Note to media and government: For the full report, send an email with "Inspire 2" in the subject line to [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF REPORTS ABOUT THE SECOND EDITION OF "INSPIRE"
On October 11, 2010, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released its second issue of its English-language magazine Inspire. Among the topics presented is an interview with Abu Sufyan Al-Azdi (aka Sa'id Al-Shihri), an article by American Al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn titled "Legitimate Demands 2," and two articles by Anwar Al-Awlaki.
The second edition of Inspire also includes an article by 24 year-old former North Carolina and New York City resident Samir Khan titled "I Am Proud To Be a Traitor to America."
The cover page of the article states that the following is "the story of the Muslim American jihadi Samir Khan. After working a few years in the jihad media sector in America, he packed his bags and left for Yemen to help the mujahidin. This is an account of how he happily became a traitor to America and why he chose to make such a decision."
The following are notable excerpts from Samir Khan's story:
He said, "I am a traitor to America because my religion requires me to be."
He talked about traveling to Yemen and mocked the FBI for "spying on him" in North Carolina. You allowed him to escape the U.S.
He called himself "Al-Qaeda to the core" and praised Osama bin Laden, calling him "leader of this global fight" against the West.
He discussed what it felt like "to officially become a traitor" and started he is "prepared to make sacrifices," and adds, "I am actively aware that body parts have to be torn apart, skulls have to be crushed and blood has to be spilled."
Samir also quoted WikiLeaks' Julian Assange calling on the U.S. to change its policies if it wants to prevent more attacks inside its border.
He ends by "pledging" to "wage Jihad" until "we implement Islam all over the world or meet our Lord as bears of Islam."
The complimentary full text of this report is made available from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM).
