Inside al-Qaeda
It's rare to speak to someone who's been a member of al-Qaeda, and rare too to interview a spy. On tonight's Newsnight - events permitting - we'll do both in a special programme entitled Inside al-Qaeda: A Spy's Story.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s security correspondent Gordon Corera has - over a period of many months - obtained exclusive access to Omar Nasiri - not his real name - who worked for European security agencies during the 1990s and infiltrated al-Qaeda both in the camps of Afghanistan and in terror cells in London.
His story is extraordinary, revealing the extent of al-Qaeda's preparations - years before 9/11 - to target the west, but also the British authorities' lack of awareness of the growing threat of Islamic terrorism. It'll be an unusual edition of Newsnight - more documentary than daily news - but I think it's one not to miss. You can watch a preview clip by clicking here.
Comments
So, as many people were saying, al-Qaeda was plotting attacks against the west long before 9/11 and Iraq. In fact at just the same time the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ was broadcasting 'The Power of Nightmares' telling us there was nothing to worry about. Well done ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, a good few years late but you got there eventually.
It may be rare for a journalist to meet and talk to an insider from Al Qaeda but at Gitmo and hopefully other secret places like it, American intelligence agents meet and talk with them every day. And while you may get the truth from one spy's perspective in a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ interview, our intelligence agents get anything they want from every last one of them I expect. How? Hopefully....WATERBOARDING! It works. The boyscout mentality of so many people horrified by the prospect disgusts me. Our very existance as a civilization is at risk. These are not nice people we are dealing with.
Wasn't the first such story and wont be the last but they will always LOOK FAKE. Give me a break!
The fighters who became the Taliban were trained by US funds to fight Russian Power. Now you want us to believe video footage of those same bases couldnt have been made to look anti-western? Many might fall it but a discerning eye and those who know the history of CIA counterintelligence will not be so quick to buy it.
So tonight we'll get the narrative of a spy who's worked for European espionage agencies infiltrating al-Qaeda... I'm sure he'll make sure to justify the need for his type, just like any agent of the state justifies the indispensability of his/her post and actions.
It has worked like that for ages, but we never learned the lesson.
Looking forward to Mr Nasiri's spicey spy-stuff - let's be more fearful of the devil and support our high priests by sacrificing what's left of our once-cherish civil liberties.
Thank you ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.
"our intelligence agents get anything they want"
That's precisely the problem, apart from the fact that it is a disgusting act.
Yet another dramatised pathetic attempt to scare monger the public and sweep headlines with myths and dramatisation.
Successfully dragging the once respected name of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in the gutter. I'm sure when they wake up and realise you represent the face of RACISM, and ANTI RELIGION warefare they'll give you a fat bonus for polluting the mind of the average no brainer that actually believes your rubbish!
The day you actually put a "infiltrator" on that declares he is a "REAL" Muslim, and aint scared of the consequence, we'll think about believing you.For now, we may assume you are using your own type of islamaphobes to aid your smear campaign. Anyone can obtain and write scripts for drama students to appear as spys. Only next time try using the writers of you your ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Serial dramas in order to make it look believable!
Pathetic.
I didn't see you attacking the BNP and the injusticce served at their comments! So why you being hypocrites and fighting a lost battle?? You know Islam and it's followers are stronger than any of your myths. Your rubbish is only going to make them stronger.
God Bless you for increasing the steadfastness and faith of the REAL Muslims and prooving to everyone you are the devil without a disguise!
Tonight’s program was interesting but not earthshaking. The performance of the British security services during this period was dismal and the program confirmed this. Anyone who took an interest could see that something was going horribly wrong during those days when Abu Hamza was preaching hate outside the Finsbury Park mosque, with police protection! It seems that AQ were working on chemical weapons from a very early stage after all. Imagine that.
NEWSNIGHT - 16Nov06
8/10 - just watched the film on alqaeda.
Very interesting indeed, not what I was expecting.
Taking the content as read & on face value, another perspective on past events, which have bearing on how we tackle the current & future threats.
I do agree that the western notions about the scale, nature of the threat & how it should be tackled, requires overhauling & clearly our intelligence communities have made some serious errors of judgement.
Given the last couple of months have highlighted issues with Muslims at home & abroad, this film brought a new perspective to the debate about being British & Muslim.
Also it again helped to make the distinction between separatists, radicals, extremists & terrorists.
btw -most non Muslims are aware that a minority of British Muslims have made sincere efforts to assimilate & integrate, they are welcome & their help is needed to successfully tackle both radicalisation & terrorism.
PROGRESSIVE SOCIETIES:
The notion of violence to its citizens, assets & society is not new to progressive democratic societies.
However, what is new, is the mantra fuelling the desire of some European Muslims to reject / attack the very same societies that has granted their them & their religious based communities a home & access to unique package of rights, freedoms, liberties & resources (employment, education, health, social services etc).
A similar/comparable package is not on offer in any Muslim state around the world.
