Overall, 14 percent of the more than 530 detainees transferred out of Guantanamo are confirmed or suspected to have been involved in terrorist activities since their release.
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This is as ridiculous as what we are doing with these Somali pirates when we catch them, which is release them. So what do you know! Piracy and terrorism is a kick as means of crime or waging war in today’s world.
To me, this is a prime example of non-state actors, utilizing their strategic advantage of ignoring or abusing the borders and laws of states, in order to achieve their goals. It works very well.
The question I have, is how do you defeat non-state actors? Terrorists, pirates, organized crime, and drug cartels are all non-state actors…so how do you defeat them?
I have some ideas based on how societies and countries have dealt with these issues in the past, but I guarantee the ‘state’ really doesn’t want to hear it. Here is a hint. Laws like Article 1, Section 8 in the U.S. Constitution are in there for a reason. –Matt
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Former Gitmo detainees help al-Qaida grow in Yemen
By MIKE MELIA and SARAH EL DEEB
Dec 31, 2009
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – As a prisoner at Guantanamo, Said Ali al-Shihri said he wanted freedom so he could go home to Saudi Arabia and work at his family’s furniture store.
Instead, al-Shihri, who was released in 2007 under the Bush administration, is now deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a group that has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attempted bomb attack on a Detroit-bound airliner.
His potential involvement in the terrorist plot has raised new opposition to releasing Guantanamo Bay inmates, complicating President Barack Obama’s pledge to close the military prison in Cuba. It also highlights the challenge of identifying the hard-core militants as the administration decides what to do with the remaining 198 prisoners.
Like other former Guantanamo detainees who have rejoined al-Qaida in Yemen, al-Shihri, 36, won his release despite jihadist credentials such as, in his case, urban warfare training in Afghanistan.
He later goaded the United States, saying Guantanamo only strengthened his anti-American convictions.
“By God, our imprisonment has only increased our persistence and adherence to our principles,” he said in a speech when al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula formed in Yemen in January 2009. It was included in a propaganda film for the group.
Al-Shihri and another Saudi released from Guantanamo in 2006, Ibrahim Suleiman al-Rubaish, appear to have played significant roles in al-Qaida’s expanding offshoot in Yemen. While the extent of any involvement in the airliner plot is unclear, al-Rubaish, 30, is a theological adviser to the group and his writings and sermons are prominent in the group’s literature.
After the group’s first attack outside Yemen, a failed attempt on the Saudi counterterrorism chief in August, al-Rubaish cited the experience in Guantanamo as a motive.
“They (Saudi officials) are the ones who came to Guantanamo, not to ask about us and reassure us, but to interrogate us and to provide the Americans with information — which was the reason for increased torture against some,” he said in an audio recording posted on the Internet.
Pentagon figures indicate that al-Shihri and al-Rubaish are a small if dramatic minority among the released detainees: Overall, 14 percent of the more than 530 detainees transferred out of Guantanamo are confirmed or suspected to have been involved in terrorist activities since their release.
Still, three other Saudis released from Guantanamo under the Bush administration surfaced with al-Qaida in Yemen over the last year. They include field commander Abu al-Hareth Muhammad al-Oufi, who later surrendered and was handed over to Saudis, and two fighters who were killed by security forces: Youssef al-Shihri and Fahd Jutayli. All five men passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program praised by U.S. authorities before crossing the southern border into Yemen.
At least one Yemeni from Guantanamo apparently rejoined the fight.
A Yemen Defense Ministry newspaper said last week that Hani al-Shulan, who was released in 2007, was killed in a Dec. 17 air strike that targeted suspected militants.
At Guantanamo, some of the men had played down their links to terrorism.
Said al-Shihri, who is now formally known as the secretary general of the al-Qaida branch, told American investigators that he traveled to Afghanistan two weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to aid refugees, according to documents released by the Pentagon.
The file also says he received weapons training at a camp north of Kabul and was hospitalized in Pakistan for a month and a half after he was wounded by an airstrike.
Although he allegedly met with extremists in Iran and helped them get into Afghanistan, he claimed he went to Iran to buy carpets for his store. He said that if released, he wanted to see a daughter born while he was at Guantanamo and try to work at the family store in Riyadh, according to the documents.
