DOCSLIB.ORG

In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SABIR MAHFOUZLAHMAR, et aL Petitioners, V. Civil Action No. 04-CV-1166(RJL) GEORGEW. BUSH, Presidentof the UnitedStates, et al., Respondents. DECLARATIONOF JAMES R, CRISFIELD JR. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I, CommanderJames R. Crisfield Jr., Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Navy, hereby state that to the best of myknowledge, information and belief, the followingis true, accurate and correct: 1. I am the Legal Advisor to the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals. tn that capacity I am the principal legal advisor to the Director, CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals, and provide advice to Tribunals on legal, evidentiary, procedural, and other matters. I also reviewthe record of proceedingsin each Tribunal for legal sufficiency in accordancewith standards prescribed in the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal establishment order and implementingdirective. 2. I hereby certify that the documentsattached hereto constitute a tree and accurate copy of the portions of the record of proceedings before the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal related to petitioner Sabir MahfouzLahmar that are suitable for public release. The portions of the record that are classified or considered taw enforcementsensitive are not attached hereto. I have redacted information that wouldpersonally identify other detainees and their family members,as well as certain U.S. Governmentpersonnel in order to protect the personal security of those 4891 individuals. I have also redacted internee serial numbers because certain combinations of internee serial numbers with other information becomeclassified under applicable classification guidance. I declare under penalty of perjury that the forego~~ Dated: ~ [ i~)C’@ I~)¢~ /~es R~. ~d Jr. "~ ~ JAGC, USN 4892 Department of Defense Director, CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals OARDEC/Ser: 0248 20 October 2004 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY From: Director, CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal Subj: REVIEW OF COMBATANTSTATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL FOR DETAINEE ISN #~1~ Ref: (a) DeputySecretary of DefenseOrder of 7 July 2004 (b) Secretary of the NavyOrder of 29 July 2004 1. I concur in the decision of the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal that Detainee ISN #~ meets the criteria for designation as an EnemyCombatant, in accordancewith references 2. This case is nowconsidered final and the detainee wi~ be scheduled for an Administrative Review Board. J. M. McGARRAH RADM, CEC, USN Distribution: NSC(Mr. John Bellinger) DoS (Ambassador Prosper) DASD-DA JCS (JS) SOUTHCOM(COS) COMJTFGTMO OAR.DEC(Fwd) CITF Ft Belvoir FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 4893 UNCLASSIFIED 19 Oct 04 From: Legal Advisor To: Director, Combatant Status Review Tribunal Subj: LEGAL SUFFICIFNCY REVIEW OF COMBATANTSTATUS REVIEW TRIEUNAL FOR DETAINEE ISN Ref: (a) DeputySecretary of DefenseOrder of 7 July 2004 (b) Secretary of the NavyImplementation Directive of 29 July 2004 Encl: (1) AppointingOrder for Tribunal #I 1 of 29 September2004 (2) Emall string concerning new evidence (3) Record of Tribunal Proceedings 1. Legal sufficiency review has been completed on the subject CombatantStatus Review Tribunal in accordancewith references (a) and (b). After reviewingthe record of the Tribunal, fmdthat: a. The detainee was properly notified of the Tribunal process and madean unswom statement at the Tribunal. b. The Tribunal was properly convenedand constituted by enclosure (1). c. The Tribunal compliedwith all provisions of references (a) and (b). Notethat information in exhibit R-7 was redacted. The FBI properly cerfifled in exhibit R-2 that the