Obama Administration Releases More Gitmo Detainees Including Hardened Jihadists

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Obama Administration Releases More Gitmo Detainees including Hardened Jihadists

In the past week Obama administration has released eleven prisoners, dropping the population 93 the lowest since 2002. President Obama claims these individuals pose no threat to the United States, but their backgrounds say otherwise.

On January 4, 2016, Muhammed Abd Al Rahman Awn Al-Shamrani was released, despite being deemed a high level threat in accordance with a military memo from 2008 and recommended continued detention. He had strong ties to the Taliban and will be repatriated to his home country of Saudi Arabia and most likely will in fact look to reconnect with jihadists efforts.

On January 12, 2016, ten Yemini detainees were released and discharged to the Gulf State of Oman.

Among those who pose the most serious threat are:

Samir Naji Al Hasan Maqbel fought in the Tora Bora Mountains to maintain the protection of Usama Bin Laden; he was part of the “Dirty 30” Bind Laden security detail, and was reported to be the suspected 20th hijacker on 9/11. Was influenced by Marwan Jawan, a jihadist and al-Qaeda recruiter, who frequent figure in Yemen. Maqbel is believed to have received advanced terrorism training and to be knowlegable about Al Qaeda recruitment techniques. Maqbel was captured by the Pakistanis along with other members of Bin Laden’s security team. Was also connected to the Faisalabad Martyr Brigade to conduct IED attacks on U.S. and coalition forces.

Adham Mohamed Ali Awad (AKA Waqas Mohammed Ali Awad )  was day laborer turned fighter who was captured while traveling, he has attempted to assault and intimidate guards and workers at the prison. While in a Kandahar hospital recovering from wounds he and a group of al-Qaeda members barricaded themselves inside trying to use it as a safe haven. Captured by coalition forces, Awad has openly stated continued support for Usama Bin Laden and has vowed to kill Americans. Gitmo interrogators found Awad uncooperative and believed he remained strictly adherent to jihadist ideology, and was viewed as a threat to conduct attacks on U.S. and coalition forces.

Fahmi Abdallah Ahmad Ubadi al-Tulaqi – Was a trainer for al-Qaeda and part of the Pakistan-based Faisalabad Martyr Brigade. He planned on returning to Afghanistan to conduct IED attacks on U.S. and coalition forces. He also planned on teaching al-Qaeda fighters how to build bombs and IED’s. Spent two years with the Taliban and claims to have no military training, but was reportedly very skilled with AK-47. Captured by Pakistani authorities while hiding in a safe house. Al-Tulaqi’s Al Qaeda application stated that he was a wanted man in Yemen and was part of a “jihadi group” there. Al-Tulaqi was considered hostile to staff and guards at Guantanamo, and recorded engaging in damaging property and assaulting staff.

Abu Bakr Ibn Muhammad al-Ahdal – A willing terrorist against the United States who began in Yemen before joining al-Qaeda and is also affiliated with Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami (HUJI). The HUJI is a Pakistani terrorist group that has an affiliate in Bangladesh that seeks to impose Islamic law through violence. Al-Ahdal also joined the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood’s Islah Political Party in 2000. It’s spiritual leader, Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani was a spiritual mentor of Bin Laden, and a major player in both Al Qaeda and Hamas terror finance networks.

Al-Ahdal served as a sub-commander on the front lines for al-Qaeda forces, and received basic training in al-Qaeda artillery camp. Received advanced training in Afghanistan and had multiple passports on his person. Was captured in a supply convoy by Pakistani authorities and turned over to U.S. forces.

Muhammad Salih Husayn al-Shaykh. Al Shaykh reportedly openly threatened to kill Americans while in custody, and asserted that Usama Bin Laden is “his brother in arms.” Al Shaykh was identified as having been selected as a potential suicide operative; Al-Shakyh was found in possession of numerous passports and refused to cooperate which made it difficult for interrogators to even establish his real identity. Al-Shaykh was captured with a group of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, who identified him as being present at the Al Qaeda stronghold of Tora Bora. His name was also linked to several al-Qaeda documents and he was heard making threats to kill Americans.

Each of these individuals are trained to kill and injure Americans and still hold to believe strongly in their mission to attack the United States. In the case of the Yemenis, their home country remains locked in civil war, allowing Al Qaeda to openly maintain terrority from which to train and conduct attack. Even in the absence of Bin laden, These individuals skill and notoriety as detainees establish them as hardcore jihadis whose support would be welcomed by groups such as Islamic State (IS) and the Taliban. Despite claims by the president’s administration, there is no evidence that the Guantanamo detainee program serves as propanganda from the recruitment of Jihadists. Yet these men scheduled for release have shown they were jihadist before internment at Guantanamo and they will continue to be so once they are released.

The closure of Guantanamo will unleash a new surplus of fighters to the Jihad’s frontlines. Guantanamo served its purpose to house individuals who were deemed a serious threat to America and its allies and must remain open.

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