U.S. Targets German Rapper-Turned-Terrorist Deso Dogg, In Fight Against ISIL

[A] rapper who hails from Germany has fallen into the crosshairs of the United States government, because of his involvement with the terrorist organization ISIL.
Dennis Cuspert was known in rap circles as Deso Dogg. Now, the rapper who was inspired by N.W.A. and Tupac, is now recognized as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
The German citizen quit rap in 2010, after dropping three albums between 2006-2009. He then left his hometown of Berlin, to fight for ISIL in 2012.

German rapper Deso Dogg is now wanted by the United States for supporting terrorist organization ISIL.

According to intelligence, when Deso Dogg quit rapping, he moved to Egypt, and on to Syria. Once there, he pledged allegiance to ISIL’s top goon, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Since then, Deso Dogg has served as a top recruiter for ISIL, thanks to his ability to command the microphone and the power of social networking sites like Twitter and YouTube.
The 39-year-old operative, now known as Abu Talha al-Almani, was most recently seen in a gruesome viral video, clutching the severed head of a man who had been beheaded by ISIL in November.
According to information released by German authorities, Deso Dogg has a criminal record.
Earlier this week, the State Department said Deso Dogg was symbolic of the dilemma many countries face around the world since many young, impressionable youth are being radicalized and prepared to fight for the organization.
“Cuspert is emblematic of the type of foreign recruit ISIL seeks for its ranks – individuals who have engaged in criminal activity in their home countries who then travel to Iraq and Syria to commit far worse crimes against the people of those countries,” The U.S. State Department said of the former rapper.

But the U.S. may have far more work to do in identifying and banning other key soldiers and recruiters for ISIL. According to testimony at a hearing by the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday (February 11), over 20,000 fighters from 90 countries have fought on behalf of ISIL.
Now that the State Department has labeled Deso Dogg as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, not only is he a target, but any person giving support to him will be marks as well.
“All property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Cuspert has any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with him or to his benefit,” The State Department announced in an attempt to halt any material support for the rapper.
“Cuspert has been a willing pitchman for ISIL atrocities. Cuspert is also wanted by the German government on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities in his home country,” the State Department stated.
The United States is attempting to track subversives like Deso Dogg, but has acknowledged the process has been challenging.
In hearings on Wednesday, Nicholas Rasmussen, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center said the matter poses a threat to the West, because of the training ISIL members receive and then return to their home countries.
In America, it is thought that 150 people have gone to Syria and that there are about a dozen or more in the combat zone.
To make things worse, experts do not know how many fighters have returned to the U.S.  And the country is also preparing to address the radicalization of inmates within its own federal prisons, according to Rasmussen’s testimony.
As for Deso Dogg, the U.S. hopes his designation as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, will halt the convicted criminal’s recruiting activities.

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