Al-Shabaab fires recruiter over internet videos

Al-Shabaab fighters                                       (c) AFP

It turns out al Qaeda has the same problem as ordinary companies with employees who spout off on the Internet, making their bosses look bad.
Al-Shabaab, the Somali branch of al Qaeda, booted Abu Mansour al-Amriki out of the group after he posted video messages contrary to the terrorist organization's teachings.
Al-Amriki, who was born Omar Hammami in a suburb of Mobile, Alabama, had become a highly visible member of the group that once dominated central and southern Somalia.
For a time, al-Amriki was a key recruiter for the group, attracting Americans of Somali heritage to the country to fight for the terrorist group.
But things changed in March when al-Amriki posted a video saying he felt like he was at risk. "I feel that my life may be endangered by Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahideen due to some differences that occurred between us regarding matters of the sharia and matters of strategy."

Then in October, he posted another video, calling on jihadi leaders to intervene and ease problems between Somali and foreign terrorist fighters.
In response, the press office of al-Shabaab, released a statement Monday calling al-Amriki's videos "childish petulance."
The statement said he is no longer a member of the group and that its goals will not be derailed by the "the superficial allegations, frivolous ramblings and whimsical desires of those who wish to enhance their image at the price of Jihad and the Mujahideen."
It's not clear what will happen to al-Amriki, or Hammami, depending on what name he'll now use, but it's unlikely he'll return to the United States because he's been indicted in federal court on terrorism charges.

(CNN)