Over the past year, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has made a substantial shift in its communications strategy. For years, the group communicated through a methodical process that involved official statements issued through official websites, along with videos released by its media arm, al Malahem Media. Since early 2014, the group has deployed social media operatives on Twitter to spread its message and to engage with its followers and critics alike.
Under pressure from the U.S. government, Twitter regularly shuts down AQAP-affiliated accounts. AQAP, in turn, creates new ones—often just adjusting a twitter handle by one character. These accounts, of course, have no blue checkmarks to prove they are “validated” accounts, as many public figures and groups possess. Instead, AQAP has created its own system of verifying its Twitter accounts: publishing the handles through its official communication channels. For example, the group might draw up an online communique on an authoring and hosting site like JustPaste.it and include a list of Twitter handles underneath its various official pronouncements. This communique would then be posted on Jihadist web forums using accounts believed to be associated with AQAP. In other cases, AQAP might set up backup Twitter accounts and announce them through their current account before that account is shut down by Twitter.
“Whenever they get knocked down and create new [accounts], you know it’s them,” says Aaron Zelin, a specialist on jihadist movements at The Washington Institute. “Plus you can just tell from the quality and production value.”
It’s not as simple as a blue checkmark, but AQAP has proven pretty effective at maintaining its bizarro verification method.
Two months before the massacre at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris, social media operatives working with AQAP hosted their own version of a Reddit-style AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Twitter. They encouraged potential jihadists, fans and followers of AQAP, as well as international journalists, to submit questions (through Twitter) that would then be put to Sheikh Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, the senior AQAP official who later became the public face of the group’s claim of responsibility for the Paris attacks. AQAP’s social media team even set up hashtags in Arabic and English: #ask_sheikh_Aansi. After fielding hundreds of questions — there were also lots of angry people spamming and trolling the hashtag, denouncing AQAP — the group did a staggered release of four videos. The videos answered questions from journalists, the general Twitter public, and al Malahem.
“It highlights how they are trying to engage individuals and followers in a way they hadn’t done previously,” says Zelin. “Usually, in the past, things like that happened in private forums, but this is a more of an open system.”
In the final video, al-Ansi asserted that, in many cases, it is better for jihadists in Western countries to conduct attacks domestically, rather than travel to Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen or other war zones. That “shows that they are trying to be a bit selective in terms of having individuals come over to Yemen, almost having the cake and eating it too,” Zelin adds. If a plot happens that is inspired by AQAP, the group “wouldn’t necessarily have to put resources into it, but likely know the media would report it as AQAP, which could then help with recruitment and financing as well as prestige within the global community.”
When the final installment of the series was released earlier this week online, major television networks and other media outlets erroneously reported that al-Ansi was issuing a new threat after the Paris attacks when, in fact, the video was recorded prior to the massacre. Only one point from the video was reported in the media: that AQAP was calling on Muslims to conduct lone wolf terror attacks. But some of the other questions asked and answered provide key insights into the terrorist group’s current strategic thinking, particularly in light of recent events in Paris and elsewhere.
The Intercept translated the most recent video. Among the questions and answers were:
—Is it better to live under the rule of infidels or to emigrate? Do we have to leave [Western nations] or is it better to stay and to play an effective role [on behalf of the jihad]?
There is no doubt that leaving [a Western] county is better than living under the rules of the infidels. However, one important issue should be considered in that regard which is [the idea of] revenge. In other words, regarding the jihad of those individuals against the Western countries, where they reside: are they better able to do [a] revenge [attack] in one of the jihadi fronts? We might say: if he can work as an “individual jihadi” in Western countries [a lone wolf], in those countries who are fighting Islam, such as the United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, and other countries who are representing the leaders of infidelity in the war against Islam, and participating in this crusading campaign… If he can do this, it is better, and has greater [capabilities of] revenge.
—Why haven’t there been further AQAP attacks inside the US? Why don’t you move the war from Yemen to US soil?
Praise Allah, we have many good efforts outside Yemen, and our enemy knows that perfectly. He knows that so well that he closed more than 16 embassies around the world within recent years. We are preparing ourselves to fight them and we are planning to target them, and we are encouraging Muslims to do that as well. It is the duty of all Muslims, not only the duty of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. All the Islamic and Jihadi groups, who are able to attack them, should do their own part in targeting U.S. establishments and interests… By performing the Jihad and encouraging Muslims to do that, Allah will prevent the infidels’ harm. We are working on those great two approaches and Allah will show the results of those efforts hopefully. As for the future, we ask Allah to facilitate the good for us.
