The Omega Letter Intelligence Digest
Vol: 60 Issue: 4 - Monday, September 04, 2006
al-Qaeda's Newest Useful Idiot
An American named Adam Gadahn from California made worldwide headlines over the weekend with the release of a new video calling on all Americans to immediately convert to Islam or die.
Adam Gadahn (whose real name is Pearlman) grew up outside Hemet, California (about fifty miles from where I am typing this column.) When most American kids were contemplating college, Gadahn began contemplating death and destruction. He moved to Orange County, converted to Islam, and attended a mosque at Islamic Society of Orange County. (The mosque later expelled him for attacking one of its leaders.)
Having ably represented the religion of peace and love and proving he has the self-destructive tendencies so prized by its adherents, he moved to Afghanistan where he now presumably lives in a cave with his mentors.
Gadahn appeared with al Zawahiri in which he joined Zawahiri in inviting all Americans to convert to the religion of peace and love or else.
Gadahn had harsh words for Judaism and Christianity, while delivering a lecture on Islam, the "tolerant religion of peace and love," (according to pretty much everybody from George Bush to the Council on Islamic Relations)
"It is time for the unbelievers to discard these incoherent and illogical beliefs," he said. "Isn't it the time for the Christians, Jews, Buddhists and atheists to cast off the cloak of the spiritual darkness which enshrouds them and emerge into the light of Islam?"
Hmmmm. This from a guy who can't emerge from the darkness of a cave? Talk about coherence and logic! But if nothing else, Gadahn has emerged as an equal opportunity hater, tossing in Buddhists and atheists in his 'invitation' to 'choose' between converting to Islam or death.
According to Gadahn's rant, clearly timed to coincide with the upcoming anniversary of 9/11, Muslims should 'shed no tears' for the innocent victims murdered by Islamic terrorists,
Is it just me, or is there something just a bit inconsistent in all this?
Evidently, Gadahn's status as an American-born kid from California is supposed to give him increased credibility as a spokesman for al-Qaeda. Gadahn speaks 'American' -- knows all the right buzz words and doesn't need a translator.
That is important, I guess.
Remember Hassan Nasrallah's speeches? His translator sounded like he'd just taken a big breath from a helium balloon. (Being threatened with death by Mickey Mouse just isn't that scary.)
Unfortunately for al-Qaeda, Gadahn isn't all that scary-sounding, either, even though his message is. (They really need the Movie Guy from the Geico commercials.)
The CIA was able to do voice analyis on al Zawahiri to confirm his identity. But it appears they aren't allowed to do a voice analysis on Gadahn because he's an American. A CIA spokeswoman told the AP that the agency is not authorized to conduct such analysis on U.S. citizens.
I found it interesting that the White House continues to portray al-Qaeda's Islam as an abberation of the 'real Islam'. White House spokeswoman Christie Parell said the message reflects al-Qaida's "continued attempts to subjugate the world under its twisted view of Islam, which labels as enemies and infidels those who do not have the same beliefs."
Why do I find that 'interesting'? Well, let's see. According to the CIA World Factbook, there are about 1,200,000,000 people of 'the Islamic faith' in the world. They aren't the ones claiming Islam is being 'twisted'. They let the infidels do it, instead. Why? Because the 1,200,000,000 Muslims out there have read the Koran. They KNOW it isn't being 'twisted'.
I was amused by most of the press accounts. They all began by describing the guy as one who is "thought to be an al-Qaeda activist." Ummm, he's on an al-Qaeda video tape with al-Qaeda's number two leader, Ayman al Zawahiri, condemning America, Christianity, Judaism and he is "THOUGHT to be an al-Qaeda ACTIVIST?"
Are they KIDDING?
Assessment:
But the message itself was anything but amusing. Fact is, it is downright scary. First off, Osama bin-Laden was criticized by some Muslim groups for launching the September 11 attacks without first offering Americans the option of converting.
So offering America a chance to convert first means al-Qaeda is now in accordance with Islamic law by attacking American targets. No religious Muslim would have grounds to criticize al-Qaeda now if it attacked American civilians, no matter how grievous the death toll. (See! Islam really IS a religion of peace and love.)
And speaking of scary, it is worth noting that Gahdahm singles out televangelists, particularly those who deal with Bible prophecy, for special condemnation.
"Today, the televangelists, false prophets, and charlatans who prey on the gullible and illiterate are glorying in Israel’s bloodlust and excessive appetite for destruction in Lebanon and Palestine and harvesting thousands of souls and millions of dollars with claims that the end times are here and this world will soon come to a close."
So, what does it all mean? Probably not much. Except to confirm, once again, that even the hordes of hell know these are indeed the last days, and that the Enemy knows has but a short time.
But in terms of the here and now, consider that the British airline industry is in shambles. You can't get on an American aircraft without first tasting your baby formula in front of screeners.
Threats create nearly as much havoc as actual terror attacks.
That isn't to say there is no danger behind the threat. But it is unlikely that al-Qaeda has either the means or the manpower inside the United States to carry out any meaningful attack.
We often speak in hushed tones about what can be done with nineteen determined Muslims carrying box knives.
That tactic would only work on an airplane, and it can only work once. The September 11 victims in the three successful attacks thought they were being hijacked for ransom. The passengers in the fourth plane had time to realize what was happening.
Armed with that knowledge, box knives weren't enough. And they never will be again.
Still, airplanes are the only target vulnerable enough to attack. Which is why every major terror plot broken up so far has involved airplanes. And it also exposes the fact that, for all its bluster, al-Qaeda doesn't have much more to work with than box knives and a few suicide bombers.
On the ground, there is a limit to how much damage can be done with either.
Gadahn's rant isn't aimed at signaling covert al-Qaeda operatives to launch a physical attack against the American people. It is aimed at co-opting al-Qaeda's Useful Idiot Squad to launch a political attack against the American government. Most of his rant was about "Bush" and "Blair" and timed for maximum effect on the polls.
The remainder of his rant is aimed at the American Right - against the Christians and Jews who are most likely to vote against the 'cut and run' crowd in the mid-term elections in November. The idea is to create the impression the real enemy is Red State America.
If bin-Laden can claim a political victory against "Bush" by shifting the balance of power to the appeasers, he thinks he will soon be able to claim a military victory over America in Iraq by forcing a US withdrawal.
Osama isn't much of a general. But he is a heck of a propagandist. And in that war, he has a lot more American allies than just Adam Gahdahn.
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