Al-Qaida terrorist from Winchester killed near Afghanistan-Pakistan border

MURRIETA - A Southern Californian who became a self-styled American spokesman for al-Qaida was killed in a counter-terrorism operation near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the White House announced today.

Adam Gadahn grew up in rural Riverside County and converted to Islam at an Orange County mosque. In 2006, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana with treason and providing material support to the enemy, making him the first person to be charged with treason against the United States since the World War II era.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Gadahn was killed in January in the same region where a separate operation inadvertently killed two al-Qaida hostages -- American Warren Weinstein and Italian national Giovanni Lo Porto.

According to the 2006 indictment, Gadahn, while ``owing allegiance to the United States, ``knowingly adhered to an enemy of the United States, namely, al-Qaida, and gave al-Qaida aid and comfort, within the United States and elsewhere, with intent to betray the United States.''

The indictment listed 20 separate statements Gadahn made in videotapes broadcast since Oct. 27, 2004, in which he said he had joined al-Qaida and called the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks the ``opening salvo of the global war on America ... The magnitude and ferocity of what is coming your way will make you forget all about September 11th.''

On Sept. 11, 2005, Gadahn -- also identified as Azzam al-Amriki and who called himself ``Azzam the American'' -- called the 9/11 attack ``the blessed raids on New York and Washington.''

In an appearance on or about July 7, 2006, Gadahn referred to the recent capture and execution of two American servicemen in Iraq and questioned why any compassionate person could see ``atrocities committed by America'' and

``not want to go on a shooting spree at the Marines' housing facilities at Camp Pendleton.''

During the July 7 message and one on Sept. 2, Gadahn referred to aggressors as ``Crusaders'' and ``Crusader tyranny.''

He said ``America's war machine is going from bad to worse,'' and advised viewers to ``escape from the unbelieving army and join the winning side.''

``Time is running out, so make the right choice before it's too late and you meet the dismal fate of thousands before you,'' Gadahn said, according to the indictment.

The final al-Qaida video referred to in the indictment was on Sept. 11, 2006, in which Gadahn called the United States ``enemy soil.''

According to a variety of media reports, Gadahn was born Adam Pearlman.

His father was local musician Phil Pearlman.

Gadahn's grandfather was a prominent Jewish surgeon, but Gadahn's father converted to Christianity and changed his name to Gadahn, a variation on the name of the Biblical figure Gideon. He lived and was home-schooled for several years on a Riverside County goat farm in rural Winchester, near Murrieta, where

his free-spirited family raised and slaughtered goats for market on a farm without electricity or modern amenities.

He was home-schooled until 15, when he moved in with his grandparents in Santa Ana.

In 1995, Gadahn posted an essay on the USC Web site describing his conversion to Islam called ``Becoming a Muslim.''

According to Wikipedia, Gadahn moved to Pakistan in 1998, where he married an Afghan refugee and mostly lost contact with his family.

In May 2004, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced that Gadahn was one of seven al-Qaida members planning terrorist actions. The attack, supposedly designed to affect the presidential

election, never happened.