—Why did not we see any photos of Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki (the US-born radical cleric killed in a US drone strike in September 2011), after his death, rest in peace, after being killed?
They targeted the sheikh directly, so his body was torn into small pieces and those pieces were so small that they could not be photographed.
—Are the Abottobad documents (seized from Osama bin Laden’s compound) which were published by the Americans, authentic?
Yes, they are true. However, they are incomplete. We should consider that some of those letters are simply deliberations and discussions about some topics. The Americans did not publish the complete list of the letters. For example, in terms of speaking about the strategy in Yemen, there was discussions between Sheikh Osama and Dr. Ayman [al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al Qaeda globally], and [AQAP’s leadership, as well as Anwar al Awlaki]. The Americans only published the letter from Sheikh Osama, rest in peace, where he made a policy we were committed to during that period. That policy was talking about how we should work only domestically, seize the opportunity, build a strong Jihadi Group, and do outreach and target the American and Western establishments and interests. This letter is a little bit old and we had it in 2010, before the Arab revolution…. However, the “Abbottabad documents” is a school itself and we advise our brothers to read it to learn from what it has, in terms of knowledge and information. It has very important guidelines in many aspects: politics, Sharia law, mythology, the media, and all of them are important. They are advocacy messages, on a very high scale, and show how Sheikh Osama, and his brothers, were thinking. In addition, how they can measure things and how they can plan for the actions. It has some examples of the humanity and mercifulness of Sheikh Osama, rest in peace, and his compassion towards other Muslims in general as well as his long-term vision.
—Has Ayman Al-Zawahiri lost his ability to run al Qaeda’s (global) affiliates?
No, this is not true. Dr. Ayman is still guiding us. Even on small-scales issues. However sometimes there could be some misconnections in communication because of the evolving security circumstances
—What is the relationship between al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS)?
Dr. Ayman [al Zawahiri] has talked about the nature of his relationship with [self-declared Caliph] al-Baghdadi in an audio address. This message is published online.
—Does AQAP believe that any Muslim who helps the Saudi monarchy is an apostate?
If the type of job he does to help the Saudi King is not a type of infidel act, we cannot say that he is an infidel. However, if that act was considered as an infidel act (such as aligning with the crusaders against the Muslims in their war, or committing a very clear infidel act); in this case, we start looking into his situation in general: whether the condition of calling him “an infidel” applies in his case.
—(“I want to apologize in advance for this question,” the anonymous facilitator asked al-Ansi on the video, before reading this question): Do you have any connections with Ali Abdullah Saleh [the former dictator of Yemen] as they said about you?”
This is not true and it is propaganda against us. It was said by the media to destroy the image of the Jihadists. We have talked about that in detail previously, so we will not discuss this.
***
There is no point listing any of the current AQAP-verified Twitter accounts. By the time this is published, they will likely have been suspended and resurrected at a different handle.
Another try:
Yes, Jeremy Scahill, you certainly are a “Senior al (CIAduh!) Official (False Propagandist)”. This is all obviously CIA, aka “al CIAduh(!)”, and its other “intelligence” agency, ISI, etc., false propaganda. That compound was NOT Osama bin Laden’s (OBL); it was NOT OBL who was killed there; and OBL died of kidney failure in December 2001. These various “jihadist” leaders are working for “al CIAduh(!)”, aka the CIA, as OBL did.
The more you write these ridiculous articles, that are completely out of character with much if not most of the rest of The Intercept articles, the more you make it clear that you are an “al CIAduh(!)” false propagandist; and it effectively discredits The Intercept as cooperating with U.S. “intelligence”, proving The Intercept critics like whistleblower Sibel Edmonds and others’ reports to be credible, accurate and correct.
