FBI Boosts Efforts To Find American al Qaeda Suspect Adam Gadahn

Although we believe Adam Gadahn was most likely killed in an airstrike earlier this year, the FBI has launched a publicity campaign in Afghanistan to announce a $1 million reward for information about his whereabouts.

Adam Yahiye Gadahn, 29, grew up in Riverside County. He is “an integral part of al-Qaida’s media and recruitment branch (and) has endorsed terrorist activity,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Friday.

Gadahn was indicted by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana in 2005. He was charged with one count of treason and two counts of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The FBI’s publicity effort campaign will include matchbooks, handbills and posters that will be distributed throughout Afghanistan.

The FBI alleges Gadahn moved to Pakistan in 1998 and attended an al-Qaida training camp six years later, serving as a translator and consultant for the group.

Hopefully the campaign will turn up information about Gadahn, dead or alive.

We received the following comments on a related post regarding Adam Gadahn today. I believe that the writer, “EJ” is right on, in his assessment.

Until it is proven beyond any doubt that Gadahn is dead, keep ratcheting up the pressure.

From “EJ”

As the agent who filed the treason charges against Gadahn, my first impression of the news of his purported death is disheartening. I truly hoped that he would have been captured and brought to the U.S. to face charges. Though I am no longer with the FBI, I would have revealed in the opportunity to confront him and try to understand him. I spent a little over 2 years of my life studying this guy and his life, I have some opinions I would love to test out.

Likened to Ahab and Moby Dick, Adam will remain my white whale.

With this said, I am not qualitfied nor do I have access to the information/intelligence provided to the FBI regarding his reported death.

I have seen the “experts” give their opinion on my the death is probable based in part by the lack of english subtitles on recent videos.

Let me offer a word of caution here, Gadahn is the most well know American within the ranks of Al Qaeda. He is also a So Cal native with significant area knowledge.

His role as an American propaganda puppet served Al Qaeda well but his purported death may also serve them well. If we think he is dead, then maybe we will stop looking for him. Maybe, he will, under fake documents, be allowed to enter the U.S. and though I believe if he carried a gun he would more like shoot his own foot off, maybe he will help to devise a renewed attack against LAX as the last failed.

Al Qaeda is patient and they are smart. I applaud the FBI for the stepped up efforts to locate him overseas. I question any one who tries to minimize Gadahn’s value if captured.

The smallest peice of informaiton in the right hands can be a gold mine. Remember the Lockerbie bombers were tracked down based on a piece of circuit board no larger than a thumb nail.

I for one will not believe Adam is dead until I have seen his head and that DNA for his head has been tested against that of his family.