American Shabaab commander Omar Hammami releases tape that mocks reports of his death

Hammami-Nasheed-cruise.jpg

Image from the Al Qimmah Islamic Network announcing the release of Omar Hammami’s latest nasheed. Hammami is also known as Abu Mansoor al Amriki.

An American citizen who serves as a senior Shabaab military commander and propagandist mocked reports of his death in a song released on a jihadist website.

Omar Hammami, who is also known as Abu Mansoor al Amriki, released a nasheed, or Islamic song, on the Al Qimmah Islamic Network, a propaganda outlet for the al Qaeda-linked Shabaab. The Long War Journal reported on March 15 that Hammami was not killed in recent fighting in Mogadishu as had been claimed by Somali’s defense minister on March 8.

In the clumsy, rap-styled song, Hammami glorifies death while waging jihad and asks to die like other notorious Qaeda commanders [the lyrics and audio are provided in full below].

“Send me a cruise like Maa’lam Adam al Ansari, And send me a couple of tons like Zarqawi, And send me a drone like Abu Laith al Libi, And Special Forces like Saleh Ali Nabhan,” the opening chorus of Hammami’s nasheed begins.

“Send me all four and send me much much more, I pray for that on my way to heavens door,” the chorus continues.

Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed by bombs launched in a US airstrike in Baqubah, Iraq in June 2006; Abu Laith al Libi, the leader of al Qaeda’s Brigade 055, was killed in a US Predator airstrike in Pakistan in January, 2008. Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, the top leader of Shabaab and al Qaeda’s network in East Africa, was killed during a US Special Operations Forces helicopter raid in Somalia in September 2009. Maa’lam Adam al Ansari is Aden Hashi Ayro, Shabaab’s military leader who was killed in an airstrike in the spring of 2008.

Hammami has released similar propaganda in the past. In May 2010, Hammami appeared in another awkward rap-nasheed, titled “First Stop Addis.” In that rap, Hammami also claimed he sought to die a martyr.

“My number one goal… die a shaheed,” or martyr, he repeated constantly in his May 2010 rap.

Background on Omar Hammami

Hammami is a US citizen who converted to Islam and then traveled to Somalia in 2006. Once in Somalia, he quickly rose through the ranks, and now serves as a military commander. He is one of the many foreign commanders who hold senior leadership positions in Shabaab, which is al Qaeda’s affiliate in East Africa. Hammami is one of 14 people indicted by the US Justice Department in August 2010 for providing material support to Shabaab.

Hammami also began appearing in Shabaab propaganda tapes. In one tape, released in May 2010, Hammami stressed that Shabaab’s war is not confined to Somalia but is global in nature. “From Somalia and Shiishaan (Chechnya), from Iraq and Afghanistan, gonna meet up in the Holy Lands, establishing Allah’s Law on the land,” Hammami says in a chorus repeated throughout the song. In the tape, Hammami and others identify their enemy as the “salib,” or crusaders.

In February, the Somali government, backed by Ugandan and Burundian forces in the African Union, as well as Ethiopia, launched an offensive against Shabaab. Somalia’s President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, claimed on March 7 that Shabaab “is on the verge of collapse” after the terror group was driven out of several strongholds in the capital of Mogadishu as well as in the Gedo region on the Kenyan border.

The government claimed that Shabaab has lost more than 500 fighters during the offensive. But the African Union has suppressed information about heavy casualties to its own forces. On Mar. 4, it was reported that 53 African Union troops had been killed during the fighting. Although no estimates on the number of Somali troops killed have been released, a US intelligence official told The Long War Journal that Somali forces have suffered heavy casualties during the current fighting.

Listen to Hammami’s martydom rap:

Lyrics to Hammami’s martydom rap:

Chorus:

Send me a cruise like Maa’lam Adam al Ansari

And send me a couple of tons like Zarqawi

And send me a drone like Abu Laith al Libi

And Special Forces like Saleh Ali Nabhani

Send me all four and send me much much more

I pray for that on my way to heavens door

Send me four and send me more, that what I implore

An amazing martyrdom I strive for and adore

Start:

It’s been decreed no matter what they try

Islam can’t be martyred, defeated and it can’t die

Regardless the Kuffar and the Munafiqeen,

Islams only got one choice and that is victory

Stand up heroes of Islam o Mujahideen

Keep moving forward for Allah’s word to reign supreme

Respond to the calls of the oppressed and improvise

You’ve been promised two possibilities in life

It ain’t do or die, it’s do or paradise

Victory in this life or forever delight

You think we die but no it’s a lie

In the bellies of green birds soaring through paradise

Our killed are in the highest place

While yours are in disgrace

Our killed roam their gardens and mansions

With the purest mates

So train those marines hard, one shot one kill

Headshots heart shots, for them it’s a big thrill

A moment’s joy, but me I’m filled with happiness

Meeting my Lord, faced forward to eternal bliss

There’s nothing as sweet as the taste of a tank shell

But it could be compared to being where the mortar fell

But all that could be seen as tasteless

Compared to smart bombs falling when they don’t miss

It was a beautiful day, when that predator paradise missile sent me on my way

A one way ticket with no stops or delays, no problems in the grave nor fear on that day

Or better yet send me a cruise, and send me on a cruise

Family rejoices at the news and follows me in what I do

You can’t find someone more happy than a shaheed

He got everything but one thing he requests and pleads

To come back and fight and fight and be killed

And keep coming back and getting killed if only Allah willed

But we don’t need that, the youth are coming and bold

Every martyr being replaced by 100 fold

So you must admit that you are falling fast

And need to act quick to submit or face more wrath

But if not don’t fear we’re coming forth

Generations taking Jihad as their favorite sport

Killing the oppressors and being killed in the process

The most beautiful end but how can I express

I profess and strive against those who oppress and transgress

I obsess not depress for martyrdom success

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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24 Comments

  • Soccer says:

    I’d rather not listen to that trash.
    What a pathetic attempt at being a “cool” jihadi.

