al−Turki: Born in Turkey, he traveled to Afghanistan where he received his first military training. He tried to join Al−Qa'ida in Iraq after the fall of the Taliban but was unable to find his way through Iran. He returned to Afghanistan where he later dies [sic] in an aim [sic] bombing.

Al-Zubayr’s bio evokes questions of Iranian facilitation.  How much of this post-US invasion migration did the Iranian permit, and how much were they redirecting.  We they preventing all Afghan-based jihadis from transiting to Iraq, were they making some offers they just couldn’t refuse?

Zayd al−Dagestani: He joined his father in Afghanistan where he trained and fought until he was killed in an air bombing.

How would we characterize a father-son jihadi team?  It is clear that for some of these jihadis, they were raised into the ideology rather than being “radicalized” by some outside influence.  How much of these cradle radicals exist within AQ’s cadres?  And is it a recent phenomenon?

Abu−Sa'd al−Kandahari al−Najdi: His name Turki al−Dahish from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Afghanistan and received his training in Al−Faruq camp in Kandahar. He returned to Afghanistan for a second time after the US invasion and was among a group of fighters assigned to form jihadist cells and promote jihad in Jalalabad where he was killed.

Originally a member of the 90s-era cadre, al-Dahish probably represented an ideologically trained jihadi.  It’s interesting that the bio notes that part of his responsibilities was the recruitment in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban.  This was clearly part of a strategy to regroup and reform capabilities soon after the dust settled.  It’s interesting to note that they felt safe enough to operate a recruitment effort inside of a country so soon after its government fell.  This is the kind of behavior that needs to be curtailed in future post war efforts.

Samarqand al−Urduni: His name is Habis Bin−Abdallah Bin−Falah from Jordan. He took part in the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan and later joined the so−called Al−Khilafah Group (Jama'at Al−Khilafah) in Peshawar after the civil war broke out. Habis Bin−Abdallah tried to return to the US where he once preached but was forced to change his plan when the September 11 attacks in the US took place. He traveled to China, Bangladesh, and back to Pakistan where he was killed in a raid by Pakistani forces in Waziristan.

Here we have an astonishing admission of a career jihadi desiring to “return” to the United States.  Just when he had been to the United States and what he had done here goes undiscussed, but it’s clear that within the cadres of al-Qaeda’s “foot soldiers” are men who wish to dedicate effort to “preaching” as much as fighting.  The line between the two is very thin; however, we’re still inadequate at describing the general lack of distinction between the two, particularly in Western courts of law. I’ve been unable to identify the “Al-Khilafah Group.” 

Sahm al−Ta'ifi: His name is Muhammad al−Zahrani from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Kashmir where he trained then joined Abu−al−Layth al−Libi's group in eastern Afghanistan where he died in a battle against government forces.

Why would this Saudi travel to Kashmir first?  We hear now about the training camps along the Afghan-Pakistan border.  Yet this might not have always been the case.  Apparently, earlier on in the Afghan-Pakistan conflict al-Qaeda cadres were training in Pakistan-controlled paramilitary camps probably connected to the ISI or Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Of AQs training and personnel assets, how remains on the other side of Pakistan, away from America’s presence?

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (XI)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part XI

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part XI.

Abu−Dhakir al−Jaza'iri: His name is Al−Sayyid Muhammad from Algeria. He traveled to Afghanistan from Spain where he had worked. He joined the Libyan group led by Abu−al−Layth al−Libi and died later in an operation in Shankay, Afghanistan.

Here again is the Western European connection.  Where and to whom are these men going to receive the logistical support they need to make it to Afghanistan?  And how much of this network is still intact in Spain and other countries?  Is it possible for this network to reemerge if there are other operations in other parts of the world, like Somalia or Sudan?

Abu−Rawahah al−Suri: His name is Anas Ihsan Banghali from Syria. He went to Afghanistan soon before the US invasion. He joined the training camps in the tribal areas of Afghanistan and went on to fight within a group in Jalalabad where he was later killed.

Not much to comment on here.

Abu−Rahil al−Harbi: His name is Muhammad Ghazay al−Harbi from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks in the US. He moved to Khost Province after the defeat of the Taliban and was later killed in Jalalabad.

