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.