There are three Statements:
- Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri announces the establishment of a new branch of al Qaida in the Indian subcontinent. He wants Islam to return to the Indian subcontinent which was part of the Muslim world before it was invaded.
- Statement of six goals by Osama Mahmoud, the Official Spokesman for the new group in the Indian subcontinent
- Statement of Asim Sheikh Omar, the Emir
The Six Goals
- First, Jihad against America and the infidel regimes that grew up under its auspices, and strive to uproot this system from the roots
- Second: Apply Sharia law
- Third: Liberate the occupied land of the Muslims in the Indian subcontinent.
- Fourth: Revival of the Caliphate on a platform of prophecy through Jihad
- Fifth, the victory of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan
- Sixth, the establishment of an Islamic committee to encourage good deeds and prevent wrongdoings in society.
A copy of all three statements is here, just use google translate to read in English. The video (in Arabic) is here.
Two articles to read today: Who's Winning, AQ or ISIS? in Foreign Policy and Brutal Efficiency, the Secret to ISIS Success in the Wall St. Journal (free copy).
U.S. counter-terrorism officials said earlier today (before this announcement) that ISIS is not as evolved as Al Qaida and Al Qaida poses a bigger threat. According to Matthew Olsen, the departing director of the National Counterterrorism Center:
He said it viewed itself as “the new leader in the global jihadist movement” although US intelligence officials maintain al-Qaida currently poses a more serious adversary.
... “As dire as all of this (ISIS) sounds, from my vantage point it is important that we keep this threat in perspective and we take a moment to consider it in the context of the overall terrorist landscape.” He added that the core al-Qaida remained the dominant group in the global jihadist movement, even if though it has recently been outpaced by Isis’s sophisticated propaganda machine.
I agree that ISIS is not a threat to America. Lone wolf attacks are a danger with any group, and certainly not a reason to go to war. Also, while ISIS is not really a new kid on the block as it's been around for years under various names, its neighborhood is in the Middle East. That said, I also think al Qaida is past its prime and al-Zawahiri is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Final thought: Joe Biden has been watching too many movies -- or else he's channeling John Mcain. In a
statement today, he said the U.S. will chase ISIS "to the gates of Hell." What a worn-out phrase. John McCain
in 2007 during a primary debate, referring to Bin Laden:
“We will track him down. We will catch him. We will bring him to justice and I’ll follow him to the gates of hell.”
Despite criticism that his comments would serve as a recruiting tool for al Qaida, he
said it again in 2008:
If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice…
As Cato's Jim Harper wrote:
McCain’s “gates of hell” talk is leadership malpractice, and he should stop using it immediately. Calling the threat of terrorism “transcendent” is equal parts incoherent and false. Terrorism stands no chance of defeating the United States or the West unless we ourselves collapse the society. Speaking this way about terrorism thrills our terrorist enemies and draws recruits and support to them.
...Exalting terrorism - as John McCain does with his “gates of hell” talk - is precisely the wrong thing for a national leader to do. The country will be made more secure by deflating the world image of Osama bin Laden and making his movement less attractive. Our leaders must withdraw rhetorical power from terrorists by controlling their tongues.