Here is another example of someone who sought jihad against the US invasion of Afghanistan.  I wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t gone into Iraq. The West’s accepted Iraq narrative: that it “enflamed” the radicals and created more seems less likely once it’s understood that Afghanistan (considered by some as a “good” war) was doing the same exact thing.  The fact of the matter is even humanitarian actions in predominately Muslim countries will be interpreted as an “invasion” of Muslim land and warrant the same exact response we have received in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al−Zubayr al−Turkistani: He fled the Communist regime in Turkmenistan to Kyrgyzstan then later to Afghanistan where he received his military training in Hirat and Jalalabad training camps. He fled to Khost Province after the fall of the Taliban and was later arrested in Turkmenistan. After his release he went back to Afghanistan where he died in a suicide operation against US forces in Kabul.

Here is an interesting bio of a career jihadi.  It highlights the role Central Asia’s porous borders and borderless ethnicities play in fill the jihadi ranks.  I suspect that even if no Arabs sought jihad in Afghanistan, AQ and the Taliban would not lack for recruits from regional countries.

Abu−al−Zubayr al−Maghribi: His name is Khalid al−Mahuli from Morocco. He fought alongside Abu−al−Layth al−Libi and was killed in an air raid by Pakistani forces.

An example here of a North African cadre, led by abu Layth, and obviously developed with the intention of strengthening the North African groups.  In this I wonder if one of AQ’s strategies is to create the next generation jihadis and rather have them all fight and die in Afghanistan, instead send some back to their home regions.  In this way they are developing a new generation of global jihadis for the next five to ten years. 

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (X)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part X

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part X.

Abu−Khalid al−Maghribi: His name is Muhammad Zarli from Morocco. He traveled to Afghanistan from Italy after the US invasion. He fought in the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan where he died.

It’s not clear whether Zarli had been an immigrant to Italy before his fateful trip, or whether he was simply using Italy as a transit point, but it’s clear from this and several other bios and numerous CT arrests that Western European countries are a key transit node for men seeking jihad in the East regardless of whether they provide support for the effort.

His bio also belies the idea that Afghanistan was considered a “good” war that people supported.  We now have hundreds of examples of individuals who sought jihad in Afghanistan after the US invasion. Clearly at least some Muslims rejected the argument.

Abu−Khalid al−Kuwaiti: His name is Ali Bin−Sanafi al−Shammari from Kuwait. He fought in the tribal areas in eastern Afghanistan where he died along with Abu−Khalid al−Maghribi in an attack on their position.

Not much to comment on here.

Khattab al−Azadi: His name is Talal Bin−Hasan al−Zahrani from Saudi Arabia. He traveled to Afghanistan where he died in a battle with US forces.

Another Saudi.  His kunya is probably a paean to Ibn Khattab.

Abu−Dujanah al−Imarati: His name is Miftah Bin−Sa'id al−Tanaji from the United Arab Emirates. He traveled to Kashmir where he trained then later joined Abu−al−Layth al−Libi in eastern Afghanistan.

Perhaps another Arab working or training with LeT?  How did he get to Kashmir one wonders?  Through what connections in the Emirates?  And just how did he move from a Lashkar operation/camp to working directly with senior Al Qaeda leadership?  How closely are they operating with LeT?

Darwish al−Waziri: Darwish is from Waziristan where he was recruited to lead the men of his village in jihad. He was later killed in an air raid that targeted their position.

Here is an example of what kind of recruits the Taliban uses, entire villages of men, most likely fighting under the banner of the Taliban, and more likely fighting in the name of their tribal leader.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (IX)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part IX

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part IX.

Hakim al−Tataristani: He traveled to Afghanistan from Tatarstan after serving in the Russian Army. He trained in the Al−Faruq camp then joined mujahidin in Kabul. After the fall of Kabul to the US and northern alliance forces, he withdrew with other fighters to Khost in the eastern region of Afghanistan. He died months later in a Pakistani checkpoint.

“Tartarstan” is a broader region in the jihadi “map” than the current boundaries defined by the former Soviet republic.  Thus, it’s difficult to determine where in “Tartarstan” this man originated, but it’s clear he had former military training.  That must have given him an advantage in the camp culture of 90s-era Afghanistan.  It makes me wonder how much AQ relies on the varied training experiences of some of its members, and how, if it can, count to their advantage.

Hamzah al−Rabi al−Masri: His name is Hamzah al−Rabi from Egypt. He took part in jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan and was charged with security in the Egyptian Jihad Group (Jama'at al−Jihad) and later a personal bodyguard for Ayman al−Zawahiri. He was allegedly charged with running "clandestine operations" for Al−Qa'ida in Pakistan after the US invasion and was responsible for recruiting for an attack in Britain before he was killed in air raid.

