Mar 07 2008

Wait, Al Qaeda might not be up front with us? Plus: Gadahn’s new video?

So we’ve been hearing rumors about American Al Qaeda Adam Gadahn being killed for almost a month now. The last word was that he was probably still alive and snacking, but here’s a fresh bout of rumors to absorb from The NEFA Foundation.

Twelve militants were killed in a single missile attack on a residential compound in Khushali Wazir in the Mirali tehsil during the night of January 28. A loud explosion rocked the area at 11:22 p.m. According to well-informed NEFA sources in Pakistan, among those reportedly killed in the attack were senior al-Qa’ida commander Abu Laith al-Libi, his former deputy Abu Suhail, Hamza al-Somali (of Australian or US nationality), and Azzam al-Amriki (an a.k.a. of American al-Qa’ida member Adam Gadahn) [Gadahn’s death has yet to be officially confirmed].

I understand the conventional wisdom that Al Qaeda loves to announce the martyrdom of its high ranking members as a means of inspiring the poor joes they’re suckering into becoming suicide bombers. Despite that and given the continued non-appearance of a figure who is usually featured heavily in Al Qaeda’s propaganda, isn’t it possible that they aren’t particularly interested in letting it get out that we managed to ice their singular well-known American convert?

Is Adam Gadahn, the American Al Qaeda, dead or alive parody image

Just food for thought while the rumors keep building. Do we keep reporting the back and forth on this or do we just happily assume that the California terror-pawn got his just deserts (or is that desserts in Gadahn’s case)?

Update:

Jawa Report has some more and a bit of well-deserved gloating.