Author Archives: Thomas Joscelyn

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




Judge finds that Kuwaiti Gitmo detainee was no charity worker

A district judge denied a Kuwaiti Gitmo detainee’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus in September. The detainee, Fayiz al Kandari, claims that he was a mere charity worker, but he was really an influential al Qaeda recruiter with ties to a terror cell that launched an attack on the US Marines in 2002.



Gates: ‘A success for one is a success for all’

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had some interesting things to say during a speech at Duke University on Wednesday. In particular, the following caught my eye. From Reuters: [Gates] later fielded questions from students, telling them eastern Afghanistan “is increasingly an unholy syndicate of terrorist groups working together: al Qaeda, the Haqqani network, the Pakistani […]



Osama bin Laden’s spokesman freed by Iran

Gaith.jpgIran has freed Osama bin Laden’s spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, from “house arrest.” Abu Ghaith gained infamy after Sept. 11, 2001, when he promised more attacks on American soil. He recruited the al Qaeda cell responsible for the Oct. 8, 2002, attack on US Marines training on Faylaka Island.




HIG facilitator properly detained at Gitmo, judge finds

Earlier this month, a DC district judge ruled that a facilitator for the HIG is properly detained at Guantanamo. The detainee, Shawali Khan, allegedly plotted attacks against American forces on behalf of his uncle, a HIG commander based in Quetta, Pakistan.


Report: Al Qaeda disarms select Taliban commanders

Central Asia Online reports: Al-Qaeda is blocking Taliban fighters who favour peace talks from negotiating with Kabul. The terror movement has disarmed two Taliban commanders, Mullah Laal Muhammad and Mullah Alaoddin of the Haqqani network, who were interested in starting peace talks with the Afghan government, Kunduz Provincial Governor Engineer Muhammad Omar said. “Al-Qaeda has […]



Libya frees ex-Gitmo detainee

As part of its reconciliation process with terrorists and extremists, the Libyan government has freed a former Gitmo detainee who served al Qaeda and the Taliban for almost a decade.


Al Qaeda leader in Yemen tries to woo Saudi soldiers

Said Ali al ShihriSaid al Shihri, an ex-Gitmo detainee who is one of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s most senior leaders, issued an audiotape earlier this month seeking the support of Saudi soldiers and security officers. Al Shihri’s tape echoes the messaging of al Qaeda cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who has sought to convince Muslim soldiers to serve al Qaeda.



Longtime al Qaeda operative runs mosque closed by German authorities

Mamoun-Darkazanli.jpgGerman authorities closed down the Taiba mosque in Hamburg earlier this week. The mosque was formerly known as Al Quds, and was home to al Qaeda’s Hamburg cell for the 9/11 attacks. The imam in charge of the mosque, Mamoun Darkazanli, has been tracked by Western intelligence services for almost two decades.





Algerian government denies reports of former Gitmo detainee’s mistreatment

The Algerian government has denied reports that it is mistreating Abdul Aziz Naji, a former Guantanamo detainee. Naji was a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and an expert in improvised explosive devices prior to his detention at Gitmo. His transfer was supposed to entail “security measures,” but an Algerian official claims Naji was outright released.


Two Gitmo detainees transferred to Algeria, Cape Verde

The Defense Department announced the transfer of two Gitmo detainees today. One of the detainees is an IED expert who was a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and trained al Qaeda operatives. The other allegedly fought at Tora Bora alongside his son, who was also detained at Gitmo.


Germany agrees to accept two Gitmo detainees

Ohmed-Ahmed-Mahamoud-Al-Shurfa.jpgLast week, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said that his country has agreed to accept two Gitmo detainees. One of the two was recruited by Hamas, trained in an al Qaeda camp, and allegedly wanted to conduct a suicide operation. The other allegedly traveled to Afghanistan to wage jihad after the September 11 attacks.



Former Gitmo detainee arrested in Pakistan

Issa_Khan.jpgIssa Khan, who had been detained at Guantanamo for nearly three years, has been arrested in the Bannu district of northwestern Pakistan. Khan reportedly rejoined the Taliban after his release and became a Pakistani Taliban commander.


Al Qaeda sleeper agent tied to 2009 NYC subway plot

shukrijumah.jpeFederal officials said Adnan Shukrijumah, a one-time al Qaeda sleeper agent groomed by senior terrorists to launch attacks on America after 9/11, was involved in Najibullah Zazi’s plot to bomb NYC subways last year. Shukrijumah cased targets in NYC in 2001.




Saudi Gitmo recidivists

Uthman-Ghamdi-thumb.JPGAlthough the Saudi government has not identified the 25 terrorists released from Guantanamo Bay who are known to have returned to jihad, 15 of them can be identified.