december 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 12 the Moroccan government to initiate Al-Qa`ida has thus far not officially Assessing the Progress a similar process.37 In Mauritania, 23 commented on the LIFG revisions. imprisoned Islamist militants issued a According to Benotman, al-Zawahiri of Pakistan’s South statement in late November rejecting is maintaining a strategic silence Waziristan Offensive violence against the state.38 The because he does not want to draw more breakthroughs could further isolate al- attention to the document since he fears By Rahimullah Yusufzai Qa`ida in North Africa. the consequences.41 For al-Qa`ida, the revisions are even more problematic in october 2009, after approximately The LIFG peace process may also have because several of its top leaders four months of preparations, Pakistan’s had implications in the West. Despite operating out of the Afghanistan- armed forces launched a highly early opposition to the talks, the Pakistan border region are former anticipated ground offensive against approximately 30 LIFG members living members of the LIFG. For Abu Yahya Taliban militants in South Waziristan in the United Kingdom threw their al-Libi, currently al-Qa`ida’s chief Agency of the Federally Administered weight behind the shura council in July. propagandist, the rebuke from the LIFG Tribal Areas (FATA). The objectives of Their number included several senior was personal because his brother, `Abd the mission, called Rah-e-Nijat (Path members of the group and 12 individuals al-Wahhab Qa’id, is one of the authors. to Deliverance), are to clear the area of once subject to UK government “control Mid-level LIFG commander Tarek terrorists and militants and stabilize orders” because of their threat to Durman said that he expects Abu Yahya the region.1 The current offensive in national security. As a result of the to “not react to this event,” something South Waziristan marks the largest Libyan peace process, all but one of the which may weaken al-Qa`ida’s ability military operation to date in both FATA “control orders” were dropped.39 The to counter the LIFG’s arguments.42 and the North-West Frontier Province support for the peace process by UK- (NWFP). based leaders signals that al-Qa`ida Benotman predicts that al-Qa`ida will be has lost the battle to win the hearts and finished as a force in the Middle East and Pakistan’s government considers South minds of LIFG members worldwide.40 North Africa within the next half decade, Waziristan the primary source of in no small part because an increasingly recent terrorist violence targeting the critical mass of jihadists agrees with state. It alleges that 80% of terrorist the initiative taken by the LIFG: “We attacks in Pakistan have been organized are starting to see statements from the by militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Islamic fighting groups themselves. Pakistan (TTP), a conglomeration of 37 “Jihadist Salafi Prisoners Value Reviews of Libyan They are supporting the idea. A couple Pakistani Taliban groups headquartered Islamic Group,” statement by Mohamed Abdel Wahhab years ago they were completely against in South Waziristan.2 Government Rafiki, September 30, 2009; Personal interview, Noman that…Now I hope we will start to see a officials finally came to the conclusion Benotman, December 2009. Not all Moroccan jihad- new era.”43 The Libyan revisions, said that it was essential to destroy the TTP ist prisoners have endorsed the revisions. On October Benotman, will “challenge terrorists for network, which is currently led by 20, 2009, the London-based Egyptian militant Hani al- a generation.”44 Hakimullah Mehsud.3 Siba`i posted a statement claiming that another Moroc- can prison faction opposed the revisions. Paul Cruickshank is a Fellow at the This article will offer an account of the 38 The Mauritanian prisoners appear to have been in- NYU Center on Law & Security and the offensive thus far, identify its successes fluenced by the Mauritanian cleric Muhammad Hasan Producer of “The Jihadi Code,” a recently and failures, and finally look at the Ould Dado, a key supporter of the LIFG revisions. See aired CNN documentary on the Libyan government’s strategy moving forward. “Imprisoned Mauritanian Salafis Reject Anti-State Vio- revisions. During the last two years, Mr. lence,” Middle East Media Research Institute, November Cruickshank and CNN Senior International The Offensive Begins 26, 2009. Correspondent Nic Robertson gained South Waziristan, spread over 2,419 39 Control orders are a British administrative measure exclusive access to the main players in the square kilometers of vast and rugged placing severe restrictions on the movement and com- peace process and this past summer filmed terrain, has been