On February 24, 2011, the jihadi forum Shumukh Al-Islam posted an article by Al-Qaeda ideologue and leader 'Atiyyat Allah Abu 'Abd Al-Rahman, also known as 'Atiyyat Allah Al-Libi, titled "The Revolution of the Peoples and the Collapse of the Corrupt Arab Order: Smashing the Idol of Stability, and the New Beginning." The article was published by the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Fajr media company. Its publication also serves to refute the reports of Al-Libi's death in an October 7, 2010 air strike in Pakistan.
The article, dated February 16, 2011, is the first comprehensive response from the Al-Qaeda leadership to the recent turmoil in the Middle East. In it, Al-Libi expresses satisfaction at the unrest which has swept the Arab countries, and joy over the toppling, thus far, of two leaders, anticipating and hoping that additional Arab and Muslim peoples will take advantage of the chance to topple their regimes. Furthermore, in his view, the current unrest is not merely a temporary crisis, but a watershed that signals the end of the Arab order as we know it and the collapse of the notion of stability in the Middle East.
On the operational side, Al-Libi encourages jihadists to focus on building up a military presence in the Sinai. This is the second time a senior jihadist leader has recommended this course of action there. Al-Libi also urges the mujahideen of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to seize the opportunity to topple the regime in Yemen and establish a stronghold in that country.
To a certain extent, the article is evidence that Al-Qaeda is currently in a difficult predicament, from an ideological and political viewpoint. According to Al-Qaeda's ideology, the Arab regimes are considered the arch-nemesis, and the primary justification for, and target of, violent jihad. It would seem that the popular uprisings usurped from Al-Qaeda the role of toppling these regimes, rendering them superfluous. In their defense, Al-Libi explains that Al-Qaeda cannot deploy large armies at the drop of a hat, in order to come to the aid of Muslims. Moreover, he presents a set of updated priorities according to which the West, Israel, and the remaining Arab regimes - the Saudi royal family foremost among them - are Al-Qaeda's raison d'etre, regardless of the fact that "apostate" and "tyrant" regimes were toppled by peaceful means and without the jihadists' help. ...
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
