ISIS leader comes out of hiding, makes 21 minute video declaring he is the Caliph

Ryan5 · Jul 5, 2014

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/New...rportedly-shows-extremist-leader-in-Iraq.html

By Staff Writer, Al Arabiya News
Saturday, 5 July 2014
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) published on Saturday a video that purports to show its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who declared himself recently as the “caliph” of all Muslims around the world.
Please click here to read profile of ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
The hitherto elusive Baghdadi made his appeal in a sermon delivered on Friday in the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

“I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me,” he said, wearing a black turban and robe.

“If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you.”
The video was released on at least two websites known to be used by the group, but it was not possible to independently verify whether the person shown was indeed the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It bore the logo of al-Furqan, the group’s media arm, Associated Press reported.
The video is the first ever official appearance by Baghdadi, according to Aymenn al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist movements, though the jihadist leader may have appeared in a 2008 video under a different name, APF reported.

“The mujahedeen have been rewarded victory by God after years of jihad, and they were able to achieve their aim and hurried to announce the caliphate and choose the Imam,” he says in the video, referring to the leader.
“It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you,” he adds. “I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.”
He is dressed in black robes and a black turban, has dark eyes, thick eyebrows and a full black beard. He speaks eloquent classical Arabic, but with little emotion.
The mosque has several dozen men and boys standing for prayer, and a flag of the black Islamic State group is hoisted in the mosque. One man stands guard, with a gun holster under his arm.
At the beginning of the video, the man purported to be al-Baghdadi slowly climbs the pulpit in the great mosque in Iraq’s second-largest city of Mosul, which al-Baghdadi’s group captured last month. Then the call to prayer is made as he cleans his teeth with a miswak, a special type of stick that devout Muslims use to clean their teeth and freshen their breath.
The Iraqi government has said the video was falsified. “We have analyzed the footage ... and found it is a farce,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan told Reuters

Maan said government forces had recently wounded al-Baghdadi in an air strike and that he had been transferred by ISIS militants to Syria for medical treatment. He declined to give further details and there was no way to confirm the claim independently.
However, a senior Iraqi intelligence official told Associated Press that after an initial analysis the man in the video is believed to indeed be al-Baghdadi. The official said the arrival of a large convoy in Mosul around midday Friday coincided with the blocking of cellular networks in the area. He says the cellular signal returned after the convoy departed.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
A Mosul resident confirmed that mobile networks were down around the time of Friday prayers, and then returned a few hours later. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for his safety.
Another aspect of the rule al-Baghdadi envisions was made clear in a series of images that emerged online late Saturday showing the destruction of at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory his group controls.
The 21 photographs posted on a website that frequently carries official statements from the Islamic State extremist group document the destruction in Mosul and the town of Tal Afar. Some of the photos show bulldozers plowing through walls, while others show explosives demolishing the buildings in a cloud of smoke and rubble.
Residents from both Mosul and Tal Afar confirmed the destruction of the sites.

[AFP and AP]

Last Update: Saturday, 5 July 2014 KSA 21:19 - GMT 18:19

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

Ryan5 said:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/New...rportedly-shows-extremist-leader-in-Iraq.html

By Staff Writer, Al Arabiya News
Saturday, 5 July 2014
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) published on Saturday a video that purports to show its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who declared himself recently as the “caliph” of all Muslims around the world.
Please click here to read profile of ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
The hitherto elusive Baghdadi made his appeal in a sermon delivered on Friday in the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

“I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me,” he said, wearing a black turban and robe.

“If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you.”
The video was released on at least two websites known to be used by the group, but it was not possible to independently verify whether the person shown was indeed the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It bore the logo of al-Furqan, the group’s media arm, Associated Press reported.
The video is the first ever official appearance by Baghdadi, according to Aymenn al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist movements, though the jihadist leader may have appeared in a 2008 video under a different name, APF reported.