Therefore, it is doubly tragic & rather telling of people motivated by Islamic extremism, that instead of making the most of these opportunities (as the vast majority of foreign nationals have) they not only do reject the host societies (whose very constructs enables such liberties & access) but abuse the same opportunities to attack the host societies & sign up to a totally radical non indigenous agenda.
THE NATURE OF THE THREAT:
Two Types of threat:
Type I - Islamic terrorist organisations who pursue an agenda akin to the notion of 'hey west, take your foot of our door' (leave Muslim states) or there will be consequences.
Type II - Islamic radicals & extremists organisations who pursue an agenda akin to the notion of 'hey west, we are here now & here to stay, on our terms not yours' & at the very least can provide a recruiting ground & support network for Type I
From a tactical perspective it makes sense, no need for true 'sleeper' agents become an open agent provocateur in the heartland of your 'enemy', engaging their opportunities & freedoms for the benefit of your cause & challenge openly the very limits of that societies tolerances, in order to fashion something you desire. Your demonstration of open 'resistance' also providing a recruiting clarion call to others.
Therefore, what we are also experiencing is way beyond simple 'terrorist atrocity response to perceived injustices' it’s a credible attempt to highjack, dominate & establish permanent bases of wide spread radicalisation within European Muslim communities, physical ghettos & cultural enclaves run according to the whims of interpretation based on non indigenous beliefs to that region.
In that sense, its 'Caliphate Lite' from within, which then leads us back to Islamic extremist organisations like Hizb ut Tahrir & others like Tablighi Jamaat.
THE CHALLENGES:
Tablighi Jamaat (secretive) & Hizb ut Tahrir (semi secretive) are Sunni based extremist Islamic organisations.
Both have laid down the gauntlet to progressive democratic society in the UK, the opening direct challenges taking the form of:
- a schoolgirls uniform (successful campaign sponsored by Hizb ut Tahrir) [2a]
- a 'veil' worn by a member of a school's staff (a failed campaign sponsored by Tablighi Jamaat) [2b]
Either way they are challenges, a declaration of 'we are here to stay & demand the right to live according to how we want, irrespective of what your mainstream laws, customs & values say'.
But lets not forget the biggest opening shot (pardon the pun) at Salmon Rushdie [1a] even from the like of Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former head of the Muslim Council of Britain,[1b]
RECRUIT BASE:
However, both extremist organisations are playing games with the system they do not respect & wish to ignore/replace.
They are on the look out for opportunities to recruit where British Muslims congregate (mosques, educational establishments & local centres/places in their communities).
For both, the challenge is 99.99% of their recruit base exists within British Muslim communities, who although these are largely not integrated & assimilated into British society, they resist the message of these Sunni Sects, but never the less stay apart from mainstream society (by active choice) a form of separatism.
TACTICS:
'Tablighi Jamaat' looks to its encroaching religious & educational dominance within those British Muslim communities where they can make headway.
For 'Hizb ut Tahrir' too succeed & influence their recruit base, they have to prove themselves of value & use to such communities so they can see a difference by accepting help from 'Hizb ut Tahrir' (presumably why we see a direction of resources into the local level).
National Socialism in Germany followed a similar tactic of 'hearts & minds' which is the strongest form of conversation (positive/negative causes).
EVOLUTION:
On the evolutionary scale, 'Hizb ut Tahrir' have advanced the usual stereo typical representation of Islamic Extremist ideas from the 'street corner full of bearded angry men' to a more slick campaign (by extremists standards).
However, 'Tablighi Jamaat' secretive nature is presenting real problems for it given at times it must engage with the mainstream society around it as it seeks to expand e.g. Mega Mosque application (2012 London Olympics).
However, in either case attempts at touting unreasonable objectives in a more reasonable manner does not change the core extremist nature of the agenda , esp when such is made in against the background of their dual disingenuous approach (saying one thing in public & clearly doing another in private).
SUMMARY:
Real campaigns are being pursued in British society & its Muslims communities, this requires finance:
Q. where does Hizb ut Tahrir obtain its funding from?
Q. where does 'Tablighi Jamaat' obtain its funding from?
Both organisations are making direct challenges, a declaration to their host progressive societies - 'we are here to stay & demand the right to live according to how we want, irrespective of what your mainstream laws, customs & values say'.
On one level the desire for self determination by a section of relatively new entrants is admirable.
However, given the evidence of the organised manner in which they have been using such available liberties & freedoms to pursue partially stated aims (most hidden) & esp given the open blue prints for a 'Caliphate' - such cannot be simply trusted to make best use of these freedoms for the benefit of British Society. Nor can they be trusted not to use the use the UK as a base to achieve their wider stated aims of domiance over Islam worldwide (as in the case of Hizb ut Tahrir).
That puts the ball at the feet of the establishment to respond proactively to such challenges / threats, rather than observe mainstream society react, after the event.
