Bill Roggio

Roggio and the Long War Journal's staff use reports from media organizations, including publications in countries where terrorists or Islamic insurgencies are active, such as in Afghanistan and Pakistan, then amplify and add historical context to what they find with information from their own network of US intelligence sources. In some cases, PMI has funded trips by its own media-credentialed journalists to report on war zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines.

Roggio served in the United States Army and the New Jersey National Guard as a signalman and infantryman. He uses his military experience to add strategic, operational, and tactical level context to the journal's reports. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, "Roggio's greatest service, then, may be the way he picks up where the mainstream press leaves off, giving readers a simultaneously more specific and holistic understanding of the battlefield."Mcleary, Paul, "[https://www.cjr.org/profile/blogging_the_long_war_1.php Blogging the long war: Bill Roggio wants to be your source for conflict coverage]", Columbia Journalism Review, 46.6 (March–April 2008): 36+, (3621 words).

The Columbia Journalism Review reports that the Long War Journal for the most part avoids political bias in its stories. The Review, however, noted that Roggio has at times aligned himself with conservative bloggers on issues such as the "Easongate" controversy. The journal states that it is a publication of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which describes itself as non-partisan but has been called "neoconservative" by various resources.Goldberg, Michelle, "[http://www.thenation.com/article/158473/hero-war-terror The 'Hero' of the War on Terror]", The Nation, 10 February 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.[https://web.archive.org/web/20031001191141/http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/spheresInfluence.html US News / Special: Empire Builders / Spheres of influence: Neocon think tanks and periodicals{{!}}Christian Science Monitor], [http://www.nogw.com/download/2006_spheres_of_influence.pdf archived] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201153203/http://www.nogw.com/download/2006_spheres_of_influence.pdf |date=February 1, 2012 }}{{cite web|author=Jim Lobe|url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FJ09Ak01.html|title=Asia's most trusted news source for the Middle East|publisher=Asia Times|date=October 9, 2004|access-date=April 30, 2012|url-status=unfit|archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050409035035/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FJ09Ak01.html|archive-date=April 9, 2005 }}{{cite web|url= http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1475|title=Foundation for Defense of Democracies |publisher=Right Web|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/Foundation_for_Defense_of_Democracies|archive-date=November 5, 2012}}

The Long War Journal has been used as a source by media organizations or quoted in press publications including The New York Times (two of which were on the newspaper's front page),{{cite news |author= Scott Shane |author-link= Scott Shane |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/world/asia/12drones.html |title=C.I.A. Is Disputed On Civilian Toll In Drone Strikes |newspaper= The New York Times |date=August 12, 2011 |page=1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/world/asia/12drones.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}{{cite news |author=Eric P. Schmitt |author-link=Eric P. Schmitt |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/world/asia/14pakistan.html |title=New C.I.A. Drone Attack Draws Rebuke From |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 13, 2011 |access-date= April 30, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/world/asia/14pakistan.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}Bumiller, Elisabeth, and Thom Shanker. "War Evolves With Drones, Some Tiny As Bugs". The New York Times, 20 June 2011, p. 1. Reuters,Taylor, Rob, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160125130439/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-insurgent-idUKTRE73P28F20110426 Senior Qaeda leader in Afghanistan killed - NATO]", Reuters, 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012. Associated Press,Straziuso, Jason, "[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014755865_somalirapper13.html American extremist in Somalia releases 2 new rap songs on Internet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518125646/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014755865_somalirapper13.html |date=May 18, 2011 }}", Associated Press via Seattle Times, 12 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012. United Press International,United Press International, "Bin laden aide leaves Iran.", 29 September 2010 (wire service report).United Press International, "'Pretty sure' bin Laden son killed", 23 July 2009 (wire service report).United Press International, "Iraq security development slowed in 2008", 16 January 2009, (wire service report). Sunday Times,Lamb, Christina, "School bombing exposes Obama's secret war inside Pakistan", Sunday Times, 7 February 2010 (correction published on 15 February 2010 noting attribution to the Long War Journal was accidentally omitted), p. 27. The Hindu,Joshua, Anita, "Senior Taliban leader killed in drone attack: report", The Hindu, 21 December 2010 Cable News Network,Cable News Network, [http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/26/afghanistan.insurgent.killed/index.html?_s=PM:WORLD A top insurgent in Afghanistan killed, coalition confirms] ", 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012 the Times of India,Times of India, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144017/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-04/india/29508329_1_qaida-al-qaida-arabian-peninsula What happens to global jihad after Osama bin Laden's death?]", 4 May 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012. The Australian,Neighbor, Sally, "[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/libya-ripe-for-jihads-rallying-cries/story-e6frg6z6-1226044640098 Libya ripe for jihad's rallying cries]", The Australian, 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012. CTC Sentinel,CTC Sentinel, July 2009. Time,Thompson, Mark, "[https://nation.time.com/2011/04/21/mullen-talks-tougher-in-pakistan/ Battleland: Mullen Talks Tougher in Pakistan]", Time, 21 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012. The Nation, Washington Times,Lake, Eli, "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/24/terrorist-hit-puts-pakistani-reporter-under-fire/ Terrorist hit puts Pakistani reporter under fire]", Washington Times, 25 May 2010; retrieved 30 April 2012. and The Atlantic.{{cite magazine|author=John Hudson|author-link=John Hudson (journalist)|url= http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2010/09/what-we-know-about-the-planned-terror-plot-in-europe/22850/|title=What We Know About the Planned Terror Plot in Europe|magazine=The Atlantic|date=September 30, 2010|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2010/09/what-we-know-about-the-planned-terror-plot-in-europe/22850/|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }} Marc Thiessen used the journal as a source in a 15 March 2011 opinion piece for the Washington Post.{{cite news|author=Thiessen, Mark|author-link=Marc Thiessen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/adam-serwers-ignorance-of-a-terrorist-group/2011/03/04/ABSnwPX_blog.html|title=Adam Serwer's ignorance of a terrorist group|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 15, 2011|access-date= April 30, 2012}} Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Thomas E. Ricks cited Long War Journal reporter Nathan Webster in Ricks' Iraq-related book, The Gamble.Ricks, Thomas E., The Gamble (book) (New York: Penguin Press, 2009), page 266.

