That weapon behind him is an M4 carbine and is American made.
11
It is an AK 47. Look at the clip.
3
@MD It is a Kalasnikov, fitted with a muzzle break, and not made in the US.
5
Al Baghdadi is simply a sign of the times, warned about by the Prophet Muhammad in some Hadiths. He certainly does not represent Islam or its teachings. The signs of this era would be that religious knowledge would disappear because of the death and scarcity of true religious scholars. Ignorance of Islam would prevail and afflictions would appear, including "Harj," explained as mass killings of innocent people, which would include the most devout and God-fearing Muslims. The Prophet also asked his closest companions to make sure that after his death, his people do not become "infidels," and when asked to define an "infidel," the Prophet said it was a person who defies the laws of God and begins slaughtering innocent people and claiming it was in the name of God. We find such people in every religious group.
When the Bushes began invading the Islamic world and creating mass havoc, they ushered in the great deceivers. Baghdadi was a prisoner released by the Americans, who gave him every opportunity to become the tyrant that he is. It was forewarned in biblical texts that the nations of the world (God and Magog) would gather to battle the heartland of Islam, and that would be the sign of the devil unleashed, one of the signs of the final era before the end of the world. Global warming is also a sign, with the demise of the planet because of the greed of mankind. The only way to defeat Baghdadi and anyone who follows him is with knowledge, which is sorely lacking.
1
I am sick and tired of rank American stupidity when it comes to policy making. This man is a direct result of the Iraq war and the failure to secure the peace both there and in Afghanistan. Why didn’t they restore the (constitutional) Islamic monarchies to put a lid on this extremist view? Is it any wonder that he struck a Commonwealth nation? Do Americans realize the debt they owe to the Commonwealth and why the US should be part of it? We are the New Atlantis and it is our legacy as well. Join it!! This creep’s use of the word Crusader is as stupid as Trump calling Mexicans rapists and drug dealers - it’s supposed to strike his base to motivate but where is that? He wants blasphemy laws like they have In Pakistan, if he establishes his Caliphate. He’s also eschatological as well. What happens if he gets to Pakistan and links with the Taliban? The American voter is stupid. The GOP is stupider. That this GOP driven idiocy is putting at stake the Commonwealth as well as the United States should be enough for the Party of Lincoln to do what they can to secure the New World Order and so that we may truly emerge as the New Atlantis. Where there is no vision, the people perish. The GOP should be savaged by God for this cock up!
2
Aye, another old guy with a beard and a gun we have to waste trillions of dollars making military contractors rich trying to catch and kill. How many "collateral's" will we kill this time? Will we create another huge diaspora from the region?
When will we begin to focus on the US, education, infrastructure and all of the aspects of the US that have been neglected since Ronnie showed the military contractors the way to fantastical riches by neglecting America?
There will always be someone with a beard and a gun making some claim about his homeland. Why not? He was born there.
If the USA cannot do anything but chase old men, in other countries, with a beard and a gun, then, the rest of the world will always have one of those fellows ready for us to chase while we wither away at home.
Then? Checkmate.
2
A shout out to George W. Bush Jr. and the Republican war machine. You and your
own team of ‘fundamentalists’ caused enough havoc, destruction and renewed hate for the West to last through our lifetimes.
Let’s continue this whack-a-mole game and be assured that resulting collateral damage and families of orphans we never care to humanize will be ready to take their place. We have 20 years of data to prove it.
Ps: MDMA (ecstasy) is now approved by the FDA for treating soldiers with PTSD. Tragically, the economics might make for a decent investment in the pharmaceuticals who will supply it
2
He is most probably holed up somewhere with the active support from somebody within Saudi Arabia or Qatar as the financial ties between ISIS and saudis arabia/qatar is well known.
ISIS ideology is very much aligned with the wahabism practiced in Saudi and Qatar and exported through religious schools in the western world.
As john podesta wrote to hillary clinton.....:
“We need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL and other radical Sunni groups.
I am sure Jared can fix this with the help of his Saudi BFF.....
2
You had five years to choose a consistent color for your beard. You should have used it because this ombré look is not appealing.
2
Time to commit. Either we are at war with ALL terrorist groups or we are not. If we are then it’s time to build a coalition. Use every means to destroy the enemy and to make every nation accountable. If we are not civilized then we can not progress. Drones and sanctions. ANY RELIGION that preaches hate and intolerance must be eradicated. Religion I have observed seems to be the root of all evil.
3
The guy may not be dead.But most of his Islamist charisma has disappeared with the defeat of his forces both in Iraq and Syria.That he is so desperate to claim credit for the Sri Lanka blasts,said to be the prompted by the wahabi extremists, is an indication of his current plight
3
Here's a project for Trump. Get this guy. If we could get Bin Laden we can get this guy.