As to NCA investigations into radical & extremists organisations, I am remind of these words:
"The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye. The more light you shine on it, the more it will contract." - Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr [3]
vikingar
SOURCES:
[1a]
[1b]
[2a]
[2b]
[3]
Well argued comment 8. Vikingar.
Brilliant
A wonderful analysis from vikingar, I must say I am quite amazed that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ actually allowed the blog, so well done ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳!.
It would also be nice for some of the more open Muslim bloggers to respond to his analysis and start a proper debate.
Responding to message 1, by "J.G."
Please note, The Power of Nightmares was first broadcast at the end of 2004, a good three years after 9/11, and after the Iraq war.
It's a popular misunderstanding that the series was telling us there's "nothing to worry about". In fact, Adam Curtis writes: "The programmes did not say that there was no threat. What they argued was that although there is a serious threat of terrorism from some radical Islamists, the nightmare vision of a uniquely powerful hidden organisation waiting to strike our societies is an illusion."
All this money spent on researching and investingating groups that pose no real threat, and most likely don't even exist, is eventually going to make you start clicking your heels thrice-trying to get back home.
All you brits in wonderland should focus more on prevention rather protection. Prevent the warranted, by your own admission, anger stemming from the Israeli/PAL situation. Listen to the sounds of weapons being used in the Holy land so you will not have to hear them Arthur's Land. I take that back--Most terrorists would unlikely care about you if your in your own land but will surely eye you if you are in theirs--simple state of affaris.
Alas, These groups are fake and the only thing you should 'fear is fear itself', like JFK said.- Assasinated in the same State Bush is from while his daddy was CIA director. but you don't care because your sooo enlightened---thats why you have to enlighten the backward mideasterner.
I have not seen the program being discussed as I live in the US, but we have our own version here and I am taking heed. Great blog vikingar! Abbie, excuse me, who represents the face of racism and anti religion...anti Jew/judeo christian religion, Islamic fanatics that's who! I have no qualm with Muslims practicing their "true religion", but any extreme religion seems to breed hatred, Muslim, Christian, Jew, what have you. Islam and Jihad against Jews, Christian and any non Muslim in general is to be feared. We need to wake up now Abbie or you will not have the freedom to voice your opinion online or anywhere in the future.
Spooks do not say they are spooks.
Terrorists do not say they are terrorists.
Makes those who do questionable.
Just had a chance to take in the full report on the net.
After criticism of the recent Taleban 'interview' - and I had substantial sympathy with some of that criticism - then a mountain of online 'glove puppets' mouthing fatwas or seeking to impersonate disgruntled ethnic british in hilarious ways, after the brilliant expose of Hizb ut Tahrir a week ago, it's surely time to say a massive well done to Barron, Paxman and the whole Newsnight team.
And in these two standout cases, last week, plaudits also to vikingar, roving internet pundit. What you said above was a profound attempt to get all our heads round the very difficult issues raised, thank you.
As for the power of nightmares ... the issue surely is that sometimes a nightmare is the quickest and most effective way to be jolted out of compacency and receive necessary (albeit simplified or somewhat symbolized) truth.
People in our intelligence services in the 1990s clearly didn't see anything like clearly enough the nightmare Omar Nasiri was describing to them. There may also have been areas of overreaction since. But at least we have democratic representatives - until sharia law is fully upon us - and governments on whom we can take out our displeasure, through the ballot box, if we feel that they've got the balance wrong.
Surely the most significant part of this report was the claim that senior AQ people deliberately provided fake intelligence that would goad the West into invading Iraq, thus creating a base for future operations. That is a another, much more gritty, Iraq War conspiracy theory is it not? It is surely worth bringing this kind of evidence together with our most intelligent picture of what was going on in the Madrid bombing, which single-handedly unseated Aznar after he'd chosen, bravely (given the overall mood of his people), to support Bush and Blair in Iraq.
But such synthesis will take time. Thanks to all for providing such high quality additional 'raw material' in this instance.
As usual, people like viking write about Tabligh Jamaat without knowing what there aims are. I do not wish to discuss and wate my time discussing it.
A very interesting programme, but I wonder why no-one in the UK news media appears to have properly covered the story of the Al-Qaeda operative - Ali Mohamed - who infiltrated the US Army's Special Forces, the FBI and the CIA?
See Peter Lance's book 'Triple Cross' - a National Geographic documentary was made, but Lance says he was cut out of the production process and calls it 'a whitewash', skewed to exonerate the FBI's incompetence.
Also, the lack of media coverage of the FBI's tragically inept handling of an informant who would have enabled them to foil the 1993 World Trade Center bombing - and their continuing incompetence re. Al Qaeda ever since, when otherwise the 9/11 attacks could also have been stopped. The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ were happy to buy in a drama-documentary starring Harvey Keitel, 'The Path to 9/11', which was based on another book by Peter Lance - '1000 Years for Revenge' - but most of these uncomfortable facts were missing, as with the National Geographic documentary. Perhaps Newsnight or another section might find these worthy of attention?