#149 Sarah Adams - Is the Pentagon Ignoring the Most Dangerous Threat of All?

Al-Qaeda has trained and deployed approximately 1,000 terrorists each for attacks in the U.S. and Europe

Shawn Ryan and Sarah Adams discuss the imminent threat posed by Al-Qaeda to the U.S. and Europe. They mention that Al-Qaeda has trained approximately 1,000 individuals for an attack on U.S. soil, targeting symbolic locations to cause mass casualties and gain significant press. An equal number of terrorists have been prepared for attacks in Europe. Abdullah bin Laden runs the terrorist camps where these homeland attackers are trained. Some terrorists use legal immigration channels to enter the U.S., including tourist visas, and they are said to include ISIS members to shift blame onto the group.

The U.S. homeland attack is expected to involve suicide bombers, "Fadeian" attackers who will fight to the death, and coordinated swarming attacks across multiple cities, modeled after the 2008 Mumbai attacks

The hosts detail that the planned attacks are expected to utilize autonomous "Fadeian" attackers willing to fight to the death, reminiscent of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The swarming attack tactics give assailants the autonomy to change their targets and methods during the operation. Similar autonomy was noted in the Mumbai attacks, where attackers switched from a bombing to shooting to maximize casualties. Adams discusses Al-Qaeda's desire for innovation, such as advanced suicide vests that could go undetected by metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs and warns that the U.S. might not be prepared for such sophisticated attacks.

The timing and targets of the attacks are still unclear, but Al-Qaeda is said to be aiming for maximum impact and economic disruption, potentially targeting symbolic locations, public transportation, and large gatherings

Although the specific timing and targets are unclear, Al-Qaeda is aiming for maximum impact and economic disruption, potentially targeting the U.S. Capitol, public transportation, and large gatherings at universities, churches, and ...

Al-Qaeda has been developing close coordination and partnerships with various other terrorist organizations, enhancing their global threat potential.

Al-Qaeda has formed an "Islamic Army" that unites various Sunni and Shia terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and the Taliban

Hamza bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, has established the Islamic Army, an alliance that transcends the traditional Sunni and Shia divide, and includes a myriad of groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and the Taliban. The Haqqani Network is involved as a senior leadership component within the Taliban, with Sirajuddin Haqqani—a part of this network—having significant influence and receiving substantial funds. The Islamic Army involves complex negotiations and has trained about 120,000 individuals. Recruits are trained under the Islamic Army umbrella, creating a unified identity that obfuscates specific group affiliations such as Al-Qaeda or ISIS when deployed or if detained.

The Islamic Army allows Al-Qaeda to leverage the resources, fighters, and capabilities of these disparate groups to carry out its operations

The formation of the Islamic Army has enabled Al-Qaeda to consolidate resources and fighters across different organizations. This conglomerate force supports joint operations, such as Joulani's blitzkrieg, and contributes to Al-Qaeda's grand strategy. The Islamic Army's extensive training prepares recruits to operate under a single banner, bolstering Al-Qaeda's operational capacity significantly.

Al-Qaeda's leader, Hamza bin Laden, is overseeing and coordinating the activities of the Islamic Army

Hamza bin Laden is an active and hands-on leader who personally oversees and coordinates the activities of the Islamic Army, furthering the vision set by his father, Osama bin Laden. He holds regular meetings and, in a distinct leadership style, has appointed one of his father's former bodyguards, Hamza Alghamdi, as the commander of the Islamic Army. Hamza personally engages in strategic dealings, such as making an agreement with Sana'a Ulughafari of ISIS Khorasan province about ISIS fighters participating in Al-Qaeda-led attacks.

Al-Qaeda is d ...

Al-Qaeda's activities have been sustained over the years, in part due to the involvement and clandestine support of certain foreign nations. This support has varied from providing safe havens and resources to complex covert operations.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has actively harbored and supported Al-Qaeda operatives, including providing a safe haven and resources

While specific examples of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's (IRGC) direct involvement in facilitating and planning Al-Qaeda attacks are not detailed in the transcript, it is clear that Al-Qaeda has found shelter and strategic partnership with Iran's IRGC. Sarah Adams points out that after the US entered Afghanistan post-9/11, Al-Qaeda operatives fled to Iran and Pakistan, finding safer haven in Iran and establishing close relationships with the government there.

IRGC intelligence officials have been linked to the planning of major terrorist activities, including Hangman attacks, and have formed a deep relationship with Al-Qaeda. Mohammed Kazemi, for instance, a friend of the late IRGC Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, played a significant role in keeping key Al-Qaeda figures safe. This partnership was solidified with intelligence sharing and the use of an intelligence base situated in an Al-Qaeda camp in Kandahar, indicating an operational alliance for shared terroristic goals.

IRGC intelligence officials have been directly involved in facilitating and planning Al-Qaeda attacks, including the October 2022 Hamas attacks and the planned U.S. homeland attack

The collaboration between IRGC and Al-Qaeda extends to organizing and executing terrorist attacks. Details revealed from the transcript suggest joint operations, with specific references to the involvement of both the Taliban and Hamas in certain attacks. The IRGC and other branches of the Iranian military have had direct communications over Telegram, with planning meetings held in regions such as Kandahar and Kabul. Moreover, the relationship between these organizations is linked to various forms of support, ranging from logistical to financial, with sums as substantial as $145 million a month mentioned.

Furthermore, following Qasem Soleimani's death, Al-Qaeda's distrust of their security under Iran's protection prompted movements of operatives. Al-Qaeda's presence even extends to uranium mines in the south of Afghanistan which are controlled by China, with the IRGC reportedly assisting Al-Qaeda in the dangerous task of potentially using uranium, which evokes the grim threat of dirty bombs.

Russia has also allegedly aided Al-Qaeda's efforts, with Russian pipel ...

The U.S. government's counterterrorism initiatives are under heavy scrutiny, revealing serious gaps in the system, ranging from overlooking actionable intelligence to the loss of critical networks in Afghanistan.

The U.S. government has failed to heed warnings and actionable intelligence provided by private investigators and sources regarding Al-Qaeda's plotting

Sarah Adams, at the crux of this discussion, criticizes the U.S. for not taking adequate measures based on information from private sources about Al-Qaeda's plotting. Adams and others shared intelligence on ISIS and warnings of potential Al-Qaeda attacks to government organizations, which were met with no response. Significant lapses in oversight were showcased when U.S. counter-terrorism dollars were found to be funding the Taliban's Supreme Leader and U.S humanitarian aid being repurposed to finance Al-Qaeda training camps.

The Pentagon disregarded Adams' collection of information regarding Al-Qaeda's plans to attack U.S. embassies. The U.S. government's reticence was also evident in the case of Hamza bin Laden. Despite international coverage on his survival, the CIA directed U.S. press not to report this fact. British intelligence, frustrated with CIA's suppression, leaked information to counter the American narrative. Adams also exposed that Mohammed Kazemi, despite being a mastermind behind plots against a former U.S. president, is not on the FBI’s most-wanted list. Concerning designations, she noted the U.S.'s slow response in listing key Benghazi attackers on most-wanted lists, contrasting it with actions taken by General Haftar in Libya.

Furthermore, Florida Governor DeSantis did not receive terrorism threat reporting from the federal government, revealing a lack of intelligence-sharing with state governments.

The U.S. has lost much of its intelligence collection and asset network in Afghanistan, leaving it increasingly blind to terrorist activi ...