Feral Jundi

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Al Qaeda: Jihadist Privateers and The New Holy War Business Model

Filed under: Al Qaeda,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 8:30 AM

A senior Saudi Arabian al Qaeda operative has called on Somali jihadists to step up their attacks on “crusader” forces at sea in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, and on land in neighboring Djibouti, which hosts France’s largest military base in Africa. 

“To our steadfast brethren in Somalia, take caution and prepare yourselves,” Sa’id Ali Jabir Al Khathim Al Shihri (aka Abu Sufian al-Azdi) says in a new audiotape acquired by CBS News. “Increase your strikes against the crusaders at sea and in Djibouti.”  

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    That’s right, make money and fight holy war!  Now that is the kind of Jihad that sells itself. lol

    You know, it doesn’t take a counter-terror expert or an economist to realize that eventually the enemy will figure out that piracy is an excellent business model.  Think of it.  They could disrupt world economies, control large multi-ton vessels that can easily be used as weapons of mass destruction (oil and chemical tankers, etc.), terrorize western ‘non-believer’ crews and even kill them, and on top of that, they can make money in the process off of selling the loot or ransom. Not to mention that Al Qaeda and company have no laws to follow, and no borders to respect. The only rules they abide by, are the ones that will increase their odds of winning their war against the Infidels.

     Matter of fact, I can see an entire Jihadist industry developing out of this piracy deal. It happened in the early beginnings of U.S. history, why wouldn’t these guys do it?  So here come the Jihadist Privateers I guess, because if this activity is sanctioned by the enemy, then in their eyes it is not piracy, but privateering.

     These donors that keep giving money to Islamic extremists to wage holy war will eventually realize that they could turn into investors of the Jihadist Privateers, and make some money.  Much like our early privateers in the US, or the pirates off the coast of Somalia, these guys could actually start making money off the Jihad.  The business model is there, and it is a proven method that has made the Somalis millions.  Why wouldn’t the booger eaters take advantage of that?

     Same thing with the drug trade?  I could easily see Al Qaeda looking at the drug business as acceptable for their jihad against the west.  They could say they are only selling drugs to westerners, and only a truly devout muslim would not use those drugs. So that would make it ok, in the crude logic of the jihadist.

   Counterfeiting?  Why not.  How else would they be able to finance the boats or weapons for their privateers, or purchase the aircraft for transporting the drugs? I am telling you, the next level of Jihad, is killing infidels and making money in the process.  They could still martyr themselves by crashing a boat into some country’s port city, but hey, if they could make some money off of Jihad to send back home before being martyred, now that is something.

   And what is really scary, is the concept of open source piracy.  That means other supporters of Jihad, will look at this act as not piracy, but as a business venture in the name of Allah, and terrorize western shipping throughout the world’s oceans. If you have a boat and an AK 47, you are in business. You don’t have to go to Afghanistan to train to be a pirate.  All a fellow has to do, is read and watch what the Somalis are doing, and copy it. Think Ft. Hood, but on the high seas. Something to think about and watch over the coming months and years.  The war is evolving. –Matt

*Be sure to read all of the stories posted below.  There is stuff on AQ involved piracy, drug trade, and counterfeit operations. The final story is about Somali pirates luring in investors for future operations.

Also check out Dr. Walid Phares article on Jihad Corsairs or Qursaans (arabic for corsair) here.

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Al Qaeda Urges Somalis To Attack Ships

April 16, 2009

Posted by Khaled Wassef

A senior Saudi Arabian al Qaeda operative has called on Somali jihadists to step up their attacks on “crusader” forces at sea in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, and on land in neighboring Djibouti, which hosts France’s largest military base in Africa.

“To our steadfast brethren in Somalia, take caution and prepare yourselves,” Sa’id Ali Jabir Al Khathim Al Shihri (aka Abu Sufian al-Azdi) says in a new audiotape acquired by CBS News. “Increase your strikes against the crusaders at sea and in Djibouti.”

Shihri warns Somali militants against a conspiracy led by “the crusaders, the Jews and traitor Arab rulers,” to put an end to the Muslim extremists’ progress in Somalia.

(more…)

Monday, November 30, 2009

Maritime Security: Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker Going to U.S.

Filed under: Maritime Security,Saudi Arabia,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 8:05 AM

   This is not good.  This is the kind of nightmare scenario that can go a number of ways.  What if Al Qaeda or similar group, provides a better offer for the tanker than the owners of the boat or goods?  For all we know, these guys are working with Al Shabaab and have something planned.  You just don’t know, but now that the vessel is under the control of these pirates, they have all the power.  And the shipping company is at fault for not properly securing this vessel.