In 2006, before the establishment of the Journal, Huffington Post commentator Stephen Kaus criticized Roggio after Roggio complained about The Washington Post's negative coverage of his 2005 trip to Iraq as an embedded reporter with the United States Marine Corps. Kaus criticized Roggio as a sensationalist who likes to get people to read his articles by distorting the news.{{cite news|author=Kaus, Stephen|author-link=Stephen Kaus|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-kaus/military-blogger-bill-rog_b_13477.html|title=Military Blogger Bill Roggio Swiftboats the Washington Post|work=The Huffington Post|date=January 8, 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-kaus/military-blogger-bill-rog_b_13477.html|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}

After Baitullah Mehsud was killed in August 2009, Roggio claimed on August 6, 2009, that a US intelligence official told him US officials thought Mehsud was still alive.{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/baitullah_mehsud_is.php |title='Baitullah Mehsud is alive' - US intelligence official|author=Bill Roggio |website=Long War Journal|date=August 6, 2009|access-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/baitullah_mehsud_is.php|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }} This claim about Mehsud's fate was not accurate, as Pentagon spokesman Jeff Morrell and National Security Advisor James Jones claimed that US officials were 90% certain he was killed and they had yet to see any evidence to assume otherwise,{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/90-sure-Mehsud-is-dead-Pentagon/Article1-442459.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909191459/http://www.hindustantimes.com/90-sure-Mehsud-is-dead-Pentagon/Article1-442459.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2012|title=90% sure Mehsud is dead: Pentagon|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=August 12, 2009|access-date=April 1, 2012}}{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6003341/Pakistan-issues-reassurance-that-Baitullah-Mehsud-is-dead.html|title=Pakistan issues reassurance that Baitullah Mehsud is dead|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=London|date=August 10, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6003341/Pakistan-issues-reassurance-that-Baitullah-Mehsud-is-dead.html|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }} which was later confirmed by the Pakistan Taliban.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm|title=Taliban admit commander's death|date=August 25, 2009|publisher=BBC|access-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }}

In April 2009, Roggio claimed Rashid Rauf, an Al Qaeda operative who was reported to have been killed in a US drone strike which took place in North Waziristan on November 22, 2008,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/world/asia/23rauf.html |title=Airstrike Kills Qaeda-Linked Militant in Pakistan|newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 23, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120619154647/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/world/asia/23rauf.html|archive-date=June 19, 2012 |first1=Ismail|last1=Khan|first2=Jane|last2=Perlez}} was still alive.{{cite web|url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/04/al_qaeda_operative_r_1.php|title=Al Qaeda operative Rashid Rauf survived US strike|author=Bill Roggio|website=Long War Journal|date=April 12, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/04/al_qaeda_operative_r_1.php|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }} This claim about Rauf's fate was never proven to be true and in July 2010, a U.S. counterterrorism official told the New York Daily News that Rauf was killed in the drone strike.{{cite news|url= http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-08/news/27069354_1_terror-plots-rashid-rauf-counterterrorism-official|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130630022130/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-08/news/27069354_1_terror-plots-rashid-rauf-counterterrorism-official|url-status= dead|archive-date= June 30, 2013|title=1 Terror Plots Rashid Rauf Counterterrorism Official|location=New York|work=Daily News|date=July 8, 2010}} In October 2012, Rauf's family confirmed he was killed in the drone strike.{{cite news|url= http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/al-qaida-terrorist-rashid-raufs-270221 |title=Family of Al Qaida terrorist Rashid Rauf to sue British Government for murder|newspaper=Birmingham Mail|date=October 27, 2012|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/al-qaida-terrorist-rashid-raufs-270221|archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}

After Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011, Roggio claimed that his son Sa'ad, who was believed to have killed in a drone strike in 2009,{{cite news|url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106903109|author=Mary Louise Kelly|author-link=Mary Louise Kelly|title=Bin Laden Son Reported Killed in Pakistan|date=July 22, 2009|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=September 22, 2012}} was one of his possible successors.{{cite news|url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/05/after_bin_laden_who.php|author=Bill Roggio|title=After bin Laden: who will lead al Qaeda?|newspaper=Long War Journal |date=May 4, 2011|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/05/after_bin_laden_who.php|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }}{{cite news|url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/05/can_ilyas_kashmiri_take_contro.php|author=Bill Roggio|title=Can Ilyas Kashmiri take control of al Qaeda|newspaper=Long War Journal|date=May 7, 2011|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/05/can_ilyas_kashmiri_take_contro.php|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }} At this time, Roggio gave no mention to the earlier report about Sa'ad's death and stated that Sa'ad "is considered a senior leader and an operational commander in al Qaeda" and that "he is known to shelter in Iran and to move back and forth across the Iranian border with Pakistan." A letter captured from the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where Osama was killed also discussed Sa'ad's death.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/03/bin-laden-letter-worries-gaffes|title=Being Bin Laden: al-Qaida leader's banal jihad business revealed|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Jason Burke|author-link=Jason Burke|date=May 3, 2012|access-date=September 22, 2012|location=London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/03/bin-laden-letter-worries-gaffes|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }} In September 2012, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri confirmed in a video message that Saad was killed in the drone strike.https://ojihad.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/al-qaida-confirms-sa%c2%b4ad-bin-laden-is-dead/ {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}}

In March 2012, Roggio echoed claims by the Daily Times that Ilyas Kashmiri was still alive and was spotted in a meeting with Pakistan Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud in North Waziristan.{{cite web|url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/03/al_qaeda_leader_ilya.php|title=Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri spotted at Taliban meeting|author=Bill Roggio|website=Long War Journal|date=March 7, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/03/al_qaeda_leader_ilya.php|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }} However, the accuracy of this report was disputed because journalists were unable to access the region where Kashmiri was allegedly spotted.{{cite news|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/al-qaeda-leader-reported-dead-found-alive-and-well|title=Al-Qaeda leader reported dead found "alive and well"|publisher=AL-Akhbar|date=March 8, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020114191003/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/al-qaeda-leader-reported-dead-found-alive-and-well|archive-date=January 14, 2002 }} A few days later, the report of Kashmiri's survival was further contradicted when an Al Qaeda spokesman eulogized him along with other Pakistani militants who had been killed in various drone strikes.{{cite news|url=http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/41890.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415224953/http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/41890.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |title=New Statement By Al-Qaeda's Ustad Ahmad Farooq Confirms Ilyas Kashmiri Dead |publisher=Memri Urdu-Pashtu Media Blog |date=March 16, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012 }}

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