The LIFG, Targeted Killing, and Uyghur Militants Respond to Recent Riots

1) A translation of the recent Libyan Islamic Fighting Group Communique de-coupling themselves from Al Qaeda has been posted at NEFA. At CT Blog, Evan offers some analysis of the debate over who is the “official” LIFG… sort of similar to the situation in which elements of Gamaa Islamiyah rejected AQ despite Rifai Taha’s condemnation of the end of GI’s armed operations. (NEFA, CT Blog, Jamestown)

2) Richard Clarke in the WSJ on the CIA “targeted killing” (i.e. assassination) program that Dick Cheney wanted to keep on the down low. (WSJ)

3) The Uyghur separatist/Islamist Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) finally responded publicly to the recent protests and riots in Urumqi. Their military leader Saifullah released a statement translated here. Some envision this as a new chapter in jihadist terrorism… and depending on the Chinese response, it may be. Lets hope for the Uyghur’s sake that the Chinese aren’t looking for lessons from another police states past… like the Syrian response to Muslim Brotherhood violence.