under the effective munications of individuals judged to pose a potential interviews with leading figures of the LIFG control of Pakistani Taliban militants threat to national security. Around a dozen individuals inside Abu Salim prison in Tripoli. since 2003-2004. As a result, Pakistan’s continue to be subject to them. Seven UK-based mem- government does not have credible bers of the LIFG had their control orders dropped after intelligence about the strength of local peace talks were initiated in Tripoli and four had orders and foreign militants based in the area. dropped against them after the revisions were published. British security services distributed copies of the revi- sions to these latter individuals because of their lack of 1 Amir Wasim, “Zardari Writes to NWFP Governor,” access to the internet. Personal interview, Libyan source, Dawn, December 1, 2009. November 2009; Duncan Gardham, “Terrorism Sus- 41 Personal interview, Noman Benotman, Washington, 2 Sajjad Shaukat, “Rationale Behind Waziristan Opera- pects Released from House Arrests after Peace Deal,” D.C., October 2009. tion,” Pakistan Observer, October 21, 2009; Khalid Qayum Daily Telegraph, November 13, 2009. 42 Personal interview, Tarek Durman, Abu Salim pris- and Farhan Sharif, “Bombing Kills 19 in Peshawar as 40 On November 3, 2007, al-Qa`ida released a video- on, Tripoli, Libya, September 2009. Pakistan Captures Taliban Bases,” Bloomberg, Novem- tape in which Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Laith al-Libi, 43 Nic Robertson and Paul Cruickshank, CNN interview ber 19, 2009. a senior figure in the LIFG, announced that the LIFG had with Noman Benotman, 2009. 3 For a profile of Hakimullah Mehsud, see Mukhtar A. formally joined forces with al-Qa`ida, a clear play for the 44 Personal interview, Noman Benotman, December Khan, “A Profile of the TTP’s New Leader: Hakimullah hearts and minds of the group’s rank-and-file members. 2009. Mehsud,” CTC Sentinel 2:10 (2009).

8 december 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 12

Pakistan Army chief, General Ashfaq ground offensive followed three routes fighting in Pakistan were entrenched Parvez Kayani, once described the tribal into Mehsud territory. One route in Kaniguram, in particular Uzbek agency as an intelligence “black hole.”4 traveled northwest from the military militants affiliated with the Islamic At the start of the offensive, however, fort of Jandola to the TTP stronghold Movement of Uzbekistan. Although the one government official estimated that of Srarogha via Spinkai Raghzai and military insisted that Uzbek fighters approximately 1,500 foreign militants Kotkai.8 A second route traveled and other foreign militants resisted were hiding in South Waziristan, mixed northeast from Wana and Shakai toward the advancing soldiers, no arrests in with an estimated total of 10,000 Sarwekai onward to Kaniguram and were reported and no bodies were Taliban fighters.5 Ladha.9 The third route left the garrison displayed to members of the media who town of Razmak in North Waziristan were regularly flown in on military For weeks before the start of the ground Agency and headed south to one of the helicopters to survey the offensive. On offensive on October 17, the military major militant strongholds at Makeen.10 a few occasions, however, media teams softened the militants’ positions did report that rockets were fired at the through airstrikes from fighter jets and The November 3 fall of Srarogha, where troops, forcing the military to evacuate helicopter gunships, in addition to long- Baitullah Mehsud, the former head of television crews to safer locations. the TTP, signed his first peace accord with the government in February Overall, there is little evidence that “Overall, there is little 2005 marked a major setback for the heavy fighting occurred during the evidence that heavy TTP. It was in Srarogha that Baitullah entire operation because it appears spent most of his time plotting attacks, that most militants fled in the face of fighting occurred during convening meetings and speaking the government advance. Nevertheless, the entire operation to the media.11 Zangara, the village it was impossible for the media to where Baitullah was killed by a U.S. independently confirm both the military because it appears that aerial drone in August 2009, is also in and Taliban claims of casualties due to most militants fled in the the Srarogha area, as is his ancestral the lack of access to the conflict zone, village. Prior to Srarogha’s fall, the TTP disrupted lines of communication and face of the government also lost Kotkai, the village of current the dislocation of almost all of the advance.” TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud and civilian population from the area. his