5
@MIKEinNYC Yeah, but Trump doesn't have the attention span & focus to do so, and al-Baghdadi's name is too hard to type on Twitter.
3
Al-Baghdadi will be around ("elude capture") as long as his existence furthers a Western Capitalist Oligarchic agenda. And when that it done, he will be disposed of just like other pawns of Capitalist Oligarchy before him: Hussein, Bin Laden, etc., etc., etc.
4
Can we not adopt the same policy as what NZ has done?
Not give this mass murderer, the front page?
That was the whole aim of this video. And they accomplished their goal.
This is a media stunt to take credit for killing innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. He doesn’t give a fig about other Muslims (revenge agenda he is boosting about) or any other human for that matter.
Their power is gone, they’re in shambles, this is a regrouping effort.
Can media make some effort to not sensationalize it?
And yes, I’m sick of violence, hate mongering and parade of human egoism in media every single day.
3
These are loathsome characters. We don't need to see them. NYT should have an editorial policy not post these photographs anymore. Let them remain faceless.
1
@SridharC
I disagree, I think it is important to inform people about who these people are so people can make more informed decisions and choices.
These articles are not intended to solicit admiration for them
2
@Carrie Smith but in other parts of the world they become a recruiting tool - they will show them as a fearless leader that made the America tremble - the people they target are not thinking critically
If the policy to avoid publicity for terrorists is adopted by major news outlets like NYT,there would be inevitable demands in the current divisive political atmosphere to subject one's political opponents to the same treatment.
1
Since so far the global intelligence has failed to locate and bring to justice the barbarian Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, I have an idea. There is a 25 million dollar prize (roughly 25 times that of a Nobel prize) for information about Abu that could be acted upon to bring him to justice or Bin Laden him into the Arabian sea. Of course the failure of the USA to prevent cruelty to the good Pakistani Doctor, leave alone rewarding him appropriately for providing critical information in finding Bin Laden, I don't think American credibility is in tact and no one in their right mind will venture into this life threatening endeavor.
I would say unleash Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks to assist with gaining intelligence on the whereabouts of the much greater and destructive evil and give him an opportunity to earn the 25 million and his freedom by providing him internet access and access to information gathering tools. Although Trump has severely crippled ISIS and deprived them of their stomping grounds to commit barbaric brutal atrocities and he no longer has a caliphate and the foot soldiers of ISIS are either decimated or do not regard Abu as their leader, his mere existence as a co-inhabitant of out planet should wake up the global security establishment to find him and bring him to justice by all means possible.
4
Instead of spending trillions of dollars scouting ISIS haystack to kill ISIS leaders who will only reproduce into new leaders, let's use that money to significantly to thwart their homeland attacks by improving airport and border security, developing much better and integrated computer systems and advanced detection devices, just to name a few.
We should also redirect the billions we currently give to Israel to protect themselves and use it to more directly protect Americans, both from terrorists as well as from crumbling bridges and the like. Distancing ourselves from Israel may even help reduce the hatred towards the U.S., all for free.
4
Concerned citizens of the United States and of countries around the world should expect two things about the re-surfacing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
First, we should want our military and intelligence services to spare no effort in trying to locate and eliminate al-Baghdadi.
Second, we should ask that our news organizations keep to a bare minimum any publicity about the man, avoiding coverage which tends to romanticize or lionize the role of this stone-cold killer.
9
"... we should ask that our news organizations [not act as a propaganda arm of the IS] ..."
Presumably, you have actually read the article, so say whether or not it meets your standards.
1
This is a portrait of a coward. A man who brings violence to those that are unarmed, not in uniform and least expect it. His legions are equally cowardice. They dislike their station in life and express it with cruel violence on the same, unsuspecting, false foes, rather than putting in the work and effort required to change their trajectory. I look forward to the day our fine men and women in the military bring the fight he requested to him and eradicate him from the planet.
13
Who actually believed the guy was dead? And if so, who didn't realize it was merely promotion day at Daesh HQ?
2
Another of those guys who directs others to die for him. He lacks the courage of his followers.
10
Has anyone ever seen Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and Aaron Lewis of Staind in the same room?
3
Did al-Baghdadi mention the tens of thousands of Uighur Muslims who've been locked away in Chinese "reeducation centers" for the crime of practicing their religion? Or the tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who've been expelled or exterminated by Buddhists in Myanmar? No, I guess not.
comment submitted on 4/30 at 12:04 AM
8
trump said ISIS had been wiped out weeks ago. Sure, just like measles.
15
ISIS /Baghdadi just another useful tool of the USA, Israel & Gulf States intelligence arsenal. Groomed, trained & paid exclusively by our intelligence services to counter Iran's growing threat in the region. Sometimes the scorpion we want to keep in our pocket as the pet will crawl out to sting every once us in a while. Expect major blowback years down the road.
