As the hardships of winter have been added to the suffering of the people of Syria, especially those in rebel controlled areas, I have been hearing that a shift in public opinion is underway in Syria - a shift away from the main Syrian opposition groups and rebel forces.
There has been some coverage of this recently in the Western media with coverage of how the main opposition groups and rebel forces have been losing public support in Syria because of their disorganization, their military loses, their mishandling of the administration of areas which they have control of, and their looting and stealing, and because of a growing fear among the people that they too will be killed because of their religion, or because of rumors that they are Syrian government supporters, or just because someone wants to settle some old score.
The media rarely report that public opinion is shifting towards the Syrian government but they sometimes report that there is some shift in public opinion towards radical Islamic groups and forces in Syria, reportedly because they are better funded, more organized, more disciplined, and 'more honest'; or because they have made some efforts to distribute bread in some areas under their control; or because they have had some military successes while many of the main rebel forces/groups have suffered loses or only been able to hold their positions.
These days the most often mentioned radical Islamic group/force in Syria is Jabhat al-Nusrah.
Last month the main Syrian opposition groups and rebel forces and some of their more vehement supporters in the west were upset because the Obama administration, they said, had unfairly designated Jabhat al-Nusrah a terrorist organization.
They claim that Jabhat al-Nusrah is not really all that bad; or they claim that even if Jabhat al-Nusrah is a very radical Islamic force it's not a problem because they have no political aims and they will just go on their merry way after President Bashar al-Assad is gone; or they claim that Jabhat al-Nusrah is not a problem because the main rebel forces will deal with them after al-Assad is ousted.
I feel that one very important point needs to be clarified. The Obama administration did not designate Jabhat al-Nusrah a terrorist organization. The Obama administration added Jabhat al-Nusrah to the list of alaises used by al-Qa’ida in Iraq.
The Obama administration's official position is that Jabhat al-Nusrah is not a Syrian rebel force. It is a part of and under the control of al-Qa’ida in Iraq which is, and has been for many years, a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity.
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These are the US State Department's statement on and official designations of Jabhat al-Nusrah's being an alias for al-Qa’ida in Iraq.
Terrorist Designations of the al-Nusrah Front as an Alias for al-Qa'ida in Iraq
US Department of State Press Statement
December 11, 2012
The Department of State has amended the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 designations of al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) to include the following new aliases: al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, and Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant. The Department of State previously designated AQI as an FTO under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under E.O. 13224 on October 15, 2004. The consequences of adding al-Nusrah Front as a new alias for AQI include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to, or engaging in transactions with, al-Nusrah Front, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the control of U.S. persons.
Since November 2011, al-Nusrah Front has claimed nearly 600 attacks – ranging from more than 40 suicide attacks to small arms and improvised explosive device operations – in major city centers including Damascus, Aleppo, Hamah, Dara, Homs, Idlib, and Dayr al-Zawr. During these attacks numerous innocent Syrians have been killed. Through these attacks, al-Nusrah has sought to portray itself as part of the legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by AQI to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes. AQI emir Abu Du’a is in control of both AQI and al-Nusrah. Abu Du’a was designated by the State Department under E.O. 13224 on October 3, 2011, and by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 on October 5, 2011. Abu Du’a also issues strategic guidance to al-Nusrah’s emir, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, and tasked him to begin operations in Syria.
The United States takes this action in the context of our overall support for the Syrian people. We have provided approximately $50 million in non-lethal assistance to the unarmed civilian opposition and nearly $200 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence in Syria. The violent, sectarian vision of al-Nusrah is at odds with the aspirations of the Syrian people, including the overwhelming majority of the Syrian opposition, who seek a free, democratic, and inclusive Syria and have made clear their desire for a government that respects and advances national unity, dignity, human rights, and equal protection under the law – regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender. Extremism and terrorist ideology have no place in a post-Asad Syria, and all responsible Syrians should speak out against al-Qa’ida and other extremist elements. By opting for the use of force against its own people, the Asad regime has created the circumstances that attract the violent extremists of al Qa’ida, who seek to exploit civil strife for their own purposes. The sooner the political transition to a post-Asad Syria begins, the better it will be for the Syrian people and the region.
