The emergence of images of a black al-Qaeda flag flying atop the Benghazi courthouse, the symbolic cradle of Libya’s anti-Qaddafi rebellion, has provoked hasty efforts at damage control by defenders of the rebellion and the new Libyan order. The latter, mostly operating under cover of anonymity in online comments sections, have suggested, among other things, that the images were photoshopped, that the flag is not in fact the al-Qaeda flag, and that the raising of the flag was an isolated incident: the work of, as one commentator here put it, a “small group of Islamists.” But pictorial evidence posted on an Arabic-language Islamic Internet forum reveals that the Benghazi waterfront was in fact covered by a veritable sea of al-Qaeda flags last week: both the “classic” black version and a more novel white one.
Large-format, high-resolution versions of the photos are available here on Muslm.net. The selection also includes a grainier video still. Smaller versions of the images are reproduced below.
Note that some of the above images have also appeared in the Western press, though typically without any mention, much less identification, of the flags. For one prominent example, see my “See No Al-Qaeda: The New York Times and Libya” on the Corner. The photos that appeared in the Western press are dated October 28 and attributed to Reuters photographer Esam al-Fetori.
What is commonly known as the al-Qaeda flag was reportedly first used by the late Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi’s al-Qaeda affiliate in Iraq. The Arabic script represents the Islamic shahada or declaration of faith: “There is no god but God [Allah], and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” The script that appears on the Libyan flags is slightly different in style from that on the “original” Iraqi ones. The design is identical.
As the below detail from a screenshot shows, the poster of the photos on Muslm.net uses the original Iraqi al-Qaeda flag as an avatar.
The Middle East Media Research Institute has posted a two-minute-long video clip, dated October 25, that shows a parade of vehicles in Libya flying the al-Qaeda flag. The exact location is not given, but it appears also to be Benghazi. The images of the “vehicle parade” are followed by images of a traditional march in which demonstrators chanting “Allahu Akbar!” can likewise be seen flying the flag.
Were it not for the deficiencies of reporting on Libya in the mainstream Western media, the appearance of al-Qaeda flags in the capital of the anti-Qaddafi rebellion should come as no surprise. As shown by the captured al-Qaeda personnel records known as the “Sinjar Records,” the eastern Libyan heartland of the anti-Qaddafi rebellion was one of the major sources of the foreign recruits that joined al-Qaeda in Iraq to fight against American and coalition forces. (For a discussion, see here.) Abdul Hakim al-Hasadi, a leading military commander of the rebellion on the Eastern front, has admitted to personally recruiting many of the Libyan al-Qaeda members and that some of them returned to Libya to participate in the “jihad” against Qaddafi.
— John Rosenthal writes on European politics and transatlantic security issues. You can follow his work at www.trans-int.com or on Facebook.
This seems the modus operandi of the press. "Sure there are a few ___(a)___ among the ___(b)___, but that doesn't change the fact that the overwhelming majority of them are fine, peaceful people who deserve our support."
Examples of a/b pairs:
- terrorists / Muslims
- Islamists / 'free' Egyptians
- violent felons / OWS folks
This is of course as opposed to the press coverage of the tea parties, which it's taken as fact consisted 100% of hateful white racists who split their time between making Hitler posters and spitting on black members of Congress.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd we have a president who wants to bring a gun to a knife fight and teach the Republicans a lesson.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcellent comment!!! Yet we are the ones who are being uncivil.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHitler posters? Can you document that? Not that I'm surprised, mind you, but other readers may be. Cordially, Bill
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs despicable as Qaddafi was, he warned that NATO's alliance with the "rebels" would unleash the radical fundamentalism of AlQaeda and its ilk that he was quelling. The genocide of the black Africans by the "rebels" further exposes the lie that the NATO action was a humanitarian act.
There is blood on the hands of the O administration for engaging in and encouraging this "adventure," where we had no national interest. In fact, the deed has acted against our national interest and made North Africa a more volatile place.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama's touch.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere is the official response from the president when notified that Al Qaeda is now in Libya.
External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBest unexpected laugh I've had all day!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse> has provoked hasty efforts at damage control by defenders of the rebellion and the new Libyan order.
Rich Lowry, Jonah Goldberg, Dan Foster.