redacted informationwould not support a determinationthat the detainee is not an enemycombatant. The Tribunal adjourned on 8 October 2004. Subsequentto that date, informationthat could potentially support a determinationthat the detainee is not an enemycombatant was discovered by CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal personnel. In order to determineif this informationwould affect the Tribunal’s determination,I sent it via email to the two Tribunal membersremaining in GuantanamoBay, Cuba (the Tribunal President had already returned to his parent command).As indicated in enclosure (2), I requested that the two remaining Tribunal membersexamine the informationand determinewhether it wouldalter their prior determinationthat the detainee is properly classified as an enemycombatant. Followingtheir examinationof the document,both Tribunal membersstated that it wouldnot cause them to alter their decision. d. Thedetainee requested that one witness, another detainee, be producedto testify at the Tribunal. The requested witness was contacted but refused to testify at the Tribunal. Consequently,the Tribunal President correctly determinedthat the witness was not reasonably available. UNCLASSIFIED 4894 UNCLASSIFIED Subj: LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW OF COMBATANTSTATUS.REVIEW TRIBUNAL FOR DETAINEE ISN #~ The detainee also requested additional evidence in the form of a Bosniangovernment documentthat allegedly documentsthe fact that the detainee was found not guilty of attempting to bombthe U.S. Embassyin Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.The information about the evidence was provided to the U.S. State Department,which attempted to obtain the requested document. The Bosnian governmentwas unable to provide any such documenthowever. The Tribunal President therefore determined that the documentwas not reasonably available. The Tribunal’s efforts to acquire the requested documentwere appropriate and reasonable. In myopinion, the Tribunal President’s determination that the documentwas not reasonably available was appropriate. The detainee requested no other witnesses or other evidence. e. The Tribunal’s decision that detainee #~lis properly classified as an enemy combatant was unanimous. f. The detalnee’s Personal Representative was ~ven the opportunity to review the record of proceedings and declined to submit commentsto the Tribunal. 2. The proceedingsand decision of the Tribunal are legacy sufficient and no corrective action is required. 2 UNCLASSIFIED 4895 Departmentof~3efense Director, Combatant Status Review Tribunals 29 Sep 04 From: Director, CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals Subj: APPOINTMENTOF COMBATANTSTATUS REVIEWTRIBUNAL #11 Ref: (a) ConveningAuthority AppointmentLetter of 9 July 2004 By the authority given to mein reference (a), a CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal established by "Implementationof CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal Proceduresfor EnemyCombatants Detained at GuantanamoBay Naval Base, Cuba"dated 29 July 2004 is herebyconvened. It shall hear such eases as shall be broughtbefore it withoutfurther actionof referral or other;vise. The following commissionedofficers shall serve as membersof the Tribunal: ~ Colonel, U.S. Air Force; President ~~1~[, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force; Member Lieutenant Commander,U.S. Navy; Member J. M. McGARRAH Rear Admiral Civil EngineerCorps United States Navy 4896 HEADQUARTERS, OARDEC FORWARD GUANTANAMOBAY, CUBA APOAE 09360 14 October 2004 MEMORANDUMFOR DIRECTOR, CSRT FROM: OARDEC FORWARDCommander SUBJECT: CSRT Record of Proceedings ICO ISN#1~ 1. Pursuant to Enclosure (1), paragraph (I)(5) of Implementation of Combatant Stat us Review Tribunal Procedures for EnemyCombatants Detained at GuantanamoBay Naval Base, Cuba dated 29 July 2004, I am forwarding the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal Decision Report for the above mentionedISN for review and action. 