Ibrahim Suleiman al Rubaish
by Thomas Joscelyn
A former Guantanamo detainee has emerged as a leading ideologue and theologian for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula – one of the strongest al Qaeda affiliates in the world.
Ibrahim Suleiman al Rubaish was captured by Pakistani authorities in late 2001 and then handed over to American officials who transferred him to Guantanamo. Rubaish was held there until Dec. 13, 2006, when he was transferred to Saudi Arabia and placed in the Saudi rehabilitation program for jihadists. At some point, Rubaish escaped from Saudi Arabia by fleeing south to Yemen.
In February 2009, the Saudi Kingdom placed Rubaish, along with at least 10 other former Gitmo detainees, on its list of 85 most-wanted terrorists. One of the former Gitmo detainees Rubaish fled to Yemen with, Said Ali al Shihri, is now the deputy of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which was formed when the al Qaeda branches in Yemen and Saudi Arabia merged.
Two other former Gitmo detainees who fled to Yemen along with Rubaish have been killed in shootouts. (Click headline to read more)
The Uighurs, In Their Own Words
Currently, seventeen Uighur men who are suspected members or associates of the organization are detained at Guantánamo. Five other Uighurs who were detained at Gitmo were previously released to Albania in 2006. The men are all from China’s Xinjiang region and are alleged to have traveled to Afghanistan to join the ETIP/ETIM’s jihad. (The Long War Journal)
Hambali: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Annointed One Riduan bin Isomuddin, aka “Hambali”
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed built an extensive rolodex of terrorist allies during the many years he devoted to mass murder. None was more dangerous than Riduan bin Isomuddin, better known as “Hambali.”
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Saifullah Paracha: The Containers Plot
Paracha ran a media company that he made available to Osama bin Laden for the purpose of creating and disseminating al Qaeda’s propaganda.
Abd al Rahim al Nashiri: USS Cole Bombing MastermindThere is every indication that Nashiri -– who was the head of al Qaeda’s operations in the Arabian Peninsula at the time of his capture -– was getting ready to unleash a new round of terror when he was captured. (The Weekly Standard)Lillie: A Would Be Martyr“Lillie was particularly interested in the ideas of martyrdom and was slated to be a suicide operative for an al Qaeda ‘second wave’ attack targeting Los Angeles.” |