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/03/01/pando-expose-glenn-greenwalds-boss-billionaire-omidyar-co-funded-ukraine-revolution-groups-with-us-government/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/04/03/bfp-exclusive-and-an-oligarch-shall-lead-them-omidyar-greenwald-first-look-medias-attack-on-the-future-of-the-press/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2013/12/13/greenwald-omidyar-joint-venture-the-blurring-lines-between-being-a-source-being-a-journalist/
The only point in writing, and publishing on The Intercept, such false-propaganda articles as these Jeremy Scahill articles, is to aid and abet the false perception and brainwashing that “al Q’aeda” is “real”, and that it is supposedly not “al CIAduh(!)” and/or connected with the CIA, which it always has been since “al Q’aeda’s” creation by the CIA, and which it still is to this day (part and parcel of the CIA), to “legitimize” the “war ‘against’ (really OF!) terrorism”, and to brainwash with the false perception that it supposedly is not an “intelligence” operation of the U.S. government and its allies, which it most-definitely is.
Therefore, Jeremy Scahill, please stop all of this false-propagandizing, and stop taking away from and indirectly discrediting the truth that is presented by and on The Intercept; for, “Legitimizing” the “war (OF!) terrorism” and “al CIAduh(!)” does nothing but further the fraudulent false-propaganda and brainwashing means and aims of U.S. and allied global “intelligence”, aka “al CIAduh(!)”. We, The Intercept’s readers, ONLY want to read nothing but truth coming from The Intercept, and do not want to see ANY such “al CIAduh(!)”-supporting false propaganda coming from same whatsoever. So, again, please stop all of same.
Thank you for posting my original comment, but why not the one in response to “Si1ver1ock’s” comment? Because it presented 9/11 Truth? That’s still censorship you know. Let people make up their own minds. If you still have it, please post it. Thank you again.
We have been bombing Iraq for 30 years and messing with Iran for over 50 years. Maybe we should just give up and let the “Terrorists” win.
Really. How much worse would it be
The terrorists [the U.S. government, their Western allies, and their “al CIAduh(!)” ‘intelligence’ agencies] have already won. They won on the morning of September 11th, 2001.
ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS FOR 9/11 TRUTH
http://www.ae911truth.org/
AND NOW THE APOCALYPSE!:
Living In A World Full Of Lies
http://www.wolfbritain.com/
Trying again with this comment:
The terrorists [the U.S. government, its Western allies and its “al CIAduh(!)” ‘intelligence’ agencies] already won. They won on the morning of September 11th, 2001.
ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS FOR 9/11 TRUTH
http://www.ae911truth.org/
AND NOW THE APOCALYPSE!
Living In A World Full Of Lies
http://www.wolfbritain.com/
Attempting again to get this perfectly-acceptable comment posted:
The terrorists [the U.S. government, its Western allies and its “al CIAduh(!)” ‘intelligence’ agencies] already won. They won on the morning of September 11th, 2001.
ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS FOR 9/11 TRUTH
http://www.ae911truth.org/
AND NOW THE APOCALYPSE!
Living In A World Full Of Lies
http://www.wolfbritain.com/
Well, surprise, surprise, thank you for posting my letter to you. Now, where’s my original comment? Since you didn’t post (and perhaps “lost” it, or deleted it), I hereby attempt to post it again, as follows:
Yes, Jeremy Scahill, you certainly are a “Senior al (CIAduh!) Official (False Propagandist)”. This is all obviously CIA, aka “al CIAduh(!)”, and its other “intelligence” agency, ISI, etc., false propaganda. That compound was NOT Osama bin Laden’s (OBL); it was NOT OBL who was killed there; and OBL died of kidney failure in December 2001. These various “jihadist” leaders are working for “al CIAduh(!)”, aka the CIA, as OBL did.
The more you write these ridiculous articles, that are completely out of character with much if not most of the rest of The Intercept articles, the more you make it clear that you are an “al CIAduh(!)” false propagandist; and it effectively discredits The Intercept as cooperating with U.S. “intelligence”, proving The Intercept critics like whistleblower Sibel Edmonds and others’ reports to be credible, accurate and correct.
