Analyst's note: Troubling. al Qaeda -- global Islamist jihadis -- in the Arabian Penninsula based in Yemen claims "We have a good news for the Islamic nation, that an army of 12,000 fighters is being prepared in Aden and Abyan," T'aizzi said, referring to two southern strongholds of AQAP. "By this army, we will establish an Islamic Caliphate," T'aizzi said, according to a translation of the tape provided by Xinhua.
We have no question as to where they are headed -- an Islamic Caliphate. Although not mentioned in this article this comes with Sharia law.
"[....] Over the past years, two terror attacks directed at the US have been traced back to Yemen: the murder of 13 soldiers at a deployment center at Fort Hood, Texas, in November 2009, by a Muslim US Army major; and the attempted bombing of an airplane over Detroit on Christmas Day by a Nigerian trained in Yemen. Both attacks were inspired by Anwar al Awlaki, a US citizen who has been designated as a terrorist for supporting terror activities. Awlaki is currently sheltering in Yemen. [....]
Sources:
• Al-Qaida wing claims to form 12,000-strong army in southern Yemen, Xinhua
• Evidence presented of US involvement in 2009 airstrike in Yemen, The Long War Journal
• Yemen: New terror camps as a city falls to jihadists, The Long War Journal
• Al Qaeda opens new training camp in Yemen, The Long War Journal
• US adds Anwar al Awlaki to list of designated terrorists, The Long War Journal
