Over fifteen years ago, I spoke with someone in Gaza about a Hamas bomb maker who had been killed in an Israeli anti-terrorism operation. I told him, mockingly, “That’s the end of that terrorist.” The man said, “No, his words will live forever.”
The Hamas bomb maker had recorded some tapes not only explaining how to build a bomb, but also inciting others to follow in his footsteps. Today the United States faces challenges from homegrown terrorists who have been radicalized to launch attacks here or to travel abroad for jihad. In either case, these individuals have been radicalized with words that have incited them to take the path of violence. Al-Qaeda has used English-speaking propagandists, such as American citizens Anwar al-Awlaki and Adam Yahiye Gadahn to radicalize and recruit for jihad. Neither posed a tactical threat with a weapon on a battlefield, but their voices resonate even now with those seeking to conduct violent acts of terrorism.
On July 13, 2015, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez posted two articles on his blog that gave some insight into his Salafist mindset. Three days after posting these articles, he attacked an Armed Forces Recruiting Center and killed four Marines and a sailor at a Naval Operations Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Abdulazeez’s two articles are titled “Understanding Islam: The Story of the Three Blind Men” and “A Prison Called Dunya.” Certain themes in Abdulazeez’s blogs have been present in statements made by other Salafist terrorists. Like so many others who have been radicalized, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez had downloaded audio recordings of Anwar al-Awlaki.
Weeks before he helped his brother set bombs at the Boston Marathon, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev created a Twitter account where he tweeted praise of the late al-Awlaki. Tsarnaev tweeted, “Listen to Anwar al Awlaki's (a shaheed iA) the here after series, you will gain an unbelievable amount of knowledge.”
Alwaki’s Salafi ideology is the driver that motivates young men born or living in the West to carry out violent acts of terrorism. His message has resonated with many. Major Nidal Hassan communicated via email with al-Awlaki before killing 13 and wounding 32 at Ft. Hood. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the so-called “Underwear Bomber” who attempted to blow up an aircraft in December 2009; Faisal Shahzad, the Time Square Bomber; Sharif Mobley, imprisoned in Yemen on terrorism charges; and numerous others have all been radicalized and followed in al-Awlaki’s footsteps.
Today the Internet and social media act as enablers, providing the medium for those seeking the path of self-radicalization. Works like Ma ‘alim fi Tariq (Milestones) by Sayyid Qutb, Millat Ibrahim by Abu Mohammad al-Maqdisi, The Call to Global Jihad by Abu Musab al-Suri, Constants on the Path of Jihad by Anwar al-Awlaki are just some of the familiar Salafist resources that have contributed to the radicalization of terrorists.
In a video released by al-Qaeda’s media arm As-Sahab, Adam Gadahn stated, “Anyone who was thinking of going forth to the arenas of jihad today has to be aware of the difficulties and dangers he might face …. and I advise every brother who wants to work for this religion to not undertake any action before taking advantage of the wide range of resources available today on the Internet.”
The danger today is that anyone with a smart phone or an Internet connection can be radicalized. Recently we have seen three schoolgirls from Denver attempt to fly to join ISIS. The use of jihadi social media has increased and has become one of the main vehicles terrorists use to reach their followers. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and numerous other social media platforms project the adventure and glorify the actions undertaken by fighters and martyrs seeking others to follow in their footsteps. Moner Mohammad Abusalha from Ft. Pierce, Florida, was radicalized and traveled to Syria, where he became the first American suicide bomber in Syria. Shirwa Ahmed from Minneapolis became the first American suicide bomber in Somalia. Omar Hammami from Daphne, Alabama, fought with the Al-Shabaab in Somalia, where he made numerous videos—even a rap song seeking to inspire other Americans. In May 2013, another American, Nicole Lynn Mansfield of Flint, Michigan, was killed in Syria along with two other persons.
The active involvement of thousands of Westerners from France, England, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Turkey, Morocco, and the United States, creates a huge problem. Such fighters can return from the battlefield with military skills – radicalized and tied to terrorist groups. Armed with a passport from a Western nation, these individuals can travel freely. For Al-Qaeda and ISIS, this is an opportunity to identify, radicalize, and recruit fighters with experience who can travel freely anywhere in Europe and maybe even to the United States. Law enforcement and citizens have to learn what to look for in the radicalization and recruitment of a potential jihadi. What makes someone from California leave the United States and to go and fight jihad? What makes an American from Ft. Pierce, Florida, leave his family and become a suicide bomber? We need to do a better job of identifying those who are recruiting Americans to fight jihad whether in person or online. We must be especially vigilant for those who may return. After all, our safety and way of life are in peril if we do nothing.
As our nation approaches the 14th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we should examine the changes and challenges that we face because of the radicalization and recruitment of terrorists. Queen Rania of Jordan once said, “You cannot kill an ideology with bullets, you can only kill it with a better idea.” First, we must be able to recognize the manipulation and motivation of potential recruits before they are radicalized and on the road to jihad. Secondly, we need to be able to identify Americans and other Westerners who have gone to Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Pakistan to fight jihad. Sooner or later, those who are not captured or killed will come home. Third, we must communicate the ideas and concepts that have made America great. No Salafist ideology can compete with that.