In contrast, Youssef al-Shihri, who was killed in October near the Yemeni border with Saudi Arabia, openly declared rage against America to his captors at Guantanamo. He is not related to Said al-Shihri.
“The detainee stated he considers all Americans his enemy,” according to documents from his Guantanamo review hearings. “Since Americans are the detainee’s enemy, he will continue to fight them until he dies. The detainee pointed to the sky and told the interviewing agents that he will have a meeting with them in the next life.”
The U.S. has repatriated 120 Saudi detainees from Guantanamo, including some still considered to pose a threat, in part because of confidence the Saudi government can minimize the risk. The Saudi rehabilitation program encourages returning detainees to abandon Islamic extremism and reintegrate into civilian life.
The deprogramming effort — built on reason, enticements and counseling — is part of a concerted Saudi government effort to counter extremist ideology. Returning detainees have lengthy talks with psychiatrists, Muslim clerics and sociologists at secure compounds with facilities such as gyms and swimming pools.
Bruce Hoffman, a security studies professor at Georgetown University, stressed that the large majority of those going through the program have not rejoined extremist groups.
“It’s unrealistic to say none of them will return to terrorism,” he said. “Is two too many? I don’t know how to make that judgment. But you have to look at it in the broader perspective … There’s also a risk in imprisoning people for life and throwing away the key.”
For the roughly 90 Yemeni detainees remaining at Guantanamo, the recent terror plot’s Yemeni roots will add new layers of scrutiny to any transfers. Repatriation talks with the Yemeni government have stalled for years over security issues, with the U.S. sending back only about 20 Yemenis out of concern over the impoverished nation’s ability to contain militants.
U.S. Congress members have called on the Obama administration to stop releasing any detainees to Yemen or other unstable countries.
“I have read the classified biographies of the detainees to be released. They are dangerous people. I am troubled by every one of the detainees who is being sent back,” said U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican.
Six Yemenis were sent home from Guantanamo in December, and detainees’ attorneys say about 35 more have already been cleared for release by an administration task force. They are the largest group left at Guantanamo, so finding new homes for them is key to Obama’s pledge to close the prison. Their attorneys are not optimistic about the transfers going through.
“I’m fearful that will grind to a halt after the events of Christmas Day,” said Rick Murphy, a Washington attorney who represents five Yemenis at Guantanamo.
Obama has vowed not to release any detainee who would endanger the American people.
A senior administration official said the U.S. has worked with Yemen’s government to ensure that “appropriate security measures” are taken when detainees are repatriated. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss bilateral talks.
Story here.
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RAW DATA: Former Gitmo Detainees Who Returned to Terrorism
December 30, 2009
The following is a partial list, based on information made public by the Pentagon, of former Guantanamo detainees thought to have returned to the battlefield.
A growing number of former Guantanamo Bay detainees are said to be returning to terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The Pentagon most recently released a report in May showing that one in seven former detainees either returned, or is suspected of returning, to terrorist activity. At least two of them have taken leading roles in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the group that has claimed responsibility for the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day.
The Obama administration says it will proceed with caution in transferring any more detainees out of Guantanamo Bay but is determined to shutter the facility.
The following is a partial list, based on the information made public by the Pentagon, of former detainees thought to have returned to the battlefield.
Confirmed Cases
Sufyan al-Azdi al-Shihri. He was repatriated to Saudi Arabia in late 2007 and later emerged as a leadership figure with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He was reported killed in a recent attack on Al Qaeda strongholds in Yemen, claims that have been disputed by family members.
Mazin Salih Musaid al-Alawi al-Awfi. He too was repatriated to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and then emerged as a leadership figure with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula before turning himself in to Yemeni authorities in February.
Abdullah Saleh Ali al-Ajmi. He was returned to Kuwait in 2005 and in April 2008 conducted a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, which killed many Iraqi citizens.
Ibrahim bin Shakaran and Mohammed Bin Ahmad Mizouz. These two Moroccans were returned to their home country in 2004, only to be convicted in 2007 for involvement in trying to recruit fellow Moroccans for Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Ibrahim Shafir Sen. He was returned to his home country of Turkey in 2003, and was arrested in the Turkish city of Van in early 2008. He was indicted for being a leader of Al Qaeda cells in Van.
Ravil Shafeyavich Gumarov and Timur Ravilich Ishmurat. These two Russian were returned to their home country in 2004 and were arrested the next year by Russian authorities for involvement in a gas line bombing. They were both convicted in 2006.
