Web posting attributed to al-Qaida spokesman vows faster strikes against 'Jewish Crusader coalition'

Associated Press / SFGate

[RCW2001]

MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press Writer
Sunday, December 8, 2002
©2002 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/12/08/international0931EST0451.DTL

(12-08) 06:31 PST CAIRO, Egypt (AP) --

Al-Qaida threatened faster, harder strikes against the United States and Israel in a statement attributed to the group that appeared on a militant web site Sunday.

"The Jewish Crusader coalition will not be safe anywhere from the fighters' attacks," the audio statement said, using a term common among Islamic militants for what they see as a U.S.-Israeli alliance.

"We will hit the most vital centers and we will strike against its strategic operations with all possible means."

The statement was attributed to al-Qaida spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. The site, which has posted previous statements attributed to the terror network, included what appeared to be a photograph taken from a frame from video of Abu Ghaith.

The Web site also posted a text version of the statement.

The whereabouts of Abu Ghaith, along with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, have been a mystery since the network was chased out of its haven in Afghanistan by U.S. bombing following the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We will chase the enemy with terrifying weapons," the statement said. "We have to widen our fighting fronts and conduct more concentrated and faster operations ... so (the enemy) feels unsafe and unstable on land, air and sea."

The statement also said a purported al-Qaida claim of responsibility for the Nov. 28 attacks on Israelis in Kenya was genuine. That claim was posted on several other Islamic sites last week.

The attacks in Israel included a hotel bombing that killed 10 Kenyans, three Israelis and the bombers, and a botched attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter plane.

Sunday's statement said al-Qaida does not usually claim responsibility for attacks, but would do so "according to the relevant circumstances."

U.S. officials have said they considered the claim of responsibility for the Kenya attacks to be credible.

Terrorism experts believe al-Qaida has made use of the Internet, which enables people to communicate cheaply, widely and anonymously. It has been difficult to trace and confirm postings attributed to al-Qaida that appear periodically on several sites.

©2002 Associated Press  

[GaryMontana]

It is time we informed the terrorist network:

The next mass attack against the west will cause Mecca to be turned into glass after a mushroom cloud first appears.

[papertyger]

The Jewish Crusader coalition

Has a nice ring to it...

[Stirner]

Is this the same website that guaranteed a big strike on 12/5 or 12/6? A McDonalds was blown up, and the theaters in Bangladesh. What does it get them to make threates with specific times cited and then not follow through? They might get us off our guard by crying wolf enough times. But if they just made a big strike out of the blue (like 9/11), that would be more effective, in my opinion (given their goals).

[Stefan Stackhouse]

The Jewish Crusader coalition will not be safe anywhere from the fighters' attacks," the audio statement said, using a term common among Islamic militants for what they see as a U.S.-Israeli alliance.

I have up to now believed the Crusades to be a mistake, based upon a misunderstanding of the Bible at best, or by the cynical manipulation of the misinformed by the power-hungry at worst. Up to now I have viewed the Crusades as a shameful part of Christian history, something to apoligize for rather than to defend.

I must say that my thinking is beginning to undergo a 180 degree revision.

If they want to label me a "Crusader", I might just have to take what they mean to be an insult and wear it as a badge of honor.

[TopQuark]

RCW2001 provides us, as always with insider information.

[angkor]

"We have to widen our fighting fronts and conduct more concentrated and faster operations ... so ...

... so that Muslims everywhere will become pariahs to civilization, and sink further into mass psychosis, suicidal paranoia, and irrecoverable poverty.

Islam had better wake up, and do so quickly.

[friendly]

What is a "Jewish Crusader"?

Sounds like a rather extreme delusion, something anti-thetical to anyone with even the most minimal knowledge of history, and something a deceitful manipulator would foist upon the gullible, moronic, and uneducated.

No, this isn't something the DNC or the Clintons dreamed up, like the VRWC. But it is the same ballpark.

[NewRomeTacitus]

If not for the wholesale corruption among our border's defenders (Michelle Malkin's book "Invasion" is a hard slog but a must-know), I'd invite kooks like this to procreate with goats. Since our country's defense has devolved back to the common citizens my hackles raise every time I'm forced to be in proximity of anyone of middle-eastern descent. While that's not fair to the majority who are here legally and trying to make it the American way I would be remiss if I weren't prepared to deal with any fanatics that might rise to the call of Jihad while I'm present. If you can get a weapons permit in your state you owe it to your community to do so. Security starts with you.
Kudos to the airline pilots getting (re-attaining?) the right to arm themselves until indestructable cockpit doors are invented (hah!). Now the cargo pilots (who have no crew or air marshalls behind them) need the same allowance as many cargo flights can put more mass through targets than the 9-11 flights did.

[Caipirabob]

If anything the terrorists have done more to unite America and Israel against a common manevolence more than anything else I can think of would. Yep guys, your plan is working....not.

[CARepubGal]

Kind of has a nice tone doesn't it? Me thinks the Hindus would like to be invited along too.

[swarthyguy]

Perhaps you haven't heard.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/688494/posts

[CARepubGal]

ROFLMAO! 900 million folks who will never please their mothers in ANY incarnation. Classic! Just classic!

[swarthyguy]

never please their mothers

You consider this a laughing matter?

[CARepubGal]

So, when do you go to Med School already (My sonthedoctor has to be worth some major points in the next life )?

[CARepubGal]

So, when do you go to Med School already (My sonthedoctor has to be worth some major points in the next life: all one word out of the mouth of Mama )?

[swarthyguy]

A standing joke for a few years now is that the magic word for moms in India was ORACLE.JAVA- things change.

[TLBSHOW]

POWELL AND BUSH

lets bring more Muslims to America Islam is oh so nice and peaceful!

[TLBSHOW]

This was leed story on ABC News Radio just now.

[Dialup Llama]

Jewish Crusader coalition against the Satan-jihadist coalition. An age old battle.