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/03/01/pando-expose-glenn-greenwalds-boss-billionaire-omidyar-co-funded-ukraine-revolution-groups-with-us-government/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/04/03/bfp-exclusive-and-an-oligarch-shall-lead-them-omidyar-greenwald-first-look-medias-attack-on-the-future-of-the-press/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2013/12/13/greenwald-omidyar-joint-venture-the-blurring-lines-between-being-a-source-being-a-journalist/
The only point in writing, and publishing on The Intercept, such false-propaganda articles as these Jeremy Scahill articles, is to aid and abet the false perception and brainwashing that “al Q’aeda” is “real”, and that it is supposedly not “al CIAduh(!)” and/or connected with the CIA, which it always has been since “al Q’aeda’s” creation by the CIA, and which it still is to this day (part and parcel of the CIA), to “legitimize” the “war ‘against’ (really OF!) terrorism”, and to brainwash with the false perception that it supposedly is not an “intelligence” operation of the U.S. government and its allies, which it most-definitely is.
Therefore, Jeremy Scahill, please stop all of this false-propagandizing, and stop taking away from and indirectly discrediting the truth that is presented by and on The Intercept; for, “Legitimizing” the “war (OF!) terrorism” and “al CIAduh(!)” does nothing but further the fraudulent false-propaganda and brainwashing means and aims of U.S. and allied global “intelligence”, aka “al CIAduh(!)”. We, The Intercept’s readers, ONLY want to read nothing but truth coming from The Intercept, and do not want to see ANY such “al CIAduh(!)”-supporting false propaganda coming from same whatsoever. So, again, please stop all of same.
Dear Glenn Greenwald and (The) Intercept Staff:
I see that you carry out censorship and are not allowing my constructive criticism (and that of others as well?) to be posted, in violation of freedom of speech. I shouldn’t have to tell you that you opened up a comments section to the public, thus making you subject to the First Amendment; not that that truly matters, because no one gives up free speech ANYWHERE. It is an innate, inalienable (cannot be removed from us), immutable human right and civil liberty that we are born with, and that we thus of course have every right to exercise anywhere and everywhere, and it includes expressions of anger, and unpopular and so-called “offensive” speech, etc.
Glenn Greenwald just wrote an article about this recently, in which he showed that even written support of violence and terrorism is a free speech right; thus, obviously, everything short of that, like my comments which do NOT support terrorism or violence whatsoever, are my free speech right and cannot be legally censored here or in any other journalistic endeavor with an open comments section; all censorship of which is illegal and a violation of freedom of speech.
Therefore, please stop violating freedom of speech, and post my previous comment (as well as this one?), and the comments of everyone who has submitted same which have not been posted either.
Now, let me guess, comments on this thread will now be very conveniently “closed”.
Respectfully executed, declared, electronically-signed, served and/or submitted by,
/s./ S. Wolf Britain
S. Wolf Britain, Sui Juris / Pro Esse Suo / Pro Se Equal, Human, Civil, Legal and Liberty Rights Advocate; Independent Legal Assistance, Paralegal, Troubleshooter and/or Whistleblower; Personal Computer Specialist; Blogger / Blogmaster; Webmaster; Writer; Poet; and bona fide member in good standing of the National Lawyers Guild [(NLG) as a fully physically disabled former legal worker], and of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Electronically signed by: S. Wolf Britain 01/27/2015 03:15 (M.S.T.)
Yes, you certainly are a “Senior al (CIAduh!) Official (False Propagandist)”, Jeremy Scahill. This is all obviously CIA, aka “al CIAduh(!)”, and its other “intelligence” agency, ISI, etc., false propaganda. That compound was NOT Osama bin Laden’s (OBL); it was NOT OBL who was killed there; and OBL died of kidney failure in December 2001. These various “jihadist” leaders are, like OBL did, working for “al CIAduh(!)”, aka the CIA.
The more you write these ridiculous articles, that are completely out of character with much if not most of the rest of The Intercept articles, the more you make it clear that you are an “al CIAduh(!)” false propagandist; and it effectively discredits The Intercept as cooperating with U.S. “intelligence”, proving The Intercept critics like whistleblower Sibel Edmonds and others’ reports to be credible, accurate and correct.
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/03/01/pando-expose-glenn-greenwalds-boss-billionaire-omidyar-co-funded-ukraine-revolution-groups-with-us-government/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/04/03/bfp-exclusive-and-an-oligarch-shall-lead-them-omidyar-greenwald-first-look-medias-attack-on-the-future-of-the-press/
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2013/12/13/greenwald-omidyar-joint-venture-the-blurring-lines-between-being-a-source-being-a-journalist/
The only point in writing, and publishing on The Intercept, such false-propaganda articles as these Jeremy Scahill articles, is to aid and abet the false perception and brainwashing that “al Q’aeda” is “real”, and that it is supposedly not “al CIAduh(!)” and/or connected with the CIA, which it always has been since “al Q’aeda’s” creation by the CIA, and which it still is to this day (part and parcel of the CIA), to “legitimize” the “war ‘against’ (really OF!) terrorism”, and to brainwash with the false perception that it supposedly is not an “intelligence” operation of the U.S. government and its allies, which it most-definitely is.