“The mujahedeen have been rewarded victory by God after years of jihad, and they were able to achieve their aim and hurried to announce the caliphate and choose the Imam,” he says in the video, referring to the leader.
“It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you,” he adds. “I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.”
He is dressed in black robes and a black turban, has dark eyes, thick eyebrows and a full black beard. He speaks eloquent classical Arabic, but with little emotion.
The mosque has several dozen men and boys standing for prayer, and a flag of the black Islamic State group is hoisted in the mosque. One man stands guard, with a gun holster under his arm.
At the beginning of the video, the man purported to be al-Baghdadi slowly climbs the pulpit in the great mosque in Iraq’s second-largest city of Mosul, which al-Baghdadi’s group captured last month. Then the call to prayer is made as he cleans his teeth with a miswak, a special type of stick that devout Muslims use to clean their teeth and freshen their breath.
The Iraqi government has said the video was falsified. “We have analyzed the footage ... and found it is a farce,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan told Reuters

Maan said government forces had recently wounded al-Baghdadi in an air strike and that he had been transferred by ISIS militants to Syria for medical treatment. He declined to give further details and there was no way to confirm the claim independently.
However, a senior Iraqi intelligence official told Associated Press that after an initial analysis the man in the video is believed to indeed be al-Baghdadi. The official said the arrival of a large convoy in Mosul around midday Friday coincided with the blocking of cellular networks in the area. He says the cellular signal returned after the convoy departed.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
A Mosul resident confirmed that mobile networks were down around the time of Friday prayers, and then returned a few hours later. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for his safety.
Another aspect of the rule al-Baghdadi envisions was made clear in a series of images that emerged online late Saturday showing the destruction of at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory his group controls.
The 21 photographs posted on a website that frequently carries official statements from the Islamic State extremist group document the destruction in Mosul and the town of Tal Afar. Some of the photos show bulldozers plowing through walls, while others show explosives demolishing the buildings in a cloud of smoke and rubble.
Residents from both Mosul and Tal Afar confirmed the destruction of the sites.

[AFP and AP]

Last Update: Saturday, 5 July 2014 KSA 21:19 - GMT 18:19

With no US assets on the ground in that area, there's no reason he couldn't also attend a street fair, because we can't do a thing about it including an air strike, drone attack, cruise missile or sniper. Hell, he owns the place now, and for the foreseeable future. It's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants:

Translated into English:

RDS · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
With no US assets on the ground in that area, there's no reason he couldn't also attend a street fair, because we can't do a thing about it including an air strike, drone attack, cruise missile or sniper. Hell, he owns the place now, and for the foreseeable future. It's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants:

Translated into English:

You had about 2 trillion dollars worth of US assets, 170,000 combat troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Thousands of American lives sacrificed and took 10 years to get Osama Bin Laden. I guess its gonna be much cheaper this time.

KevinKohler · Jul 5, 2014

I dare him to go after Russia.

KevinKohler · Jul 5, 2014

He's going to get murdered. By other Muslims. They ought to be offended this guy would proclaim himself the caliph.

PirateMk1 · Jul 5, 2014

RDS said:
You had about 2 trillion dollars worth of US assets, 170,000 combat troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Thousands of American lives sacrificed and took 10 years to get Osama Bin Laden. I guess its gonna be much cheaper this time.

It very well could be. And we get glow in the dark glass parking lots to boot.

Kobie · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
With no US assets on the ground in that area, there's no reason he couldn't also attend a street fair, because we can't do a thing about it including an air strike, drone attack, cruise missile or sniper. Hell, he owns the place now, and for the foreseeable future. It's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants:

You honestly think that he'll be able to take over SPAIN, for crying out loud?

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

RDS said:
You had about 2 trillion dollars worth of US assets, 170,000 combat troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Thousands of American lives sacrificed and took 10 years to get Osama Bin Laden. I guess its gonna be much cheaper this time.

First of all, I didn't have anything over there other than me, because I'm not the government.

Second, I'm not advocating anything, just pointing out facts of the situation.

MMC · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
With no US assets on the ground in that area, there's no reason he couldn't also attend a street fair, because we can't do a thing about it including an air strike, drone attack, cruise missile or sniper. Hell, he owns the place now, and for the foreseeable future. It's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants:

Translated into English:

Yeah Beaudreaux.....as you can see. A majority cannot figure out what is going on. That would be the majority of the left. Which you can tell by their remarks. But this is not nor was ever surprising.

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

Kobie said:
You honestly think that he'll be able to take over SPAIN, for crying out loud?

Kobie, I didn't make the map. Isis did.