Here we clearly have a senior member of Zawahiri’s retinue.  He was probably counted among the members of the deep bench of potential leaders.  He was trusted enough to know intimate details of Zawahiri’s life. Knowing that he was killed in an “air raid” suggests that our military engagements with Al Qaeda do have the advantage of clearing the bench.  Perhaps the best method of bleeding the group is clearing the bench faster than it can be filled.  We haven’t been doing that with much effectiveness lately, and with Al Qaeda finding secure regions of operation in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia it is likely that the bench could be refilled quite quickly.

Hamzah al−Zubayr al−Falastini: His name is Muhammad al−Faqi born in Egypt to Palestinian parents. He traveled to Afghanistan where he received military training and became a trainer. He moved to Karachi, Pakistan where he continued to train the Taliban fighters and supporters in the area until he was killed by Pakistan forces.

Karachi stands out for me as a curious place to see Taliban training.  Of all the major cities in Pakistan, this one is the farthest away from the NWFP and any likely location for Taliban training.  This biography suggests a broad network of Taliban support, funding and training throughout Pakistan.  It also suggests that elements of the Pakistani government showed indifference or open support for Al Qaeda and Taliban activities long before the current civil war broke out. 

Hamzah al−Tataristani: He studied in Saudi Arabia and joined the group of Abu−Abdallah al−Tatari before he move[d] to Afghanistan. He fled to the tribal areas after the fall the US invasion where he died in [unfinished]

I’m unsure what “group of Abu-Abdallah al-Tatari” is describing, a “brigade” or cell within Al Qaeda or a regional jihadi group, but it’s clear that he was drawn to Saudi Arabia, probably for religious training, and networked with this group upon his return.  Who were the Saudis influencing his radicalization?  How did he come to Saudi Arabia? Understanding little known areas could help fill in gaps of knowledge of the global Salafist-Jihadist movement.

Hamzah Burakhil: His name is A'zam (no last name provided) from Waziristan. He fought for the Taliban and was later killed in raid by Pakistani forces.

Not much to say about this person.  It is interesting to see how much effort the editors of this document put into integrating Taliban members into their own narrative.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (VIII)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part VII

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part VIII.

Abu−Ja'far al−Maghribi: His name was Amir al−Azizi from Morocco. He was recruited in Spain and later traveled to Afghanistan where he received him military training. He returned to Afghanistan after his plans of a terrorist attack inside Spain was foiled. He crossed Iran with Abd−al−Aziz Buzlaf (Bilal al−Maghribi) reaching Kandahar. After the demise of the Taliban government, he fled to the tribal areas of Afghanistan where he fought for pro−Taliban and Al−Qa'ida forces and played a role in media production. He was later killed in US strike in Jalalabad area.

The timeline of this jihadi’s biography is quite murky but it’s clear that it reflects the common arc of radicalization in the Afghan/Soviet era. He was a first generation immigrant to Spain.  It hints at the possibility that he knew Abu Dahdah or Al-Suri. Iran features in this biography like it does in several others.  Clearly, the Iranians have facilitated the transit of Al Qaeda members and supporters.  His life provides yet another example of the clear intersection of media and operational activity. They’re “journalists,” they’re jihadis first.

Mawlawi Gul Manur: Gul Manur was a student of religion from Waziristan. He traveled to Afghanistan before the US invasion to fight alongside the Taliban. He remained in Afghanistan until he died in a bombing.

Not much here, but this biography does offer some hint of the recruitment or facilitation role played by Pakistani madrassahs.

Ibn Harrathah al−Makki: He is Abdallah Bin Salman al−Qathami al−Uthiby from Saudi Arabia. He began his jihad in Kashmir then traveled to Afghanistan here he later died in the eastern provinces.

Could this Saudi have been an Arab member of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba?  Here again, we have an example of the near seamless connections between regional jihad wars and the global movement of which Al Qaeda is a prominent member.

Abu−Hazim al−Suri: His name is Muhammad Banghali from Syria. He traveled to Afghanistan shortly before September 11 attacks in the US. He was killed in the eastern region of Afghanistan.

It’s unclear just what motivated this man to join Al Qaeda or some other group in Afghanistan.  It is possible that he was active in the camps dominated by other men from the al-Shams region, like the ones lead by Zarqawi or Al-Suri.