5
Didn't Trump claim that Isis is dead? Looks like theres been a miraculous resurrection of Abu Bakr al-E?
6
Clearly still getting money from somewhere.
9
Right, that's it!
I'm packing a suitcase, taking a couple of weeks off work and heading off to look for this clown... The $25M reward will sort me out for a bit...
Wish me luck!
7
If our strategy is to hype up these "leaders" of ISIS/Al-Qaeda and then doing a drone strike and killing them only to find that that they have new leader then our Govt. is basically fooling us.
Our Security and military agencies have bloated into huge money pits . We need new thinking NOW!.
10
My question is why are you giving this person news coverage, like everyone would be happier if you don't give this person press coverage.
5
Does anyone recognize the automatic gun next to Mr. Al-Baghdadi?
If it is Russian made, the Congress needs to launch an investigation as a possible conspiracy.
1
It’s an AK-47. A rifle that is manufactured in many different countries. They are ubiquitous and impossible to trace.
1
In the lands of which of our so called allies in the war against terrorism is he hiding out with funneled from where money?
1
"... probably communicates through a series of couriers."
Very interesting. bin Laden was located because he used ONE courier. A series of couriers would be more difficult to track if each one can transfer messages to the next one without the two ever being seen together.
Such methods are described in spy books. See, for example:
"The spy and the traitor : the greatest espionage story of the Cold War" by Ben Macintyre.
1
"It was not just a militant group, he said, but a state that would be ruled according to the group’s extreme ideology."
As long as the radical, fundamentalist Islam that fuels the "extreme ideology" of ISIS is still alive, and it is alive and well and vibrant, then ISIS exists:
“Our battle today is a battle of attrition, and we will prolong it for the enemy, and they must know that the jihad will continue until Judgment Day,” he said in the video."
Expect much more from ISIS and the Judgement Day he has in mind does not speak well for the infidel, i.e. everybody but them.
ISIS is global and dynamic; it's theology is etched in stone.
8
His hands are clean, he is well-fed and looks rested. Just like the thousands who followed him who are laying in deep holes in the ground -- most of them in pieces for following another lunatic. His end will similarly be like Bin Laden's. Hope he enjoys one last cup of ice-cream before the room goes dark.
26
The self righteousness is sickening! How many 100s of 1000s of innocent civilians have been destroyed by coalition action! The US support the Saudis and Israelis, and before that Saddam and Afghan Mujahideen creates excuse for ‘coalition’ intervention. Driven by nothing more than military business, and oil etc. He might go the way of OBL and Saddam but there is a builtin succession; our best option is to get-stay out as well as let the Saudis deal with their ‘arab spring’.
15
@Tamza 100s of thousands of innocent civilians have been destroyed by sectarian warfare and Islamic terrorism and not by coalition action. Sure the US made a big mistake going in to Iraq but that doesn't mean the US is responsible for the gruesome sectarian warfare that followed with different groups in Iraq and Syria targeting each other. The US is not responsible for the thousands of European born muslims who travelled to Syria to join ISIS in order to throw gays off roof tops and murder Yazidis and take their women and children as sex slaves.
The mistake the US made was to have no idea of the unfathomable evil we are confronting.
1
OK, so the guy isn't dead. If he was, there'd be a new 'mysterious leader'. And after him, somebody else. And the game can be played forever.
28
When will we ever learn? You do not defeat these people with guns and bombs. Did not work in Vietnam. Has not worked here.
We are now trading with Vietnam. We have hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese nationals in our country, many of them citizens.
Do you think maybe diplomacy and an open immigration policy is a more economical way to defeat this enemy?
Vote the militarist republicans out of office in 2020.
36
@kirk yes, we will defeat them with guns. Not every war is Vietnam
6
You are not actually comparing Vietnam with ISIS? Heck, lets give them these green cards. Maybe supply the US government with your adress for a proper settlement of these poor ISIS guys that are outcast by all these bad nations...
Anyway, ISIS was produced by US just as pretty much any other war or crisis in the pat 25 years. Its strange that Vietnam turned out very differently. Perhaps the US did learn and started to properly create an evil enemy before actually invading.
1
@kirk thousands of European born Muslims travelled to Syria to join ISIS. There they threw gays off rooftops, murdered Yazidi men and took the women and children as sex slaves. There is no comparison to Vietnam.
2
ISIS lost the territory in Iraq and Syria but it does not mean the end of the war. Quite a few ISIS military has gone underground. In such a situation the appearance of its mysterious leader is very effective. ISIS military will be encouraged by the speech of the leader.
