And no, the title isn't some kind of National Review fantasy about the links between public broadcasting and Evildoers, but rather about a segment on NPR this morning regarding the State Department's annual report on terrorism.
The guest was Ambassador Dell Dailey, who talked at length about foreign fighters in Iraq returning home. We’ve discussed this on the blog regarding Yemen (of course) and to some extent Algeria. Dailey focused mostly on Algeria, and how the GPSC has become Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. Returning jihadis from Iraq are proving themselves to be even more dangerous and adaptable than their predecessors.
One thing that Dailey focused on was the Sinjar Records- al-Qaeda paperwork on foreign fighters that was found in Iraq. Read through this summary if you have some time. It is fascinating and bizarre- one thing which is rarely talked about is how clericalal-Qaeda is. The documents show where the fighters are from, contact numbers, items entrusted (“500 riyal and a watch”), etc. It is jarring and a wierd mix of comedy and horror. Bureaucracy and suicide bombings mixing.
Anyway- I will try to read at least the Middle East section of the State Department report tonight, and will report back on it ASAP.*
*- With more emphasis on the “as possible” than the “soon”.
