Yemen’s Al Qaeda Branch Renaming Itself For Public Relations Makeover
- Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:03pm by
Buck Sexton
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Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is trying to change its image in order to drop some of the “baggage” the group has acquired from its associations with Anwar Awlaki, the “Underwear Bomber” Farouk Abdulmutallab,” and other terrorists.
The first stage of the change revolves around the name of the group, which has been been altered to reflect a broader Islamic extremist mission and help attract new recruits. As a result, the terrorist group that senior U.S. intelligence officials have called perhaps the greatest operational threat to the United States goes by a new name, which according to Fox News is now, ”Ansar al Sharia.”
The name reporteldy means “Army of Islamic Law.”
“After (Usama) Bin Laden’s death and the Arab Spring,” Fox reports, “the name (al Qaeda) seems to have negative connotations and baggage.”
Fox News also claimed that the number of Al Qaeda fighters in Yemen is around a thousand– which is four times the estimated number of active fighters in Pakistan.
Given the high profile of the group, it appears the name change may be more directed at western audiences than the Islamic recruits AQAP hopes to attract. In the past, AQAP had gathered youth from around the world looking to wage Jihad, but that reputation also brought robust U.S. counterterrorism resources to bear, including press reports about military drone strikes.
Oddly enough, in an era of shrinking national defense budgets, it could be a viable strategy for the embattled AQAP to muddy the waters for the western press while “Ansar Al Sharia” regroups, refits, and plans its next devastating attack.
The group is also undergoing a shift in strategic focus towards the so-called near enemy — in this case, the government of Yemen — than the far enemy, which is the West. This change has been mirrored by other Al Qaeda outposts, including in Somalia and for Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which are engaged mostly in regional plotting and creation of para-state organizations.
To this end, Fox News claims that U.S. officials have acknowledged that Yemen appears to be moving in the same direction, stating that:
“Al Qaeda in Yemen, which was behind the last two major plots targeting the U.S. airline industry, including Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the underwear bomber in 2009, is “digging in and internally focused” as it tries to establish a safe haven in the Abyan and Shabwa provinces.”
As AQAP — or “Ansar al Sharia” — changes its name and even its strategy, the national security community should remains aware of the international Jihadist threat emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.
When Fox quoted a diplomat saying of AQAP that “It is like shooting fish in a barrel,” it remained unclear just who was the fish, and who was doing the shooting. As the Yemeni government teeters on the brink of collapse, that dynamic is likely to continue.
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Comments (42)
susie4dy
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:41pmThe Devil has many names Too!
Report Post »AIDANMAN
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:36pmso they are now T.A.I.L , that is awsome…
Report Post »Nanaswords
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:36pmRenaming is really not any difference in method for them…It WAS and STILL IS a religion for doing and creating Hate and Choas wherever they go. A desire to control and then destroy anyone that will not submit to their control. No individual dare not have the freedom to choose for themselves. Only the few perfect-elite have that privilege. Making it all a forced religious lifestyle for the lower populous of the world. Results then will always be hate and chaos as an end result. Can any rational human life compromise and accommodate a method /religion like that ? NOT !!!
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:24pmHow about renaming itself: The Mr. Rogers Show”. That sounds real peaceful and touchy-feely. They can do the show while cutting someone’s head off; or stoning them to death. Maybe even strapping a suicide belt onto a 10-year old boy. Endless possibilities. Makes for good PR.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:05pmHow Alinsky-icious….. Anyone seen the Czars lately?
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:28pmJust because you call Jack The Ripper Mother Teresa it doesn’t make him a saint!
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:23pmAl Qaeda, why are you brainstorming on your own when the American Media is just dying to help you? American Press has already renamed the slaughter of your own children “honor killings”, and even given you your own prime time “reality” show. I’m sure that Ted Turner would be willing to lend you his planning team to re-tool your public-relations department.
Report Post »1956
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:22pmThe only thing that will convice me that Al Qaida has change is if they abandon Sharia and STOP KILLING PEOPLE WHO AREN’T ISMLAMIC AND STOP KILLING WOMEN.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:06pmDoes the name change have the Muslin Brotherhood seal of approval?
