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| Counter Terrorism Blog - More Complete Translation of "Azzam-Zawahiri" |
| 2006-09-07 |
| 1) The hand behind the message When Arabic and English languages experts listen to the speech and compare his debit and shifting from one idiom to the other, they would conclude that M Adam Gadahn has been under an intense linguistic program to learn the Arabic language. He attempts to speak it rather like Bin Laden’s Peninsula accent then Zawahiri’s Egyptian intonation. Besides, he has also developed significant skills in Koranic citations as well as media training. However, when it comes to the logic of the arguments as presented in English, and compare them with literature disseminated in North America, or with online chats in English, or even with speeches by radical clerics touring US and Canadian cities, the “language” is amazingly one. For any seasoned analyst of Jihadi rhetoric in English, or even North American English, it is a fact that the level and type of arguments, the chain of issues cited, and other details, if anything could indicate that the “speech writer” may well be a well-versed leading militant in Jihadi affairs with academic training and American political know how. In short, Azzam’s videotaped message is indeed “American.” Experts have heard it in US and Canadian cities and on internet.The bones of the speech are Jihadi but its beef is American. Whether Gadahn was reading from a prompter or not –and I believe he was with great skills- I tend to believe that such a speech –rather than being dismissed as mere propaganda- is a message coming to us from what’s already inserted inside America, which leads me to the second point 2)Who is it destined to? It is basically addressed to those who will carry a “Jihad in America,” possibly asserting Adam Gadahn as their leader. Also, this is a very intelligent move to pierce the linguistic shield of America’s media and reach US citizens directly, as a way to spread confusion at least among those who have a hazy understanding of the Jihadists. By the way, expect this speech to be aired on al Jazeera’s English Channel in the near future, repetitively. 3) The ideological platform In a summary, as he clearly assert, the essence of Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and other religions are false and against Allah’s will. In his words, “Islam is the only true religion,” and not following it as prescribed, “will lead to fire afterlife,” but also to defeat to infidels in this world. 4) Argumentation tactics: “Azzam’s” speech exposes the streams of ideologies he is attempting to merge. While his rhetoric is pure Jihadist, he uses many arguments produced by radical anti-American intellectuals, mixing American politics with Islamist concepts. [..] 5) The enemies of Jihad in America All citizens-taxpayers are legitimate targets for al Qaeda, repeats Gadahn after Bin laden and Zawahiri. But now Americans can hear it in an American accent not through the translations offered by the networks. Only those who are actively fighting the enemy are to be spared. Otherwise the wrath of al Qaeda will punish the infidels at large and the American and European “Crusaders” in particular. 6) The “friends” of al Qaeda? “Azzam” performs another unusual move in this speech. He names “sympathetic” personalities for whom he has messages for action because of –what he considers- good deeds or sympathy to al Qaeda’s cause. Regardless of what would this identification leave as political consequences in the US and Britain, the “American” voice of al Qaeda, M Gadahn, calls on well known journalist Seymour Hirsh to “reveal more” than what was published in a New Yorker article on the War: Obviously an open call by al Qaeda to M Hirsch to resume the verbal attack against the present US War on Terror. Then “Azzam” turn to two British journalists and thank them for their “admiration and respect for Islam” and encourage them to do the final step: Convert. He names British MP George Galloway and journalist Robert Fisk. M Galloway has been very vocal in his support of the Jihadist causes worldwide and has accused the West of planning on “destroying the Arab and Muslim peoples,” including on al Jazeera, few days ago. M Fisk is a long time critic of Western policies and has for many times sided with the arguments of radical regimes and organzations against their opponents in the region. But more troubling in Gadahn’s tape was his direct call to Jihadists within the US Armed forces to work patiently till the time comes. He reveals that “they” have been involved in a large number of “conversions”, and that they “should continue to aggregate while escaping the surveillance of their military authorities.” This theme, which I covered briefly in Future Jihad, is of great concern to US national security. The “Azzam” speech brings further concerns as to the credibility of this threat. 7)The Al Qaeda offer: Conversion or fire “Azzam”’s mission in this tape was to deliver a message. His bottom line is this: We –the Jihadists- have you cornered everywhere and you are not going to win this war. He seems to say that the US led coalition won’t win the War in Iraq, Afghanistan and no where else. And he announces that war will ravage this country (America) as well. He tells Americans that the Jihadi hand is already inside the US and “Azzam” is the kind of voice you will be hearing in the future. His central message is typically Jihadic: “Surrender, convert or the fire:” Meaning war on Earth, all of it, and Hell fire after death. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #6 There has been at least one case where a Muslim-American murdered his tent-mates in their sleep by rolling/throwing in a grenade, and several cases where information was smuggled out of Guantano Bay and such. I'm sure there are more sleepers, most likely who joined before 9/11 and were already Muslim at that point. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-09-07 17:41 |
| #5 I personally know of one US soldier who converted. I don't believe Jihad is on his mind, however. Nothing to back that up, just my gut feeling. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-09-07 12:11 |
| #4 There are a few I'm sure... Just a small minority. It's the ROP, after all. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-09-07 09:50 |
| #3 But more troubling in Gadahn’s tape was his direct call to Jihadists within the US Armed forces to work patiently till the time comes. He reveals that “they” have been involved in a large number of “conversions”, and that they “should continue to aggregate while escaping the surveillance of their military authorities.” This theme, which I covered briefly in Future Jihad, is of great concern to US national security. The “Azzam” speech brings further concerns as to the credibility of this threat. Bull. Somebody trying to sell a book perhaps? There are a few I'm sure, but nothing like this guy is fantasizing about. |
| Posted by: gorb 2006-09-07 02:50 |
| #2 Go Joe! Joe 2008! |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-09-07 01:13 |
| #1 In short - First, surprise surprise, means the Spetzlamists want the world, not just America or Israel or the West; Two, "YOOHOO, DUBYA-GOP, WATCH YOUR BEHINDS BECUZ HILLARY'S AND CAMEL-KAZE CORPS ARE A'COMING TO GET YOU"; and THirdly, "Arguments of Radical anti-American Intellectuals, mixing Amer politics with Islamist concepts" > SECULAR COMMUNISM-SOCIALISM-GLOBALISM-LEFTISM, etc. with GOD/FAITH-BASED COMMUNISM-SOCIALISM-GLOBALISM-LEFTISM, etc. IS A WAR AGAINST [FORM(S) OF] FASCISM/RIGHTIST SOCIALISM = WAR FOR COMMUNISM-/LEFTISM-SOCIALISM? LIMITED WAR-REVOLUTION vs PERMANENT WAR-REVOLUTION? LIMITED SOCIALISM vs UNIVERSAL/TOTAL SOCIALISM? IN-YOUR-FACE POPULAR TOTALITARIANISTS vs THEY-WHOM-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED SHADOW TOTALITARIANISTS? How does Britney SPears get herself into these thingys!? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-09-07 00:58 |