2, If there are any questions regardingthis package,point of c0ntact on this matter is the undersigned at DSN660-3088. 4897 SECRET/~OFORN//X1 (U) CombatantStatus Review Tribunal Decision Report Cover Sheet (l f) This Documentis UNCLASSIFIEDUpon Removal of Enclosures (2) and (U) TRIBUNAL PANEL: #11 (u) ~SN#: Ref: (a) (U) ConveningOrder for Tribunal #11 of 29 September2004 (U) (b) (U) CSRTImplementation Directive of 29 July 2004 (U) (c) (U) DEPSECDEFMemo of 7 July 2004 (U) Ench (1) (U~OUO)Unclassified Summaryof Basis For Tribunal Decision (2) (U) Classified Summaryof Basis for Tribunal Decision (S/NF) (3) (U/FOUO)Summary of Detainee/Witness Testimony (U) (4) (U) Copies of DocumentaryEvidence Presented (SfNF) (5) (U/FOUO)Personal Representative’s Record Review (U) 1. (U) This Tribunal was convenedby references (a) and (b) to makea determination to whether the detainee meets the criteria to be designated as an enemycombatant as defined in reference (c). 2. (U) On 8 October 2004 the Tribunal determined, by a preponderanceof the evidence, that Detainee ~-is properly designated as an enemy combatant as defined in reference (c). 3. (U) In particular, the Tribunalfinds that this detainee is a memberof, or affiliated with al-Qaida, as morefully discussed in the enclosures. 4. (U) Enclosure(1) provides an unclassified account of the basis for the Tribunal’s decision. A detailed account of the evidence considered by the Tribunal and its findings of fact are containedin enclosures(1) and (2). Tribunal President SECRET//NOFORN//X1 4898 UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY OF BASIS FOR TRIBUNAL DECISION (Enclosure (1) to CombatantStatus Review Tribunal Decision Report) TRIBUNA~ANEL: #11 ISN #: ~ 1, Introduction As the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal (CSRT)Decision Report indicates, the Tribunal has determinedthat this detainee is properly classified as an enemycombatant and is a memberof, or affiliated with, al-Qaida. In reaching its conclusions, the Tribunal considered both classified and unclassified information. The following is an account of the unclassified evidence considered by the Tribunal and other pertinent information. Classified evidence considered
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’S Enduring Insurgency
    Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Editor: Jacob Zenn Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Jacob Zenn (Editor) Abdulbasit Kassim Elizabeth Pearson Atta Barkindo Idayat Hassan Zacharias Pieri Omar Mahmoud Combating Terrorism Center at West Point United States Military Academy www.ctc.usma.edu The views expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government. May 2018 Cover Photo: A group of Boko Haram fighters line up in this still taken from a propaganda video dated March 31, 2016. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Director The editor thanks colleagues at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (CTC), all of whom supported this endeavor by proposing the idea to carry out a LTC Bryan Price, Ph.D. report on Boko Haram and working with the editor and contributors to see the Deputy Director project to its rightful end. In this regard, I thank especially Brian Dodwell, Dan- iel Milton, Jason Warner, Kristina Hummel, and Larisa Baste, who all directly Brian Dodwell collaborated on the report. I also thank the two peer reviewers, Brandon Kend- hammer and Matthew Page, for their input and valuable feedback without which Research Director we could not have completed this project up to such a high standard. There were Dr. Daniel Milton numerous other leaders and experts at the CTC who assisted with this project behind-the-scenes, and I thank them, too. Distinguished Chair Most importantly, we would like to dedicate this volume to all those whose lives LTG (Ret) Dell Dailey have been afected by conflict and to those who have devoted their lives to seeking Class of 1987 Senior Fellow peace and justice.