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:22pmName change….. name change? is that like when the Liberals tried to change to Progressive because they soiled all over the name liberal? Maybe they should change there name to something nice, maybe a name like….. CAIR ya that’s a nice name.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:04pmThe Army of Islamic Law.
Sheesh. How much more blatant do the muslims need to be before Americans realize that we have been deceived; that The Army of Islamic Law is garrison now on American soil?
Enemies domestic. Muslims engaged in Jihad.
Report Post »inferno
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:03pmStupid statement of the year ! “The name seems to have negative conotations”. No s–t Sherloclk !
Report Post »When did you come to that brilliant conclusion ?
MarsBarsTru7
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:03pm“This year, we want our Western friends to know that they are no longer dealing with Al Qaeda in Yemen. No. We are a new kinder and gentler militant group. We won’t blow up, kidnap, or behead anyone that doesn’t deserve it. Especially not Western journalists. And to prove our new intentions are genuine, and that we are not the same as Osama Bin Laden, we are renaming ourselves. That’s right. We are shrugging off the old ways under the name of Al Qaeda and our new name will be Ed Qaeda. Yes. You can trust Ed Qaeda. Now, declare we are the legitimate rulers of Yemen in the U.N. and share your missiles with us this Christmas and we promise we will put them to good use. Thank you and goodbye infide… I mean, Western brothers.”
What’s really convincing is the postcard with them holding their AKs and wearing keffiyehs.
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:53pmSo the CIA is repackaging it drug dealing arm for a redefined cause. How original;^)
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:05pmIndeed, let’s simply ignore 1,400 years of violent Islamic Jihad against non-muslims the planet over and just blame it on the CIA. You have poor integration abilities and a shallow view of history.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:47pmIt makes sense… as their Goal was always about a re-establishment of the Caliphate… which is now closer to realization.
Report Post »blackstone22
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:35pm“Army of Islamic Law” doesn’t leave much to the imagination and is certainly not warm and fuzzy.
Report Post »Maybe these guys should consult another public relations firm.
muddy_canto
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 7:06pmTheir PR team (consisting of 3 goats and a relative’s severed head) also came up with “Josie and the Pussycats” and “The A-Team” but worried about copyright infrigement so that’s what they settled on.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:30pmJust like their Progressive collaboratos (progressing us toward tyranny and death by government that is) they change their names to hide their disgusting acts of violence against all humanity.
No matter what name they call themselves they are still Satan’s tools.
https://americandefenseleague.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/sharia-in-america-clinton-style/
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:21pmHa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they trying to go all warm fuzzy on us? I guess they’ll be handing out teddy bears and snuggies with each homicide bombing….
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:29pmLike ACORN .. another rogue organization. Too funny .. a Rose by any other name … still has thorns.
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:19pm‘
Just stop postponing the inevitable and go with “OWS” or “DNC”. You have the same goals anyway.
‘
Report Post »Rob_M
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:15pmJust as lame as Pelosi saying renaming the government potion the public option or change the name so the next stimulus bill will be the jobs act.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:04pmpeas in pod…peas in pod
Report Post »nuchsh
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:12pmTaking out a page of the progressive play book “rebranding” nice!!!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:12pmleopards cannot change their spots and muslims will never be able to hide their agenda.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:12pmIf it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
I don’t care what they call themselves they are still terrorist and jihadist. Looks like they’ve been hanging around Code Pink and Progressives too much. This “re-branding” crap won’t work. They could call themselves “Angels of the Islamic People” they would still be terrorist.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:11pmYou know, for the kinder softer …. Beheadings….
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:16pmBecause nothing says benign like “Army of Islamic Law”.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:10pmShould call itself: “Irgun II”… “The Second Stern Gang”… “Zionism for Muslims.”
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:12pm”obama’s re-election team”
Report Post »BassChick
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:09pm“negative connotation” and “baggage” ya think?
Report Post »