Abu−al−Hasan al−Sumali: His name is Ibrahim (last name unknown). He was born and raised in Kenya. He fought in his country of origin Somalia before he went to Afghanistan where he was killed in the eastern region.

The influence of the global Salafist-Jihadist presence in East Africa probably hasn’t been assessed with any thoroughness, but it’s clear that this son of Somalian refugees was radicalized in Kenya (not a good sign), easily moved between borders, and eventually traveled to Afghanistan to train (or perhaps seek advanced training?).  Without a better idea of how many “al-Sumalis” are in the Afghan/Pak region right now or have made it back to Somalia, I think we’ll continue to underestimate the influence of the global Salafist-Jihadist movement. 

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (VII)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part VII

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Previous posts can be found here.  This is Part VII.

Abu−Ja'far al−Maghribi: His name was Amir al−Azizi from Morocco. He was recruited in Spain and later traveled to Afghanistan where he received him military training. He returned to Afghanistan after his plans of a terrorist attack inside Spain was foiled. He crossed Iran with Abd−al−Aziz Buzlaf (Bilal al−Maghribi) reaching Kandahar. After the demise of the Taliban government, he fled to the tribal areas of Afghanistan where he fought for pro−Taliban and Al−Qa'ida forces and played a role in media production. He was later killed in US strike in Jalalabad area.

The timeline of this jihadi’s biography is quite murky but it’s clear that it reflects the common arc of radicalization in the Afghan/Soviet era. He was a first generation immigrant to Spain.  It hints at the possibility that he knew Abu Dahdah or Al-Suri. Iran features in this biography like it does in several others.  Clearly, the Iranians have facilitated the transit of Al Qaeda members and supporters.  His life provides yet another example of the clear intersection of media and operational activity. They’re “journalists,” they’re jihadis first.

Mawlawi Gul Manur: Gul Manur was a student of religion from Waziristan. He traveled to Afghanistan before the US invasion to fight alongside the Taliban. He remained in Afghanistan until he died in a bombing.

Not much here, but this biography does offer some hint of the recruitment or facilitation role played by Pakistani madrassahs.

Ibn Harrathah al−Makki: He is Abdallah Bin Salman al−Qathami al−Uthiby from Saudi Arabia. He began his jihad in Kashmir then traveled to Afghanistan here he later died in the eastern provinces.

Could this Saudi have been an Arab member of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba?  Here again, we have an example of the near seamless connections between regional jihad wars and the global movement of which Al Qaeda is a prominent member.

Abu−Hazim al−Suri: His name is Muhammad Banghali from Syria. He traveled to Afghanistan shortly before September 11 attacks in the US. He was killed in the eastern region of Afghanistan.

It’s unclear just what motivated this man to join Al Qaeda or some other group in Afghanistan.  It is possible that he was active in the camps dominated by other men from the al-Shams region, like the ones lead by Zarqawi or Al-Suri.

Abu−al−Hasan al−Sumali: His name is Ibrahim (last name unknown). He was born and raised in Kenya. He fought in his country of origin Somalia before he went to Afghanistan where he was killed in the eastern region.

The influence of the global Salafist-Jihadist presence in East Africa probably hasn’t been assessed with any thoroughness, but it’s clear that this son of Somalian refugees was radicalized in Kenya (not a good sign), easily moved between borders, and eventually traveled to Afghanistan to train (or perhaps seek advanced training?).  Without a better idea of how many “al-Sumalis” are in the Afghan/Pak region right now or have made it back to Somalia, I think we’ll continue to underestimate the influence of the global Salafist-Jihadist movement. 

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (V)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part V 

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Part I included the first four of the 120 names and pseudonyms.  The remaining posts will explore the list of names and pseudonyms continues.  This is Part V.

Abu−Umamah al−Masri: His name is Awf Bin−Muhammad Bin−Abd−al−Rahman from Egypt. He went to Afghanistan to fight with Afghan mujahidin in their war against the Soviets. Awf Bin−Abd−al−Rahman joined jihad in Tajikistan after the break out of civil war in Afghanistan and was appointed a teacher in the Islamic institute where he taught the locals about Islam. He went back to Pakistan after the failure of the jihadist project in Tajikistan and then back to Afghanistan where he joined Bin Ladin in Kandahar. He left Afghanistan after the US invasion and returned to join mujahidin in Jalalabad region where he died in a battle with the US forces.