I do think it's possible that they would try although the probability of success is debatable and I think it's improbable because of Spain's membership in NATO. The Spanish have their own internal threat from ETA, however, and haven't been able to get that under control, so I doubt if ISIS wanted to attack Spain, that Spain would be able to do anything about it without assistance from NATO (the US).

And, again, I didn't make the map - ISIS did "for crying out loud." You made a tad bit of an extension of my comment that had no description of my detailed thoughts. To ask me the question was a reasonable response given that I made no further comment, however, to add the "for crying out loud" to the end was a bit over the top - even for you.

Jetboogieman · Jul 5, 2014

A madman who will meet his maker sooner than he thinks.

Kobie · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
Kobie, I didn't make the map. Isis did.

I do think it's possible that they would try although the probability of success is debatable and I think it's improbable because of Spain's membership in NATO. The Spanish have their own internal threat from ETA, however, and haven't been able to get that under control, so I doubt if ISIS wanted to attack Spain, that Spain would be able to do anything about it without assistance from NATO (the US).

And, again, I didn't make the map - ISIS did "for crying out loud." You made a tad bit of an extension of my comment that had no description of my detailed thoughts. To ask me the question was a reasonable response given that I made no further comment, however, to add the "for crying out loud" to the end was a bit over the top - even for you.

You said "it's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants." Meaning that ISIS will be able to achieve its stated goal of taking over Spain, southeastern Europe, Turkey, the entirety of southwestern Asia, the northern half of Africa, etc., etc. I think that's highly unlikely.

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

Kobie said:
You said "it's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants." Meaning that ISIS will be able to achieve its stated goal of taking over Spain, southeastern Europe, Turkey, the entirety of southwestern Asia, the northern half of Africa, etc., etc. I think that's highly unlikely.

What ISIS wants is a Holy War that encompasses to world, and is primarily focused in the areas shown in the map I posted. I did not say that ISIS would prevail and take control of all these areas.

That's what I meant by your extension of what I said being inaccurate. You made some assumptions, and were mistaken.

Also, to state that there is no way that they could prevail, is naive at best, and ignorant at worst. The same thing was said about Japan and Germany before WWII and the Soviets after WWII. ISIS has billions of dollars of financing and thousands of loyal followers that are more than willing to die for the cause. ISIS doesn't have any bleeding heart liberals that will try everything they can to stop them.

We have to recognize the true threat that is arising. Ignoring will not make it go away.

I do not want the US to get involved in a sectarian war between Shi'ite and Sunni Islamic extremists, that has been raging at one level or another for the past seven centuries. However, we cannot ignore the fact that ISIS is a real and palpable threat to the US.

Do you not think that ISIS wants a Holy War?

Kobie · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
Do you not think that ISIS wants a Holy War?

I'm not saying they don't. I just don't think they're capable of waging it on the type of scale that would allow them to expand that far.

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

MMC said:
Yeah Beaudreaux.....as you can see. A majority cannot figure out what is going on. That would be the majority of the left. Which you can tell by their remarks. But this is not nor was ever surprising.

Isolationists never do. If it isn't happening outside their house on their street in their town in their country... it isn't a problem and we should stay out of it. The problem with that thought process is that the whole world is where we live, not just in our country, and what happens elsewhere can have a real threat here at home. And, it's just a matter of time before it actually does come to our country, and our town, and maybe even our street outside of our own house. Just ask those that live near lower Manhattan, or in Boston, etc.

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

Kobie said:
I'm not saying they don't. I just don't think they're capable of waging it on the type of scale that would allow them to expand that far.

I agree that right now they do not have that capability. Every day that goes by, however, gives them more followers, more money, more weapons, more experience and (the most frightening part to me) more confidence and resolve.

MMC · Jul 5, 2014

KevinKohler said:
I dare him to go after Russia.

He says after the Caliphate is intact. He will conquer Rome next. Now that was a major mistake with all that Hacking he does when he speaks. As once he opens up a war against the Catholics.....if he can last that long. Then he will start something.....that will be an end to one religion. Forever.....and Islam just wont be the one to survive.

MMC · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
What ISIS wants is a Holy War that encompasses to world, and is primarily focused in the areas shown in the map I posted. I did not say that ISIS would prevail and take control of all these areas.

