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Dodging the drones: How militants have responded (September 21 2012) Dodging the drones: How militants have responded (September 21 2012)

Aaron Y Zelin the American researcher focusing on Salafi politics, global jihadi activism and reactions to the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa has published an article on Afpak titled ‘Dodging the drones: How militants have responded to the covert US campaign’. Zelin states “Over the past decade U.S. drone strikes have killed between 1,800 and 3,100 people in Pakistan, along with hundreds more in drone attacks in Yemen and Somalia, as a result of the United States’ efforts to combat al-Qaeda and its affiliates. The rise in strikes since the beginning of the Obama administration, and the growing stridency of questions surrounding the legal, moral, and practical efficacy of the program, have led to a lively debate among the commentariat. This debate is indeed important, but it is also crucial to understand how the drone program has affected the jihadis, and how jihadis have deployed the issue of drones in their propaganda. This is a necessary part of gaining a wider understanding of whether the program is a worthwhile endeavor. …In the documents collected by Navy SEALs during their raid of Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan last May, bin Laden nicknamed Pakistan’s tribal areas the “circle of espionage” for the network of spies that helps identify targets and place tracking devices for the strikes. …The fear of infiltrators has created an atmosphere of paranoia within the jihadi movement, and has led many of al-Qaeda’s operatives in the Pakistani tribal areas to move to more urban areas like Karachi. …Bin Laden also suggested that individuals flee to Afghanistan’s Kunar province, where he thought they would be safer from the spy networks that have supported the drone campaign.”

 

Inspired by Afpak http://ow.ly/dEopj image source Washinton Institute ow.ly/dEonO

 

 

Yousuf Raza Gilani the 59 year old current Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is under increasing pressure from the country’s courts and military elites over the “Memogate” petition currently before the Supreme Court. In an article published by Asad Hashim, Hashim states “Everything is coming to a head for the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). It is faced with a judiciary that has seemingly lost patience with its government, a vocal opposition clamoring for early parliamentary elections, a growing civilian-military divide, and a relationship with Washington that blows more cold than hot… a case before the [Supreme] court… alleged that a secret memorandum was written by Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, in which the US was asked for its aid in averting a possible military coup in the aftermath of the US raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden… the Pakistani government allegedly agreed to re-tool its national security establishment in line with US policy, in exchange for US support.”

 

Inspired by Asad Hashim http://ow.ly/8BNDM image source Syed Gillani http://ow.ly/8BNNx

Saif al-Adel also known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi, the 50 year old Egyptian explosives expert and former Egyptian Special Forces officer is reported to have been chosen as the interim leader of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in a dramatic US Navy Seals commando raid in Pakistan. Al-Adel is considered a leading strategist and military leader, is currently under indictment in the US for bombings of embassies in Africa. He has been credited with masterminding the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat, the repelling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and training Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Bin Laden's long-time deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri had been considered the likely successor, although not popular within the organization. Al-Adel’s interim appointment may well be to gauge reaction for someone outside the Muslim holy region of the Arabian Peninsula. Inspired by Max Read ow.ly/50B4y image source france24 ow.ly/50BpG We’re all one happy family you know (May 28 2011)

Saif al-Adel also known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi, the 50 year old Egyptian explosives expert and former Egyptian Special Forces officer is reported to have been chosen as the interim leader of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in a dramatic US Navy Seals commando raid in Pakistan. Al-Adel is considered a leading strategist and military leader, is currently under indictment in the US for bombings of embassies in Africa. He has been credited with masterminding the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat, the repelling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and training Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Bin Laden’s long-time deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri had been considered the likely successor, although not popular within the organization. Al-Adel’s interim appointment may well be to gauge reaction for someone outside the Muslim holy region of the Arabian Peninsula.

 

Inspired by Max Read ow.ly/50B4y image source france24 ow.ly/50BpG

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