The first of two Egyptians profiled in this post, Abu-Ummah’s bio highlights the role of dawah, or sometimes translated as preaching or training, in the ongoing development of communities sympathetic to the radical cause.  It also shows, once again, the porous character of the region’s borders, and to a lesser extent the feeling of identity tied to Islam, not a nation-state.

Abu−Ayman al−Masri: His name is Mamduh Bin−Muhammad al−Sayyid from Egypt. He was a member of Egyptian Jihad Group who traveled to Afghanistan to receive military training and later become a trainer. He left Afghanistan after the civil war broke out and was later arrested in Syria where he was planning to smuggle weapons into Palestinian territories. He later left Syria to Yemen, and back to Afghanistan after the Taliban took control. After the US invasion, Al−Sayyid fled to Waziristan where he later died in a battle against US forces.

Another Egyptian is profiled here, clearly a member of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s Egyptian cadre.  His bio shows that the spillover affect that followed the Afghan civil war in the early 1990s, had the kind of regional repercussions that could be seen in the coming months as Iraq becomes hostile territory for al-Qaida’s ideology and organization.

Abu−Bakr Azzam al−Falastini: His name is Iyyad Adil al−Qunnah from Jordan. His first visit to Afghanistan was when he joined jihad against the Soviets. He went back for after the Taliban took control and remained there until he was killed in the eastern region of Afghanistan in a battle against what was referred to as "Crusader forces."

A Palestinian by birth, this bio exposes one of the advantages that al-Qaida could exploit in any possible Levant strategy; its small cadre of ethnic Palestinians who could return to Gaza or other parts of the Occupied Territories and begin to build communities sympathetic to al-Qaida through the use of dawah and other forms of persuasion.

Abu−Bakr al−Maghribi: According to the biographical account, Abu−Bakr was born and raised in the southern part of Morocco. He traveled to Afghanistan for the first time only few weeks before September 11 attacks in the US. He trained with the Libyan group let by Abu−al−Layth al−Libi. He was killed in a US air raid in eastern Afghanistan.

Here we’re given a little window into the ethnic subdivisions within the pre 9/11 camp culture.  Al-Maghribi was either guided toward or fell in with other North Africans.  It’s this aspect of camp culture that may continue to prefigure the strategic affects of “spillover” from any regional jihad. The cadres built up in Afghanistan – cadres of Uyghurs, Uzbeks, Chechens, North Africans, Palestinians, Egyptians and Saudis – could return to their home regions and apply the skills and continue to build the social and logistical networks to continue the jihad.

Abu−Bak al−Iraqi: His name is Abd−al−Rahman from Iraq. He fled Iraq during Saddam Hussayn's rule with parents to Pakistan, then to Afghanistan where he joined military training camp after the US invasion. He died in a military operation by Pakistani forces in the eastern region of Afghanistan.

This bio doesn’t explain why Abd-al-Rahman fled Iraq, but it does point to the existence of an organized resistance prepared in response to American intervention in the region.  There were military training camps in place soon after the invasion to prep young men for jihad against the Americans.  It’s another example of the response pattern in global jihad that’s been around since the 1980s:  whenever a non-Muslim government projects its power into regions dominated by Muslims, the response is to call a jihad and prepare for jihad.  No matter where the US projects its power into traditionally Muslim territories, the jihad will follow.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (IV)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part IV 

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Part I included the first four of the 120 names and pseudonyms.  The remaining posts will explore the list of names and pseudonyms continues.  This is Part IV.

Uwis al−Najdi (nickname): His name is Muhannad from Najd, Saudi Arabia. According to his biographical account, Muhannad traveled to Afghanistan around the time of the USS Cole bombing in Yemen. He joined Al−Faruq military training camp where he was selected later on to join leadership training course. He was appointed a trainer is Al−Faruq camp until the US invasion of Afghanistan. He participated in the battles in Kabul and led a group of fighters to Jalalabad areas where he spent the next fours until he was killed in a raid by US forces.

Once again we see an example of how a major attack inspired others inclined toward violent jihad to actively seek it.  In this case we have a Saudi who eventually became a member of al-Qaida’s deep bench of leaders.

Asadallah al−Uzbaki (nickname): He fled Uzbekistan with his parents who sought refuge in Afghanistan. Asadallah joined the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and attended its schools until the US invasion of Afghanistan. He moved with his family to Pakistan and then to Iran where he pursued his religious studies. Asadallah moved back to Pakistan to pursue his schooling but shortly afterward decided to join jihad in Afghanistan where he was killed in an ambush against US forces.

