The Long War Journal: Adam Gadahn resurfaces in new al Qaeda tape

Written by Bill Roggio on October 4, 2008 1:59 PM to The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/10/adam_gadahn_resurfac.php

Adam Gadahn, al Qaeda's American spokesman, from his latest tape.

Adam Gadahn, al Qaeda's American spokesman, has resurfaced in a newly released videotape, squashing the rumors that he died in a US airstrike earlier this year. Gadahn was rumored to have been killed in a January 2008 airstrike in North Waziristan that killed Abu Laith al Libi, a senior al Qaeda commander in Afghanistan.

In the tape, titled "The Believer Isn't Stung From The Same Hole Hole Twice," Gadahn appeals to Muslims Pakistan to unite under al Qaeda's banner and end the feuds between various ethnic and tribal groups.

"It's time for you to put aside tribal, ethnic, and territorial differences and petty worldly disputes not just for now but forever and unite to restore the glories of your forefathers and hasten, Allah willing, the defeat of the Zionist-Crusader enemy and the establishment of the Islamic state, the Ummah, the so eagerly anticipated," Gadahn said, according to a partial translation provided by Laura Mansfield.

He called on Muslims in Pakistan to "fight the Crusaders and their agents wherever they are and don't be intimidate by their weak and futile plots." Gadahn also mentioned the US "economic meltdown," proving he is aware of the current crisis and the tape is not a remix of old information.

Gadahn, who is also known as Azzam al Amriki or Azzam the American, is the first American to be charged with treason since 1952. He was indicted in a US federal court under charges of treason and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization for making al Qaeda propaganda videos. "By aligning himself with al Qaeda, by moving overseas to be closer to al Qaeda’s base and leadership, and by joining in advocating al Qaeda’s terrorist agenda, an agenda that includes the overthrow of the United States government and the murder of American citizens, Adam Gadahn has committed treason against the United States of America," said US Attorney Debra Wong Yang.

The US has a $1 million reward out for information leading to his capture.

Rumors of Gadahn's death spread in early February and continued in March, but his death was never confirmed. He was said to have been killed in the Jan. 28 airstrike in North Waziristan that killed Abu Laith al Libi, al Qaeda's chief commander in Afghanistan, the leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and a chief spokesman for the terror group. Gadahn was thought to have been attending a strategy meeting of senior al Qaeda commanders in North Waziristan.

At the time, senior US intelligence officials told The Long War Journal there was no evidence that Gadahn was killed, and in fact they believed he was alive. Al Qaeda never released a martyrdom video to celebrate his death.

Gadahn death rumors peaked after the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US. He did not appear on the al Qaeda's Sept. 11 tape, as he had every year since 2004.

Previous reports on Adam Gadahn rumors:

• Gadahn death rumors continue to surface
March 6, 2008
• Adam Gadahn rumored killed in North Waziristan strike
February 8, 2008