Therefore, Jeremy Scahill, please stop all of this false-propagandizing, and stop taking away from and indirectly discrediting the truth that is presented by and on The Intercept; for, “Legitimizing” the “war (OF!) terrorism” and “al CIAduh(!)” does nothing but further the fraudulent false-propaganda and brainwashing means and aims of U.S. and allied global “intelligence”, aka “al CIAduh(!)”. We, The Intercept’s readers, ONLY want to read nothing but truth coming from The Intercept, and do not want to see ANY such “al CIAduh(!)”-supporting false propaganda coming from same whatsoever. So, again, please stop all of same.
Off topic, but of possible interest.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/land/army/2015/01/21/ukraine-us-army-russia/22119315/
Didn’t a fellow named Ngo Dinh Diem benefit from a few US trainers, back in his day? This couldn’t possibly lead to escalation, excuse me, enhancement, now could it?
Joe McD called. He likes it.
A faint voice that could be Diem’s was also heard, saying that, overall, the benefits were entirely unsatisfactory.
Harriman’s ghost just snickers.
@Nemo – thanks for the Adobe flash exploit update. Off topic (a bit) is this well done video on seven reasons why “We Love Surveillance”
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlmYHbg5i_w
*NOTE* – Please make sure your flash player is up-to-date or your system otherwise secure before watching.
It is quite good, imo.
Jeremy; The collection of comments to this article are quite bizarre.
.
____________OFF TOPIC Security Update for Adobe Flash Zero Day Vulnerability__________
Since there are links to websites that contain Adobe Flash items within the TI comment section , please be aware of the potential for malware/drive-by issues with the current version of Adobe Flash using certain browsers et cetera that may not be updated with Adobe fixes until perhaps tomorrow or later — especially if you manually update Adobe instead of having auto updates configured for some of your programs.
{Quote:
“UPDATED: Security Advisory for Adobe Flash Player (APSA15-01)
Posted on January 22, 2015 by Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team | Comments (0)
A Security Advisory (APSA15-01) has been published regarding a critical vulnerability (CVE-2015-0311) in Adobe Flash Player 16.0.0.287 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh and Linux. We are aware of reports that this vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild via drive-by-download attacks against systems running Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows 8 Windows 8.1 and below.
UPDATE (January 24): users who have enabled auto-update for the Flash Player desktop runtime will be receiving version 16.0.0.296 beginning on January 24. This version includes a fix for CVE-2015-0311. Adobe expects to have an update available for manual download during the week of January 26, and we are working with our distribution partners to make the update available in Google Chrome and Internet Explorer 10 and 11. For more information on updating Flash Player, please refer to this post. We will continue to provide updates on this issue via the Adobe PSIRT blog.
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties and confers no rights.”
End Quote}
Link to the Adobe Blog with the information:
http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/
Dear Zelda,
As part of my Agency duties, I monitor The Intercept. Reading it today, I come to find out that AQ not only has its own online outreach, el-Mayhem Media or some such, but has a number of different ways of reaching the general public, including a Reddit Q-and-A. Don’t we have something like that?
Sincerely,
Agent HGW XX/7
–
Dear HGW,
That was news to me too. Our friends in Langley have tried, for their part, to reach out with a Muslim-oriented website, titled “73 Virginians.” They’re still trying to get some of the clip art right; no one over there knows what would be a good sketch of the Prophet Mohammed, or why the phrase “peas be on him” isn’t a good translation. Our agency, of course, has an advice column by yours truly, and even a “ask me anything” by the chief himself. A recent sample:
– – –
Q. What are these rumors about the government having a talking bear?
A. Mr. Chairman, the existence, or non-existence, of a talking bear is classified, either way.
Q. How do you know who I am?
A. You asked me anything, Senator, and I can find you anywhere.
–
Or:
–
Q. How does your agency research new tor – excuse me, enhanced interrogation methods.
A. A lot more cheaply than our friends in Langley did for $83 million. Our agents shop at the Torment Me Domination BDSM and Tea Shoppe on Dupont Circle, and in several other similar boutiques in the Washington and New York City metro areas. Sen. Lindsey Graham has been very helpful in advising the exploratory committee.