Western countries cannot end the war against terrorists only by the battle on the ground. Without mutual understanding and respect between western and Islam, real peace will not come to the world.
4
It's good he's alive. Dying is an easy way out.
The more he suffers the better. He must be facing a lot of mental trauma seeing his caliphate get shredded to pieces.
One of these days a Tomahawk or Kalibr will hit his coordinates. Or maybe the Kurdish militias will find him and torture him to death first.
In any case, he is living in fear and very well deserves it.
31
These people live in fear of only the afterlife as ‘defined/understood’ by their own reading of their belief system.
I'd like to suggest that we don't recommend posts that mention, without criticizing, torturing a criminal to death. Because that is, in some way, to adopt the criminal's belief system.
4
What is this obsession about this Islamic States terrorist. There are more dangerous terrorist than him in the US, Europe, UK, and Australia. We watch these terrorists out in the street of our free world, protected by our laws and democracy which they loath, remarkably. We at war with the Islamic States. What kind of war do you people not understand?
6
Baghdadi was arrested by US forces in Iraq in 2004, detained in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison and Camp Bucca. He was released 10 months later after being deemed a “low level” detainee.... makes you wonder how many more potential monsters we have had a hand in creating, waiting for their moment.
30
That assault rifle/pistol beside his right arm against the wall is lethal within 30 meters, if you’re good at it; and worthless fluff beyond it. I’m guessing it’s 7.62, but maybe not. Weapons like that often are used for close quarters killing face-to-face.
4
Do people not know that it doesn't even really matter that much if the leader gets killed? That's how insurgents like ISIS become hard to defeat, they are like the Hydra: if you chop off one head then two more will come out to replace it. He was not the first leader of ISIS nor would he be the last if he was killed.
33
America killed Bin Laden. Al Qaeda and the Taliban are stronger than ever. Baghdadi will be dead soon enough. It won't slow ISIS down. The US has always been fixated on eliminating leaders of enemy organizations. What it doesn't realize is that the leader is irrelevant, new ones will inevitably rise, more vicious than before.
The kingpin strategy failed spectacularly during the drug war. More drugs now flow into the US than ever before. So what is the sense in pursuing that same failed strategy against terrorists? You can't bomb an ideology. You can't defeat hate with guns, especially not if you are shooting civilians. This war can be won only if you win over the larger civilian populations from which these evil organizations have risen.
28
@A Cynic
'The kingpin strategy failed spectacularly during the drug war. More drugs now flow into the US than ever before. '
You're assuming, of course, that the object of the 'drug war' was to actually stop the flow of drugs into the country. Some 'cynic'.
5
@A Cynic "Al Qaeda and the Taliban are stronger than ever."
Really? The Taliban are stronger than when they controlled Kabul and almost all of Afghanistan? And Al Qaeda is stronger than when it pulled off 9-11?
You make reasonably good points but you very much undercut the strength of your argument when you make bizarrly false claims.
6
He was obviously forced to make this video by his closest supporters. This puts him back on the international radar and he doesn’t like that. This only benefits his closest associates within ISIS. This video has put him in the exact same position Osama Bin Laden was in in Pakistan, and no one willingly puts themselves in that position. He knows this video is his death sentence, but with a stay of execution he wasn’t going to get if he didn’t make it.
6
@Michael Bermingham Interesting claims but rather dubious I'm afraid. This is now a common approach: confidently assert things that one can't possibly know hoping that one's confidence will persuade.
Didn't work.
3
Remind me now, are we at war with East Asia or Eurasia? Have we always been at war with East Asia, or have we always been at war with Eurasia? It’s hard to keep these things straight!
9
@Robert M. Koretsky
I like your Orwellian reference. Yes one chain leads to another, and another. While Islamic fundamentalism is a pressing problem, I don't believe the US foreign has worked to mitigate it. Rather, it has enabled it in certain cases. ISIS rose out of a political vacuum in post-invasion Iraq. Saddam was a tyrant but he was opposed to Islamist groups and kept his country in one piece. Maybe less interventions will help deprive these groups the conditions needed to rise. That way, we can prevent protracted, endless wars like the one in Orwell's 1984.
17
@Robert M. Koretsky
This is not funny. If you ignore it, than later it will haunt you like 9/11.
2
@Robert M. Koretsky
As a famous prophet once said, "Never get involved in a land war in Asia."
8
murder is murder. There is no justification. Anyone who does not understand this fact is not serving the One who created all life.
10
These kinds of foes do not surrender, they just leave to fight another day. Eventually, someone will likely kill this man. But this malicious anti-modern, anti-liberal ideology is still able to gain adherents across the world, so it will not go away. It will change leaders and names.
13
I must be hearing things. I thought Trump said the U.S. had defeated ISIS?!