    [Show full text]
  • 2. Bensayah Belkacem Had Phone Conversations with Abu Zubaydah
    UNCLASSIFIED CombatantStatusReviewBoard TO : Personal Representative FROM , CSRT ( 6 October 2004) Subject: Summary of Evidence for Combatant Status Review Tribunal: AL HAJJ, Boudella 1. Underthe provisionsofthe Secretaryofthe NavyMemorandum dated 29 July 2004, ImplementationofCombatantStatusReviewTribunalProceduresfor EnemyCombatants Detainedat GuantanamoBayNavalBase Cuba, a Tribunalhas beenappointedto reviewthe detainee'sdesignationas an enemy combatant. 2. An enemy combatanthas been definedas an individualwho was part ofor supportingthe Taliban or al Qaida forces, or associatedforces that are engagedin hostilitiesagainst the United States or its coalitionpartners. This includesany personwho committeda belligerentact or has directly supportedhostilitiesinaidofenemy armed forces. 3. The UnitedStatesGovernmenthas previouslydeterminedthat the detaineeis an enemy combatant. This determinationis basedon informationpossessedby the UnitedStates that indicatesthat he is associatedwith al Qaida. a The detainee is associatedwith al Qaida: 1. The detainee was arrested with BensayahBelkacem, a known al Qaida associate, for InternationalTerrorismby the Bosnia- Herzegovinaauthorities. 2. Bensayah Belkacem had phone conversations with Abu Zubaydah, a senior aide to Usama Bin Laden, who was in charge of screening recruits for al Qaida training camps inAfghanistan. 3. The detainee and othersacted as an organizedterrorist groupandthey were incontact with known al Qaida member, Abu Zubaydah . 4. Detainee was arrested by Bosnianauthorities in connection
    [Show full text]
  • 36 BAB II AL QAEDA DAN JEJARINGNYA Pada Bab II Skripsi
    BAB II AL QAEDA DAN JEJARINGNYA Pada bab II skripsi ini dibahas mengenai sejarah terbentuknya kelompok Al Qaeda. Kemudian disebutkan tentang struktur organisasi Al Qaeda dan cara perekrutan anggotanya yang disertai riwayat serangan-serangan yang telah dilakukan hingga tahun 2009, dimana tahun tersebut merupakan tahun awal analisis terkait penurunan serangan yang dilakukan Al Qaeda. Lalu akan dibahas juga tentang jejaring-jejaring Al Qaeda yang tersebar di berbagai negara dan profil beberapa tokoh yang berpengaruh di Al Qaeda. 2.1 Sejarah Terbentuknya Al Qaeda Al Qaeda yang merupakan kelompok teroris internasional ini dibentuk pada tahun 1988 oleh Osama bin Laden dengan gagasan awal dari Abdullah Azzam. Osama bin Laden adalah keturunan dari keluarga kontraktor asal Yaman yang sukses di Arab Saudi. Osama bin Laden yang lahir pada Juli 1957 tumbuh di lingkungan keluarga yang taat beribadah. Ayahnya, Mohammad Awad bin Laden mendidik Osama bin Laden dan saudara-saudaranya secara disiplin dan mengajarkan agama secara kolot (www.pbs.org/20/05/16). Seperti keluarganya yang lain, Osama bin Laden mengenyam pendidikan dasar dan menengahnya di Lebanon. Lalu melanjutkan pendidikan tinggi di Universitas King Abdul Aziz, Jeddah, Arab Saudi, mengambil jurusan bisnis manajemen. Semasa kuliah, Osama bin Laden juga berguru kepada Muhammad 36 37 Qutb, yang merupakan saudara dari tokoh pembaharu Islam, Sayyid Qutb37, dan Abdullah Azzam, yang merupakan seorang ulama Palestina dan salah satu pemimpin jihad anti-Soviet di Afghanistan (Riedel, 2008). Abdullah Azzam dilahirkan pada tahun 1941 di Desa Selat al-Harithis, sebelah utara Palestina. Dirinya bergabung dengan Muslim Brotherhood atau Ikhwanul Muslimin ketika berumur 18 tahun. Pada tahun 1967, Abdullah Azzam berangkat ke Yordania ikut serta dalam perang melawan Israel, ketika itu dirinya juga sedang belajar syariah di Universitas Al Azhar, Kairo, Mesir.
