January 9, 2006: Do Zawahiri tape releases indicate disruption in Al Qaeda command and control, with regard to media relations?

The release this weekend of two tapes featuring Al Qaeda second in command Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri, followed in rapid succession by a tape from Abu Mus’ab al Zarqawi may indicate that the command and control structure of Al Qaeda, as least in the area of media relations, has been disrupted.

The first video to be released in this most recent salvo was a new video production featuring Zawahiri, which aired Friday on Al Jazeera.

On Saturday, a second (and different) message was released on Saturday in the internet, featuring a voice over translation into English provided by American Islamic convert turned jihadi known as “Azzam the American”, or Adam Gadahn..

There are striking differences between the videos.

Saturday’s video compiles still images of Ayman Zawahiri with photos of injured children and other disturbing imagery, while Azzam the American (Adam Gadahn) reads a translation of the October 2002 letter from Osama Bin Laden entitled “Letter to the Americans: Why we resist you and fight you”.

It was labeled as a production of Sahab Institutes, the media production arm of Al Qaeda.

Unlike the old content in Saturday’s video, Friday’s video appeared to be made relatively recently, based on references to current events such as last fall’s earthquake in Pakistan.

This video showed Zawahiri sitting in front of the camera with his trademark automatic weapon on his right side. The gun sight of the weapon is next to Zawahiri’s body. He had once again changed his clothes, and this time was wearing a white turban and blue-gray robe. The tape appears to have been made indoors.

The message was more or less the same rhetoric as usual: Al Qaeda is kicking the butt of the US, the US is bad, elections are bad, Muslims should hate America for a variety of reasons, the US meddles in the affairs of other countries, so go out and kill the infidels. Nothing new in that message – the times and “victims” change with each tape, but the message is almost always consistent.

Friday’s video was not branded with by Sahab Intitutes.

Although Friday’s video entered the public arena first, the second video featuring the voice over translation of Gadahn actually appeared Thursday evening on a web server that has been observed over recent months to act as a “staging area” of sorts for Al Qaeda propaganda. The videos often appear on this server, and then 24-48 hours later are distributed via the Arabic language message boards.

During the last two weeks, there have been a considerable number of postings on the Arabic language messages boards looking for a video from Bin Laden or Zawahiri.

In recent years, Al Qaeda supporters have come to expect a message from either Bin Laden on Zawahiri in the December-January time frame, and on major occasions such as the Eid.

The absence of a Bin Laden message since last fall has his supporters somewhat uneasy. Zawahiri has traditionally released messages more frequently than Bin Laden, and there have been numerous messages from him recently; however, it has been clear that the supporters were anticipating some sort of message from the top.

The compilation of the tape, with the voice over by Gadahn, may indicate that those in the media production arm of Al Qaeda recognized this need for a new message, and compiled this one. If this assumption is correct, then it is likely that the choice of material may have been simple: they were running out of canned material to release, and they felt that a rerun or replay of an older message that had already been committed to video was not appropriate. By releasing the tape with English voice-over, the producers most likely assumed that it would receive greater airplay in the English speaking world.

However, this assumes that the Gadahn-Zawahiri tape is authentic, which is not something I am prepared to concede at this time.

The voice certainly sounds like Gadahn. The inflection, tone, and accent are consistent with other tapes that have been authenticated as his.

However, it is certainly possible that anyone with a reasonably powerful home computer, with voice recording capabilities, and a $50 media editing tool could have produced the same video with minimal effort.

Was the second tape released to calm the uneasy supporters because Sahab Institutes was not aware of the imminent release of another tape?

That’s certainly a possibility that should be considered.

If it is the case, then that is a strong indicator that significant progress is being made in the war on terror.

January 9, 2006: International Festival on Koranic Blogging Opens in Iranian Capital

Tehran, Jan 9, IRNA -- The first-ever International Festival on Quranic Blogging kicked off here Saturday morning.

The head of the Uiversity Jihad Organization, Ali Montazeri, said at a press briefing here today that the festival was open to interested participants of all languages spoke worldwide and not only Persian and English.

He said that over 3,000 bloggers were expected to participate, and added that a website has been opened on the festival where all interested parties can start posting their works beginning Saturday.

The festival will run until March 7.

(Description of Source: Tehran IRNA (Internet Version-WWW) in English -- official state-run news agency)

January 9, 2006: Reagan National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport Unveil Explosives Detection Trace Portal Machines Critical explosives technology now in place at 24 airports nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With a sharp eye focused on the threat of explosives, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced that it has deployed explosives detection trace portal machines to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The two airports join Baltimore-Washington International and 21 others nationwide in a program designed to prevent explosives material from getting on-board commercial aircraft.