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Notices
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 8104]
In the Matter of Amendment of the Designation of al-Qa’ida in Iraq, aka Jam’at al Tawhid wa’al-Jihad, aka The Monotheism and Jihad Group, aka The al-Zarqawi Network, aka al-Tawhid, aka Tanzim Qa‘idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn, aka The Organization of al-Jihad’s Base of Operations in Iraq, aka al-Qaida of Jihad in Iraq, aka al-Qaida in Iraq, aka al-Qaida in Mesopotamia, aka al-Qaida in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida of the Jihad in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida Group of Jihad in Iraq, aka al-Qaida Group of Jihad in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization of Jihad’s Base in the Country of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization Base of Jihad/Country of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization of al-Jihad’s Base in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization Base of Jihad/Mesopotamia, aka The Organization of al-Jihad’s Base of Operations in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka Tanzeem qa’idat al Jihad/Bildad al Raafidaini, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; To include the aliases Al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant
Based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled in this matter pursuant to Section 219(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)(4)(C)) (‘‘INA’’), and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of State concludes that there is a sufficient factual basis to find that al-Qa’ida in Iraq, also known under the aliases listed above, uses or has used additional aliases, namely, al-Nusrah Front, aka Jabhat al-Nusrah, aka Jabhet al-Nusra, aka The Victory Front, aka Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
Therefore, pursuant to § 219(b) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189(b)), the Secretary of
State hereby amends the 2004 designation of al-Qa’ida in Iraq as a foreign terrorist organization, to include the following new alias and other possible transliterations thereof: Al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
Dated: November 20, 2012.
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Secretary of State.
[FR Doc. 2012–29870 Filed 12–10–12; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 8105]
In the Matter of the Amendment of the Designation of al-Qa’ida in Iraq, aka Jam’at al Tawhid wa’al-Jihad, aka The Monotheism and Jihad Group, aka The al-Zarqawi Network, aka al-Tawhid, aka Tanzim Qa‘idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn, aka The Organization of al-Jihad’s Base of Operations in Iraq, aka al-Qaida of Jihad in Iraq, aka al-Qaida in Iraq, aka al-Qaida in Mesopotamia, aka al-Qaida in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida of the Jihad in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka al-Qaida Group of Jihad in Iraq, aka al-Qaida Group of Jihad in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization of Jihad’s Base in the Country of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization Base of Jihad/Country of the Two Rivers, aka The
Organization of al-Jihad’s Base in the Land of the Two Rivers, aka The Organization Base of Jihad/Mesopotamia, aka The Organization of al-Jihad’s Base of Operations in the
Land of the Two Rivers, aka Tanzeem qa’idat al Jihad/Bildad al Raafidaini, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity pursuant to Executive Order 13224; To include the aliases Al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, Al
Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant
Based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled in this matter pursuant to Executive Order 13224 and in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, and the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of State concludes that there is a sufficient factual basis to find that al-Qa’ida in Iraq, also known under the aliases listed above, uses or has used additional aliases, namely, al-Nusrah Front, aka Jabhat al-Nusrah, aka Jabhet al-Nusra, aka The Victory Front, aka Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
Therefore, the Secretary of State hereby amends the 2004 designation of al-Qa’ida in Iraq as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, to include the following new alias and other possible transliterations thereof:
Al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
Dated: November 20, 2012.
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Secretary of State.
[FR Doc. 2012–29868 Filed 12–10–12; 8:45 am]
This is information about Al-Qa‘ida in Iraq (AQI) from the National Counterterrorism Center.
