Everyone is chortling over this, but there is one aspect of it about which no one has remarked: why is the U.S. military relying on this kind of luck? Why didn’t it know where the Islamic State headquarters building was already? Are “terrorist selfies” going to come in sufficient quantity to destroy the Islamic State? If not, what plan is being developed for genuinely effective action?
“‘Moron’ terrorist leads U.S. troops to ISIS headquarters after posting selfie on social media,” by Meg Wagner, New York Daily News, June 5, 2015:
A “moron” terrorist took a selfie in front of ISIS headquarters — leading the U.S. Air Force straight to its doorstep.
U.S. airstrike destroyed the building less than a day after airmen based in Florida spotted the incriminating post on social media, Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said Monday.
“The (airmen are) combing through social media and they see some moron standing at this command,” he said, according to the Air Force Times.
The post included details about the command center’s location, and the selfie-taker was “bragging about command and control capabilities” with the Islamic State, Carlisle said.
The single selfie started an investigation. Within a day, the airmen pinpointed the building’s location, which was not disclosed, on a map and launched JDAMs — a type of guided bomb.
“And these guys go ‘ah, we got an in.’ So they do some work, long story short, about 22 hours later through that very building, three JDAMs take that entire building out. Through social media. It was a post on social media. Bombs on target in 22 hours,” Carlisle said.
He continued: “It was incredible work, and incredible airmen doing this sort of thing.”
Last year, ISIS members tweeted photos of themselves with jars of Nutella in a strange campaign to seem friendlier to the West.
While the selfie might be the first to blow ISIS cover, it is not the first time the tech-savvy terror crew has used social media. The Islamic State is known for its hefty recruitment and public image campaigns launched on the Web.
In August, the group tweeted threats against the U.S., warning, “We are in your cities.”
Other fighters have tweeted photos of themselves holding jars of Nutella in a bid to seem softer and friendlier to the West.
Many foreign ISIS members said they joined the Syria- and Iraq-based group after being radicalized through social media. American Donald Ray Morgan was arrested at Kennedy airport last year after he pledged allegiance to ISIS on Twitter and tried to re-enter the U.S. from Lebanon. Some terrorists promised “Disney-like versions” of life in the caliphate to entice young foreign girls into moving to the region and marrying fighters….
Jack Holan says
We call the IS terrorist who took a selfie & ID’d his Command a moron. I must ask whoever at the Pentagon or White House who authorized the disclosure of how this intel was reached to take out the Command HQ; what would you call them? They certainly shouldn’t be an officer anymore and if civilian not handling anything above non-sensitive material. During WWII both the Enigma and the deciphered Japanese code was such a closely held secret that all was done to mis-direct where we had picked up the information so as not to give away what was working for us. No high fives, fist bumps, or open pie holes were allowed. In fact there were instances rather than give away the source of our intel we could not warn the ship that they were sailing into Harms Way. The release of our source of information and the adjective ascribed to the leaker is clear.
RonaldB says
Great post. That was exactly my thought.
During World War II, in the Battle of Britain,the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) planned the destruction of an English town, Coventry. The British knew about it from the Enigma transcriptions, but Churchill himself made the decision to not bolster the defenses of Coventry, calculating that it would alert the Germans that their communications were being decoded. Can you imagine that sort of self-discipline and what it must have cost Churchill conscience-wise?
Another report is that the operation Magic in the US had decrypted the Japanese codes, and in fact knew who the active Japanese spies were on the west coast. But, instead of revealing their knowledge, the US made the decision to move the whole Japanese-American population away from the west coast, neutralizing the spies but in effect penalizing the entire Japanese-American population living in California and Oregon.
The Japanese Americans proved loyal to the US and highly supportive of the war effort. I myself view the internment as a price for victory, which I think probably most of the Japanese Americans would have supported if they knew the facts. They were highly patriotic. Now, of course the move was bungled, and cost the property owners their property, for which they never got anywhere near full compensation or even close to it. That’s one of the injustices done which we, as Americans, have to acknowledge and live with.
Papa Whiskey says
No such reaction could be expected from Muslims in America today. They would marshal their lawfare forces and their snivel-rights activists, and if push came shove they would riot en masse..
pennant8 says
I hope the Air Force Intel guys learned their lesson. The odd thing about these current jihadi conflicts as opposed to WWII codebreaking and taking whatever steps necessary to avoid tipping off the enemy that their codes are being read, is that these jihadi enemies do everything right out in the open. They brag about their next operations, they don’t use any cryptography. For all intents and purposes the Koran is their code book. They quote from it frequently. Even with all this openness on the part of the enemy we still act perplexed as to what motivates them.
