Gadahn was bagged just hours after releasing a new internet video urging American Muslims to go on shooting sprees like Maj. Nidal Hasan's at Fort Hood last year.There seems to be some confusion concerning Gadhan's arrest. If true, he will hopefully be brought back quickly to the United States where he will receive the sentence traditionally meted out to traitors who betray their own country. Given the current Justice Department, it is more likely that he will treated more like someone who knocked over a liquor store than a terrorist thug who is covered with the blood of his countrymen.
He is the first American to be charged with treason since World War II.
If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
The arrest was the latest in a series of successes in the new partnership between Pakistan's once-balky intelligence services and the CIA.
Known in Al Qaeda videos as "Azzam the American" or Azzam al-Amereeki, Gadahn was born in Oregon to a Jewish family.
His hippie father converted to Christianity before his son was born, changing the family name from Pearlman to Gadahn.
Adam Gadhan was homeschooled in southern California. He converted to Islam at 17 and moved to Pakistan in 1998 at 20.
Intelligence officials say he joined up with al Qaeda after 9/11 and attended terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.
By 2004, he was a senior Al Qaeda operative and became bin Laden's top propagandist, appearing in numerous internet videos calling for the destruction of America.
Charged with treason in 2006, he is believed to report directly to bin Laden's right-hand man, Ayman al Zawahri.
Updated:
Reaction from around the Web:
Doug Ross-In recent years he has called for numerous attacks on the U.S. homeland and has even recommended finding ways to shake "consumer confidence and stifle spending"; as for the latter suggestion, Democrats appear to have taken it to heart with massive failed spending programs including a Stimulus package, Omnibus budget bills, jobs programs, housing rescues, and auto company takeovers.
Legal Insurrection-But wait for it: This proves Obama's anti-terrorism strategy is better than Bush's -
- What, you mean working with your allies as opposed to trying to run roughshod on them actually works? Who knew?
- It's like the commander in chief is focused on fighting terrorism or something.
Dan Riehl-Given the timing, it's quite possible that Pakistani intelligence agencies managed to get inside the al Qaeda video production and dissemination loop. h/t Instapundit. A good take down, certainly. My hope is that it wasn't simply a solid gesture but Gahdan was the most expendable to make it. I also wish he were being interrogated under the Bush administration, as opposed to the current one. (emphasis added to indicte my complete agreement)
Three Beers Later-Following his heartbroken apology to the Gadahn family, Obama will be faced with the tough question of where to try him...
Darlene Click-Related: How soon will the Left try and cast Gadahn as a rightwing Teabagger? (Well he certainly hates our government)
Hot Air-Just a thought; it seems as though Pakistan has suddenly become a lot more effective at finding high-value targets in the Af-Pak theater. Has the ISI decided to stamp out the Taliban and/or al-Qaeda? If so, what’s changed? I’d be happy to give Obama credit for it if it’s something the US did.
More at Memeorandum
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