Al-Qa‘ida in Iraq (AQI)
Al-Qa‘ida in Iraq (AQI)—also known as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)—was established in April 2004 by long-time Sunni extremist Abu Mus‘ab al-Zarqawi, who the same year pledged his group’s allegiance to Usama Bin Ladin. Targeting Coalition forces and civilians by such tactics as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), suicide bombers, and executions of hostages by beheading and other means, AQI attempted to pressure countries and foreign companies to leave Iraq, push Iraqis to stop supporting the United States and the Iraqi Government, and attract additional cadre to its ranks.
AQI expanded its targeting outside of Iraq in August 2005 by attempting a rocket attack on a US Navy ship in the Port of Aqaba, Jordan, and in November 2005 with the bombing of three hotels in Amman that left 67 dead and more than 150 injured. Al-Zarqawi was killed in a US airstrike on 7 June 2006. The new leader of AQI, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announced in October 2006 the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), led by Iraqi national Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, in an attempt to politicize AQI’s terrorist activities and place an “Iraqi face” on their efforts.
In 2007 AQI’s continued targeting and repression of Sunni civilians caused a widespread backlash—known as the Sunni Awakening—against the group. The development of the Awakening Councils—composed primarily of Sunni tribal and local community leaders—coincided with a surge in Coalition forces and Iraqi Government operations that denied AQI its safehavens, restricting the organization’s freedom of movement and resulting in a decreased attack tempo beginning in mid-2007.
High-profile attacks in 2009 and 2010 demonstrated the group’s relevance in the wake of the Coalition withdrawal from Iraqi cities in 2009 and efforts to posture itself to take advantage of the changing security environment, although Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Umar al-Baghdadi were killed in April 2010, marking a significant loss for the organization.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became AQI’s next leader, and the group has continued conducting high-profile attacks in Iraq and participating in global violent extremism. The most violent day of attacks claimed by AQI in more than a year occurred on 5 January 2012, when terrorists employing suicide bombers and car bombs killed at least 72 people and wounded at least 147. The group’s official spokesperson in January 2012 made vague threats against Americans everywhere.
AQI reaffirmed its support for al-Qa‘ida and Ayman al-Zawahiri following Usama Bin Ladin’s death in May 2011. The arrests the same month of two AQI-affiliated Iraqi refugees in Kentucky highlight the potential threat inside the United States from people associated with AQI.
Abu Du’a
Date of Birth: 1971
Place of Birth: Samarra‘, Iraq
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Wanted
Abu Du‘a is the senior leader of the terrorist organization al-Qa‘ida in Iraq (AQI). Abu Du‘a is in charge of overseeing all AQI operations and is currently based in Iraq. AQI was listed by the UN 1267 Committee in 2004 under permanent reference number QE.J.115.04. Abu Du‘a is responsible for managing and directing AQI large-scale operations, such as AQI’s 28 August 2011 attack on the Umm al-Qura mosque in Baghdad that killed prominent Sunni lawmaker Khalid al-Fahdawi.
In a statement eulogizing Usama Bin Ladin, Abu Du‘a threatened violent retaliation for Bin Ladin’s death. Three days after Bin Ladin’s death, Abu Du‘a claimed responsibility for an attack in Hilla, Iraq, that killed 24 policemen and wounded 72 others. On 15 August 2011, a wave of AQI suicide attacks began in Mosul, Iraq, which culminated in over 70 deaths. Shortly thereafter, Abu Du‘a pledged on AQI’s website to carry out 100 attacks across Iraq in retaliation for Bin Ladin’s death.
Reward
Up to $10 million Reward
If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office if you are in the United States, or the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you prefer to use e-mail, send your information to rfj@state.gov. If you prefer to use the telephone, please call 1-800-US REWARDS.
Aliases
Dr. Ibrahim ‘Awwad Ibrahim ‘Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai‘, Ibrahim ‘Awad Ibrahim al-Badri al Samarrai, Abu Duaa‘, Dr. Ibrahim, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi