Azzam the American — aka Adam Gadahn — believed dead

“Killer computer nerd” Adam Gadahn, the California native who converted to Islam and took over al Qaeda’s propaganda machine, hasn’t been heard from in months, leading intelligence officials to speculate that he’s dead. here’s the story from The Telegraph:

Mr Gadahn has been credited with helping transform al-Qa’eda’s al-Sahab propaganda wing into a slick operation which communicates in fluent English and produces professional quality DVDs, including one for Osama bin Laden last year.

But he may have fallen victim to an expanded programme of predator assassinations which in the last year has targeted and killed many of al-Qa’eda’s military commanders, terrorist trainers and facilitators.

Jihadists around the world will be watching as closely as intelligence officials this week to see whether Mr Gadahn – also known as Azzam al-Ameriki – produces a new video message to mark September 11, as he has done every year since 2003.

If there is no message it will be taken as near certain confirmation that he is dead – killed either in a strike by Hellfire missiles, or perhaps by jihadi colleagues who have grown jealous of his success.

To be sure, this is not the first time Gadahn, who was born Adam Pearlman and grew up in Riverside County, has been suspected dead.

Gadahn’s notoriety—he’s spent years on the FBI’s most-wanted list and was charged with treason—made him the subject of countless news profiles. This is the best.