The caliph without a caliphate, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is apparently still alive, at least as of April 9, but may be in ill health, as he has apparently named a successor, Abdullah Qardash.
Qardash “had served as a religious commissar for Al Qaeda before joining ISIS.”
“Religious commissar”? Don’t these people realize that al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS) have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam? Pope Francis should head to Iraq now to explain their peaceful religion to al-Baghdadi and Qardash.
“Speculation mounts of a new ISIS leader in the making,” The National, August 8, 2019:
ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi has anointed a successor, the militant group’s propaganda arm said on Thursday.
If confirmed, the move could show that Al Baghdadi’s health is deteriorating. The world’s most-wanted terrorist leader was reportedly injured in fighting and last appeared in a video in late April.
Amaq news agency reported on Tuesday night that Al Baghdadi nominated as his successor Abdullah Qardash, an Iraqi of Turkmen origin from the Telafar region near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported….
Qardash, like Al Baghdadi, had been detained in Iraq by US forces that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
He had served as a religious commissar for Al Qaeda before joining ISIS and welcoming Al Baghdadi in Mosul when the city fell to the group in 2014, Anadolu reported.
In his last public massage in April, Al Baghdadi said ISIS had launched a war of attrition ordained by God.
The announcement followed the defeat of the group by US-led Kurdish militia in eastern Syria and the killing of many of his lieutenants by US forces.
Al Baghdadi, who is in his late 40s, was sitting throughout the 18-minute video but otherwise did not show signs of ill health….
Sitting is a sign of ill health now?
Emilie Green says
“Al Baghdadi, who is in his late 40s, was sitting throughout the 18-minute video”
with his gun next to him.
Remember now, in case you’ve forgotten, Islam’s a religion of peace.
John Cardwell says
I know my government keeps telling me that over and over even as muslims are running us down in the streets ,oh wait muslims who go on these killing sprees are mentally ill according to my government so yeah
Westman says
And the red beard is the incontrovertible evidence – of violent tendencies. Everybody jihadist wants to get into the (Mohammad) act! He’s starting to change up like an actor when his career is in decline.
War of attrition? Must not be working, Baghdadi doesn’t look nearly atrophied enough….
mortimer says
Well said, Emilie. Thank you for reminding us that when the caliph of all Islam carries an assault rifle, it’s the ‘assault rifle of peace’.
Angemon says
Under Obama, this was a pipe dream…
Keys says
Yes, indeed.
“Choom Gang” Obama had many pipe dreams.
CogitoErgoSum says
At least this guy has designated a successor — something Muhammad failed to do and which resulted in the Sunni/Shia split. Muhammad didn’t care what happened after he died and he was no prophet. Muhammad was all about Muhammad.
Walter Sieruk says
About that brutal and deadly jihad entity ISIS. Most people know that the head and chief of that is a man who goes by the name of al Baghdadi By contrast, what few people seem to know is that al Baghdadi is just a figurehead and a puppet rulers of ISIS. Likewise, any successor of him as Abdullah Qardash will also be a figurehead ruler .For the actual and real head and chief of that heinous and dangerous jihad organization is someone else. Who that “someone else” has been exposed in the book entitled THE ISIS CRISIS by Charles Dyer. For on page 166 the author explains that “The ultimate commander of ISIS remains unseen by most of his followers, but he is not unknown. This commander is Satan himself… Satan moves across the earth ‘like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’ [First Peter 5:8.]
Therefore, the vicious jihadist thugs who compose ISIS are, in realty, vicious, malicious and deluded fools who are being use by Satan, as his stooges and tools, to inflict demonic murderous harm on humankind. So must so that those violent wicked and insanely deluded jihad savages who make up ISIS are like those callous characters described in the Bible in Ecclesiastes 9:3. That teaches “The hearts of men are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.” In addition, those malice-filled fiendish jihadists of ISIS are so very bloodthirstily, ruinous dangerous and murderous that they are similar to, in character, the hideous villains described in the Bible. Which reads “Their feet are swift to shed blood: ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” Romans 3:15-17. [N.I.V.]
Keys says
Walter Sieruk – Outstanding description of ISIS, Mohammad, and Islam (the religion of peace and sanctified deceit):
“Their feet are swift to shed blood: ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” Romans 3:15-17. [N.I.V.]
CRUSADER says
Oh the relief one gets when knowing the yoke of Jesus is easy and light.
Christ.
Truly the Comforter and Redeemer.
Walter Sieruk says
About that brutal and deadly jihad entity ISIS. Most people know that the head and chief of that is a man who goes by the name of al Baghdadi By contrast, what few people seem to know is that al Baghdadi is just a figurehead and a puppet rulers of ISIS. Likewise, any successor of him as Abdullah Qardash will also be a figurehead ruler .For the actual and real head and chief of that heinous and dangerous jihad organization is someone else. Who that “someone else” has been exposed in the book entitled THE ISIS CRISIS by Charles Dyer. For on page 166 the author explains that “The ultimate commander of ISIS remains unseen by most of his followers, but he is not unknown. This commander is Satan himself… Satan moves across the earth ‘like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’ [First Peter 5:8.]
Therefore, the vicious jihadist thugs who compose ISIS are, in realty, vicious, malicious and deluded fools who are being use by Satan, as his stooges and tools, to inflict demonic murderous harm on humankind. So must so that those violent wicked and insanely deluded jihad savages who make up ISIS are like those callous characters described in the Bible in Ecclesiastes 9:3. That teaches “The hearts of men are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.” In addition, those malice-filled fiendish jihadists of ISIS are so very bloodthirstily, ruinous dangerous and murderous that they are similar to, in character, the hideous villains described in the Bible. Which reads “Their feet are swift to shed blood: ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” Romans 3:15-17. [N.I.V.]
David Quilty says
A+ for the headline…
gravenimage says
Yes–this is brilliant!
CRUSADER says
Even with everything he faces, Robert Spencer keeps up his particular brand and peculiar sense of humor for all to enjoy.
gravenimage says
So true.
Carol the 1st says
Unfortunately we’re probably bound to have a lot of fun with that one!
mortimer says
There is likely truth to the rumor that Al-Baghdadi was wounded during a bombing courtesy of the USAF.