Sunday, 15 May 2011




The following is research published today from MEMRI’s Special


Dispatch Series and the MEMRI TV Project.

*Special Dispatch Series

Special Dispatch No. 3839—Jihad & Terrorism Studies


Project/Al-Qaeda/Yemen

London Daily 'Al-Sharq Al-Awsat' on Anwar Al-Awlaki: 'Al-


Qaeda's New Pied Piper'

American-born cleric Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki, presumed to be in Yemen, has emerged as an influential figure in Al-Qaed, with many calling him a prospective replacement for Osama bin Laden. However, a more likely scenario would be for him to become leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). A May 10, 2011 article in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai stated, "There are talks among the organization's [Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] members to appoint Anwar Al-Awlaki as the group's leader."



In a January 2010 article titled "Anwar Al-Awlaki: Al-Qaeda's


New Pied Piper" in the London dailyAl-Sharq Al-Awsat, datelined Sanaa, correspondent Arafat Madayash discusses details in the life of Al-Awlaki, who has been linked to Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Hasan, would-be Christmas Day airplane bomber Umar Farouq Abdulmutallab, and several of the 9/11 attackers.

To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5287.htm.



Special Dispatch No. 3838—Saudi Arabia/Al-Queda

Saudi Al-Qaeda Expert Fares bin Hizam: Despite Bin Laden's

Ascetic Image, His Sons Lived a Life of Luxury and Were

Never Sent to the Battlefront

Following are excerpts from an interview with Fares bin Hizam, a Saudi expert on Al-Qaeda, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on May 8, 2011:

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2921.htm.

3838.JPG


Interviewer: "The image of bin Laden as a hero was generated by the notion that he was living in valleys and caves. Even the pursuit was conducted in these rugged areas.


"Now it transpires that he was living in a house in the city, in a nice area, with three wives and 10 children. What was behind the image of Bin Laden leading a life of poverty, even of asceticism?"

To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5286.htm.

*From the MEMRI TV Project

MEMRI TV Clip No. 2927 - Mustafa Hamdan, Former Head of

Lebanese Presidential Guard: 'The Assassination of Sheikh

Osama Bin Laden Is a Criminal Act'



2927.JPG

Following are excerpts from an interview with Mustafa Hamdan, former head of Lebanese Presidential Guard, which aired on Al-Jadeed/New TV on May 11, 2011:

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2927.htm.