 In 2010, "The New York Times" reported that after more than a dozen Americans were killed in Somalia, the organization's recruiting success had decreased in the US.These American and foreign recruits played a dual role within the organization, serving as mercenaries and as a propaganda tool for radicalization and recruitment.These individuals, including Omar Hammami, appeared in propaganda videos posted in online forums to appeal to disaffected Muslim youth and inspire them to join the Islamist struggle.