79
@Lan Sluder
And this confuses?
Trump says whatever he things suits the moment. Whether he speaks the truth or not, he cares not at all.
12
@Lan Sluder: Well, consider the source.
11
@Lan Sluder I am sure you sadly missed the part of him admitting defeats as you prefer ISIS victories over Trump.
5
Enlightening, perhaps (hopefully so), that there is a new organized terroristic leader over whom to obsess, he having risen organically from the same cauldron as the last? How much, essentially, like Bin Laden he looks, sitting there, having learned from Bin Laden's mistake of sitting in a cave with distinctive rock formations behind him. He is declaring himself the next Bin Laden, a fair mantle. SO what WILL we do vs what SHOULD we do? We WILL hunt him down and eventually kill him, however we SHOULD address root causes, regardless of his fate.
How much less sensational the second option is, so why bother? How much humility, self-reflection, and empathy the second option requires. BAH, that's no fun at all. I mean, if I was buying a video game, I probably wouldn't buy one themed as the second option.
7
@Aaron
Which is surprising, since the American Culture loves their bad-guys. The US movie, music and video game industries have sold us on respecting, and often idolizing murderous bad-guys for a long time now. Why won't we just adopt Baghdadi as one of those? He's perfect movie making fodder. A prime video game character. A new HBO series...?
1
@Aaron
I wonder sometimes, What are the root causes of so much violence and cruelty, killing innocent people such as the victims in Sri Lanka?
But unfortunately, I think the situation requires a combination of both approaches.
1
this should be an historic five months!
Aren't the tech giants are taking down the terrorist websites?
Did they miss this one?
Not good work, techies.
6
Question: Why can't the Trumpians make the same effort to catch this madman, that the Obamas did in catching bin Laden-To busy dogging subpoenas ?
18
Obama got Bin Laden. Why can’t Trump get al Baghdadi? I thought Trump was a tough guy, no?
69
I found it amazing that many of the ISIS women who surrendered still long for the caliphate. These hard core extremist need to be separated and left to suffer in prison.
Perhaps what is needed more than bombs and military equipment is ways to cyperhack ISIS sites to prevent them from spreading the message of evil.
28
@Joseph B There's room in Gitmo. And, more space should be made available. I think a big sign over the front gate would a motivator.
"Welcome to Guantanamo Bay, The Last Stop Before Paradise."
13
@Joseph B,
.
prison in the 1st world would cost the citizens ab $35k / yr / prisoner
.
4
@Mike More prisoners in Guantanamo? How do people still not realize that prisons like that only further radicalize and create more terrorists? I guess it feels too good doling out vengeance upon our enemies to worry about consequences.
1
Can't we see that al Baghdadi is a deeply insecure man, irrational, a violent religiously fanatic, unable to see the self-harm he is doing by seeking the destruction of innocent human beings? That the only thing we know for sure is our life on mother Earth, all the rest likely a make-belief and an insult of what we ought to hold dear, the enjoyment of life on this planet, however brief (hence, no need to accelerate it by the killings he so stupidly promotes?). What we need to do is improve the livelihood of Middle-Easterners, providing jobs to dissuade credulous and perhaps resentful people (by historically true exploitation by the West) to have the means to regain their dignity and independence, and join the world to achieve justice and peace. I know, easier said than done. Dreaming is cheap.
4
@manfred marcus
Whoever "we" refers to cannot be assumed, and sadly, I think many will not see the deeply insecure man "we" see. Yet, if terrorists are not among the downtrodden and their claims are not framed that way, we cannot and should not treat Islamist terrorism as political-economic resistance by religious means. Listen to what they say: they do not want the life you want for them.
8
@manfred marcus Nineteen of the 9-11 murderers came form Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is not a poor country.
And how the hey are we supposed to provide jobs over there?
Try thinking.
2
@Jack Toner Yes, I try thinking, but you might know how difficult that is for some of us; but seriously, I was thinking that, in a deeply religious environment, and no jobs to help with food and shelter, youth is readily available to do 'suicide work' that includes the maiming of innocent lives (for 'thinking' different).
He appears healthy and well, in the picture. If past is proloug, they don't remain so.
1
Baghdadi is apparently unaware that Trump has declared the fabulous victory over ISIS.
64
@zumzar Strawman.... and not helpful in the least.
1
@zumzar
I suspect he is quite aware Trump has declared victory and this is a rub it in your face move.
13
@zumzar majorly helpful, proof that Trump knows what he’s doing!
2
But Trumps said it was over and they were "utterly and completely" defeated.
52
@MoehowardStrawman.... and not helpful in the least.
1
Thinking that somehow we can "help" the nations whose mindsets are stuck in the 13th century (or so) change, is like someone having a pet tiger whom they brought up and would never harm them, get mauled to death by their "pet". The leaders and followers are who they are. They choose their path. They choose to continue to live that way.
