Comments on: New AQIM abduction cases

By: Hanna Rogan

Hanna Rogan — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:10:46 +0000

Thanks, Vahid – that is a good question. I have actually not seen any critical comments about kidnapping as a tactic on the jihadi fora. There has been, as you mention, criticism against the indiscriminate killing of civilians, both in the past and more recently (especially following the wave of high casualty suicide operations that started in April 2007). During the last month, for instance, there has been a series of critical comments on the French language forum Minbar-SoS (http://www.minbar-sos.com/forum/al_qaida/), in which a member named ‘algerianmuslim’ has questioned the rationale for attacking civilians, and in one posting also apparently disapproves of the reported kidnapping of a shepherd. (Note that these postings have led other members to suggest ‘algerianmuslim’ is a spy.) As for reactions by AQ Central, I have seen nothing but support to the AQIM, yet nothing specifically on the kidnapping cases.
Hanna

By: Vahid Brown

Vahid Brown — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:56:23 +0000

Thanks, Hanna, for the excellent analysis.

I’m curious to know if you’ve seen any grumbling in the fora about AQIM’s tactics in this regard, or whether there has been any discernible reaction to these tactics by AQ-Central. The descent into (or continuing practice of, from GSPC days) criminality like kidnapping for ransom, for which there is no clear warrant in the ideological universe of AQ-Central, has been a divisive issue for AQ affiliates in the past. Abu Sayyaf’s degeneration into a kidnapping business, and earlier Algerian groups’ rapacious and seemingly purposeless bloodletting in Algeria, has drawn criticism from AQ-Central figures in the past and has led to a distancing of their respective relationships. Given the importance of GSPC as an upholder of the AQ “brand,” are you currently seeing anything like this with regard to the spate kidnappings?

Many thanks,

Vahid