This bio of an Uzbek named “Asadallah” highlights the porous nature of the borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Pakistan and Iran. It clearly gives this al-Qaida operative the opportunity to move from one country to the next in search of ideological and religious training.  It also begs the question, what role is Iran playing in the sheltering current and would-be Sunni radicals?

Asadallah al−Libi: He is Ziyad Bin Farraj al−Bah from Libya. He went to Afghanistan in 1990 and fought with the Afghan mujahidin in their war against the Soviet. He moved to Tajikistan with Khattab and was among the first to take part in jihad in that country. After an unsuccessful attempt to embark on jihad against the Libyan regime as a result of his expulsion from Sudan, he went back to Afghanistan after the Taliban took Kabul. After the US invasion, Ziyad al−Bah fled Afghanistan to Pakistan, and then Iran where he was captured. He managed to escape Iran and join Abu−al−Layth al−Libi in Afghanistan where he was killed.

The bio here of a key al-Qaida member, shows several important historical characteristics of al-Qaida’s early development.  First, it was already developing a deep bench in Chechnya in the mid-1990s, drawing military commanders from the decade’s ongoing regional jihads.  Second, is the central Asia proving ground – the countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Western China, etc. that appears to be source of both leaders (for training) and ground troops.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (III)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part III -- Note this is a brief posting, because I will be out and about all day today.

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Part I included the first four of the 120 names and pseudonyms.  The remaining posts will explore the list of names and pseudonyms continues.  This is Part III.

Abu−Usamah al−Dagestani (nickname): He is Abd−al−Rahman Bin−Muhammad from Dagestan. He joined jihad in 1995 alongside Chechen fighters and then went to Afghanistan where he received more military training. He went back to Dagestan where he engaged in kidnapping for ransom until he was assigned second in command for a Chechnya based group of fighters who staged attacks against Dagestan. Unable to return to his homeland Dagestan, he went to Turkey then Afghanistan where he was killed in a battle with Pakistani forces.

Abu-Usamah's bio shows us the nature of global jihad.  The bio tells us that he came from "Dagestan," but this doesn't necessarily mean the Republic of Dagestan.  Rather it is a traditional term to describe the entire region of the North Caucuses.  However, he was radicalized in the 1990s during Russia's war in Chechnya.  It's interesting to note that the author here sees nothing morally wrong with Abu-Usamah's line of work after returning from Al Qaida training in Afghanistan to his homeland.  "Kidnapping for ransom," is apparently a legitimate method of fund raising for jihadi operations, and a key one when times get tough.  Also note, too, that Al Qaida trained jihadis were clearly in leadership positions within the North Caucuses.  No doubt, 90s-era Al Qaida training and networking built strong lines of communication among the various regional jihads. Ties that the group is exploiting right now in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Last week in the Washington Post, the former chief of warning at the CIA (one of the key bureaucrats who saw nothing to warn us about on September 10, 2001) confidently wrote that there is no global jihad. Apparently, when he sees a Caucasian confidently traversing five countries, five unique cultures -- fighting in Chechnya, living in Turkey, training in Afghanistan with Arabs and dying in Pakistan -- he see a bunch of regional conflicts.   

Usayd al−Ta'zi al−Yamani (nickname): He is A'id Qasim Muhammad from Yemen. He traveled to Afghanistan where he received military training in Al−Faruq camp and was assigned as an administrator. He moved between Afghanistan and Pakistan until he was killed in a raid by Pakistani forces.

Not much to note here, only that "Usayd," too, was part of Al Qaida's leadership complex.  He may have been part of the group's "deep bench" that I've discussed before, particularly related to Abu Yahya al-Libbi and his constant efforts to teach new recruits.  However, the term "administrator" could mean any number of jobs, including raising funds, doling out money for recruits and their families.  Something in his work for AQ made him responsible for moving constantly between Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Was he possibly a courier?  Perhaps not a military leader, but a trusted member with access to the inner circle?  As a man trusted with access to the inner circle he would have known others within that circle even if he never met the group's main leaders.  These are the members we would want to capture alive, if possible.  Compromising AQ at its core could finally do it in.

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (II)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part II

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

Part I included the first four of the 120 names and pseudonyms.  In Part II the list of names and pseudonyms continues:

Ahmad al−Hasan Dawur from Waziristan: He died shortly after he joined Abu−Al−Layth al−Libi camp in an air raid by the Pakistani military.