Said Mohammed Alim Shah. He was repatriated to his home country of Afghanistan in 2004 and was said to have directed a suicide attack in 2007 that killed 31. He also kidnapped two Chinese engineers in 2004 and claimed responsibility for a hotel bombing in Islamabad. He blew himself up in 2007 to avoid capture.
Mohammed Ismail. He was returned to his home country of Afghanistan in 2004 and was recaptured months later for involvement in an attack on U.S. forces near Kandahar.
Yousef Muhammed Yaaqoub. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2003 and quickly joined back with the Taliban as a commander. He reportedly aided a jailbreak in Kandahar and was killed in 2004.
Abdullah Majid al-Naimi. He was repatriated to his home country of Bahrain in 2005 and arrested in 2008. He is known to have associated with Al Qaeda.
Majid Abdullah Lahiq al Joudi. He was returned to his home country of Saudi Arabia in 2007 and is said to have since aided terrorists.
Zahir Shah. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2007 and has participated in terrorist training since.
Shah Mohammed. He was returned to Pakistan in 2003 and was later killed fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Suspected Cases
Ruslan Anatolivich Odijev. He was repatriated to Russia in 2004. Russian authorities said he was involved in several terrorist attacks including one in 2005 that killed police officers in the Caucasus region. He was killed in battle in 2007.
Sabi Jahn Abdul Ghafour. He was returned to his home country of Afghanistan in 2003 and reportedly became a regional commander for the Taliban. He was killed during fighting with Afghan forces in 2004.
Mohammed Nayim Farouq. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2003, and renewed contact with the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Abdullah Kafkas. He was returned to Russia in 2004. He is suspected of being involved in an attack on a police checkpoint in 2005.
Almasm Rabilavich Sharipov. He was returned to Russia in 2004 and has since associated with the terrorist group Hezb-e-Tahrir.
Abdullah Ghofoor. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2004 and became a suspected Taliban commander. After planning attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces, he was killed in a raid.
Saad Madhi Saad Hawash al Azmi. He was returned to Kuwait in 2005 and is suspected of associating with Al Qaeda.
Isa Khan. He was returned to Pakistan in 2004 and later associated with a group called Tehrik-i-Taliban.
Muhibullah. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2005 and later associated with the Taliban.
Humud Dakhil Humud Said al-Jadan. He was returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and is thought to have associated with known terrorists.
Abd al Razzaq Abdallah Ibrahim al-Sharikh. He was returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and was arrested a year later for supporting terrorism.
Abdullah Gulam Rasoul. He was repatriated to Afghanistan in 2007 and is thought to have become a Taliban commander who organized an attack on U.S. aircraft.
Haji Sahib Rohullah Wakil. He was returned to Afghanistan in 2008 and has since associated with terrorist groups.
Link to Data here.
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From Long War Journal
The US has released the leader of an Iranian-backed Shia terror group behind the kidnapping and murder of five US soldiers in Karbala in January 2007.
Qais Qazali, the leader of the Asaib al Haq or the League of the Righteous, was set free by the US military and transferred to Iraqi custody in exchange for the release of British hostage Peter Moore, US military officers and intelligence officials told The Long War Journal. The US military directly implicated Qais in the kidnapping and murder of five US soldiers in Karbala in January 2007.
“We let a very dangerous man go, a man whose hands are stained with US and Iraqi blood,” a military officer said. “We are going to pay for this in the future.”
Link to story here.
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Former Gitmo detainee killed in Yemen while plotting attack on British embassy
By Thomas JoscelynDecember 30, 2009
A former detainee at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility was killed by Yemeni forces during a raid in Arhab, which is north of the capital Sanaa, on Dec. 17. The former detainee, Hani Abdo Shaalan, was preparing attacks along with other al Qaeda terrorists against the British embassy and other Western targets at the time.
The raid that killed Shaalan was one of several operations carried out across Yemen – in Arhab, Sanaa, and the southern province of Abyan – against al Qaeda targets. The Yemeni government claims that dozens of suspected terrorists have been killed, while dozens more have been captured. Shaalan’s death has been confirmed by both the Yemeni government and a human rights activist familiar with his case, according to the Washington Post.
Story here.