Where were all those American terrorists from inside the country getting their ideas from? Officials think they know: Inspire, the English-language magazine put out by Al Qaeda’s arm in Yemen. Thanks to the journalistic efforts of 24-year-old Samir Khan, a North Carolinian (by way of Queens), the magazine, written in colloquial lingo with catchy headlines, would look at home at any newsstand, except, of course, for the content. One sing-song headline reads, “Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom.” Another article offers a listicle of what to pack when you leave for jihad. Service-y and aspirational!
By eliminating the need to speak Arabic, counterterrorism authorities think the publication, launched this summer, is attracting a whole new audience. Officials are convinced Khan is behind it because it mirrors a pro–Al Qaeda blog he launched in North Carolina, despite efforts from his father and the Muslim community to get him to stop. A federal grand jury is currently being convened to consider terrorism charges against Khan for material support. We hope they also question him about the secret to a viable growth strategy for print media.