The bio only hints at the fact that this camp probably existed or exists on the Pakistani side of the border.

Idris al−Turkistani (nickname) from Aqsu in the region of Eastern Turkistan in China: He arrived in Afghanistan where he received military training. He was assigned to fight against the "northern alliance" in northern Afghanistan where he was captured shortly afterward after the US invasion of Afghanistan. He moved to Waziristan after his release where he died in a raid by Pakistani forces.

AQ always refers to Xinjiang Province as "East Turkistan."  It's China's most Western province, and the dominant culture is Turkic and Muslim (Uyghur), not Chinese.  The local population has been resisting Chinese rule for decades.  And though the dominant Islam of the region reflects a sort of Central Asian Sufism, the radical Salafist-Jihadists have had some success at dawah.  Ayman al-Zawahiri often mentions "East Turkistan" in his speeches to the ummah.  It's a sign, I suspect, of the close relationship between AQ leadership and the Uyghur contingent among the foreign fighters along Afghan/Pak border region. The extent of the unrest in Western China is not fully known, nor is it clear whether the Chinese government knows of and/or somehow permits the transit of these men into Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It's interesting to note that Idris was captured and released in Afghanistan, only to return to the front.

Usamah al−Hamawi (nickname): His name is Ridwan Bin Abd−al−Rahman al−Sharif from Syria. He fought against the northern alliance until the US invasion of Afghanistan when he was forced to flee to the tribal areas where he continued to train and fight until he was killed in a missile attack.

Al-Hamawi's death was announced in an AQ video released last July. His biography, hinted at here, follows a pattern of pre-9-11 AQ members, including fighting with the Taliban against Ahmad Shah Massoud's forces.  Being Syrian, it's possible he was associated with Abu Mus'ab al-Suri, and somehow supported al-Suri's work with the Taliban.  Regardless, he was obviously senior enough within the group that the video includes formal statements from UBL and Abu Layth al-Libbi, though neither talks specifically about al-Hamawi. 

Abu−Usamah al−Sharqi (nickname): His name is Muhammad al−Rashid from Al−Khubar, Saudi Arabia. He went to Afghanistan soon after the September 11 attacks in the US. Soon after he finished his military training, he was assigned to train new recruits from the tribal areas in Jalalabad. He was killed in a raid in Zabul.

Al-Sharqi's bio provides a good example of the power of the September 11th attacks to motivate young men to join the group.  Another example would be the rise in reports of American losses in Iraq during 2005-06.  It shows the vital strategic importance of controlling the message of loss and victory. 

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (I)

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation"
Part I

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  The book -- in the summary translation used here -- consists of 120 brief biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments.  The following is a brief analysis (in green) of the book's content based on a summary translation available through WNC (Dialog), see the "Introduction" post for record information.

The book opened with a dedication to Sayyid Qutb, Abdallah Azzam, and Abu−Mus'ab al−Zarqawi for their supposedly unique respective roles in guiding, reviving, and implementing jihad. The preface praised the role of jihad and the unique elevated status of martyrs in the eyes of God according to Islamic teachings. The book went on to give biographical accounts about a list of jihad martyrs who fell in Afghanistan. These accounts gave a glimpse of the martyrs' upbringing, their decision to join jihad, and their piousness and dedication to the cause of jihad throughout their jihadist endeavor.

Qutb, Azzam, and Zarqawi may initially appear to be an unlikely grouping of "martyrs" to commemorate, but actually the three fit well with the al-Qaida's self-imagining as Qutb's rightful heirs.  It's a claim that stands in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, the group Qutb claimed leadership of at the time of his execution. Al Qaida is saying in essence that through the work of Abdullah Azzam and the recent leadership of al-Zarqawi, we are the legitimate jihadi movement. 

The three men represent a continuum of ideas and action that fits well with the group's claim to represent "the Ummah of the Pen and Sword." (See WNC Accession # 17YG2WZ5 20080228.)

Ibrahim al−Muhajir al−Masri: His real name is Muhsin Bin Musa Bin Mitwalli Atwah from Egypt. He was an engineering graduate who had migrated to Iraq for work before he decided two years later to join the mujahidin in Afghanistan during the war against the Soviet invasion. He left Afghanistan for Sudan where he purportedly participated in the planning of US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Ibrahim al−Masri was described as an expert in explosives who spent much of his time experimenting in his laboratory and whose specialty was "engineering martyrdom operations" and "preparing martyrs." He was killed in a US air raid in Afghanistan.

