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.

[dogbyte12]

Yahoo has updated. It turns out Al Qaeda has endorsed (sic) President Bush.

The statement said it supported President Bush (news - web sites) in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), as it was not possible to find a leader "more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom."

In comments addressed to Bush, the group said:

"Kerry will kill our nation while it sleeps because he and the Democrats have the cunning to embellish blasphemy and present it to the Arab and Muslim nation as civilization."

"Because of this we desire you (Bush) to be elected."

Really bad reverse psychology going on there. They want Kerry, but they think that by saying they want Bush, people will do the opposite. I am sure though that the White House won't be thrilled with the "endorsement".

[Charles Martel]

Kneel and kiss the scimitar, Pedro.

A thought occurs... there are something like 70 bullfighting arenas scattered thoughout Spain. Seems like each and every Plaza de Toros is a ready-made public execution site - complete with sword. The Muslims are going to *love* moving back into that neighborhood.

Well, at least the bulls will finally catch a break.

[kaylar]

I've have seen a variety of spins put on the vote in Spain, some fairly compelling : After all , 90% of Spaniards were against sending troops to Iraq in the first place. But after reading the text of that truce, I don't see how the terrorist's view of the vote (or the view of the terrorists'coreligionists and admirers) can be construed as anything except : The Spanish have accepted dhimmitude. And I agree that this "truce" will last only until the terrorists think of their next demand-I predict self-rule for the muslem minority in Spain, including the right to inflict tenets of Sharia law upon members of the 'muslem community'.

[AntiGuv]

Oooh .. good one. Here, I got one too. If just 4% of Americans had voted for Dukakis instead of Bush, that "landslide victor" would've instead LOST the 1988 election, despite having won 40 states here in reality...

[Mo1]

[bluejean]

"a whole country shaking in their boots and letting themselves be humiliated in front of the whole world. Makes me glad I'm an American."

Except that this is what the socialist slimes want for America. Terrorists have learned a extremely valuable lesson - that entire countries can be had for some decent shock and awe. Terrorism works. The demoncrats LOVE this. All we need is some terrorism on the home front to see all the koolaid drinker democrats yelling for for the same kind of 'a-peace-ment'...

[veronica]

"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.

Let's see now.

The new Spanish PM has been given an ultimatum.

Bow to radical terrorists or suffer the consequences. Like a puppet on a string he must dance to their tune - OR ELSE. What a terrible thing the lefties in Spain did. Americans would never stand for this, that I know.

[veronica]

"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.

Incredible!

I wonder how the families of the murdered feel about all this now.

[AntiGuv]

To be precise, a 4% swing would have given Dukakis the following states:

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont.

Added to the 10 states he won (HI, IA, MA, MN, NY, OR, RI, WA, WV, WI) and DC that would've given Dukakis 279 electoral votes to 256 for Bush.

I hope that puts things in perspective.

[livius]

I think it's genuine, because Islam knows it has already won in Spain. The population is cowed, the politicians are grovelling, and there's really no need for it to waste any more time and effort on Spain.

This was just a letter acknowledging that Spain was now part of "dar al islam" (the lands of peace or submission). It may take awhile for them to make Spain totally Islamic, but they're obviously not worried about being able to do so.

[AntiGuv]

Whoops! That post #149 was meant for you..

[America's Resolve]

Is that for real? Simply amazing!

People keep telling us that we don't understand the "eastern" mind. but the truth is, that they have absoutley no idea what we're all about.

[fightin kentuckian]

You are spot on. If the Spanish pull out now they will surely be seen as a big looser. And no one, not even a socalist, want's to have a loss rubbed in their face.

Also, this message from the terrorists will be viewed as gloating and taunting. This was a tactical blunder for the terrorists, they should have left well enough alone. But then we (freepers) know that that was never their intention anyway.

If the Spanish Govt does pull troops then the Spanish people will probably take to the streets and I think the spainsh people are already having second thoughts about that election.

The Spanish Govt doesn't have many options and are caught in a no win situation.

They have to pull troops to appease the terrorists. And the minute they do, the terrorists will taunt them a second time with a message that rubs the collective Spainsh nose in defeat.

Then they have to some how convince the Spanish people that they actually didn't get their collective ass kicked and then retreated in humiliation for all the world to see.

This will backfire for the the radical isalmists as well because the rest of the world has seen the example that Spain has set and no one wants to be seen as a simpering wimp.

Just my .02 cents worth.

[man of Yosemite]

Just show us where to point our nukes.

[Rebelbase]

The letter is a bogus CIA plot designed to assoicate Al Qaeda with Iraq.

That's what the Libs will say

[StriperSniper]

I would die of shame to see this happen here. Die, I mean it.

Hope you plan on trying to take a few of them out along with you. ;-)

[CyberAnt]

Could this whole thing with Spain be a set-up ..??

I have my tin foil on, but I just have this strange feeling about this Spain bombing. In the last 3 years, I have never ever heard Al Queda make any kind of statement using a blackmail technique. This is just weird.

[ChuckShick]

Has anyone looked at what the article says now. An hour ago this was not there:

WE WANT BUSH TO WIN

The statement said it supported President Bush (news - web sites) in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), as it was not possible to find a leader "more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom."

...

What the hell?

[Starve The Beast]

FAKE!

Come on, do we really expect AQ to behave this perfectly??

[OldFriend]

Opportunism running wild. It's spring break time.