“The trace portal is a sophisticated tool that allows us to detect a broad range of explosive materials quickly and efficiently,” said Pat Hynes, TSA ’s Federal Security Director at DCA. “This new technology, along with enhanced training for our security officers and new checkpoint procedures, ensure we have a robust system in place to address the serious threat of explosives.”

Passengers identified as needing additional screening, as well as passengers selected at random, will pass through the trace portal for explosives detection screening. As passengers enter the trace portal, they are asked to stand still for a few seconds while several “bursts” of air are released, dislodging microscopic particles from passengers that are then collected and analyzed for traces of explosives. A computerized voice indicates when a passenger may exit the portal. TSA Officers will take necessary and appropriate steps to resolve alarms.

“This significant security enhancement would not be possible without the cooperation and hard work of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and our airline partners,” said John Lenihan, TSA’s Federal Security Director at IAD. “Working together we will continue to enhance security and the overall traveler experience.”

TSA has already advanced its explosives detection capabilities at the passenger security checkpoint by deploying trace portals at airports in Baltimore; Boston; Dallas (DFW); Gulfport, Miss.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Newark; New York (JFK); Palm Beach, FL; Phoenix; Providence, R.I.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Francisco; San Diego; Pittsburgh; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; San Juan, P.R.; and Indianapolis, Ind.

TSA will continue to increase its explosives detection capabilities and expects to announce the next round of airports to receive these trace portal machines in the coming weeks. TSA purchased the trace portal equipment from GE Infrastructure, Security and Smiths Detection.

January 9, 2006: Afghan Rebel Leader Hekmatyar's Eid Message Urges Continued Jihad

Peshawar Afghan Islamic Press in Pashto at 1340 GMT on 8 January reported that Afghan insurgent leader Golboddin Hekmatyar had urged all Afghans to continue to wage jihad until all "occupation forces" are "driven out" of the country.

In a message released in Pakistan on 8 January, in advance of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha later this week, the fugitive rebel commander said the "real Eid" would be celebrated when Afghanistan was "free of foreign agents" and would not need to seek foreign assistance or to "bow to others."

In order to achieve this, Hekmatyar said, it was incumbent on "every Afghan and every Muslim" to engage in jihad.

"With the mercy of God, Afghans waged jihad against former Soviet Russia for the same sacred purpose. Once again, they have waged jihad against the current US and British-led crusade. God willing, this jihad will continue until all occupation forces are driven out of every corner of the country and an Islamic system is established in Afghanistan in accordance with the people's wishes. God willing, that Eid will also come, and it will come very soon."

In his message, the leader of the Hezb-e Eslami Hekmatyar faction, also denounced last year's parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, saying they had been rigged by the US. He said the aim of the polls had been to hide "colonialist occupation" under "the disguise of democracy." This was designed to establish "an obedient and weak parliament" which would sign "treaties of subjugation."

Read complete text of Hekmatyar message

January 8, 2006:IRNA: Former German hostage in Iraq worked for German secret service

A report on the IRNA (state-run Islamic Republican News Agency) website claims that former German hostage in Iraq, Susanne Osthoff was in fact a German BND Intelligence operative.

Obviously we cannot substantiate the story in any way - and the information posted on IRNA must be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Still, the report is interesting...

Former German hostage in Iraq worked for German secret service

Jan 7, IRNA

The former German hostage, Susanne Osthoff who was freed last month after being kidnapped in northern Iraq on November 25, worked for Germany's BND intelligence service, the daily Die Welt reported Saturday.

The 43 year-old Osthoff who worked as an archaeologist in Iraq for the past 13 years, gave BND agents her assessment of that country's political situation.

Speaking Arabic fluently, Osthoff received reportedly around 3,000 euros for her intelligence services.

Germany's foreign secret service halted its sporadic cooperation with Osthoff after the al-Zarqawi terror group issued threats against the German national, according to well-informed circles.

Osthoff who was the first German citizen to be abducted in Iraq since the start of the US war three years ago, lived also for a while in BND safe houses in Baghdad.

SPECIAL REPORT: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: Coverage from the middle east

Reports from Jerusalem indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in critical condition. Unconfirmed reports continue to fly around the internet claiming that the Prime Minister has already died.

What we know at this point is the following: