Meet al-Baghdadi, America’s newest “poster boy”

The world has a new poster boy in al-Baghdadi. Some naive Muslims will be taken in by his brandishing a kalishnakov instead of the sword but it is important to look deeper. Emotional outbursts are no substitute for clear analysis and understanding.

America’s newest poster boy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may not be as photogenic as the late Osama bin Laden but what he lacks in looks, he more than makes up in ruthlessness, guile and cruelty. Born Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai in 1971 in Samarrah (Iraq)—hence his last name al-Samarrai—he is also known by his nom de guerre, Abu Du‘a (the “Father of Du‘a”). This is common practice in the Middle East.
Al-Baghdadi burst on the global scene with spectacular speed last month when his rebels captured Mosul in central Iraq. Despite their ruthlessness, the speed with which Baghdadi’s thugs took over Iraq’s second largest city, surprised even his staunchest admirers. The fall of Mosul was followed by the capture of Tikrit, home town of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Husain where he is buried following his hanging in December 2006 (It has been reported that the judge, Raouf Abdul Rahman who sentenced Saddam to death was captured by ISIS rebels on June 16 and executed).
“”The latest thug on the block heads the terror group that carries the inappropriate name, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (or al-Sham), hence it is called either ISIL or ISIS depending on which last name is used. There is nothing Islamic about the group or its leader; it is a bunch of bloodthirsty mass murderers that have no regard for human life whatsoever.”
The latest thug on the block heads the terror group that carries the inappropriate name, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (or al-Sham), hence it is called either ISIL or ISIS depending on which last name is used. There is nothing Islamic about the group or its leader; it is a bunch of bloodthirsty mass murderers that have no regard for human life whatsoever. The group has indulged in gruesome killings of civilians as well as members of other groups that may be a little less violent than this bunch of AK-47 clutching hoodlums.
In its latest rampage through Mosul, the ISIS admitted to having shot and killed more than 1700 people, all of them after they had surrendered to the marauders. Killing prisoners of war and civilians is forbidden in Islam. In many instances, people had their hands tied behind the back and shot in the head. Such conduct is worse than primitive savagery that Islam confronted and defeated during the time of the noble Messenger (saws). What the ISIS barbarians are doing would make the primitive savages of Arabia, referred to as jahils (ignorant) in the noble Qur’an, look benign by comparison.
The question, however, is: Who is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and how has he been successful when other figures have fallen by the way side, especially in Syria where his group has had its most ruthless phase? While the Western corporate media claims that Washington is “worried” about the rise of another radical “Sunni” leader, facts seem to point in a different direction. How deeply is the US involved in the rise of the ISIS and promotion of al-Baghdadi are not rhetorical questions or conspiracy theories. Rand Paul, the Republican Senator from Kentucky told NBC’s Meet the Press program on June 22 that Washington was financing the ISIS as well as other terrorist groups linked with it. The White House has not refuted Paul’s allegations.
“”The curious thing is that al-Baghdadi’s murderous operations in Syria had the full backing of the US and its Western and Arabian allies. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey have been deeply involved in promoting these mass murderers/torturers and rapists. Money, guns and advisors are readily provided.”
American officials have admitted that al-Baghdadi was captured in 2005 and was held at Camp Bucca until 2009. The new concentration camp was opened after Abu Ghraib gained notoriety for American sadism where Iraqi men and women—yes women as well as young girls—were not only held but brutally tortured and sexually abused. Photos of completely naked prisoners—men, women and girls—being tortured, raped and sodomised by American soldiers were widely circulated on the Internet. Most of the gruesome photos were held back from the public. Donald Rumsfeld who was George Bush’s Defense Secretary dismissed these crimes with the flourish, “stuff happens.”
In the face of mounting evidence, other US officials still claimed America “does not torture”. Facts, however, are stubborn things. So what did the US do: stop torturing and raping Iraqi men and women? Perish the thought; the focus was changed from Abu Ghraib to Camp Bucca. Many Americans and indeed the rest of the world had never heard of this concentration camp until Ibrahim al-Badri/al-Baghdadi’s eruption on the scene. The curious thing is that al-Baghdadi’s murderous operations in Syria had the full backing of the US and its Western and Arabian allies. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey have been deeply involved in promoting these mass murderers/torturers and rapists. Money, guns and advisors are readily provided.
So why was al-Baghdadi who had served in the Iraqi army, released by the Americans in 2009 and what kind of a deal was struck to facilitate his release? It is not inconceivable—indeed it is more than likely—that al-Baghdadi was released with the specific aim of promoting the most virulent terrorist mastermind in order to advance US-Zionist agenda in the region. After all, Osama bin Laden was also the product of American involvement in Afghanistan. The Americans not only helped him during the Afghan war against the Soviets but also trained and nurtured him and his
Arabian followers.