Just as you bring down one Islamic terrorist, there is another leader waiting to rise. One who believes he is stronger and more determined to rule learning from the mistakes of the previous ruler. We are faced with the inevitable truth that history does and will repeat itself.
The death of Bin Laden brought the opportunity for Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi to rise and take his place. Leading those to believe he is the "Descendant of the Prophet", know by his supporters as Caliph Ibrahim. He makes his first statement with the Eulogy of Bin Laden.
Bagdadi's family history traces him to a descendant of the prophet Muhammad. Baghdadi received his PhD from the Islamic University of Baghdad, with a focus on Islamic culture, history, sharia, and jurisprudence giving the background and knowledge to be a master at manipulating people to follow him.
Little is known about Baghdadi and his family. Baghdadi was born in 1971 in the City of Samarra. His family has fled the city to avoid being associated with Baghdadi. Those who do know Baghdadi say, he is quiet person and ruthless in his dealings. The qualities of a true sociopath.
Like many who grew up under Saddam Hussein's rule, he would have been required to serve in the military, where he learned his military tactics.
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, with some of his associates created Jamaat Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamaah (JJASJ), known as the Army of the Sunni People Group - operating in Samarra, Diyala, and Baghdad. Baghdadi is both a doctor and engineer with a more traditional Islamic education, bestowing a higher level of praise and legitimacy among his supporters than Bin Laden.
He cowardly hides and makes few appearances. Baghdadi has not made one appearance since he was named the jihadist of the Islamic State of Iraq. His first audio message to the world and his followers was released in 2012. Until recent rise of the Islamic State, Bagdadi has ruled the movement behind closed doors refusing to allow anyone to take any photos or videos of him.
What few appearances he did make, he made them with flawless security, his guards closing off and entire area. He required his guards to swear allegiance to him. When Baghdadi would make appearances at a Mosque, he forbid anyone to leave the Mosque for a half hour.
In 2004, Baghdadi was captured in Falluja and detained at Camp Bucca by U.S. lead forces and released, because they saw him as not a high level of threat. Baghdadi's status was that of a “civilian internee,” meaning he was connected to a terrorist group but had not been caught actively participating in terrorist activities. Now under the leadership of Baghdadi, the Islamic State has become known as the most powerful jahadis of the world.
If we only known we had the next most powerful and dangerous leader of Islamic Extremism right in our hands.
Biography provided by: Abu Humam Bakr bin Abd al-Aziz al-Athari and Omar Al-Khani