41
@Joe Schmoe,
.
SOME nations in Europe may still import 3rd & 4th worlders, but the surge in anti-immigrant populist and nationalist parties has many centrist parties backpedaling on their open borders ideology.
.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36130006 With
European elections weeks away, nationalist and far-right parties across Europe are sensing an opportunity. chart . april 2019
x
8
What is 13th century about them? When did US women/ wives get the right to own property? Vote? Establish universities? Lead armies in battle? It DOES NOT matter that they wear headgear etc.
1
@leftrightmiddle
as they march and destroy yet another city in the middle east with it's buildings and artifacts
Guess where he will likely be given the VIP status - Pakistan.
18
@Prads exactly!
3
@Prads
Imran Khan, the President of Pakistan, has a long history as a cricketing legend in the West - in England and Australia. His children are British. Imran will work with the West to get this guy.
3
Not likely - India sheltered the Sri Lanka bombers. Even if OBL was in Pakistan he was locked up.
I think he's a bit like bin Laden in this regard: he has essentially disappeared but when something happens he jumps to take credit for it. In fact, there is little to no proof he had anything to do with Sri Lanka, as far as I can tell. So I hope the world discounts and ignores him.
15
India gets credit for the Sri Lanka action.
I once read he has diabetes and there is a $25 million ransom for his capture.
2
@Tonjo
He looks diabetic
3
They have their own website? How can that not be closed down?
8
Get Trump to get it taken down. He thinks he can do anything and everything. Then when he fails and he will, he can blame the Democrats.
14
@Len If push came to shove, Trump would realise they are faux right-wing/conservative fanatics, as he fancies himself. He will not close it down. The man simply has no principles or core beliefs, other than his own imagined towering superiority.
7
@John These websites are hosted through a tangle of connections and likely not in the US.
2
this criminal is a product of the intelligence community and he was used as a bait to gather all the extremists into one area and kill them. many young people were caught up in this vicious game.
1
So Sri Lankan attack was revenge for Baghuz. This is some twisted logic. Basically they will attack innocents anywhere they can pull it off - and from the news they barely did that. But it seems their vengeance is very indiscriminate. just feels like ISIS against the world. Or put another way. Madness.
7
@Jen Yep. Acting simply on revenge and emorional backlash.
Madness indeed.
How could civilized people allow this to happen?
2
SL was managed by/ out of India.
The people who find religion demands the blood of innocents and of the non-believers goes back to the beginnings of each of them. It matters not what the founders of the religions claimed, these self identified holy men are certain that the death and devastation that they cause are the will of the divine not of themselves. They all are the same, people who find that killing is thrilling and it makes them feel that they are one with the divine spirit that masters all that exists. It seems to be one of those dark capacities of humans that contradict both reason and conscience.
15
@Casual Observer and those that believe in absurdities will continue to commit atrocities.
4
All countries who want to keep their people safe need to take this threat seriously because their destructive power is intact and transportable across national boundaries. The bombing of places of worship should once again renew the vigilance of the world at all times. They are determined and ready to blow themselves and take down innocent people. They are brutal and barbaric and all funding to them has to be cut off.
71
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi must be brought to justice. Those who are working to bring about that end -- some of whom are risking their lives to do so -- deserve the full measure of our support, gratitude, and honor. And the Kurds, who have done the lion's share of the close-in fighting that succeeded in destroying al-Baghdadi's physical Caliphate, deserve much more political/economic/military support from the U.S. than they've gotten thus far.
236
@Dennis NYC You are right we should be grateful to everyone who has physically removed ISIS from their birthplace and stronghold in the past 2 years. Finding Osama took 11 years since 911 because he was safely tucked away in Pakistan in a place he was least expected to be found. ISIS surfaced and formed a caliphate 10 years ago during Obama's time. I think the US armed forces and allies are closing in on him but he could be hiding in a place he would be least expected to be found. It is a case of finding a needle in the hay stack but if his influence and his dough is taken away that will stop any destruction he may have planned.
9
@Dennis Spot on, Dennis.
3
@Dennis But at what cost - Bin Laden and Ghaddafi were "brought to justice" sending their countries into civil war. Saddam was prosecuted and also brought to justice while ISIS took over in the resulting power vacuum. Prosecuting al-Baghdadi would be a waste of time, money and political capital sorely needed to end the famine and war in Yemen. Singling out the Sunni faction in the Iraq civil war would burn bridges with Saudi Arabia - it is far wiser to try to save millions who are still alive than yet another disastrous campaign to bring an already disgraced individual to justice.
1
The Twitter in Chief claimed that ISIS is dead. On what information? Only he knows !
