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Friday, April 3, 2009

New Video May Help FBI Solve Somali-American Terror Case

A video posted on a jihadist Web site could help the FBI determine how a group of Somali-Americans was recruited to join an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group in Somalia.For several months the FBI has been investigating at least 20 Somali-American men from the Minneapolis area and elsewhere in the United States who traveled to war-torn Somalia to join an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group known as al-Shabaab, which has been warring with the moderate Somali government since 2006. At a Senate hearing on the issue last month, one top-ranking official said it's "clear" the Internet played a role in radizalizing and recruiting the young men.The 30-minute video posted this week is a highly polished production, featuring anti-American hip-hop and sporadic images of Usama bin Laden. In much of the video, a man dubbed "The American" purportedly leads a group of al-Shabaab militants in an ambush of Ethiopian forces, which oppose an Islamic state and have backed the new Somali government."The only reason we are staying here, away from our families, away from the cities, away from candy bars [and] all these other things is because we are waiting to meet with the enemy," he tells them in the video, first provided to FOX News by the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). "They're supposed to be coming anytime. We're going to set up the ambush, and by the will of [God] we're going to kill all of them."FBI spokesman Rich Kolko said the FBI is "reviewing" the video.MEMRI identified "The American" as Abu Mansur al-Amriki, and a law enforcement official said he is originally from the United States, but has been in Somalia "for some time." The official said al-Amriki is in his late 20s or early 30s. The official wouldn't offer any other identifying features, including whether he had converted to Islam.MEMRI described the video as a "clear appeal to foreign youth, especially in English-speaking countries, to join the jihad in Somalia."In the video, "The American" praises a man killed in the fight, saying, "We want to inform his family that he was one of the best brothers here. ... We need more like him, so if you can encourage more of your children and more of your neighbors, anyone around, to send people like him to this jihad it would be a great asset for us."Another man, with an accent and a wrap covering his face, says at the end of the video, "We're calling all the brothers overseas, all the Shabaab, wherever they are, to come and live the life of a [fighter], and they will ... love it."The FBI investigation into how young American men were recruited to join al-Shabaab in Somalia is active in Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Boston; Seattle; and San Diego, according to testimony from counterterrorism officials and others at the Senate hearing last month.But reports from around the world suggest young Muslims from other Western countries, namely Canada, Australia and England, are also being recruited to join the fight in Somalia.U.S. officials declined to comment specifically on whether officials from those countries have been working with the FBI.But at a State Department briefing today, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said, "Somalia would be one of those areas that we're concerned about with regard to Al Qaeda recruitment. This requires broad cooperation, the United States with other countries — not only in the Horn of Africa but outside of that region — to try to do what we can to prevent Al Qaeda from being successful in recruiting young people to their cause."

Baitullah Mehsud: Who is he? (Friday SPECIALS)