cousin, Qari Hussain, the latter of whom regularly trains suicide bombers Successes and Failures for TTP operations. On December 9, the Pakistan Army’s range artillery cannons. The airstrikes Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) played a crucial role in destroying the On November 4, the military announced released up-to-date figures on the militants’ resolve. Military officials that they had entered Ladha town, offensive’s successes. It claimed that 589 later admitted that they had exhausted considered the TTP’s most important Taliban militants and 79 soldiers had their target list as all known militant stronghold. Shortly after, Makeen was died in action so far.13 The ISPR also said hideouts had been bombed.6 taken. By mid-November, the militants that Pakistan’s security forces seized had lost almost all their strongholds. a number of weapons, including RPG- Early on October 17, regular troops from Srarogha, Kaniguram, Kotkai, Spinkay 7 rockets, anti-aircraft machineguns the Pakistan Army and paramilitary Raghzai, Nano, Sherwangai, Shelwestai, and SPG-9 rounds.14 The military said soldiers from the Frontier Corps Nawazkot, Ladha and Makeen have it discovered 22 interlinked tunnels dug mobilized from their bases under the all been secured by the military. The into the mountainside and stocked with cover of darkness and began the ground military then announced that the first arms and ammunition.15 Moreover, the offensive. Military authorities claimed phase of operations was complete, as military had taken control of all the that 30,000 troops were part of the troops had reached all three previously important towns in South Waziristan assault. Some reports, however, said a designated targets: Makeen, Srarogha where the TTP previously held power. total of 60,000 soldiers were involved, and Ladha.12 including 45,000 combat troops and At some locations, the TTP’s retreat 15,000 supporting troops.7 Also important was the fall of did not appear to be well organized Kaniguram. Military authorities believe considering that militants left behind The military initially targeted Makeen, that most of the foreign militants heavy weapons and even cooked food. Spin Kamar and Ladha, all located Separately, security forces said that within the Mehsud tribal areas. The 8 Ibid. they found passports of two foreigners 9 Ibid. in Shelwestai and Sherwangai villages. 4 Ismail Khan, “Battle for Waziristan Looms,” Dawn, 10 Ibid. One passport belonged to Said Bahaji, October 2, 2009. 11 Iqbal Khattak, “Taliban Good at Posturing, Poor at a German national of Moroccan descent 5 Zahid Hussain, “Laddah, Sararogha Cleared; Street Resisting,” Daily Times, October 28, 2009; Iftikhar A. Fighting in Makin,” Dawn, November 18, 2009. Khan, “Troops Enter Militants’ Srarogha Base,” Dawn, 13 “589 Terrorists Killed So Far in Operation Rah-e-Ni- 6 Ismail Khan, “Army Close to Winding Up First Phase November 4, 2009. jat,” Frontier Post, December 10, 2009. of Operation,” Dawn, November 5, 2009. 12 Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, “First Phase of SWA Op- 14 Ibid. 7 Maleeha Lodhi, “South Waziristan: Risks and Oppor- eration Complete,” The News International, November 27, 15 “22 Tunnels, 15 Bunkers in SWA Destroyed,” The Na- tunity,” The News International, November 3, 2009. 2009. tion, December 4, 2009.

9 december 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 12 who is considered a member of the It is not the first time that leading only places Waliur Rahman, the TTP Hamburg Cell that was involved in the militants have escaped major military commander for South Waziristan, and 9/11 attacks on the United States. The operations and months of aerial his fighters in the Mehsud area, where second passport belonged to Raquel bombardment. The security forces’ he is organizing attacks against security Burgos Garcia, a woman from Spain, inability to obtain timely intelligence forces. who converted to Islam and married a and capture or kill militant commanders Moroccan, Amer Azizi; Azizi was part of has a pattern in all of their military It is possible that Hakimullah and his Spain’s Abu Dahdah al-Qa`ida cell and operations. Furthermore, the current commanders could be seeking shelter was active in sending Spanish militants offensive did not benefit from the in North Waziristan, where another to training camps in Afghanistan.16 element of surprise, as it was clear that Pakistani Taliban commander, Hafiz The discovery of the passports raised the military would launch the operation Gul Bahadur, maintains control.23 prospects that Said Bahaji and other before the winter so that gains could be Hakimullah and his commanders are members of al-Qa`ida could be hiding made by the time of the first snowfall. in South Waziristan or the