Meanwhile the Occupant of the Oval Office is making strategic decisions on the security of America without knowing what he is doing.
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@Gerry O'BrienStrawman.... and not helpful in the least.
@Mystery Lits
Actually it is quite helpful as a reminder of this president's complete lack of credibility.
2
Just For Men needs reapplying
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@NM
poor guy hasnt had a chance to get to the beauty parlor.
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You cannot punish this monster with justice. Particularly with American justice.
If American's captured him alive, they should deliver Iraq government or Fedex him to Assad. that is all. then they will serve him middle eastern justice.
In America this guy get much fatter , that is not good for tax payer.
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@su
I would prefer that he be tried in an American civilian court where everything about his criminal acts can be revealed with his ability to challenge the evidence. It's more important to make what he actually did known than seeking revenge against his person. His death will be seen as martyrdom unless his behavior is remembered as monstrous.
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@su right. We'll fight terrorism with torture 'cause that always works!
I read that there is a $25 million bounty on this guy, is that true?
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I was a little surprised that this article didn't mention that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was born in Iraq. Just seems relevant since this terrorist seems to be fighting armies from... other countries? Wondering if Americans on American soil would be described as terrorists for fighting foreign armies on their land. Just asking.
5
Yes, this. guy does look like he is "living large" in some safe comfortable community. He and his followers should remember "you can't go back to the 12th Century". Why would they want to?
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One of the greatest problems in ridding the world of such grotesque "faith-based" campaigns is, and you can ask any commander in the combat theater, you can defeat the enemy but not their faith.
The North Vietnamese had faith in their cause for independence from Saigon's dictatorship. They had no air force or navy. Just a belief in their cause.
The Taliban, too, is a faith-based form of terrorism but, they think their god is on their side. So they fight tirelessly.
In the case of ISIS, during those years of building their so-called caliphate, they also recruited the devoted through internet sales pitches. Some where urged to join the fight in Syria and Iraq. But some were encouraged to be cancerous cells prepared to attack in their homelands.
The caliphate may be gone but, I would advise the Trump administration to stop fighting its own intelligence experts and, instead, rely on those experts to establish contacts worldwide to end this cancer. Until America, with its allies. can "pull the last tooth," we are all in for a very rough ride.
And with Trump's rejection of our closest allies, perhaps he can convince Putin and Kim to take up the fight.
Oh, wait! Those two are probably too busy as arms dealers to the terrorists. I mean, someone is supplying all those AK-47's and, oddly enough, that endless supply of white Toyota pickup trucks ISIS used in their mobile campaign.
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Wag The Dog perhaps?
Without "terrorists" the so-called war-on-terror could not be sold to the American people. It's an unregulated, non-transparent money pit with secret military courts, no due process, and imperial aims that are never admitted to the people.
I'm suspicious of their request for 19 million dollars to maintain Guantanamo where 1500 soldiers are overseeing 40 detainees, none of whom have been tried & convicted of anything in 17 years. They've been tortured for sure at C.I.A. black sites, but not found guilty of anything. Yet, they are still imprisoned?
I guess without them the Joint Chiefs of Staff couldn't justify Guantanamo. The majority of the American people want it closed.
Then there is Sri Lanka's immediate blocking of the Internet in response to the tragic bombing so that there would be no news or information getting out. I cannot help but wonder if that was a trial run to see if it could be done elsewhere. without a mass uprising
24% of Trump's base said that they would support the government's closing down any news media that he did not like during a crisis.
I am not a paranoid person. I've just lived long enough to see red flags when they pop up.
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@Caryl Towner, what is the source for your 24% statistic?
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@L Fluff
An MSNBC report on voter statistics within the last 2 months or so.
While I don't remember the story that inspired the report at the time, I wrote this down because it alarmed me so.
He's a very vague fellow, I would love a little bit more detail around precisely when judgement Day is so that I can have my favourite outfit ready and a fresh trim.
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All these Islamic terrorists always have a glaring contradiction, the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) never went after civilians in war. Even when he came back to Mecca after being ousted, he did not loot the city or kill undesirables. While ousted, he never condoned attacking civilians in ‘hit and run’ style attacks (remember that these civilians were pagans). Instead his rules for war were to never attack the elderly, the infirm, women, and children. Yet, these people seem to desire those targets above all else in a conflict that can never truly end. They can’t win, so they bleed us as much as they can. We will eventually win, but is the cost worth it? I think the only way to counter these terrorist groups is nation building. When we have cases like Iraq and Libya, who would trust western intervention? When we have cases like Afghanistan, how would anyone trust us? We go in, kill people we don’t like (never mind if the people are good for stability or not) and then leave. The people in those countries expected American help in rebuilding, they didn’t get it and then we got angry once they turned to more amenable sources. We need another marshal plan, something to actually help the Middle East and Asia rebuild so support for terrorists goes so far down that they implode.