  • kp says:

    Maa’lam Adam al Ansari: from the name he’s either from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar or from North India or Pakistan.

    Or perhaps it’s a more literal use of al ansar (helper).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansari_(nesbat)

  • James says:

    This calls to mind the sickening, blasphemous, and repulsive words of Major Nidal Hassan: “We love death more than you love life.”
    I say to that, give them just what they want (which is death).
    Hopefully, our soldiers and the rest of US will be much obliged to assist this guy in fulfilling his final wish.

  • Sleepywizard says:

    May Alla speed him to his destination,the pits of hell!!

  • Max says:

    Well, he wants our help, so let’s give it to him!!!!

  • YZ says:

    People like this guy think they are holy, but believes in death… enough said.

  • Render says:

    No GPS co-ords? No home address? No cell phone number?
    The bravado is as fake as usual.
    CHICKEN,
    R

  • nolan says:

    Interesting how western music still influences a guy that seems to abhor everything about the United States. I am curious what the beat sounds like.
    This is pure propaganda in its best form. Like an old navy commercial on television last night, it targets youth with a clever chorus and snappy rhyme.
    Anyways, the point I’m trying to make is, readers/commenters can make fun of his song all you want on here. It wasn’t directed at you or other US citizens. It was a recruiting tool first and an attempt at mocking our gov

  • E. says:

    This sick individual is going to drag more MAMs into the mix. The combination of martyrdom as a goal & staying alive as a result is a potent combination. He fails to mention the local impact of losing a male tribe-member to Omar’s personal cause.

  • Neonmeat says:

    Unfortunately I can’t listen to this cause I’m at work and I don’t think my boss would approve but do not certain Islamic Sects i.e the Taliban have decrees banning Music that is not a single male voice? I assume this is in the rap style with drumbeats and bass etc or maybe its just an idiot with a mic, but can someone clear this up for me please?
    Ha yeah they love death more than we love life…well they’re certainly getting what they want and I believe we are more than happy to keep giving them this gift and remember boys no refunds when the mortars start dropping!

  • bullseye says:

    His verses are wack. He’s trying to mix commercial hip-hop choruses with more underground intonation.
    His hyprocrisy isn’t surprising; after all, it’s jhad fools! Allah made it ok by all means necessary.

  • Spectre says:

    Its jihadist propaganda guys. I have to agree with “render” >>>> No GPS co-ords? No home address? No cell phone number?

  • Soccer says:

    Using western technology to insult… the west. How clever, yet contradicting.
    Maa’lam Adam al Ansari was probably a local Al Qaeda or jihadi fighter who died in one of many special forces raids in Somalia. He is probably only well known locally and not to westerners or analysts.

  • DrBobNM says:

    what a clueless moron.
    there needs to be a hardline stance against Islam in all civilized western countries.
    It is the only hope for all civilized peoples.

  • Jim S says:

    It’s hard to dance to.

  • GI says:

    Malaim adam: aka {Moalim Adam Hashi Aerow) killed MAY 1ST 2007 in a Cruise Missile in home town of DUSAMAREB, CENTRAL SOMALIA..!
    what a shame, this man is uising HIP HOP to RECRUIT and GLORIFY his RUBSIH>
    I am Moslem and Somali Patriot…and I DONT AGREE WITH THIS NONSENSE…!!!
    note: All Muslims are Not like this Guy…THANK GOD.

  • crusader says:

    recorded in the hit factory a new york recording studio?
    or was it golden records in mogadishu?
    who is this moron adam gadahn and why did he turn traitor?
    this idiot on this page is just looking for attention.
    he is interesting merely due to the fact he is an american…like johnny walker.
    well lets just dont give him anymore attention…

  • fuck you hadji says:

    Goddamn hadji better be ready when we do send a SOCOM lead force.

  • Grim says:

    @Nolan
    “Who are you and who are they to say how others will be judged-if at all.”
    These guys strap suicide bombs on kids. This is an epic fail in any religion. Even an atheist should see the wrong in that.
    Grim

  • PorkLover says:

    LOL so bad… I cant believe someone actually thought this would have any recruiting value

  • eLiminator says:

    At this point, even his handlers in Somalia are probably thinking, “OK, this numb-nuts is kind of making us look like idiots…”

  • Porkbullets says:

    This is a joke, right? This is terrible.

  • Candice says:

    “. . . love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? . . .” Matthew 5:44-46.
    Therefore, instead of speaking harmful things about Abu Mansour Al Amriki, show curteousness and pray for him and the people who follow and believe in his cause. Pray for peace among all human beings.

  • Candice says:

    P.S. this song was suppose to be a response to the media saying that he was killed……this song could just be what they decided to put out incase he was killed. If you listen to what he is saying….it sounds like he did this in case of the event that he is killed and so they put it out when he actually was killed. I think that the second paragraph really gives it away. Besides, why wouldn’t he mention Osama if he really is still alive? I still don’t have any concrete evidence that he is dead or alive, but I actually think that this song is confirmation that he is dead not alive…..which is the opposite of what the media is trying to say.

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