   I am also starting to get a headache from reading Roger Middleton’s crap assessments on shipping security.  Who is this guy, and why does the media continue to give him a voice on this matter?  For all we know, this shipping company followed the pathetic advice of this dork, and look what happened?  Where is the voice of reason here?

    Now tactically speaking, yeah, RPGs might ignite some kind of flammables in an attack, but the key to good security is to not even allow RPG armed pirates to get that close.  With the proper surveillance systems in place, and a locked on and properly staffed security detail, I can guarantee that a tanker like this will not be taken again.  Especially if this team is using weapons that will give them stand off distance.  The basic math here is use weapons that reach out farther and do more damage than what the pirates use.  Glock pistols will not do the trick.  Long guns or a Bushmaster Cannon are what I am talking about.  Or we can allow pirates who could be backed by terrorists, to take oil tankers or chemical tankers, and use them for whatever purpose.  And with the case of this tanker, the pirates have all the power right now, all because the ship did not have the means to protect itself.

   Another idea to protect a ship like this, is to use escort ships to draw fire away from the tanker. This would be expensive, but doable.  A pirate will fire on a tanker or chemical tanker regardless, all with the idea of trying to terrorize and control the vessel.  If you can draw the fire of the pirates away from the tanker, and take the battle zone away from that flammable vessel, then that is another idea.  I will say this again, and in stark contrast to what Roger has to say.  Pirates only understand one thing out on the high seas, and that is the rule of force. –Matt

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Somali pirates hijack oil tanker going to US

By MALKHADIR M. MUHUMED

Monday, November 30, 2009

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates seized a tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States in the increasingly dangerous waters off East Africa, an official said Monday, an attack that could pose a huge environmental or security threat to the region.

The Greece-flagged Maran Centaurus was hijacked Sunday about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) off the coast of Somalia, said Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force. Harbour said it originated from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and was destined for the United States. The ship has 28 crew members on board, he said.

The shipping intelligence company Lloyd’s List said the Maran Centaurus is a “very large crude carrier, with a capacity of over 300,000 tons.” Officials could not immediately say how many barrels of oil were on board, but its value would be in the millions of dollars.

Pirates have increased attacks on vessels off East Africa for the millions in ransom that can be had. Though pirates have successfully hijacked dozens of vessels the last several years, Sunday’s attack appears to be only the second ever on an oil tanker.

The hijacking of a tanker increases worries that the vessel could crash, be run aground or be involved in a firefight, said Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at London-based think tank Chatham House.

Pirates typically use guns and rocket-propelled grenades in their attacks, and some vessels now carry private security guards, but Middleton said oil tankers do not.

(more…)

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Maritime Security: Security Contractors on Spanish Ship Thwarts Somali Pirate Attack

Filed under: Maritime Security,Somalia,Spain — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 7:35 AM

   That’s right!  This is the kind of good news I love reading.  The security contracting industry is answering the call and we are doing the good work of protecting these ships. No word on what company these guys worked for, but it has been in the news that Spain is really into using private security instead of military for protecting their fishing boats. –Matt

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Spanish ship thwarts Somali pirate attack

November 29, 2009

MADRID — A Spanish fishing boat thwarted an attack by pirates in the Indian Ocean in the early hours of Sunday morning, Spain’s defence ministry said.

The pirates fired bullets and threw a grenade at the Spanish-flagged Ortube Berria, before being fought off by the ship’s onboard private security guards, the ministry said in a statement.

The attack happened at 5:37 am (0437 GMT) some 230 nautical miles (426 kilometres) southwest of the Seychelles.

“No injuries or damage to equipment have been recorded,” the ministry said.

Around 50 private security contractors were sent from Spain in mid-November to protect Spanish fishing trawlers from piracy attacks.

(more…)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Industry Talk: Somalia Jumps on Private Security Bandwagon

Filed under: Industry Talk,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 3:01 AM

    This is cool.  Jody has written a deal on CSS Global, and put up a few FJ quotes. So for any readers coming over from this article, feel free to ask away in the comments section.  Or if you have some commentary on the subject, feel free to put it here as well.

    On my older post on CSS Global, my readership had some interesting things to say. Like the Somali government reaction to this whole deal is to say that it never happened.  That Gulaid was operating on his own, and they had no idea about a contract with CSS Global.  How convenient?

   My feelings is that the Somali government is already allowing Bancroft Global Development to perform services in their country or even DynCorp’s activities, so there is precedent for relationships with American companies.  Maybe what has happened is that they have re-evaluated contracting with CSS Global and decided to go shopping again?  Who knows, and the only way for the real deal to come out, is for someone at CSS Global to set the record straight, or for the Somali government to set the record straight. I personally want to see the Somali government get the best service and contract possible, if in fact they want to go down this path.

