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| Terror Networks | |
| Bin Ladens successor to face financing crisis | |
| 2011-05-13 | |
| Observers believe that Bin Laden's death will not weaken the jihadist movement in Afghanistan and Pakistan and elsewhere in the world; however Al Qaeda was a Bin Laden construct, he was behind the September 11 attacks, whilst all members of Al Qaeda pledged their allegiance to Osama Bin Laden the man, rather than to the organization or to any specific ideology. In this regard, Noman Benotman, a former leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group [Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya al-Muqatilah bi Libya -- LIFG], stressed that there are huge problems within the Al Qaeda organization following Osama Bin Laden's death. Benotman, who today is a Senior Analyst (Strategic Communications) at the London-based anti-Islamist think tank Quilliam, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the financial support that was being provided to Al Qaeda, from figures in the Gulf and Pakistan, was being provided due to trust and confidence in Bin Laden, and that the financial aid may dry up following the death of the Al Qaeda leader. He added "with the death of Bin Laden, Al Qaeda is lacking the force of a commander to inspire the disparate groups that are connected to the organizations in the Middle East and North Africa." Benotman also told Asharq Al-Al-Awsat that Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden's deputy leader, was the "mastermind" behind Osama Bin Laden, describing the Egyptian jihadist as being "the brains" of Al Qaeda. He also acknowledged that the strategic turning point in the history of Al Qaeda, namely the targeting of the US as the great enemy, rather than the Middle East regimes, represented a blow to al-Zawahiri, who wanted to overthrow the Egyptian government. According to Benotman, Bin Laden influenced al-Zawahiri's ideology in this regard, telling him "forget the closest enemies [the Middle East governments], and instead put your sights on the main enemy, and that is the United States."
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| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 I call shennaginans, as IMO OVERT ANDOR COVERT PRO-ISLAMIST MUSLIM GOVTS, ELEMENTS, OTHER HAVE A STAKE IN POST-OSAMA RADICAL ISLAM ACHIEVING ANY COMMON AGENDUM. The above would've planned in anticipation of Osama, etal. future death or capture - THE USA MAY HAD SUCCESSFULLY "KILLED" OSAMA BUT THE USA PER SE IS IN A HIGHLY FRAGILE STATE OF AFFAIRS. As for Radical Islam per se, methinks its safe to say the bulk of MilTerr members are in it to the death, i.e. LT IMPRISONMENT OR DEATH IN ARMED COMBAT, OTHER VIOLENCE, ETC. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-05-13 20:31 |
| #7 AP - See my comment above re how the Saudi government's having to reallocate its financial resources in the name of self-preservation. That being said, I've believed for years that if numerous random Saudi princelings were found with extra holes in their heads, floating face-down in various bodies of water around the world, there would be a salutary effect on the behavior of the rest. |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2011-05-13 16:28 |
| #6 The main problem may be ultimately the Saudis. They have had their financial fingers in the Philippines, southern Thailand, Indonesia, Chechnya, Balkan places, Pakistan and a bunch of other places. Dealing with the so-called princes would be a quantum step in clearing up this jihadi mess. Dry up their Wahhabi money and you have a good start. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2011-05-13 15:49 |
| #5 Could it be that the Bin Laden dollars had already dried up and thus helped contribute to his demise? Pretty much. He had no outside business interests to speak of anymore, he was communicating by courier, and rarely at that. He'd basically achieved Dali Lama status, a figurehead, but powerless. Besides, nobody loves you when you old and gray and reduced to watching videos of yourself in a concrete shack. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-05-13 13:16 |
| #4 This probably has a lot to do with it. Cliffs Notes version is that the Saudi government's trying to buy off its homegrown protest movements with massive social spending. Presumably this means there's less petty cash in the till to spread around to Al Qaeda & Co. |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2011-05-13 12:38 |
| #3 @Besoeker, maybe, but tough interrogations and connecting the dots of the couriers didn't have much to do with al Qaeda's deteriorating finances. Plus he seemed to be living okay personally in his villa. |
| Posted by: American Delight 2011-05-13 07:29 |
| #2 Also... Obamas successor to face financing crisis! |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-05-13 05:52 |
| #1 London-based anti-Islamist think tank Quilliam, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the financial support that was being provided to Al Qaeda, from figures in the Gulf and Pakistan, was being provided due to trust and confidence in Bin Laden, and that the financial aid may dry up following the death of the Al Qaeda leader. Could it be that the Bin Laden dollars had already dried up and thus helped contribute to his demise? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-05-13 05:06 |