PURPORTED AL QAEDA LETTER CALLS TRUCE IN SPAIN! (BLACKMAIL ALERT!)

Yahoooo via Reuters ^ | 3/17/04

[areafiftyone]

CAIRO (Reuters) - A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new government would withdraw its troops from Iraq (news - web sites), a pan-Arab newspaper said.

In a statement sent Wednesday to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations."

In a shock election result just days after the Madrid attacks, Spain elected the Socialist party, which has since said it will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Turkey and Iraq.

"The Spanish people... chose peace by choosing the party that was against the alliance with America," the statement said. The newspaper planned to publish it Thursday.

Outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Josa Maria Aznar was a staunch ally of the United States in the Iraq war, although a majority of the Spanish people were opposed to sending Spanish troops there.

"Praise be to God who gave us this victory in the conquest of Madrid... where one of the pillars of the axis of Crusader evil was destroyed," the statement said, affirming its earlier claim for the Madrid attacks.

A U.S. official in Washington has previously said the group's link with al Qaeda is unclear.

[Toespi]

As an after thought, looks like Zapatero has his proverbial tit in a ringer for making international policy too soon.

[LaGrone]

About the most blatant example of pure blackmail that I have seen. Nothing under the radar about this. Another socialist capitulation. SCUM! Pure SCUM I say!!

[jerri]

You said it! How embarrassing for them!

[Iberian]

Spain has choices, just like we do. If Spain does what their generals want to do, they will stay.

[Iberian]

Yeap.

[johnfrink]

Well said. What happened to Spain's famous "machismo"? Bad case of shrinkage, I'd say.

Sadly, that's pretty much limited to yelling rude suggestions at 19 year-old American college students on spring break.

[Iberian]

I'll give you a discussion on that because you may not understand issue.
The Spaniards and Popular party was to win the election handily.
For your argument, I hope the the pajama wearing crowd does not hit us 2 days before the election and change the outcome.

The unfortunate turn of events in Spain send a clear signal that they will influence through terror, anywhere and anytime. They will pick.

The only solution is to erradicate them all through any means.

Got any ideas?

[radioman]

Could someone please show them a photograph of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and tell them that their beloved Mecca and Medina might well meet a similar fate?

ROTFLMAO!!!
They should be thanking their lucky shisas that America is not a terrorist nation or that is exactly what would happen!

[Lady Heron]

And the fact that is was the American type a's who actually pulled their bottoms out of the fire in both of those world wars. It was not like these countries won their freedom on their own. Harsh I know, but has everybody in the world just gotten use to the Americans doing their fighting for them, is there nothing they find worth fighting for.

[Check_Your_Premises]

"asslamicsTM "

You actually trademarked that? Wow. I wonder if any of my lovely nicknames are trademarkeable?

MDP

[new cruelty]

This is a global b*tch slap of the highest order. Spain must be feeling pretty cheap and used right about now.

[atomicpossum]

Give in to terrorists once, they'll expect you to do it again and again...

[Steve_Seattle]

Despite the typos, its an interesting theory, one I've never heard before. There is some plausability that a significant number of Europe's best, brightest, and most courageous have either been killed in war or emigrated looking for a better life, leaving behind the timid and cowardly.

[keats5]

"Today, I do not know anything for certain except that the United States would not permit itself to be blackmailed in such a way by AQ or anyone."

I wish I were so sure of the U.S. If Kerry becomes president, I think it's all over.

[Iberian]

Spain has history. Thats all I will say. Spain has B*tch slapped a lot of countries in their rich history, some for good reason and some just for chuckles.

[Iberian]

Based on Spanish history, if they had the resources we have
they would handle this just like we are doing. They would kill them all and solve the problem.

If Kerry becomes the president we are screwed.

[thoughtomator]

Unless they used the term "hudna", this is a hoax. Likely put out by the DNC or one of their Euro counterparts.

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

If about 3% of the Spanish voters had voted for the PP instead of the socialists...your "landslide victors" would have LOST the election and the conservatives would still be in the Spanish leadership and continuing to support us in Iraq and elsewhere in the war on terror..

[Capt. Tom]

Could someone please show them a photograph of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and tell them that their beloved Mecca and Medina might well meet a similar fate?

I was around when those bombs were dropped. It was such a well kept secret the general population saw the pictures on the front pages of the newspapers, and couldn't relate to the destruction. It was explained to us in terms of so many thousands of tons of TNT.

Iv'e lived long enough now to see Muslim countries like Pakistan and Iran get these weapons, and North Korea. So this picture could be of an American city in the future.

[America's Resolve]

"Maybe the Socialists will get our troops out of Iraq, and al-Qaida will forget about Spain, so we will be less frightened,"

"Praise be to God who gave us this victory in the conquest of Madrid

Acutally, I think the letter, authentic or not, pretty well hits a home run.