Baitullah Mehsud, the man who claimed responsibility for the attack on a police training academy in Manawan (on the outskirts of Lahore) on March 30, is a veteran of the anti-Soviet ‘jihad’ of the 1980s, and has emerged to become the top Taliban commander in Pakistan. He claims to enjoy a ‘good relationship’ with the Afghan Taliban’s top most commander Mullah Omar. In addition to directly controlling sizeable militias who have waged overt war with Pakistani security forces in Waziristan, Baitullah has also been blamed for a number of terrorist attacks in the rest of the country, including the assassination of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto. However, despite all of his exploits, he remains elusive and shrouded in mystery.According to Jane’s Intelligence Guide, Baitullah Mehsud was born sometime during the 1970’s in the village of Landi Dhok in NWFP’s Bannu region. Though Bannu is far from the traditional Mehsud stronghold of southern Waziristan, it remains fiercely independent, and its residents continue to display the characteristics which helped the tribe remain one of the few that could never be subjugated by the British during their colonisation of the subcontinent.Despite failing to register on any major intelligence agency’s radar screen until recently, his reputation for bravery made for a steady rise through the Taliban’s ranks. Ironically, Baitullah was among the chosen few Pakistanis who made it to the Time’s 2009 list of the world’s most influential people. However, his so called ‘mystery’ has been enhanced by his refusal to let himself be photographed in recent years, citing religious beliefs, even though he has had no issues with his press conferences being photographed as long as his face remains hidden.Baitullah Mehsud played a leading role in a vicious campaign against the military operation in Waziristan throughout 2004, during which he employed many of the tactics evolved during his time in Afghanistan, including beheading local policemen, guerrilla warfare and using the rugged terrain to hide troops and supplies.At that time, Baitullah was working in close collaboration with Tahir Yuldashev, cofounder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo detainee who is also said to be Baitullah’s brother but it remains unconfirmed. Another report by Dawn claimed that one of Abdullah’s brothers was a serving major in the Pakistan army, during the Waziristan operation which failed in rounding up this top rank of militants.Abdullah Mehsud committed suicide in 2007 after security forces raided his hideout in Balochistan.The Pakistan Army, battered by a long campaign against militants in the region, finally offered a cease-fire agreement to him in February 2005. The agreement ceded control of vast tracts of land to Baitullah Mehsud and saw the army agreeing to man existing forts in the region only with paramilitary Frontier Corpsmen in return for a pledge to end sanctuary for foreign fighters and ending opposition to development projects.However, according to the New York Times, Baitullah took this as an opportunity to re-arm his men and consolidate his grip on power in the region. This seems to be borne out by the fact that when the peace treaty collapsed in August 2007, Baitullah’s tribal armies were even stronger than before. After claiming that the army had violated the terms of the ceasefire, his forces launched attacks which seized more than 200 soldiers on August 30, 2007, who were later exchanged for 25 militants in November the same year.On December 14, 2007, he was chosen to lead the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), an umbrella group aimed at uniting the largest militant factions operating in the tribal agencies and NWFP. He was also blamed for exacerbating the violence during the Red Mosque operation, which saw army officers storming a seminary in the heart of Islamabad.In February 2008, Baitullah reportedly announced another ceasefire agreement with the Pakistani government; however, the Pakistani military officially claims operations against him have not stopped. At the time, Carlotta Gall of the New York Times and Ismail Khan of Dawn reported that high-level officials in the Pakistani government confirmed the deal with him.In July 2008, Baitullah threatened to take action against the NWFP government if its officials did not step down within five days. The warning was met with outright scorn on the government's part. Only a month later, rumours of his death  from kidney failure circulated, but were later clarified by his doctor. He continues to live.Days before the Manawan attack near Lahore, on March 26, the United States government offered a $5 million reward for information on Baitullah Mehsud, describing him as a key al-Qaeda facilitator intending to attack the United States. In the light of recent developments, analysts are debating whether or not the Pakistan army is truly committed to rooting out Baitullah and his ilk, or whether they prefer to use these militants as an additional line of defence against a possible Indian invasion and for acquiring a ‘strategic depth’ of sorts in the region. However, it remains to be seen if the latest attack in Manawan will spark a change in attitudes towards the TTP and their brethren.

Obama 'very concerned' about militants on Pakistani border

US President Barack Obama speaks with Indian Prime Minister 
Manmohan Singh during a meeting on the sideline of the 
G20 Summit at the ExCel Centre in London

LONDON US President Barack Obama said Thursday that he was ‘very concerned’ about extremists who have holed up on the border between Pakistan and India.Obama told reporters after talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the G20 economic summit that they had discussed the threat posed by the militants.‘Obviously we are very concerned about extremists and terrorists who have made camp in the border regions of Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan,’ he said. ‘But we spoke about it more broadly, in terms of how we can coordinate effectively on issues of counterterrorism.’

Russia may offer US Afghan access

Russia has agreed to discuss the transit of American military supplies to Afghanistan across its territory.The foreign ministry in Moscow said Russia was ready to co-operate if asked by the US.Last month, Russia began allowing the movement of non-lethal supplies to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.The new offer of discussions comes a day after Russia and the US agreed to resume negotiations on reducing their nuclear arsenals.Washington has been seeking alternative supply routes into Afghanistan since militants in Pakistan stepped up attacks on shipments moving by road.Kyrgyzstan has also decided to close the Manas US air base on its territory, further limiting the US's options.

Kerry-Lugar Pakistan aid bill postponed indefinitely

Senator John Kerry. —AP

WASHINGTON A US Senate panel has postponed indefinitely the much-awaited hearing on a proposal to triple economic assistance to Pakistan.The bipartisan Kerry-Lugar bill seeks $1.5 billion of annual assistance to Pakistan for a period of five years. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations had scheduled a full committee hearing on Wednesday but it had to be postponed for technical reasons.Later, a congressional aide told a news conference that the bill could be reintroduced as early as Wednesday afternoon or Thursday but on Thursday other congressional aides told reporters that the hearing has been postponed indefinitely.‘It will now be held after the April recess,’ said one aide. The recess ends on April 20.This will further delay the passage of the bill which has to be approved by the committee and a full Senate before it is sent to the House of Representatives.The House will hold its own hearing and resend the bill to the Senate. The two chambers then have to reconcile their respective bills before it could be sent to President Barack Obama for signature.This probably means that by the time the bill is passed, it would be too late to include its recommendations in the budget for the next financial year.