    [Show full text]
  • In the United States District Court for the Dist~Ct of Columbia
    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DIST~CT OF COLUMBIA BOUDELLAAL HAJJ, et al. Petitioners, Civil Action No. 04-CV-1166(RJL) GEORGEW. BUSH, Presidentof the UnitedStates, et al., Respondents. DECLARATIONOF JAMES R, CRISF1ELD JR. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I, CommanderJames R. Crisfield Jr., Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Navy, hereby state that to the best of myknowledge, information and belief, the followingis tree, accurate and correct: 1. I am the Legal Advisor to the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals. In that capacity I amthe principal legal advisor to the Director, CombatantStatus ReviewTribunals, and provide advice to Tribunals on legal, evidentiary, procedural, and other matters. I also reviewthe record of proceedingsin each Tribunal for legal sufficiency in accordancewith standards prescribed in the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal establishment order and implementingdirective. 2. I hereby certify that the documentsattached hereto constitute a tree and accurate copy of the portions of the record of proceedings before the CombatantStatus ReviewTribunal related to petitioner BoudellaAI Hajj that are suitable for public release. Theportions of the record that are classified or consideredtaw enforcementsensitive are not attached hereto. I have redacted information that wouldpersonally identify other detainees and the family membersof detainees, as well as certain U.S. Governmentpersonnel in order to protect the personal security of those 5069 individuals. I have also redacted internee serial numbersbecause certain
    [Show full text]
  • Extraordinary Rendition« Flights, Torture and Accountability – a European Approach Edited By: European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights E.V
    WITH A PREFACE BY MANFRED NOWAK (UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE) 1 SECOND EDITION 2 3 CIA- »EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION« FLIGHTS, TORTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY – A EUROPEAN APPROACH EDITED BY: EUROPEAN CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS E.V. (ECCHR) SECOND EDITION 4 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 09 PREFACE by Manfred Nowak, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture © by European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights e.V. (ECCHR) 13 JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN EUROPE – DISCUSSING Second Edition, Originally published in March 2008 STRATEGIES by Wolfgang Kaleck, ECCHR This booklet is available through the ECCHR at a service charge of 6 EUR + shipping. Please contact [email protected] for more information. 27 THE U.S. PROGRAM OF EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION AND SECRET DETENTION: PAST AND FUTURE Printed in Germany, January 2009 by Margaret Satterthwaite, New York University All rights reserved. 59 PENDING INVESTIGATION AND COURT CASES ISBN 978-3-00-026794-9 by Denise Bentele, Kamil Majchrzak and Georgios Sotiriadis, ECCHR European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) I. The Freedom of Information Cases (USA/Europe) Greifswalder Strasse 4, D-10405 Berlin 59 FOIA Cases in the U.S. Phone: + 49 - (0) 30 - 40 04 85 90 / 40 04 85 91 62 Freedom of Information Cases in Eastern Europe Fax: + 49 - (0) 30 - 40 04 85 92 Mail: [email protected], Web: www.ECCHR.eu II. The Criminal Cases Council: Michael Ratner, Lotte Leicht, Christian Bommarius, Dieter Hummel 68 The Case of Ahmed Agiza and Mohammed Al Zery (Sweden) Secretary General: Wolfgang
    [Show full text]
  • Clanship, Conflict and Refugees: an Introduction to Somalis in the Horn of Africa
    CLANSHIP, CONFLICT AND REFUGEES: AN INTRODUCTION TO SOMALIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA Guido Ambroso TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: THE CLAN SYSTEM p. 2 The People, Language and Religion p. 2 The Economic and Socials Systems p. 3 The Dir p. 5 The Darod p. 8 The Hawiye p. 10 Non-Pastoral Clans p. 11 PART II: A HISTORICAL SUMMARY FROM COLONIALISM TO DISINTEGRATION p. 14 The Colonial Scramble for the Horn of Africa and the Darwish Reaction (1880-1935) p. 14 The Boundaries Question p. 16 From the Italian East Africa Empire to Independence (1936-60) p. 18 Democracy and Dictatorship (1960-77) p. 20 The Ogaden War and the Decline of Siyad Barre’s Regime (1977-87) p. 22 Civil War and the Disintegration of Somalia (1988-91) p. 24 From Hope to Despair (1992-99) p. 27 Conflict and Progress in Somaliland (1991-99) p. 31 Eastern Ethiopia from Menelik’s Conquest to Ethnic Federalism (1887-1995) p. 35 The Impact of the Arta Conference and of September the 11th p. 37 PART III: REFUGEES AND RETURNEES IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA AND SOMALILAND p. 42 Refugee Influxes and Camps p. 41 Patterns of Repatriation (1991-99) p. 46 Patterns of Reintegration in the Waqoyi Galbeed and Awdal Regions of Somaliland p. 52 Bibliography p. 62 ANNEXES: CLAN GENEALOGICAL CHARTS Samaal (General/Overview) A. 1 Dir A. 2 Issa A. 2.1 Gadabursi A. 2.2 Isaq A. 2.3 Habar Awal / Isaq A.2.3.1 Garhajis / Isaq A. 2.3.2 Darod (General/ Simplified) A. 3 Ogaden and Marrahan Darod A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: an Empirical Study
