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2019-10-28 Terror Networks
ISIS Already Has a New Leader, But Baghdadi May Not Have Been Running ISIS Anyway
[Newsweek] Back-to-back U.S. operations Saturday and Sunday have resulted in the deaths of Islamic State militant group (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and spokesperson Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir in Syria, but the organization has already designated a successor, Newsweek has learned.

Abdullah Qardash, sometimes spelled Kardesh and also known as Hajji Abdullah al-Afari, was said to have been nominated by Baghdadi in August to run the group's "Muslim affairs" in a widely-circulated statement attributed to ISIS' official Amaq news outlet, but never publicly endorsed by the group. Though little is known about the former Iraqi military officer who once served under late leader Saddam Hussein, one regional intelligence official asking not to be identified by name or nation told Newsweek that Qardash would have taken over Baghdadi's role‐though it had lost much of its significance by the time of his demise.

Baghdadi, who died after detonating a suicide vest following a Delta Team operation first reported by Newsweek, built ISIS' self-styled caliphate out of Al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch, but the official said that the influential hard-line cleric's role had become largely symbolic.

"Baghdadi was a figurehead. He was not involved in operations or day-to-day," the official told Newsweek. "All Baghdadi did was say yes or no‐no planning."
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-28 06:05|| || Front Page|| [11145 views ]  Top
 File under: Islamic State 

#1 Potential alternative Newsweek Headline:

Trump's secret mission to kill terrorist leader fails. ISIS supreme leader Baghdadi escapes attack in mini-bus.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-28 06:16||   2019-10-28 06:16|| Front Page Top

#2 A variation of the "bellwhther election" because a dem won or "no message in this election" if a dem lost.
Posted by M. Murcek 2019-10-28 07:40||   2019-10-28 07:40|| Front Page Top

#3 Love the peaceful no collusion no snarky no bully no lies no illegal use of courts or law enforcement or abuse of power in electing the leader of a terrorist group whatever! Anyways what does that say about a bunch of useless dipshit idiots with degrees and think tanks and teleprompter anyways? Does anyone have a.lead yet on a group of ads wipes. Fags that like using energy weapons burning tree tops and attacking wounded old pets?
Posted by Angens Turkeyneck2026 2019-10-28 07:42||   2019-10-28 07:42|| Front Page Top

#4 ...But Baghdadi May Not Have Been Running ISIS Anyway...

S'ok __ if not still the head honker, then the message "You don't get to retire" is loud and clear,
Posted by Mercutio 2019-10-28 10:03||   2019-10-28 10:03|| Front Page Top

#5 Hajji Abdullah al-Afari, was said to have been nominated by Baghdadi Hey, it's Newsweak.

About this time, Hajji is saying "What's with the nomination? Ti mir nit kayn toyves."
Posted by JohnQC 2019-10-28 13:13||   2019-10-28 13:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Trump is already saying: "Add another to the high-value target list."
Posted by JohnQC 2019-10-28 13:14||   2019-10-28 13:14|| Front Page Top

#7 And with all the HVTs that have been killed, we're still no closer to winning any of these wars. One gets the distinct impression that killing is not the way to victory. One gets the impression that victory would end the wars, which would be the worst thing ever.
Posted by Herb McCoy 2019-10-28 14:02||   2019-10-28 14:02|| Front Page Top

#8  One gets the distinct impression that killing is not the way to victory.

To the contrary, I can think of a great number of wars that were brought to an end by killing. You just have to be serious about it and not consider it a hobby.
Posted by SteveS 2019-10-28 14:28||   2019-10-28 14:28|| Front Page Top

#9 I've had no luck finding the sources of these quotations, but they apply.

"Killing is the sine qua non of war." The point being, don't go to war unless you are going to kill.