   Another idea is that maybe some war planners and strategists were listening, and played some diplomatic kung fu to get the Somali government on the right track with a better company or forces donor.  The EU has just committed forces for training Somali police and military, and for working with Amisom. There might be an agreement to provide services to directly protect and/or train a protective detail for the Somalis? Or not. I guess where ever the money comes from, will decide what will be done with it.

   I should also remind the readership that private companies protecting government officials of other countries is not new.  The Steele Foundation was made famous for protecting Haiti’s Aristide. PSC’s and PMC’s have been tasked with protecting Iraqi and Afghani government officials in the past as well, so this privatized protection is nothing new.

   And for the record, my intention with CSS Global and this Somalia deal, is to just get the story straight and try to protect the industry from any more embarrassments. I mean no harm to CSS Global and their reputation, but the reputation of the industry, and the overall strategy in this war takes priority in my view. The US and this industry does not need any more incidents that hurt the war effort, and we need our varsity teams playing ball, if you know what I mean. I look forward to any input from the readership, company, or Somalis, and please correct the record if you feel so inclined. –Matt

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Somalia Jumps on Private Security Bandwagon

23 Nov 2009

By Jody Ray Bennett for ISN Security Watch

An American private military and security company deploys to Somalia as the first US presence in the country since the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Jody Ray Bennett writes for ISN Security Watch.

Tensions rose in Somalia in the final weeks of October 2009 as the president of the country’s UN-backed transitional government, Sharif Sheik Ahmed, became the target of an insurgent attack while attempting to depart from an airport to Uganda to attend an African Union (AU) summit on refugees and internally displaced people.

According to news reports, al-Shabaab militants “lobbed mortars at the airport, prompting peacekeepers of the AU mission in Somalia known as AMISOM, to fire back.”

At least 24 people were killed and as many as 60 wounded when peacekeepers returned fire in the direction of the crowded Bakara marketplace, causing many to question AMISOM’s effectiveness in Somalia, according to Voice of America.

One Bakara storekeeper told VOA that while “Islamist insurgents cause problems by attacking the peacekeepers, AMISOM’s harsh response is doing far more harm than good [and that] people may no longer tolerate [AMISOM’s] presence in Somalia if it continues shelling residential areas.”

(more…)

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Company Spotlight: Nexus Consulting Group

Filed under: Company Spotlight,Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 10:52 AM

O’Keefe said Nexus hires former U.S. military operatives such as Navy Seals who could disable a pirate skiff before it comes within range to launch a rocket-propelled grenade, the preferred weapon of pirates.

Having a proven deterrent aboard “is actually lowering the cost of kidnap and ransom insurance by as much as 40 percent” for the shipping lines who hire them, she said. -Elizabeth R. O’Keefe, a lawyer in Woburn, Mass., who represents Nexus and Murphy.

***** 

     I salute Shane Murphy and Nexus Consulting Group for not beating around the bush, and calling it like it is.  Mr. Murphy has witnessed first hand how these pirates operate, and the conclusions that he and his company have come to as to how to deal with these pirates and protect boats is spot on.  You must have weapons that give the boat standoff distance, so that these clowns can’t get in close and use their RPG’s.  Worse yet, the PKM can reach a boat at an even further distance, and the DShK can reach even further. All of these weapons are floating around in Somalia, and I guarantee that these pirates are investing in even better stuff with all of that money they have been making off of ransoms. You get the picture with this kind of arms race, and as these pirates become more desperate and more ruthless, the boats must have the kind of weapons and skills that will give the boat overwhelming fire superiority and the crews and security must have sound naval warfare strategies to deal with this stuff.

    By the way, they are looking for guys to put in their database, and just go through the link for their company here. –Matt

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Somali group puts out call to Seekonk’s Murphy

November 19, 2009

By Thomas J. Morgan and Donita Naylor

SEEKONK, Mass. — Attention Shane Murphy: The Somali Community Association of Ohio wants to take you out to dinner and ask for your help in protecting the Indian Ocean from pirates.

Murphy, of Seekonk, was chief officer of the Maersk Alabama in April when Somali-based pirates took over the ship. He no longer works for Maersk, but is still a merchant marine and consults for a private marine security company.

Bashir Haji, vice president of the Columbus, Ohio, Somali group, tried to reach Murphy on Wednesday after pirates attacking the Maersk Alabama were driven off by the ship’s crew armed with guns. Haji said the group wants to ask Murphy “to come to Columbus to give a speech about his ordeal with the pirates.”

(more…)

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