'Jihad Joe': America's Most Wanted Jihadists (PHOTOS)

On August 11, 1988, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Osama bin Laden and a few trusted associates gathered in a room and created the terrorist network known as Al Qaeda. In attendance were Saudis, Egyptians, a Palestinian... and an American, who jotted down notes. Americans have always played important roles in Al Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist organizations, although rarely reaching the very top echelons.

Today, Al Qaeda's Americans number among the world's most wanted terrorists, devoting their lives to the work of military jihad in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen and beyond. Here's a look at some of the most interesting and significant American jihadists at large in the world today.

For a deeper exploration of the hundreds of Americans who have taken up the banner of jihad over the past 30 years, check out "Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam," in bookstores now.

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Mohammed Loay Bayazid

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On that fateful day Al Qaeda was created, a Syrian-American from Kansas City took notes on lined paper and created a document that would live in history. Then in his late 20s, Mohammed Loay Bayazid was the first American member of Al Qaeda and served in the organization for several years to come. He is alleged to have tried to purchase uranium for Osama bin Laden during the early 1990s, a charge he denies. After September 11, Bayazid spoke with the FBI from Sudan. He has since said he retired from Al Qaeda years ago and would like to return home to the United States. Bayazid is shown here with the document he authored, the minutes of Al Qaeda's very first meeting.

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On that fateful day Al Qaeda was created, a Syrian-American from Kansas City took notes on lined paper and created a document that would live in history. Then in his late 20s, Mohammed Loay Bayazid was the first American member of Al Qaeda and served in the organization for several years to come. He is alleged to have tried to purchase uranium for Osama bin Laden during the early 1990s, a charge he denies. After September 11, Bayazid spoke with the FBI from Sudan. He has since said he retired from Al Qaeda years ago and would like to return home to the United States. Bayazid is shown here with the document he authored, the minutes of Al Qaeda's very first meeting.

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This American Jihadist

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Not THAT bad YIKES!

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Top 5 Most Wanted American Jihadists

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Comments

[RandyLeanear]

07:12 PM on 05/25/2011

I mispelled Plumber...

[RandyLeanear]

07:11 PM on 05/25/2011

...and they thought "Joe the Plummer" was bad...lol.

[tagtron]

03:47 PM on 05/25/2011

Who needs jihadists when we've got Baggers that do far more damage to us

[SmotPoker]

04:25 PM on 05/25/2011

Come now, lets be honest. This country has been in a downward spiral long before the baggers started infesting politics with their particular brand of BS. The Dems and Reps have both been playing the public for suckers for decades now and nothing ever gets done about it because the people in power make the rules and they aren't going to tie their own hands. I have no love for the baggers but as I said, lets be honest with each other and look at the root cause not just the latest problem to arise.

[ScientistfromtheHood]

03:37 PM on 05/25/2011

I remember seeing reports on tv about harrassment faced by American Muslims post-911. The media made comments like "how could they do this to them they're fellow Americans too?"

The truth is that being an American citizen is not a good predictor of loyalty to America as is illustrated by these individuals. You will find that many terrorists, worldwide, committ acts of terror within their own nation of citizenship.

[TellMeSumn]

03:57 PM on 05/25/2011

Hence; they should be harassed?

[AveragePatriot]

03:24 PM on 05/25/2011

Religion... Jees!

I wonder why the Christians haven't started a jihaad revolution. Jesus called for it in Luke 19:27, but that's not the kind of thing the preachers talks about at the pulpit....

[NonConforming]

04:06 PM on 05/25/2011

Is that the one where Jesus told his follower to love their enemies?

[Mannock]

03:15 PM on 05/25/2011

Cheerful crowd, eh what?

[Anne Mccormick]

01:58 PM on 05/25/2011

let me understand this; Mohammed Loay Bayazid is now retired from Al Qaeda and now wants to return to the United States? does this man think that he a soldier returning home from a long tour of duty. ok, he wants to come back i say let him. as soon as he lands in America the FEDS arrest him and put him on trial.

[vonPinto]

02:19 PM on 05/25/2011

He should "retire" to an American Maximum prison...FOREVER (if he ever returns here).

We do not "REHIRE" any "retired" terrorists, American or not, to become an American again.

[SukiTheCat]

01:53 PM on 05/25/2011

proof, if anything, Jihadists will welcome anyone...

[RelaxThereIsNoGod]

12:58 PM on 05/25/2011

Keep the fear alive! The military industrial complex has left millions of people in it's wake, yet we're not calling for a Seal team to take it out.

[cdnrod5]

12:47 PM on 05/25/2011

their families and progressives in America must be so proud!

[Feurio]

04:18 PM on 05/25/2011

Deeply religious men. They too hate abortions, gays, secularism.. you have a lot to learn from these fellas.

Maybe they could help to justify neocon policy too btw:

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2008/051608_rumsfeld_tape.htm

[dim]

03:24 PM on 06/06/2011

Thanks for the link, your noodliness.

[GraphicMatt]

04:20 PM on 05/25/2011

Why would progressives in America be proud of jihaddists?

[Eddy333]

12:46 PM on 05/25/2011

The booking photo on the Awlaki slide really says a lot about all of them. They all just need to get laid more often.

J_i_h_a_d- The ultimate nerd's revenge.

[LibDisorder]

12:25 PM on 05/25/2011

Serioursly? An article on American Jihadis?

How badly does HuffPo hate the U.S? Just friggin say it, start all your articles with 'America Sucks' and be done with it.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

02:06 PM on 05/25/2011

These guys are on the most wanted list for years.

[faithisforfools]

02:13 PM on 05/25/2011

Read much? It says "Americas most wanted jihadists", what does that have anything to do with saying america sucks? You baggers comment like you vote, misinformed. On top of that, reporting something is freedom of the press. Who hates america now?

[beatstreet]

12:14 PM on 05/25/2011

This is awesome of the huffingtonpost to encourage us to pick our most wanted american terrorists. i wish america let every civilian join the military on a more casual basis and pick operations. the government ought to set up military nights in towns for updates to get us on the same page. i'm good with that as long as an enemy of the country like george bush isn't commander in chief. we're going to war with the world. anybody that doesn't see that coming as natural resources dry up is a naive individual. i'd definitely join a team to take out these idiots.

[deepfreezevideo]

11:51 AM on 05/25/2011

I wonder what kind of porn these characters whack off to.

[GraphicMatt]

01:10 PM on 05/25/2011

Adam Gadahn did grow up on a goat farm so my guess would be........

[Carlton Chip Wilson]

01:36 PM on 05/25/2011

Though I have it on good authority that Hammurabbai preferred camels over goats.

[yoyo1900]

01:28 PM on 05/25/2011

And they act so holier than thou. Its probably gay porn since they are so anti-gay. You know what they say about people who protest too much.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

02:08 PM on 05/25/2011

Pakistan supposedly leads the worlds in google searches for beastiliaty porn. Plus you have all the predator drone footage as well as sniper cam footage of Taliban fighters getting it on with donkeys and cows.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-reasons-we-need-to-start-making-fun-terrorists/

[moonflowerjewelry]

11:43 AM on 05/25/2011

Before this gets started, as I am sure that it will push up a lot of emotions, I'd like to interject some **very** politically incorrect humor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfkTGGl9VM
If it is found to be offensive, I am so sorry, but it just cracks me up and there is nothing wrong with a little silly from time to time.