Here’s a bit of historical trivia with a not so pleasant twist. During WWII the Navy operated a facility in Washington at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues that was for all intents and purposes the US version of the UK’s Bletchly Park where they worked on the German Enigma codes. We were doing the same in Washington, plus working on the Japanese Naval codes as well. Today that facility is the HQ of Department of Homeland Security. During the WWII years there was no politically correct accommodations to staff the Washington facility with any Germans or Japanese, as there is today with the DHS going out of their way to be inclusive by putting Muslims in key positions. God help us.
mortimer says
Obama’s love affair with the Muslim Brotherhood has been deadly and financially costly.
Electing Obama was one of America’s biggest blunders.
Plamen says
Very true.
I had same in my mind.
Aside from that, ISIS never sleeps:
In 2007, 4 American helicopters arrived at a base in Iraq, along with a squad of selfie-happy pilots who started posting pictures of their new home. Insurgents saw these pictures, used them to determine the whereabouts of the helicopters and them blew up all four of them with mortar fire.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/american-airstrike-obliterates-isis-stronghold-5821711
Don McKellar says
Instead of letting the cat out of the bag, they should be keeping it in there and figuring out a way to encourage it to make more noise.
You are exactly right! When you’ve got any kind of advantage over an enemy either on a large scale, or where their individual soldiers are screwing up, even a tentative one like selfies, you are making a tactical error by alerting the enemy that you know about how you did what you did! Now what is the chances of more idiotic selfies revealing things like boasting of weapons caches or even the location of ISIS leaders drops from already low, to extremely low.
Selfies may seem like a silly thing to rely on — but we live in a different age from wars of the past. Social media is a tool not just to be used for propaganda, but something to be scoured for tactical advantage. And those retards in the Islamic State, they’re always giving away tells of some sort or another. This just happened to be a big one.
Brian says
Indeed. Now IS know exactly what happened and will not be posting selfies near any “sensitive” areas that could be targeted from now on. It is the people who released this info that are the “morons”.
dumbledoresarmy says
Seconding that.
Totally.
“Loose lips sink ships”.
Martin Vink says
Yes. For anybody to disclose this information is gratuitous indulgence at the expense of future success. Jihad Watch should not have posted this.
Don McKellar says
You think that Jihad Watch should not have posted this after Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command boasted of it and it appeared in the New York Daily News? What kind of dope are smoking, boy?
Know Thy Enemy says
It wasn’t just New York Daily News. This was also posted by CNN, Yahoo, Independent (UK), and many others 2 days ago. Washington Times reported it 3 days ago.
Know Thy Enemy says
Google “moron isis”, and you will see that JW is actually the last one to post this. This news has already been posted by virtually all MSM outlets and that too days ago!
Lynette says
The information re the “selfie” taken gave away the HQ should have been kept secret. Any moron would know that, however the media and others wanted the glory. Because of that “glory” no more selfies taken, no more finding out important locations of HQ etc. What a bright outcome, more murders, torture, beheadings etc of our military personnel. How stupid is stupid? Dumb lot of “A….S!”
Just A Concerned Citizen says
As the acting OPSEC officer at my command, I’ll be certain to share this one with the my people–as fed up as they have to be with hearing me lecture on the perils of irresponsible social media use, it would be nice to (for once) give them an example of this kind of thing working both ways for a change.
Still, the sobering aspect Mr. Spencer prefaced this entry with is duly noted.
Angemon says
His jihad was to boast about the islamic state online, I’d bet…
Say whaaaaa??? Pundits have assured us that the “extremists” of the islamic states have 3 things in common: TNT – Testosterone, Narrative and Theatricality. They’re young men, who bought a narrative, and are in it for fame.
Jay Boo says
If only Obama would post selfies, we could locate all the Muslim Brother hood’s hidden thugs ascwell as the “moderate” Muslim enablers of ISIS.
Mirren10 says
”A “moron” terrorist took a selfie in front of ISIS headquarters — leading the U.S. Air Force straight to its doorstep”
I agree with Jack Holan. It is **appalling and incredibly stupid** for this General to publicise how the USAF got this information.
Any of the IS thugs who have a brain will now monitor very carefully exactly what the idiots are doing, and a valuable conduit of information will be lost.
I expect this idiot who took the selfie is already toast. Not that I’m complaining about that.
Joseph says
@ Mirren10
I expect this idiot who took the selfie is already toast. Not that I’m complaining about that.
_____________________________________________________________
WOULD THAT BE “TOAST WITH NUTELLA? ? ?
I know you left that door WIDE open for someone, so I thought I would just walk in.
Mirren10 says
Hi, Joseph. 🙂
Aguila1952 says
You think anyone will “monitor” these guys? Who do you think ISIS is, the US with tons of bureaucracy to proof read, authorize, classify, coordinate and distribute each and every communication these clowns put out? Most of these guys are undisciplined wild cards for the most part working in cells, right? They don’t know what each other is doing. So when they get the urge, they do a selfie. However, the cat IS out of the bag now thanks to chest beating politicians who want to take credit immediately for every little success, never mind the longer term cost. These guys should be hung as traitors.