    © Reuters/HO Old – Detainees at XRay Camp in Guantanamo. The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: An Empirical Study Benjamin Wittes and Zaahira Wyne with Erin Miller, Julia Pilcer, and Georgina Druce December 16, 2008 The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: An Empiricial Study Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 3 The Public Record about Guantánamo 4 Demographic Overview 6 Government Allegations 9 Detainee Statements 13 Conclusion 22 Note on Sources and Methods 23 About the Authors 28 Endnotes 29 Appendix I: Detainees at Guantánamo 46 Appendix II: Detainees Not at Guantánamo 66 Appendix III: Sample Habeas Records 89 Sample 1 90 Sample 2 93 Sample 3 96 The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: An Empiricial Study EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he following report represents an effort both to document and to describe in as much detail as the public record will permit the current detainee population in American T military custody at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba. Since the military brought the first detainees to Guantánamo in January 2002, the Pentagon has consistently refused to comprehensively identify those it holds. While it has, at various times, released information about individuals who have been detained at Guantánamo, it has always maintained ambiguity about the population of the facility at any given moment, declining even to specify precisely the number of detainees held at the base. We have sought to identify the detainee population using a variety of records, mostly from habeas corpus litigation, and we have sorted the current population into subgroups using both the government’s allegations against detainees and detainee statements about their own affiliations and conduct.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Article
    tHe ABU oMAr CAse And “eXtrAordinAry rendition” Caterina Mazza Abstract: In 2003 Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr (known as Abu Omar), an Egyptian national with a recognised refugee status in Italy, was been illegally arrested by CIA agents operating on Italian territory. After the abduction he was been transferred to Egypt where he was in- terrogated and tortured for more than one year. The story of the Milan Imam is one of the several cases of “extraordinary renditions” imple- mented by the CIA in cooperation with both European and Middle- Eastern states in order to overwhelm the al-Qaeda organisation. This article analyses the particular vicissitude of Abu Omar, considered as a case study, and to face different issues linked to the more general phe- nomenon of extra-legal renditions thought as a fundamental element of US counter-terrorism strategies. Keywords: extra-legal detention, covert action, torture, counter- terrorism, CIA Introduction The story of Abu Omar is one of many cases which the Com- mission of Inquiry – headed by Dick Marty (a senator within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) – has investi- gated in relation to the “extraordinary rendition” programme im- plemented by the CIA as a counter-measure against the al-Qaeda organisation. The programme consists of secret and illegal arrests made by the police or by intelligence agents of both European and Middle-Eastern countries that cooperate with the US handing over individuals suspected of being involved in terrorist activities to the CIA. After their “arrest,” suspects are sent to states in which the use of torture is common such as Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Jor- dan, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Ethiopia.1 The practice of rendition, in- tensified over the course of just a few years, is one of the decisive and determining elements of the counter-terrorism strategy planned 134 and approved by the Bush Administration in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb
    Journal of Strategic Security Volume 2 Number 2 Volume 2, No. 2: May 2009 Article 2 Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb Gregory A. Smith Air Force Special Operations Command Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, National Security Law Commons, and the Portfolio and Security Analysis Commons pp. 53-72 Recommended Citation Smith, Gregory A.. "Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb." Journal of Strategic Security 2, no. 2 (2010) : 53-72. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.2.2.2 Available at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol2/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Access Journals at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Strategic Security by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb Abstract This paper is organized into four chapters that focus on the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The four chapters examine different facets of the collective environment that have allowed AQIM to succeed and even thrive at times. The first chapter begins with Algeria’s war of independence with the French. The second chapter focuses on the nomadic Tuareg people. It seeks to show how the Tuaregs were deprived by French occupiers and how European colonization cost the Tuaregs access to vital trade routes used for centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’S Enduring Insurgency
    Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Editor: Jacob Zenn KASSIM BOKO HARAM BEYOND THE HEADLINES MAY 2018 CHAPTER 1: Boko Haram’s Internal Civil War: Stealth Takfir and Jihad as Recipes for Schism By Abdulbasit Kassim The jihadi insurgent movement Boko Haram has established itself as one of the relatively few jihadi movements to succeed in the capture, control, and governance of territory in Africa. Over the course of less than two decades, Boko Haram has morphed from a jihadi movement operating within Nigeria to a movement with a regional presence across multiple countries in West Africa and beyond. Since the internal civil war within the group shot into the news following the war of words between Abubakr Shekau and Muhammad Mamman Nur in August 2016, sundry observers have remained puzzled over how to describe the open competition and outright hostility that fractured the group into two factions. What is the current state of Boko Haram’s internal civil war in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region? This is the most frequently asked question by policymakers, scholars, and the general public interested in understanding the trajectory of the decade-old insurgency. The answer to this question has often focused on a stationary analysis of the mutual recrimination between Shekau and Nur in August 2016. Nonetheless, many events are taking place behind the scenes that can only be grasped through a close reading of the constant stream of primary sources produced by the two factions. Abu Mus`ab al-Barnawi’s
    [Show full text]
  • Al Qaeda’S Command- And-Control Structure
    Testimony of Steven Emerson Before the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence April 9, 2008 Steven Emerson Executive Director Investigative Project on Terrorism www.investigativeproject.org email:[email protected] Introduction: The 2001 invasion of Afghanistan was successful in obliterating much of al Qaeda’s command- and-control structure. Due to a robust and successful counter-terrorist policy made up of good intelligence gathered by the FBI, asset forfeitures and designations by the Department of the Treasury, and other good work by the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies within the intelligence community, the U,S. has fortunately not been hit with another attack since 9-11. Moreover, in the six and a half years since the those horrible, al Qaeda’s direct orchestration of acts of terrorism on the operational level has been somewhat constrained. This is not to say that al Qaeda has not been involved in terrorist attacks and plots since 2001 (training and guidance provided by al Qaeda in the 2005 London transit bombings and foiled 2006 Heathrow plot prove otherwise), but the group’s leaders have relied largely on the power of self- anointed franchises and recognized the power of spreading its message and ideology via the Internet. Extremist Muslims throughout the world have responded to this message and have sought to execute a number of attacks. While most have been stopped, some have been successful, killing hundreds and injuring thousands more, resulting in propaganda coups for al Qaeda and its leadership. Parallel to franchising the al Qaeda ideology, the group has successfully regenerated its operational capabilities in the sanctuary of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan.
    [Show full text]
  • E-Bulletin on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
    International Commission of Jurists E-BULLETIN ON COUNTER-TERRORISM & HUMAN RIGHTS No. 28, November 2008 AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST Swaziland: Opposition member arrested under Terrorism Law Morocco: Former Guantánamo detainee convicted of terrorism-related offences Saudi Arabia: 991 people indicted on terrorism charges Israel: NGOs petition Supreme Court against Security Services’ non-compliance with “torture ruling” AMERICAS USA: Senate Judiciary Committee orders Justice Department to release documents USA: Order allowing the military to attack terrorists outside war zones revealed USA: Military Commission convicts second Guantánamo Bay detainee USA: District Court orders release of five Guantánamo Bay detainees USA: Released documents reveal transfers in violation of non refoulement Canada: Ontario Supreme Court issues conviction of a terrorism suspect Colombia: Anti-terrorism prosecutor search personal data in Colombian universities Chile: Three students arrested under anti-terrorism law for launch of molotov ASIA - PACIFIC Pakistan: New law punishes acts of cyber-terrorism with death penalty Sri Lanka: Lawyers defending terrorist suspects receive death threats Indonesia: Authorities execute three persons convicted of the 2002 Bali terrorist attack Japan: UN human rights experts demand equal rights guarantees for asylum-seekers suspected of terrorism Australia: Police announce end of control order for former Guantánamo detainee EUROPE & COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES UK: Court of Appeal finds disclosure of evidence not essential to fair
    [Show full text]