– – –
So, Agent HGW, we’re making progress. The Agency will be even better at it once we upgrade from Windows XP.
Zelda
Word of advice: skip Windows 8 and wait for Windows 10. (I know, you’re the advice-giver, but I’m trying to be helpful.)
To those mystified by Dear Zelda, it’s satire — and it’s not. TI reported last year about a previous form of US gov’t cyber outreach, an advice column sponsored by NSA.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/03/07/nsa-advice-columnist-seriously/
Sometimes they don’t make this stuff up.
Has anyone asked AQAP if they are able to counter an ICBM threat. I am sure the governments that host these types of groups (willingly or not) are very nervous.
You take for granted that messages given, come from the the people you think gave them.
Why so few comments on your article? Indeed your article is half assed in nature.
Could it be that you put forth tripe and expect the reader to consume it?
Tripe can be quite good, in chicken stock and combined with other ingredients for menudo, including hominy, oregano, red pepper, oregano and other ingredients. As for the messages, maybe it was satire, or a disinformation campaign, who knows? It does sound rather more sophisticated than official US attempts at PR; I’m sure Tokyo Rose could’ve done a better job.
And we know this is real…how?
According to the article, the US government provides a validation service. When they shut down an account, the recipients know the messages they received were legitimately from AQAP.
well….that escalated quickly.
Could participating in those AMAs be considered support under the obnoxious US law forbidding material support to terrorist groups? Could journalists potentially be prosecuted for participating?
They still have a ways to go in the propaganda department. I’ll start to worry if their new film, Yemeni Sniper, passes $100M at the box office.
If you translate Dick Cheney’s recent Meet The Press interview into Arabic (and play it backwards) it sounds remarkably like this AQAP dude.
Interesting, Duce, the uses they made of Reddit. Here’s an interesting fact: the late blogger Aaron Swartz was a creator of Reddit and RSS. Might have been useful, him still around to work for us, just like Alan Turing might have been helpful if he had lived out a full life as well. Pity.
>>“Whenever they get knocked down and create new [accounts], you know it’s them,” says Aaron Zelin, a specialist on jihadist movements at The Washington Institute. >>
I didn’t know Washington Institute has become respectable for Intercept. Actually it is a bunch of Zionist fanatics cheering for every Israeli and Western crime in Mid East. It is stunning Scahill couldn’t get one real expert on AQAP to quote on this subject. Instead , He quotes a Zionist fanatic.
Jeremy; Another good article, thanks. My question is where are the servers AQAP uses? Can they be discovered and treated in the same way WikiLeak’s servers in various places were treated, harrassed, monitored and even shut down. Incidently we do not hear much about Eric Prince and his gang, has he been active at all in recent times? Worth an article from you if he has.
Careful you don’t catapult the propaganda. Adam Johnson on ‘persona management’
http://citationsneeded.com/2014/11/18/a-skeptics-guide-to-foreign-fighter-hysteria/
What methodology defines theater from source? Academics aren’t saying.
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters, 1997
ctrl+f “capital”
http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/97summer/peters.htm
“The Market is… the final step in a process that first leaches out the moral content of a culture and then erodes the autonomy of its citizens by shaping their personal preferences.”
http://tinyurl.com/mcj9eh9
A technicality : how can a group of fighters set up a worldwide PGP VPN making it impossible to trace them on an über-surveilled platform without any State support and any intelligence contacts ? Are we to believe the US’s scope of action is limited to asking Twitter to close a controversial account ?
“infidel” this, “infidel” that. Everybody’s an infidel!!
This sounded more like an AMAA than an AMA.
I recall a lot of people, Glenn included, indicating that the Embassy closures were U.S. exaggerations timed to take heat off the NSA. Guess that wasn’t the case.
Another great question would have been: “Should Awlaki have received due process in a criminal court in the U.S.!?”
If they’re holding an Ask Me Anything, I think I’ll start with “what’s your 20?” :)
Out past Saturn?