How was Abu Yahya Al-Libi "a moderating force within a far more virulent current that has taken hold in the milieu?"
A discussion between Will McCants (@will_mccants) and Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)
- It all started with a blog post by @allthingsct :
- Some quick thoughts on reports Abu Yahya al-Libi has been killedFirst, I'll believe it when al Qaeda acknowledges it. This of course won't stop the chest beating celebrating his killing. And if he has ...
- Followed by Zack's seemingly innocent request for comments from Twitter CT giants Will, Clint and Daveed:
I would like to see responses from @DaveedGR, @will_mccants, and @selectedwisdom, among others, to this by @allthingsct allthingscounterterrorism.com/2012/06/06/som…- And this is what ensued over the next 3 days:
@zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct re: indiscriminate killing growing after death of elders,was norm under UBL until late- @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct also, AQ authorities like UBL didn't have much luck reigning in indiscriminate kills
- @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct finally, Libi in hardline camp. see his debate w/ Atiyya this year re: regime members
@will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom sorry not clear on your meaning; are u saying this was the norm under OBL?- @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom w/ respect strongly beg to differ on this count, esp. if we are talking AQC EO
- @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom al-Libi may have been in that camp in relation to some things but *not* others
- @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom his role in dealing with takfiris & tribal elements in Pakistan case in point.
- @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @daveedgr @selectedwisdom well that may b so (which I don't agree w/ btw) & even still doesn't affect my point
- @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @daveedgr @selectedwisdom that may have killed indiscriminately but it was not indiscriminate targeting.
- @will_mccants Long history of AQC turning down EO proposals or trying to gain control over plots not in strategic interest.
- @allthingsct yes, & long history of failure in controlling plots, which is my point. "moderates" at top not necessarily able to moderate org
- @allthingsct @zackbeauchamp @daveedgr @selectedwisdom target markets where they know civilians will b killed, which is why Atiyya criticized
- @allthingsct @zackbeauchamp @daveedgr @selectedwisdom also, has AQ sworn off killing non-Muslim civilians? i haven't seen such a message