An American general speaking at a congressional committee hearing:

"My job is to blow things up and kill people. If you want to arrest somebody, send a policeman. If you want some things blown up and some people killed, call me."
Posted by M. Murcek 2019-10-28 14:55||   2019-10-28 14:55|| Front Page Top

#10 Wow, you've never read Sun Tzu? Or even Boyd? You really have no idea whatsoever what war is about. You think it's about killing? No wonder you have so many criminally wrongheaded ideas about the Middle East. You're deeply ignorant, and apparently the Dunning-Kruger effect is in full effect here. You're so ignorant about war that you lack the knowledge to even realize you're ignorant.
Posted by Herb McCoy 2019-10-28 15:22||   2019-10-28 15:22|| Front Page Top

#11 The US targeted Baghdadi twice with limited success, both times getting someone else. The last time he was actually injured was in 2015 I think - Al-Baaj, Nineveh. Abu Muath al-Jazairi, an Algerian ISIS fighter made a play for the leadership and began a fierce campaign which lasted for a week and saw about 200 daesh dead. ISIS under Baghdadi issued a kill order on Jazairi who fled to Riyadh.

Now, Jazairi (also called Abu Muath al-Hazimi) was a follower of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Omar al-Hazimi, a Saudi cleric with his own ideas of how the caliphate must operate. Mainly that it was just too soft and tolerant. Yupp !

Since the splitting of factions within the ISIS, the play for leadership backed by Iraq based and Saudi based leadership grew fiercer. A lot of decentralization and diffusion of authority was already begun when Baghdadi was fighting off the Al-Hazimi attacks and recuperating, in 2015.

The al-Hazimi faction is ideologically distant and opposed to Turkic islamists. Although the Sheikh was captured by the Saudis and most of his supporters killed, the faction still remains entrenched and vies for power. They may have an inside man, a Tunisian - set to take Baghdadi's place. ISIS will be fighting among themselves as Baghdadi's side has no strong enough leaders but more numbers. The Al Hazimi faction has strong Al Qaeda links and finances but fewer numbers.

On the ISIS proper side, Abu Othman al-Tunisi, a Tunisian jihadi has a reputation among the foreign fighters and heads the Shura council.

Abu Saleh al-Juzrawi is more of a controller of 'exterior actions' and a recruiter.

Mohamed Ben Salem al-Ayouni (or Jalaluddin al-Tunisi) was closest to Baghdadi and commanded local forces in Libya. These three are however of questionable origin and not from the Quraysh tribe descendants of mohammed like Baghdadi, and will not be readily accepted as Caliph.

Due to foreseen succession problems, there has already been a lot of decentralization and autonomously functional cells have continued to proliferate resources and men from Iraq to North African regions.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-28 15:23||   2019-10-28 15:23|| Front Page Top

#12 And with all the HVTs that have been killed, we're still no closer to winning any of these wars.

That's because these are not conventional wars, Herb. Sun Tzu did not know jack shit about modern jihad, and jack was trampled by a Mongol's steed.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-28 15:29||   2019-10-28 15:29|| Front Page Top

#13 Wow, you've never read Sun Tzu? Or even Boyd? You really have no idea whatsoever what war is about. You think it's about killing?

As I said, 15.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-28 15:34||   2019-10-28 15:34|| Front Page Top

#14 Probably wages great wars in his head, to rolls of dice or with little hand-painted figures on a board.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-28 15:39||   2019-10-28 15:39|| Front Page Top

#15 Personally these blows are not decisive because the target list is too small. Those funding ISIS should have work accidents.
Posted by Bright Pebbles 2019-10-28 16:05||   2019-10-28 16:05|| Front Page Top

#16 By all rights, we were getting whollopped at Issus until I saw an opportunity for us Companions to get ol' Darius...that's Darius II. When he fled, his mercenaries were unsure if they would be paid and his countrymen were greatly despaired. I guess technically we had to engage Darius a couple more times, but what do i know about it?

Jules! Hey, Julius Caesar! I know you and Tacitus are hanging out, but come explain war and what High Value Target means, I'm going to go catch the show...Quisling is up next and they are doing that Classic Viddy I love, where they pull out his tongue with dolphin hooks and then shove it back in place through his rear using staves.
Posted by Alexander III 2019-10-28 16:20||   2019-10-28 16:20|| Front Page Top

#17 "If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting." Gen. Curtis LeMay, CO U.S. Strategic Air Command.
Posted by Nguard 2019-10-28 23:13||   2019-10-28 23:13|| Front Page Top

11:11 HeavyG
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08:52 Matt
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