That's what I meant by your extension of what I said being inaccurate. You made some assumptions, and were mistaken.

Also, to state that there is no way that they could prevail, is naive at best, and ignorant at worst. The same thing was said about Japan and Germany before WWII and the Soviets after WWII. ISIS has billions of dollars of financing and thousands of loyal followers that are more than willing to die for the cause. ISIS doesn't have any bleeding heart liberals that will try everything they can to stop them.

We have to recognize the true threat that is arising. Ignoring will not make it go away.

I do not want the US to get involved in a sectarian war between Shi'ite and Sunni Islamic extremists, that has been raging at one level or another for the past seven centuries. However, we cannot ignore the fact that ISIS is a real and palpable threat to the US.

Do you not think that ISIS wants a Holy War?

Do you think they can figure it out and how it starts.....for the full sectarian divide to jump off? Think they can figure out what it takes and exactly how close to this.....the Invisible Sheik really is?

How did the sectarian divide jump off with US and NATO in Iraq and allegedly with AQ being pushed out? What took place in 2006?

Van Basten · Jul 5, 2014

Anyone who thinks these clowns can even accomplish half of their geographic goal need to come back to reality.

MMC · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
Kobie, I didn't make the map. Isis did.

I do think it's possible that they would try although the probability of success is debatable and I think it's improbable because of Spain's membership in NATO. The Spanish have their own internal threat from ETA, however, and haven't been able to get that under control, so I doubt if ISIS wanted to attack Spain, that Spain would be able to do anything about it without assistance from NATO (the US).

And, again, I didn't make the map - ISIS did "for crying out loud." You made a tad bit of an extension of my comment that had no description of my detailed thoughts. To ask me the question was a reasonable response given that I made no further comment, however, to add the "for crying out loud" to the end was a bit over the top - even for you.

Yeah.....I see you have come across their 5 year plan. He forgot the only way he can make it happen. It to terminate all the Shia first. Of course the only way he can take pressure off himself.....is to jump-start that sectarian conflict. Wherein he can hide amongst the mass confusion.

Although one thing he does have going.....the US still considers AQAP more deadlier. Which is a mistake, if we do so.

Kobie · Jul 5, 2014

Van Basten said:
Anyone who thinks these clowns can even accomplish half of their geographic goal need to come back to reality.

Half would still be way too much. Anything is too much. That said, I'm curious as to how we can nip these guys in the bud without a full on invasion.

Beaudreaux · Jul 5, 2014

Kobie said:
Half would still be way too much. Anything is too much. That said, I'm curious as to how we can nip these guys in the bud without a full on invasion.

That's what worries me about this situation. I don't know how we can stem the tide at all. Even if we knock out the command and control of ISIS with air or missile strikes, the Hydra will just grow another head.

As a wounded combat vet, I don't want anyone to be sent into that mess and come home wounded or worse - in a box. A full on invasion may be what it takes. I would not want to be in that decision chain. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If we go in full force, the opposition will say that we did too much too soon, and that it wasn't needed or in the best interest of the US. If we don't go in, and ISIS continues to grow their strength, capabilities and control of even more and more areas, by that time, to intervene will be even more costly in blood, treasure and time which the critics will seize upon as being too weak to act before it became so costly. Again, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I don't have the answer(s), and don't pretend to, even on an internet forum where we can pretend to know or twist the facts to support our faux knowledge.

The only thing I do know, is that ISIS is a real and palpable threat to the US right now, and when or if they are less occupied with gaining territory in the Middle East, they will surely turn their attention to the US, Great Britain and others - that is if they haven't already done so and it's a matter of waiting for the inevitable to occur here. They are already coordinating with AQAP, and as we all know, AQAP has recently gained a capability that forced the TSA to tighten security at airports.

To summarize: I don't know what our best action should be, but we should do something, and even of we do something (short of full on invasion) it's just a matter of time before ISIS and their allies get lucky and succeed in hitting us here at home. Remember, we have to get it right every time - they only have to get right once.

MMC · Jul 5, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
That's what worries me about this situation. I don't know how we can stem the tide at all. Even if we knock out the command and control of ISIS with air or missile strikes, the Hydra will just grow another head.