adjacent As a result, the militants were able tribal areas. to flee from South Waziristan before “The struggle, however, the start of the offensive. The snow is far from over. The TTP The TTP, however, rejected the began to fall on December 9, making government’s claims. In addition to the movement of troops toward the has proved through its disputing government casualty reports, militants’ mountain redoubt difficult. unrelenting campaign TTP spokesman Azam Tariq insisted Outnumbered and outgunned, the that the militant group executed a militants retreated by replicating the of terrorist attacks in “tactical retreat” from their strongholds tactics used by the Afghan Taliban, Pakistani cities that its in South Waziristan and assured that deciding to employ guerrilla tactics to the group’s strength was largely intact.17 harass the advancing troops and attack capabilities have not been Tariq said that the TTP was prepared them at remote outposts. fully degraded.” for a long war and contended that the Hakimullah Mehsud has threatened retaliation against the military “Hakimullah Mehsud has once heavy snows begin in South unlikely to be in South Waziristan’s threatened retaliation Waziristan in January.19 The military, Wana area, where Maulvi Nazir and however, appears to be prepared for militants from the Ahmadzai Wazir against the military once the changing weather conditions. The tribe operate; these non-TTP militants heavy snows begin in South troops deployed to the combat zone are likely hesitant to allow TTP fighters have already been replaced by fresh into their area due to fears that it would Waziristan in January.” contingents.20 More helicopters, heavy destabilize their own towns by drawing weapons, night-vision goggles and in the Pakistan Army.24 Hakimullah other equipment, some of it provided by could also have found refuge in the United States, have been sent to the Orakzai Agency, an agency he used to Pakistan Army was only occupying the troops. The soldiers are also benefiting command for the TTP until the death major roads, while the militants were from jamming devices that have been of Baitullah Mehsud. Orakzai remains entrenched in the surrounding forests installed to protect military convoys a TTP stronghold where militants from and mountains.18 Lending credence from improvised explosive devices. Waziristan, Khyber and Dara Adam to the TTP’s claims about a tactical Khel also operate and which serves retreat, the government has so far failed It is clear that Hakimullah, Qari as a base for planning attacks against to kill or arrest any senior TTP leaders. Hussain, Waliur Rahman and Azam Pakistan’s urban centers. Some TTP Furthermore, even by accepting the Tariq are still alive, as they have spoken commanders and fighters are reported military’s claims of 589 Taliban fighters to reporters in recent weeks.21 This also to have entered Kurram Agency, and the killed, it is clear that the majority of shows that they have access to telephone fighters—numbering in the thousands— lines and are therefore unlikely to still service is not available there. Militants normally avoid were able to escape and will likely be in the Mehsud tribal territory in using satellite phones as their signals are easily tracked continue to pose a threat. South Waziristan, considering that the and have led to repeated captures. phone lines are no longer operational 23 Hafiz Gul Bahadar, however, is not part of the TTP. in the area.22 Current speculation 16 Zahid Hussain, “Passport of 9/11 Conspirator Found 24 South Waziristan is inhabited by two Pashtun tribes, in Waziristan,” Dawn, October 30, 2009. For details on Mehsud and Ahmadzai Wazir. The latter are not in- Amer Azizi, see Fernando Reinares, “Jihadist Radical- 19 “We Will Give Effective Answer to Military Action volved in the current fighting. The two tribes have tra- ization and the 2004 Madrid Bombing Network,” CTC in January – Hakimullah Mehsud,” Daily Jang, December ditionally been rivals and the government exploited this Sentinel 2:11 (2009). 10, 2009. rivalry by renewing its peace deal with Taliban militants 17 Ivan Watson and Samson Desta, “Taliban Claim ‘Tac- 20 Zaafir. belonging to the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe living in the tical Retreat’ in Pakistan,” CNN, November 4, 2009. 21 Personal interview, Qari Hussain, TTP leader, De- Wana and Shakai areas. The Mehsud-populated areas 18 Irfan Burki and Daud Khattak, “9 More Militants cember 5, 2009. were targeted by the Pakistani military because the TTP Killed in South Waziristan,” The News International, No- 22 Cell phones do not work in most tribal areas includ- had its headquarters there and drew most of its cadre vember 10, 2009. ing North and South Waziristan because mobile phone from the Mehsud.