The list begins with the confirmation of the death of an official suspect in the planning and operations of the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa.  Atwah's biography reads like many senior level al-Qaida members, including previous jihad experience during the Afghan-Soviet war.  As with many senior level members, the bio tells us that Atwah was a trainer.  It's apparently typical of the group that its most experienced members take on teaching roles.  This learning loop keeps AQ's bench of skilled recruits full of future trainers. His biographical arch takes him from Egypt to Iraq to Afghanistan to Africa to Afghanistan.

Ibrahim al−Dagestani: His real name is Habib−Allah from Dagestan. Two years after his meeting with Chechen mujahidin, he went back to Dagestan to form his group of mujahidin and was sending recruits to Afghanistan for training. The public turned against Habib−Allah and his group and they were forced to flee Dagestan. Habib−Allah ended up in Afghanistan where he died in battle with the Pakistani military.

Habib-Allah appears to be the head of a jihadi group unrelated to al Qaida.  He and his group are an example of the porous nature of jihadist insurgencies.  Jihadi groups seek out regions where other jihadi groups are active, usually providing support wherever possible to each other.  Issa al-Hindi describes just such activity in The Army of Madinah in Kashmir.  Any area recognized as a legitimate jihad thus becomes a magnet for active violent jihadi movements, where members network, share capabilities, and build future relationships.  This kind of "community" building practically guarantees another generation of regional warfare somewhere on earth.

Abrar (nickname): His name is Tariq from Kashmir. He fought in Afghanistan and was killed by the Pakistani military in Waziristan.

Tariq is an example of cross-over fighting I might expect from having two regional jihads -- Kashmir and Afghanistan -- with such a close operational distance.  It is surprising we don't hear more about Kashmiri militants fighting in Afghanistan. 

Abu−Ahmad al−Suri (nickname): His real name is Mahmud Bin Mustafa Bin Kamal al−Bakri from Aleppo, Syria. He joined jihad in Afghanistan and trained in Abu−Mus'ab al−Suri camp. His second trip to Afghanistan coincided with the US invasion and he was killed in Shahi−Kot, Afghanistan.

Al-Bakri's biography offers an example of a phenomenon that I noticed back in 2004.  Far from being a "good" war that Arabs and other Muslims supported, the US invasion of Afghanistan was generating the same kind of movement of men and arms that we eventually saw develop in Iraq.  Al-Bakri wasn't alone in his efforts to join a burgeoning front in Afghanistan.  Willie Brigitte and the members of the Operation Crevice cell are just two examples of what appears to be a reactive phenomenon that has been around since the Afghan-Soviet war.  Whenever there is a perceived act of aggression against a country commonly accepted as Muslim, a call-to-arms goes out and within months, a global movement of money and men begins to flow into the region. 

The Iraq insurgency wasn't a unique reaction to American military activity in the Middle East.  Rather, it was the latest in a line of regional jihads that appear to be a global reaction and response to any country perceived to be occupying a Muslim country.  I've even identified a key mechanism in the creation of such incubation communities.  However, that kind of in-depth analysis is not appropriate for a brief study like this.   Suffice it to say that Al-Bakri apparently didn't get the memo that Afghanistan was supposedly a "good war."   

A Study of "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation" (Introduction)

I'm inaugurating a new series of in my informal analysis of complete jihadi works.  The series includes my notes on Issa al-Hindi's The Army of Madinah in Kashmir, Hassan al-Banna's "Toward the Light," and "On Jihad."  This time it's a book called "Martyrs in a Time of Alienation."

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, "Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan."  Khorasan is a traditional word used for the region of central Asia that covers Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The book consists of 120 biographies of men who died in the insurgency against Coalition forces and regional governments. 

The publicly available translation analyzed here is only a summary translation.   Though most biographies in the collection include only a name, an explanation of how they arrived in the region, and how they eventually died, there's some benefit in studying the document in its entirety.  Insights gleaned from such small details can help improve the picture of the character and make-up of Al Qaida and its regional affiliates by offering details about the timing, training, and movement of men through the region, and shedding light on their motivations and affiliations. 

My summary translation is a World News Connection (WNC via Dialog) record from March 2008; its accession number is 17YT16E7 20080308. I intend to analyze between four and five individuals in a post. 

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Note:  I made a few edits to this post on 07/06/08, and added a sentence or two to accurately reflect the content of the WNC document.