Joseph says
Other fighters have tweeted photos of themselves holding jars of Nutella in a bid to seem softer and friendlier to the West.
__________________________________________________
Never did like Nutella much anyway.
The only photo that would soften my view of the “fighters” would be of ALL of them holding their own decapitated heads. If Allen is so great and powerful he should be able to do this….no problem. Then I might be afraid of the “great Allen”
Adult swim “Aqua teen hunger force” did a spoof on the loving Allen
http://www.tubeplus.is/player/1961641/Aqua_Teen_Hunger_Force/season_8/episode_2/Allen%26%23044%3B_Part_2_of_2/?huid=ctu20cooe5o8
This is part 2, you don’t HAVE too watch part 1
Mirren10 says
Joseph, I clicked on your link, and got this !
ACCESS TO THE WEBSITES LISTED ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN BLOCKED PURSUANT TO ORDERS OF THE HIGH COURT.
Joseph says
@ Mirren10
Try googling “Aqua teen hunger force-Allen” and watch part 2
Maybe the so called High court does not want anyone to see a spoof on their so called god.
Angemon says
It’s online here. It’s probably blocked in Mirren’s country for copyright infringement.
Joseph says
I clicked on mine & it worked. Maybe no hot-links from outside allowed.
Trust me though, it is funny.(at least I thought so) and worth the time.
This is not the first time hot links didn’t work, I usually get a forbidden or a 404.
The other funny thing is that I didn’t understand the cartoon until I started reading J.W.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Why didn’t it know where the Islamic State headquarters building was already?
It seems that Moslems are the toughest nut of all to crack. It’s one thing to turn a Commie against his cause, doing that is a matter of winning a political economics argument with him. It’s another to turn a Moslem against his cause, because, as Allah called it in the Holy Ko-Ran, it is the Cause. Moslems are inculcated from the first breath with the belief that all Infidels are scum unworthy of argument on the Jihad or anything else. My assumption is that all Moslem agents we have turned are in fact double agents. They see themselves as actors in the Global Jihad, and look forward to taking a throne in the Islam porno heaven Jannat. It’s hard to argue against that.
lacey says
really show how dumb and dumber these idiots are, keep em comeing ,
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
keep em comeing
Oh, don’t worry, they’ll keep coming. And, given that they breed like flies, they’ll never stop coming.
Note: birth rates have been dropping in Dar al-Islam, as pointed by the great Spengler. But I predict that the Ulema running these countries will pull back the birth control pills some time in the future as the necessity for Demographic Jihad dictates. What happens to the birth rates of Moslimas living in Dar al-Harb is anybody’s guess.
Jayke says
“Many foreign ISIS members said they joined the Syria- and Iraq-based group after being radicalized through social media.”
What is this “social media” that I keep hearing about? Is it Facebook? Is it Twitter or Pinterest? Instagram? Social media? Talk about OBFUSCATION!!!
Know Thy Enemy says
This is an attempt by the administration to keep Islam safe through keeping non-Muslims deluded. If everyone is on a wild-goose chase against ISIS “social media” accounts, that means no one is paying attention to Islam and the mosques- the real sources of radicalization!
Cecilia Ellis says
As a retired Cryptologic Officer, I am stunned that such information was released. Indeed, there can only be one reason for such: Approval for release had to come from the Commander-in-Chief.
This public release of real-time, tactical intelligence occurred for one reason and for one reason alone: President Obama felt the need to show the world that his strategy of “containment” is working. Thus, the authorized release of classified source material was executed for Obama’s personal benefit at a time when many rightfully have questioned his effectiveness in combating ISIS. Once again, he has purposefully enabled the enemy. For his pride and arrogance, many will die. Be assured that ISIS training will ensure that future jihadists shall refrain from disseminating intelligence information on social media.
Years ago, Osama bin Laden used a SAT phone to contact an al-Qaeda operational commander. Shortly thereafter, his location was targeted by airstrikes. Bin Laden never again used the SAT phone or any phone, opting for the more secure communications method of using couriers. Obama’s National Security advisors should know this; the National Geographic Channel did.
In short, Obama has a plan, but it is not a plan to defeat the Islamic enemy. He fully well knows the strategem of Muhammad . . . “War is deception.” His record shouts undeniable evidence that Jews and Christians are his enemy: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” The shift has occurred.
Wellington says
First of all, Cecilia, thank you for your service. Second, thank you for your post.
