AQI Leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri Arrested UPDATE: Mistaken Identity
The Iraqi government claims to have arrested Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday. Mohammed al-Askari said the arrest of al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was confirmed to him by the Iraqi ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on May 8, 2008 16:11
Combating Al Qaeda in Pakistan
David Ignatius notes that al Qaeda has "all but disappeared" from Afghanistan and "is on the run" in Iraq and thinks we can draw lessons from these facts. First, al-Qaeda isn't a permanent boogeyman; it's losing ground in Iraq and Afghanistan because of U.S. counterinsurgency tactics, especially the alliances we have built with tribal leaders and the aggressive use ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on May 5, 2008 09:30
U.S. Airstrike Kills Top Qaeda Agent in Somalia
We have killed the head of Shebab, the top al Qaeda militia in Somalia. Aden Hashi Ayro, one of Al Qaeda’s top agents in East Africa and the leader of the Islamist comeback in Somalia, was killed Thursday morning by an American airstrike, according to American and Somali officials. Mr. Ayro was one of the most feared and notorious figures in Somalia, ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on May 1, 2008 07:41
Air Marshals On No-Fly List
Some federal air marshals are being repeatedly delayed -- or denied -- boarding on flights because their name is on a terrorist watch list, Audrey Hudson reports. False identifications based on a terrorist no-fly list have for years prevented some federal air marshals from boarding flights they are assigned to protect, according to officials with the agency, which is finally taking ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on May 1, 2008 06:35
Al Qaeda Getting Stronger
Al Qaeda is getting stronger, mostly in Pakistan, a new State Department report states. Al-Qaida has rebuilt some of its pre-Sept. 11 capabilities from remote hiding places in Pakistan, leading to a jump in attacks last year in that country and neighboring Afghanistan, the Bush administration said Wednesday. Attacks in Pakistan doubled between 2006 and 2007 and the number of fatalities quadrupled, ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 30, 2008 12:14
U.S. Kills Jihadists with Stroke of Pen, Creating Violent Extremists as Byproduct
The war against Jihadists and Islamo-Fascists has been won; each and every last one of these vermin has been eradicated courtesy of the United States Government. Unfortunately, the victory is quite literally in name only. The Bush administration has launched a new front in the war on terrorism, this time targeting language. Federal agencies, including the State Department, the Department ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 25, 2008 15:59
“Hamas’ Worst Nightmare”
Sean Hackbarth reports on a recent weblogger conference with John McCain. I don't know if my colleague James participated in this one, though I know that he has in the past. What Hackbarth highlighted from the conference, and no doubt everyone else will, too, is this:Jennifer Rubin asked if Obama has given an unhelpful signal to Hamas? McCain ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 25, 2008 13:13
UK Court Invalidates Terrorist Asset Freezing
Counterterrorism Blog: UK Court Invalidates Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime as Unconstitutional Today, the UK's high court invalidated the country's asset freezing regime against terrorists, ruling it to be unconstitutional. The ruling has been described as devastating to the UK's strategy against terrorism. It was based on the court finding that the UK government could not simply implement UN Security Council resolutions ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 24, 2008 13:59
What Makes Iraq’s Islamists Special?
Bernard Finel, weighing in on the "Two Iraq Wars" debate, makes an interesting point: The fact is that there are many Islamist insurgencies around the world — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, etc. All of them are potential locations for AQ to establish a safe haven… indeed, they have already established one in Pakistan. ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 18, 2008 10:41
London Subway Bomber Dead in Pakistan
Abu Ubaida al-Masri, the planner of the 7/7/05 London subway bombing and various other al Qaeda operations has been confirmed dead. No word on whether he was the #2 or #3 ranked man in al Qaeda. Abu Ubaida al-Masri, one of Al Qaeda's top operatives and the mastermind behind a plot to use liquid explosives to blow British ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 9, 2008 13:58
Iraq or Afghanistan: On the Horns of a False Dilemma
Joe Biden is getting plaudits from the Leftosphere for asking Ryan Crocker a really dumb question in yesterday's hearings. Here's the video: The transcript: BIDEN: Mr. Ambassador, is Al Qaeda a greater threat to US interests in Iraq, or in the Afghan-Pakistan border region? CROCKER: Mr. Chairman, al Qaeda is a strategic threat to the United States wherever it is-- BIDEN: Where is ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 9, 2008 08:36
Bomb Scare on Air Jamaica Flight 80
A crazy man was arrested at Orlando's airport yesterday with some interesting things in his bag. A Jamaican man behavior specialists spotted acting suspiciously was detained and arrested after components used to make pipe bombs, unknown liquids and bomb-making literature were found in his luggage at Orlando International Airport. Officials said federal behavior identification agents noticed something about ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on April 2, 2008 06:37
Some States Balk At Real ID
Michael Cutler is incredulous that so many state governors are challenging the Real ID Act. It is impossible for me to understand how anyone who is concerned about the security of our nation in this perilous age would oppose the implementation of the Real ID Act. The seven years since the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the three years ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on March 27, 2008 11:59
I-64 Sniper Shootings Terrorize Virginia
A sniper has managed to shut down a major Interstate and a county school system, terrorizing the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Or, actually, not. I managed to make it all the way to work and then some before reading about it from Glenn Reynolds, who lives the next state over.) State Police are looking for more than one person ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on March 27, 2008 10:35
U.S. Striking Al Qaeda Targets in Pakistan
The United States is stepping up its attacks on al Qaeda targets in Pakistan, largely without coordination with that country's government. The United States has escalated its unilateral strikes against al-Qaeda members and fighters operating in Pakistan's tribal areas, partly because of anxieties that Pakistan's new leaders will insist on scaling back military operations in that country, according to U.S. officials. ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on March 27, 2008 06:54