10 december 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 12 decision by Pakistan’s military to send now in charge of the affairs in all tribal The third phase will include corrective fighter jets and helicopter gunships to regions. There are plans to complete political steps. Efforts will be made to central Kurram was apparently taken damage assessments so that tribal win the support of the Mehsud tribe following intelligence reports about the households affected by the fighting can against the militant groups. The military concentration of militants in the area.25 be compensated. South Waziristan’s has said that it recognizes this cannot be political administrator, Syed Shahab Ali accomplished until it demonstrates its The TTP has retaliated by carrying out Shah, promised that reconstruction and commitment to overcoming militancy suicide bombings and other attacks in development work would begin once in the region. There is also a proposal Pakistan’s urban centers, and tasking peace was restored. He also said that to relocate the Mehsud tribe’s regional its affiliates in Bajaur, Mohmand, unemployed men would be recruited headquarters from Ladha to Makeen, Hangu, Kurram and elsewhere to launch into the civil armed forces known which is located in the plains and can fresh attacks on the security forces to as Khasadar and Levies to maintain be better defended due to its proximity put pressure on the government and security in the area.27 to the army garrison in Razmak. The influence public opinion.26 They are fort in Ladha, which was destroyed by also launching sporadic hit-and-run Repair work on the Shakai-Kaniguram the militants, would also be rebuilt and attacks against Pakistan’s military in road and reconstruction of the Jandola- used to station troops for their quick South Waziristan. Srarogha road has reportedly started. deployment to problem areas. Reconstruction of the roadways will The Offensive Going Forward facilitate the movement of troops and The government also plans on creating The Pakistan government’s overall supplies, and enable the military to more administrative units to increase strategy in South Waziristan is not clear. mobilize quickly in case the militants the state’s official presence and make the Initially, it was to eliminate the TTP decide to launch a counteroffensive. Mehsud territory governable. Another leadership and capture the militants’ Work on restoring the power important and still divisive issue is the strongholds in South Waziristan. Yet bifurcation of South Waziristan into the military now plans on holding the “Public support for the two separate administrative divisions: areas it clears until the threat from the the Mehsud and the Ahmadzai Wazir TTP is diminished. In fact, the mission army’s actions in the tribal regions. The Mehsud tribe opposes has now become a counterinsurgency areas, currently at 51%, this plan, and warns that it would operation since the government plans create acrimony at a time when efforts on reviving the civil administration in could also be jeopardized are needed to bring the tribe into the the tribal agency. The military will also if the military bows to the mainstream. have to oversee the repatriation and screening of displaced tribal civilians to pressure of the United Conclusion their villages, and manage rehabilitation States and its NATO The TTP retreated from its strongholds and reconstruction work. As in Swat, in South Waziristan in the face of where the government has been slow allies and takes action the Pakistan military’s offensive. Its to revive the civil administration and against the hideouts of birthplace and headquarters are no reconstruction work has yet to begin longer under its control. The group in earnest, the situation is even more predominately Afghan is under pressure to launch the long difficult in South Waziristan. Taliban militants, such as guerrilla war that its commanders have threatened. Although the group still The second phase of military operations in North Waziristan and has armed units operating in Bajaur, in South Waziristan is being presented Baluchistan.” Mohmand, Dara Adam Khel, Khyber, as a clear and consolidation effort. The Orakzai, Kurram and other locations in troops will be clearing militants from all the northwest, the government appears captured territory, detaining suspects, determined to weaken the militants’ searching for weapons, removing transmission lines is also moving overall network. The airstrikes and mines and demolishing the homes of forward. Officials in the FATA political ground attacks by the military in lower Taliban members. The government is administration are planning to complete and central Kurram and in Orakzai and also planning on bringing the political major repair work, restore civic services Khyber are designed to destroy the TTP’s administration back to the area, where and revive the political administrative logistics and supply lines, in addition it has been absent for years. It will take system in South Waziristan by April to killing relocated cadres who fled time for civil officials to take control 2010, in time for the displaced Mehsud military action in South Waziristan. from the military authorities, who are tribespeople to return to their villages from the neighboring districts of Tank The struggle, however, is far from 25 Khattak. and Dera Ismail Khan. over. The TTP has proved through its 26 It is the TTP’s standard policy to claim responsibil- unrelenting campaign of terrorist attacks ity for attacks on security forces and police, but to remain in Pakistani cities that its capabilities silent when public places and civilians are attacked. Al- have not been fully degraded. Its success though Hakimullah denied TTP involvement in bomb- 27 “Mehsuds Who Suffered Losses in Military Opera- in hitting high-security military targets ing marketplaces, there have been attacks claimed by his tions Will Be Compensated,” Radio Razmak, December through complex suicide assaults proves organization in the past against these types of targets. 10, 2009. that it can continue to launch operations