Mexico arrests wanted drug suspect

The Mexican authorities have arrested an alleged senior figure in the Juarez drug cartel who was of the government's most wanted criminals.Vicente Carrillo Leyva was spotted in Mexico City exercising in a park near his home, Rodrigo Esparza, the police commissioner, said on Thursday.Carrillo Levya, 32, who allegedly pretended to be a businessman, was presented to the media in Mexico City flanked by armed guards.The announcement came just hours before Mexican security officials were set to meet their US counterparts to discuss ways to combat the cartels.

Episcopal minister defrocked after becoming a Muslim

SEATTLE, Washington Ann Holmes Redding has what could be called a crisis of faiths.For nearly 30 years, Redding has been an ordained minister in the Episcopal Church. Her priesthood ended Wednesday when she was defrocked.The reason? For the past three years Redding has been both a practicing Christian and a Muslim."Had anyone told me in February 2006 that I would be a Muslim before April rolled around, I would have shaken my head in concern for the person's mental health," Redding recently told a crowd at a signing for a book she co-authored on religion.Redding said her conversion to Islam was sparked by an interfaith gathering she attended three years ago. During the meeting, an imam demonstrated Muslim chants and meditation to the group. Redding said the beauty of the moment and the imam's humbleness before God stuck with her."It was much more this overwhelming conviction that I needed to surrender to God and this was the form that my surrender needed to take," she recalled. "It wasn't just an episode but .... was a step that I wasn't going to step back from."Ten days later Redding was saying the shahada -- the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Mohammad as his prophet.

N. Korea Fueling Rocket in Final Preparation for Launch

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea is fueling a rocket in final preparations for its threatened launch of a satellite, U.S. defense officials said Thursday.A senior intelligence official told The Associated Press that Pyongyang was on track for a projected Saturday launch.Senior defense officials in Washington had said early Thursday that propellant vehicles and trailers, signs of imminent fueling, were in place at North Korea's coastal launch site.At first, the officials said they were unclear on where preparations stood. But by late morning, they confirmed that fueling and other pre-launch activities were indeed under way.All officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence issues.At the G20 summit in London, President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak issued a statement agreeing on "a stern, united response from the international community if North Korea launches a long-range rocket."State Department spokesman Robert Wood would not address the U.S. intelligence reports. But he repeated earlier warnings for the North Koreans not to take any "provocative" actions.

Israeli child killed by Palestinian wielding axe

A 13-year old Israeli boy was killed, and a seven-year old wounded, when a Palestinian attacked them with an axe in a settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The attacker has not yet been apprehended.A 13-year-old Israeli boy was killed and a seven-year-old wounded on Thursday when a Palestinian attacked them with an axe in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, medics said.The two children were attacked in the Bat Ayin settlement south of Bethlehem, medics said.The Palestinian attacker fled the scene and the army was conducting a massive search in the area, radio and television reported.It marked the first such attack since hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially took office.

Philippine group frees aid worker

One of three aid workers held in captivity for two months by the Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines has been freed, officials say.Government officials picked up Mary Jean Lacaba, a Philippine engineer, in a remote village on Jolo island on Thursday after her captors told them where to find her. Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippines defence secretary, said that Lacaba was now with the vice-governor of Jolo at a military base on the island.Andreas Notter, a Swiss national, and Eugenio Vagni, an Italian, are both still being held.The two, as well as Lacaba, are staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)."I'm really very elated. I'm so happy and had a good cry," Senator Richard Gordon, head of the Philippine Red Cross, said.He also urged the hostage-takers not to harm the remaining captives."I'm appealing to them not to harm them and I also appeal to the military also to take it slowly and let's not act if it's dangerous."

G20 leaders seal $1tn global deal

Leaders of the world's largest economies have reached an agreement to tackle the global financial crisis with measures worth $1.1 trillion (£681bn).To help countries with troubled economies, the resources available to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be tripled to $750bn.There will also be sanctions against secretive tax havens and tougher global financial regulation.And the G20 has committed about $250bn to boost global trade.President Barack Obama said the summit could mark a "turning point" in the pursuit of economic recovery and made progress in reforming a "failed regulatory system".
NEW FUNDING PLEDGES
$500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies
$250bn to boost world trade
$250bn for a new IMF "overdraft facility" countries can draw on
$100bn that international development banks can lend to poorest countries
IMF will raise $6bn from selling gold reserves to increase lending for the poorest countries

"By any measure the London summit was historic. It was historic because of the size and the scope of the challenges that we face and because of the timeliness and the magnitude of our response," he said.Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there was "no quick fix" for the world economy but there was a commitment to do whatever was necessary."This is the day that the world came together to fight back against the global recession, not with words, but with a plan for global recovery and for reform and with a clear timetable for its delivery," Mr Brown said.The deal was announced shortly before the European stock markets closed and gave leading indexes a significant boost.London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares ended 4.3% higher. In Paris, the Cac 40 jumped 5.4% and in Frankfurt, the Dax rose 6%.