Obama is either a fool or a traitor and, as Ann Coulter has noted, when it comes to matters of national security the distinction is irrelevant. His presidency has been a travesty—-many times over. Should America recover from it, which I think it will (though if the deceitful, uber-liberal, incompetent, decrepit and corrupt Hillary becomes the next POTUS all bets may be off here), it will stand as just one more testimony to the wisdom and foresight of America’s Founding Fathers. Yes, even though Obama has dented the Constitution sundry times, it still remains in tact and the First Amendment in particular remains as just about the single greatest obstacle to Islam ever.
Cecilia Ellis says
Thanks, Wellington. As usual, your posts are refreshingly astute: Obama is both a fool and a traitor, and Ann Coulter is right. Your statement, “the First Amendment in particular remains as just about the single greatest obstacle to Islam ever,” is right on target. The second greatest obstacle to Islam might well be Second Amendment.
Wellington says
Appropriate mention by you, Cecilia, of the Second Amendment. I would argue that the content of the Second Amendment, coming right after the content of the First Amendment, is not just some coincidence. These two contents are tied at the hip, metaphorically speaking, and are just one more testimony to the wisdom of the founders of America, a nation whose basic principles are inimical to Islam and to fools aplenty who cannot see the connection between freedom and the fact that it isn’t free and must be regularly defended by not only an established military but also by an informed and armed citizenry.
Yes, this will be lost on many, including the deeply unfortunate choice for POTUS who currently occupies the Oval Office. My God, what a fool he is.
somehistory says
Brag when it is in the enemies interests. Keep secretive when in the citizen’s interests.
Sometimes, there are murder mysteries that have a woman or other individual realize that a man, frequently the husband, is a murderer. And to the guy’s face, they blab and say, “I know you murdered…..and I’m going to the police.”
And everyone in the audience knows what will happen next.
Same with this. The source of information will dry up as the murderers realize they have been identified by something they did and will be unlikely to make the mistake again.
profitsbeard says
“Hey, jihadis, here’s how to avoid being targeted by us!”
And the jihadis are the “morons”?
VultureTX says
For all those mentioning the FB basis of the leak and that disclosing it was bad.
Far more likely they did it to hide the actual source of the leak, as in they have known for a while do to SigInt and this was a plausible way to show how they found the site.
/At least I hope that the US is playing Chess and not Checkers.
Aguila1952 says
You can ‘hope’ but I can tell you Barry is not that smart. Not at all.
Kepha says
Barry, like a good Southside hoodlum, is neither playing checkers nor chess. He is shooting craps.
Billinghamboy says
Careless talk kills,Intelligence depends a lot on the enemies mistakes any old time “Y” operator would agree.Why we have to boast and pat ourselves on the back astounds me,keep quiet and let the enemy continue doing what comes naturally and then further ….Bingo!
Oppressaphobe says
There is always a PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT to war and ISIS is the KING OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE. All terrorists are! That’s why they call them terrorists.
So if, per chance, it was a mistake to publish this info, there is a redeeming aspect
in that I am making WALLPAPER, POSTERS AND STATIONARY out of the picture
of this building blowing up! Look back at WWII and remember all the songs, and
strutting that the military did because they needed to REINFORCE each other.
That has been missing in this “war” and I hope this will get some people excited
to see more and more of these VICTORIES.
How is it that all the victims of ISIS are so passive? They act like bad children
patiently waiting for their beating. THAT’S THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE
that we need to engage in, then maybe these victims will rise up and attack
their oppressors, even if they lose their lives.
underbed cat says
No tellin what the nutella jars mean….they are often prominently displayed in checkout aisles… The release of information about selfies identifying location would have more to do with the “actual” phone than the photo…so that may be why the “pigeon” problem surfaced. Passing notes …..The bigger problems are at the organization level due to diversity with the extreme loyalty…I would guess. Exposing that isis is looking for chemists etc. has been known for a long time I think..hopefully the truly loyal american intelligence will keep itself uninfected but close. Just a thought.
Oppressaphobe says
Obama doesn’t seem to know ISIS from FIFA. He’s made some PROFOUND statements about the Soccer League. What a leader!!!
David, Thailand says
Well done, idiots! What a grand idea to tell ISIS how brilliant you are, and that you managed to identify and destroy a command and control center through a single selfie. Obviously they are so dumb that they will never consider issuing orders to prevent other morons from giving away critical data.
Oh yes, and let’s see how you boast when the next selfie ‘discreetly’ gives you the location of an orphanage for you to bomb and celebrate.
Clue for our glorious leaders: This is not a computer game; it is a war!
Oppressaphobe says
My we are quick to criticize OUR side.
This quickness is partly why we have been so paralyzed against OUR enemy (not sure who your enemy is)
Don’t know the details of what you speak and is sounds horrific but you admitted in your post that THIS IS WAR.
It’s not our fault that they done the terrible things they have done for years now. And we also know the ability of this enemy to use human shields–so I will wait for the details before I judge the those responsible for MY safety.