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| Terror Networks |
| Al Qaeda branch inspired to launch English magazine |
| 2010-06-30 |
| They call it Inspire, and Al Qaeda is hoping it will. Al Qaeda's media-savvy branch in the Arabian Peninsula has announced this week in an online advertisement that they will publish the group's first English magazine. Featuring guest writer Anwar al Awlaki — the American cleric blamed for inciting violence among Western Muslims youth, including members of the so-called Toronto 18 — the magazine Inspire is an extension of an already popular online Arabic magazine Sada al-Malahim (Echo of the Battle). Simply the idea of Al Qaeda churning out a magazine while supposedly dodging drone attacks and security forces in Yemen's tribal areas has led to ridicule in the past. Articles in the Arabic magazine have included profiles of terrorist leaders or suicide bombers, an analysis of the role of women in jihad and helpful tips of how to not divulge information if caught and interrogated. “In some ways, Sada al-Malahim isn't all that different from Slate,' wrote Brian Palmer in a piece for his current affairs online magazine, noting that both publications separate content into rubrics, “like Martyr Biographies,' and often run pieces in installments. But noted Yemen scholar Gregory Johnsen says the new magazine is worrying because it confirms a presence of western, English-speaking members of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) beyond Awalki. “This is something myself and others have long suspected, but the magazine is the first real evidence we have a core group of these type of individuals, many of whom likely possess western passports,' he said. The magazine will also likely be powerful online tool of recruitment, says Johnsen. “The idea here is that AQAP can reach, influence and inspire other like-minded individuals in the west. No longer do these individuals need to travel to Yemen or read Arabic in order to take instructions from AQAP. Now they can just download and read the magazine in English.' The magazine is another attempt to show their international reach, said Schmitz. “These guys are capable. They're not backwater, underprivileged folks who have been drawn into the battle. These are educated folks who know about the world and have seen how the media works and want to imitate it for their own cause. They want whenever possible to just stick it in the eye of the American administration.' But Schmitz and Johnsen, both of whom have travelled extensively in Yemen and are fluent in Arabic, caution that sometimes the reaction to arrests or attacks makes the jobs of online recruiters' easier. New Mexcio-born Awlaki, for instance, was not considered among the hierarchy of AQAP or well known to Yemenis until the failed Christmas Day plot and the White House confirmed he was on the CIA's hit list. “Awlaki gets defended because they say America's trying to act above the law,' said Schmitz. “So we play into their hands by appearing to be above the law in that sense.' In the first 12 editions of AQAP's Arabic magazine Awalki's name is mentioned only once, and then only to dispute claims he had been killed in a U.S. drone attack. Judging by the slick online promotion of the new English magazine — advertised as “A special gift to the Islamic Nation' — guest writer Awlaki appears to have become the group's rising star. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #3 Charger, now thats funny stuff there. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-06-30 13:01 |
| #2 the fashion pages should be interesting - "What to do when you Bhurqka gets creased" - "Keep colorful weapons in the kitchen to prevent being a fashion victim when you are honor killed" - "What hummus goes with a female genital mutilation party" |
| Posted by: lord garth 2010-06-30 12:19 |
| #1 They should call it "Newsweek". |
| Posted by: charger 2010-06-30 12:13 |