The Haitian Blogger: Al Qaeda Recruits Kiefer

The headlines are full of stories about the latest Al Qaeda recruits. So when I read the news story today about Kiefer Sutherland doing jail time (48 days) for his 2nd drunk driving arrest in three years; I was inspired to imagine that his need for revenge against a system that has wronged him, may well make him good recruitment material for the "Al Qaeda". I know, you might have your doubts about that, but just think about it; from all that we have heard in the media, in the "war on terror", "everyone" is a suspect.

Mr. Sutherland, an actor, is known to have extremist links. His mother Shirley Douglas, an award winning Canadian actress, was arrested for allegedly trying to supply weapons to the Black Panthers. Ms. Douglas said at the time that she was set up by the FBI. May I say without irony; a likely story. His father Donald Sutherland was an anti Vietnam war activist.

I believe that Kiefer Sutherland should immediately be put on a "watch" list and his program "24" monitored for secret transmissions to other active "cell" members.

December 2nd 2007

"Experts see rise in Western-looking recruits training in terrorist camps"

The latest crop of Al Qaeda recruits is salted with white, Anglo-featured converts from Europe who look more like TV's Jack Bauer than Osama Bin Laden.

U.S. officials are worried about fair-skinned Al Qaeda killers with light-colored eyes, who most Americans would never suspect as Muslim jihadis ready to die in martyrdom missions like Sept. 11.

"It is a very big concern," a top counterterror official told the Daily News of the possibility that real-life terrorists resemble Kiefer Sutherland's character on "24."

Here are a few pointers from the respected gentlemen/women of the media for spotting the terrorist. Be especially careful of the 10 and under Al Qaeda recruits as reported by the Mirror (UK):

January 13, 2003

"Latest Al Qaeda recruits: Afghans seeking revenge."

Al Qaeda is filling suicide squads with civilians who have lost family members to US attacks.

July 10, 2005

"Leaked No 10 dossier reveals Al-Qaeda’s British recruits"

A network of “extremist recruiters” is circulating on campuses targeting people with “technical and professional qualifications”, particularly engineering and IT degrees.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

"Al-Qaeda's Canadian recruits 'highly prized': report."

The majority of al-Qaeda recruits in Canada are being trained at home, not abroad, making the terror network a direct threat to Canada, according to a recently declassified intelligence report.

The homegrown recruits are highly prized for their familiarity with Western societies, says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service report, obtained by the Toronto Star.

AND THERE'S MORE...

December 8, 2003

"Al-Qaeda network recruiting for Iraq"

A string of recent arrests of terrorist suspects has shown that al-Qaeda and groups linked to it have established a network across Europe that is moving recruits into Iraq to join the insurgency against US and allied forces, European intelligence and law enforcement officials say.

Over the past year, the officials have estimated, the network of recruiters working in at least six European countries - Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Britain and Norway - have helped hundreds of young men trying to get to Iraq. The network had provided high-quality fake documents, training, money, and infiltration routes into the country.

November 05, 2007

"MI5: Teen Al Qaeda Recruits, Russian Spies Target Britain."

Teenage al Qaeda recruits and Russian spies are targeting Great Britain in increasing numbers, according to the country's chief spymaster, Jonathan Evans, the head of MI5.

In a speech today, Evans said MI5 had identified 2,000 al Qaeda-connected individuals "who we believe pose a direct threat to national security and public safety."

Individuals as young as 15 and 16 have been implicated in terrorist-related activity, according to Evans, who said the extremists are "methodically and intentionally targeting young people and children in the U.K."

As for the Russians, Evans said "there has been no decrease" in Russian intelligence officers carrying out covert activities in Britain. MI5 is devoting significant resources, Evans said, to countering "unreconstructed attempts by Russian, and others, to spy on the U.K."

His comments are considered an important reflection of the current threat as seen by British officials.

You know, its all fun and games until a kid blows you up. This final story, if its true, sort of wipes the smile right off your face:

June 11, 2007

"Al-Qaeda recruits Brit kids | MI5 BOSS IN SECURITY ALERT Under 10s being groomed for terror."

British boys are being groomed for suicide bombings by al-Qaeda from the age of 10 and under.

The youngsters may have been "softened up" by radical propaganda from five, and from 10 considered experienced enough to carry out simple jobs.

Five years later they can be fully fledged terrorists, security sources said.

The horrific rise of the teeny terrorists was confirmed yesterday by MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans.

Disclosing that al-Qaeda was waging a "deliberate campaign" against Britain, he said: "As I speak, terrorists are methodically and intentionally targeting children in this country.