Actually they don't even go to the effort of damage control. Move on, all that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Were it not for the deficiencies of reporting on Libya in the mainstream Western media, the appearance of al-Qaeda flags in the capital of the anti-Qaddafi rebellion should come as no surprise."
Mainstream Western media? How about The National Review and The Weekly Standard both of which enthusiastically endorsed American involvement in Libya, regime change and, in the case of TWS' Bill Krystol, coined the term "Arab Spring"?
Sure, there was dissent from contributors on The Corner, but the official NR position was "Arab Spring, Good. Opponents, Isolationists. Bad."
We're going to look back on "Arab Spring" with remorse. I can't wait until these fanatics link up with the fascists and marxists behind OWS.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree - the so-called spring fills me with foreboding.
If Islam ever frees itself from jihadist mentality, it will take time and be bloody. The west can try to strategize for Islam, but that is incredibly arrogant of us. Islam is responsible for reforming itself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIslam IS a "jihadist mentality",and it will always have that mentality;it's an INHERENT part of Islam.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe muslims who don't actually wage war themselves are waging "dawa";passive war,or support jihad in other various ways. You can see this when the "peaceful" muslims get their way due to our weakness,and begin following Sharia Law,or when they are "offended" and riot.
So glad we expended our treasure to help this mob. But it's not like we weren't warned when they started killing black Africans and waving the al Queda flag early on.
I think this one falls under the saying, giving them the rope with which to hang us. Does anyone doubt Libya will NOT be our friend in the future?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's amazing how the fear mongers claw to find ANY reason to disagree with this President's actions.
Do you remember that this dictator MURDERED over 280 Americans?? Does that ring any bells???
I think you just don't know what to do because this President has been successful again and again in foreign policy (nuke reductions w/Russia, Libya, Osama Bin Laden (and others), ending the quagmire in Iraq, and VASTLY improving our standing in the world). Of course, none of that matters because he's OBAMA!
You're pathetic cries ring hollow. Just like your defense of Herman Cain. Exactly when did reporting facts become a "racist hit job"?? I'm sure none of this would have been reported on Fox News if these charges had been made against Obama. As long as Ann Coulter keeps speaking for you, I'm sure that the whole country is going to unite with her (your) way of thinking. Keep dreaming.
So much for your "family values" and defense of marriage. For all of you screaming that this is a "liberal hit job", you couldn't be further from the truth. I know that I, along with countless other Democrats, were hoping that Herman would be "your man". Just imagine a foreign policy debate with him and Obama.
I sure am enjoying the show of what the Republicans now stand for....good luck with that next year!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo far the accusations against Cain have less evidence behind them than the Obama birth certificate issues. If that changes, then they'll matter more.
I'd hardly call the treaty with Russia which essentially undid a lot of the progress Reagan made a success. As bad as MADD is, unilateral disamament is not the solution. Trust without verify isn't going to get us very far either.
The successes (Osama) are attributable to our peerless military and activities put in place by Bush.
I do agree that we shouldn't be shedding any tears for Kadafi, but I am concerned that historically the next step after Libya is conquest of Iberia and I am not holding my breath for a modern day Charles Martel.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow is that none of this mess gets attributed to Hillary Clinton?
Obama is equal parts clueless and feckless, and it is Hillary who is running foreign policy.
She will be the Dem's nominee next year if Obama 'retires', and she is doing huge damage to our security and our standing in the world, never mind to the ever-increasing numbers of those living under Al Qaeda's thumb.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs a flag with those words printed on it really universally considered to be an "al-Qaeda flag"? Muslims have been saying them forever.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood point! This stuff is not the work of a "small group of Islamists." It is mainstream Muslim thought as passed down since ol' Mo arrived in Medina.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMother Jones has a short article about this, with the "Libya expert" Ronald Bruce St John reassuring us that this is nothing to worry about:
External Link
From the article:
What about that Al Qaeda in Iraq flag though? "I think it's a one-off kind of thing, I don't think there's any organized group promoting anything like that in Libya," St John says. "If they started popping up everywhere it might be a different story."
Hey, Robert Bruce St John! Better check out Muslm.net!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe ultimate result of the rope a dope Al Quaeda strategy and naive neocons. Allowing these zealots to rise to the top of the septic tank called Islam is an international tragedy. Totally avoidable, unnecessary and abetted by our current foreign policy making grandees.
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