In Oct. 2007, Caucasus Emirate (CE) Emir Doku Umarov released a 16-minute video statement announcing the formation of the Caucaus Emirate (CE). In the statement, he said he disagreed with those who felt their enemy was only those attacking them directly. He said , "All those who have attacked the Muslims, wherever they may be, are our common enemies. Our enemy is not only Rusnya [derogatory term for Russia], but also America, Britain and Israel, and all who are waging a war against Islam and the Muslims. And they are our enemies first and foremost because they are God's enemies."The statement is significant in that it illustrates Umarov's philosophy in terms of targeting and operations. It establishes that as early as 2007 he was not limiting his thinking to just Russia for the near enemy but also the far enemies of the US, UK and Israel. This is further supported by the ties CE has with groups around the world like al-Qaeda and also runs in parallel with the heavy participation of Chechen fighters around the world in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other areas. Recently captured American jihadi fighter Eric Harroun was seen in a 13 Feb. 2013 video from Syria showing him riding in a jeep with a Chechen fighter on their way to a downed Syrian helicopter. He was arrested after landing at Washington, DC's Dulles airport on 27 Mar. 2013.
The last two sentences [above], quite interesting.
If Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev received training or guidance during his 6-month trip to Russia in 2012, the Caucasus Emirate (CE) would be the leading suspect as it is the dominant jihadi group in Russia with an extensive reach not just through Chechnya and Dagestan but all of Russia.