As a wounded combat vet, I don't want anyone to be sent into that mess and come home wounded or worse - in a box. A full on invasion may be what it takes. I would not want to be in that decision chain. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If we go in full force, the opposition will say that we did too much too soon, and that it wasn't needed or in the best interest of the US. If we don't go in, and ISIS continues to grow their strength, capabilities and control of even more and more areas, by that time, to intervene will be even more costly in blood, treasure and time which the critics will seize upon as being too weak to act before it became so costly. Again, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I don't have the answer(s), and don't pretend to, even on an internet forum where we can pretend to know or twist the facts to support our faux knowledge.

The only thing I do know, is that ISIS is a real and palpable threat to the US right now, and when or if they are less occupied with gaining territory in the Middle East, they will surely turn their attention to the US, Great Britain and others - that is if they haven't already done so and it's a matter of waiting for the inevitable to occur here. They are already coordinating with AQAP, and as we all know, AQAP has recently gained a capability that forced the TSA to tighten security at airports.

To summarize: I don't know what our best action should be, but we should do something, and even of we do something (short of full on invasion) it's just a matter of time before ISIS and their allies get lucky and succeed in hitting us here at home. Remember, we have to get it right every time - they only have to get right once.

That's why this is everybody's problem Beaudreaux.....and everyone should be doing what they can to take these guys out. They have over ran an Iraqi Military base. They have taken US stinger Missiles. They now have Anti Air defenses. 72 Tanks and over 100 other vehicles. As well as Artillery.

We also Have a pattern that has emerged within the Last month and half. With AQ going after Airports. Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan going after an airport. Then this weekend, al Shebab Threatening to go after Entebbe Airport.

Now we are covering Baghdad International and Mosul. Due to this guy and his Army going after those Airports.

Which btw.....the Iraqis are digging in. The Saudis just put 30k on their Border saying the Iraqis left. The Iranians have 10 divisions on their Border with a Straight shot into Baghdad.

While ISIS is very close to being able to drop a Bomb on the Shia Holy Shrine in Samarra. This is with the Shia amassing a 100k Army of Militia, and blocking the way.

US Conservative · Jul 6, 2014

Beaudreaux said:
With no US assets on the ground in that area, there's no reason he couldn't also attend a street fair, because we can't do a thing about it including an air strike, drone attack, cruise missile or sniper. Hell, he owns the place now, and for the foreseeable future. It's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants:

Translated into English:

What he wants is an Islamist world. What he will get, probably sooner rather than later is a lead salad. I'd like to think the last thing to go through his head will be an American bullet, but no need to get picky.

In the mean time, they continue to blow up historic buildings, and execute people-to be posted on youtube and liveleak almost hourly. It wont be long before they start the executions for smoking cigarettes.

MMC · Jul 6, 2014

US Conservative said:
What he wants is an Islamist world. What he will get, probably sooner rather than later is a lead salad. I'd like to think the last thing to go through his head will be an American bullet, but no need to get picky.

In the mean time, they continue to blow up historic buildings, and execute people-to be posted on youtube and liveleak almost hourly. It wont be long before they start the executions for smoking cigarettes.

What they are saying this morning.....the Big issue for most is, if it is really him. How pathetic.....even if it is not. The call is out in the Public. He is asking Muslims to join their state. To accept him as their Leader.....so that he can be a Statesman and be on the same level as Presidents and Prime Ministers.

They said he gave the Speech in Mosul......which the Press is reporting they captured and are in Control of. Yet we are being told.....that US troops would be sent up North and to help hold Mosul International Airport.

How can we do this, if ISIL holds the Entire City?

ISIS leader comes out of hiding, makes 21 minute video declaring he is the Caliph

Ryan5

Beaudreaux

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RDS

KevinKohler

KevinKohler

PirateMk1

Kobie

Beaudreaux

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MMC

Beaudreaux

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Jetboogieman

Somewhere in Babylon

Kobie

Beaudreaux

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Kobie

Beaudreaux

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Beaudreaux

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MMC

MMC

Van Basten

Black Is Smart

MMC

Kobie

Beaudreaux

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MMC

US Conservative

MMC

ISIS leader comes out of hiding, makes 21 minute video declaring he is the Caliph

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Somewhere in Babylon

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