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@Waleed Khalid
Marshall plan was $ 12 Billion, US has given Pakistan $ 40 Billion over 60 years. Any guesses where the money went.
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@Rahul So true. It’s unfortunate, but we can only be guardedly optimistic about the eventual success of the Marshall Plan. It was missing key tactics developed during the later War on Terror to accompany and improve on basic infrastructure funding. If only the US had the technology in the decades after the supposed conclusion of World War II to engage in targeted drone strikes all over Europe against remaining fascists, as well as those using the telephones of fascists, those who called the telephones of fascists, small gatherings of men who were the same age as fascists, and family gatherings where men who were the same age as fascists appeared to be carrying weapons (or camera equipment). Then we might have been able to enjoy the culture and hospitality of a once resplendent Europe to the extent we now enjoy these things in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
At least we cannot say that America doesn’t learn from its mistakes.
2
Most of the money ‘given’ to Pakistan came right back to the US for purchases and ‘training’. The US NEVER ‘gives’ money - only loans under usurious terms OR payment for services - in the case of Pakistan use [and damage] to infrastructure etc.
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"He is believed to be in hiding somewhere in the sparsely populated desert spanning the border between Iraq and Syria"
Yeah....and Bin Laden was supposedly hiding in a mountain cave in Afghanistan. This guy looks clean and well-fed, sitting there on pillows. Don't be surprised when he's found living in a city house, right under people's noses.
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This guy and such people are misleading the youth of his religion. Very sad. All the scientists of the world must tell the youth of his religion to abandon viewing people as those belonging to different religions but view them all as humans of one religion. What holds these scientists from doing this is that they do not want to offend the people of western religions (eastern religions like Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists will all agree). Alternately, the youth must do what their prophet did-- i.e. start their own new religion with their own wisdom-- rather than do what their prophet said in a book. This can save a billion people.
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@mds
Scientists are too late, where are their parents? Unless they are radicalized too.
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@mds Then tell them.. They might never know if you tell only us.
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Interest gin there was no mention of the New Zealand shootings.
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What normal person, no matter his religious beliefs, can read al-Baghdadi's words and not see the insanity of saying this yet still condoning the massacre of 250+ innocent people.
“Truthfully, the battle of Islam and its people with the crusader and his people is a long battle, and the battle of Baghuz finished and manifested in it was the brutality and savagery of the nation of the cross toward the nation of Islam,”
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@Nancy F. Sudik, While our leader is Trump, we can hardly take the high ground on sane leadership.
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@joan In this case we as actually can.
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You quote Al Baghdadi saying “Truthfully, the battle of Islam and its people with the crusader and his people is a long battle, and the battle of Baghuz finished and manifested in it was the brutality and savagery of the nation of the cross toward the nation of Islam,”
How wonderful.
Now, all those who have been constantly criticizing Bibi Netanyahu for taking strident stands against terror can feel relieved that the anger of the most peaceful group in the world is aimed somewhere else.
Israel need not worry anymore and can confidently give up Jerusalem, Golan Heights and all of West Bank.
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Right, Netanyanu will have one less thing to
worry about when he trial for charges of multiple felonies begins.
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@Gene Eisman Getting him and Trump in a two-for-one package trial would be so economical.
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@Rodrian Absolutely, would be one of the best political deals of ALL TIME!
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This will never end until the Islamic world undergoes a Reformation. Let's have a conversation about how we can best facilitate that.
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@Jon
That is a large part of the problem...there is little to nothing that we can do. The change must come from within.
We have these grand delusions that we can instill democracy in nations that have zero interest in it. We insist that our values be their values. They hold our values beneath contempt.
Probably the best we can hope for is that we stay out of their affairs and they stop murdering innocents all over the world.
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@Jon wonderful advice. Lets take it one step further and begin to talk about God and Religion and god and belief
systems. What are our real core belief systems? It seems to me at age 80 that ALL PATHS are the same. Leading to the SAME end. LOVE !
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This will never end under we all commit to eradicating toxic masculinity. Let's talk about that.
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Good looking guy. smart too. who would've thought that revenge for losing the battle against the Western alliance & the Kurds would be taken against people who were involved in no way, shape or form. Not even the Prophet--certainly NOT the Prophet!--would have given him that idea.
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@Fred Yes, good looking certainly, but I'm not sure where the "smart too" came shining thru. We do, however, have a guy who looks much like him perched on the sidewalk outside a dry cleaners on Columbus Avenue. No rifle, just a collection hat.
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@Fred As we know from the current president of the United States, power does not always go to the intelligent but to the violent. The bullies.
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