Al Qaeda hit list of individuals posted on web

Last week the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a new terror bulletin listing potential targets that were mentioned on an al Qaeda website.

The site, Ansar al-Mujahideen, is a forum for terrorists around the world and is one of the Top 10 outlets distributing jihadi propaganda. The list includes Defense Department officials, names of officers of defense contractors, members of Congress and private individuals.

Law enforcement sources tell CBS News' Pat Milton the various postings mostly on extremists overseas websites were the result of a video message posted last week by U.S.-born Adam Gadahn -- al Qaeda's chief spokesman -- in which he called for jihadists to take up arms against Americans and other infidels.

There is no specific threat, but Gadahn tells followers how easy it is to buy a gun in the United States and points to Ft. Hood gunman Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan as a hero.

The list apparently make the military and companies that do business with the military targets, in apparent retaliation for the killing of Osama bin Laden by Navy SEALs.

The postings have been going on all week and people have piled on talking about leaders and companies that should be added to the list.

One source said it shows a continuing evolution of al Qaeda trying to stir local jihadist "lone wolfs" --as it changes tactics from a spectacular event like the September 11 attacks.

Another federal law enforcement source tells CBS News the web postings are aspirational, and there is no specific threat, but when they find information they share it.