11 december 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 12 despite losing its South Waziristan The Internet and its Role South Asia. The trial resulted in eight base. Moreover, the hardest part of the terrorism cases involving several mission for Pakistan’s military has only in Terrorist Recruitment dozen defendants and years of complex just begun. Routing guerrilla forces and Operational Planning international cooperation.1 with a modern army is not difficult; it is the “hold” phase of counterinsurgency By Sajjan M. Gohel Born in Virginia with parents from that will prove the most challenging. Bangladesh, Sadequee exhibited radical The militants can now begin to practice the virtual world is fast becoming sentiments in his teens. Soon after the the form of warfare at which they are the most important meeting place for September 11 attacks, he sent an e-mail best: sporadic guerrilla attacks against terrorists, and a major venue where to an extremist website expressing his troops. extremists can make contact with desire to join the Taliban.2 Sadequee’s like-minded individuals. Through extremist activity intensified when he Moreover, for Pakistan’s government these relatively anonymous contacts, met Syed Haris Ahmed, a Pakistani- to be successful, it will need to move an extremist can be brought into the American student at Georgia Tech, at against TTP leaders and cadre in other terrorist fold and become physically a mosque in Atlanta. The two made tribal areas—where they are seeking involved in terrorist plots. Today, contact in a password-protected chat shelter—which will stretch the military’s there are a growing number of cases room.3 Transcripts of their internet operations and make it more vulnerable in which terrorist groups, or jihadist conversations reveal that they fed off to guerrilla attacks. Public support radicalizers, have used the internet each other’s outrage at the U.S. wars in for military operations could fall if to recruit individuals in the West, Iraq and Afghanistan.4 civilians feel increasingly insecure in providing them a starting point to their own homes, workplaces and cities. engage in terrorist activity. By ignoring It was in the virtual space, through Public support for the army’s actions in this developing issue, there is the risk of murky web forums and radical chat the tribal areas, currently at 51%, could becoming complacent about an emerging rooms such as “Clearguidance,” that also be jeopardized if the military bows threat that appears to be growing more an extremist network of like-minded to the pressure of the United States and significant with time. individuals, together with Sadequee its NATO allies and takes action against and Ahmed, was established and the hideouts of predominately Afghan This article will explore a now defunct where ideas for terrorist training and Taliban militants, such as in North network of terrorist cells that were plotting attacks were discussed.5 The Waziristan and Baluchistan.28 It is clear located across the world and which network included a group of radicals that Pakistan’s security forces are still became connected through the internet. from Canada, known as the “Toronto in the early stages of their perennial By studying this network of cells, which 18” led in part by Zakaria Amara, a fight against Islamist militants intent the author identifies as the Digital Jihad gas station attendant;6 a Bosnian-born on weakening the state. Network, it becomes evident that the Swede named Mirsad Bektasevic who internet has become a key platform in was planning attacks against Western Rahimullah Yusufzai is a senior Pakistani cell formation and terrorist activity. interests in Sarajevo; and Aabid Khan journalist and political and security analyst Moreover, the article will also show from Manchester, England, who acted presently working as Resident Editor of the how the internet is increasingly being as a facilitator for various Pakistan- English daily The News International used to recruit Westerners for jihadist based terrorist organizations.7 The final in Peshawar. He has been reporting on operations at home and abroad. Finally, actor in the network was Younis Tsouli, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s North-West the article will identify the threat posed a former Moroccan diplomat’s son living Frontier Province, Federally Administered by “lone wolf” terrorism, which is made in London whose computer expertise Tribal Areas, and Baluchistan since the possible as a result of jihadist literature, made him the network’s hub.8 Tsouli early 1980s. online radicalizers and military training had also used the internet to build links materials available on the web. to al-Qa`ida operatives in Iraq.9

The Internet as a Staging Platform: 1 “Atlanta Defendant Found Guilty Of Supporting Ter- A Case Study of the Digital Jihad Network rorists,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 12, 2009. The internet is increasingly playing a 2 Ibid. critical role in linking together disparate 3 Bill Gillespie, “The Case Against Canada’s Plotters,” terrorist cells around the world. An Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, October 14, 2009. examination of one major global jihadist 4 Ibid. network reveals the sheer number of 5 Ibid. links and connections forged through 6 “Toronto 18 Video Evidence Released,” Canadian the internet. The case involved Ehsanul Broadcasting Corporation, October 20, 2009. Sadequee, who an Atlanta court found 7 “Atlanta Defendant Found Guilty Of Supporting Ter- guilty of conspiracy to materially rorists.” support terrorists in August 2009. His 8 Tsouli infamously was able to hack an FTP server trial explored a nexus of extremists who operated by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation were connected through the internet to Department and turn it into an al-Qa`ida message board, 28 This poll is available at Gallop Pakistan, the findings plan attacks and form a global network providing detailed information on the art of hacking. of which were published on November 3, 2009. linking North America, Europe and 9 “Terrorist Use Of The Internet,” Combating Terrorism

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