Analysts now doubt group's claim for Madrid bombing

World Tribune ^ | 3-19-04

[truthandlife]

LONDON – Western intelligence analysts doubt the credibility of a purported Al Qaida group that has threatened new attacks in Europe.

Yigal Carmon, president of the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute and counter-terrorism adviser to three prime ministers, said the Abu Hafs statement does not represent Al Qaida.

"The text of this statement includes linguistic usages and concepts that are incompatible with or alien to authentic Al Qaida writings by Osama Bin Laden, Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri, and others," Carmon wrote in an analysis.

The analysts said the Abu Hafs Al Masri Brigade appears to be a fictitiou organization that could represent part of Al Qaida's psychological warfare campaign against the West. They said Abu Hafs has taken responsibility for non-existent attacks and that its communiques don't bear Al Qaida's imprint.

Abu Hafs has claimed responsibility for the Madrid train bombings on March 11 in which 202 people were killed. On Thursday, the London-based Al Quds Al Arabi daily released another statement by Abu Hafs that warned of additional attacks.

"Our brigades are getting ready now for the coming strike," Abu Hafs said in a statement dated March 15. "Whose turn will it be next? Is it Japan, America, Italy, Britain, Saudi Arabia or Australia?"

Western intelligence agencies have assessed that the Madrid train bombings were the work of Al Qaida-inspired insurgency groups from Morocco. Officials said they have determined a link between the strikes in Madrid and the suicide bombings in Casablanca in May 2003.

Abu Hafs has claimed responsibility for the November 2003 suicide attacks in Istanbul as well as an earlier bombing of United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. But the analysts said those suspected of carrying out the Istanbul attacks did not report any link to Abu Hafs, the communiques of which have also been signed "Al Qaida."

The analysts said the most puzzling aspect of Abu Hafs was its offer to end Al Qaida attacks in Europe. Abu Hafs said it was suspending attacks in Spain to allow its new socialist government to honor a pledge to withdraw from Iraq. Abu Hafs said it also supports the re-election campaign of President George Bush.

"We change and destroy countries," the statement said. "We even influence the international economy, and this is God's blessing to us."

On Thursday, Abu Hafs posted a purported Al Qaida statement on an Islamic website that pledged to avenge the killing of Khaled Ali Haj in Riyad on Monday. Ali Haj was identified as Al Qaida's operations chief for the Gulf region and responsible for suicide strikes on foreign compounds in Riyad during 2003.

The Abu Hafs warnings were among a plethora of statements purportedly by Al Qaida cells posted on Islamic websites over the last few months. In December 2003, Global Islamic Media warned of an imminent Islamic attack on the United States called Operation Cave of Darkness. In a departure from Al Qaida's previous communiques, the website demanded the return of gold to Islamic insurgents and the restoration of borders of Arab and Islamic states.

Another Islamic website, www.khayma.com., predicted the collapse of the United States. But the style of the communique was determined as being different from Al Qaida statements and most intelligence analysts dismissed the warning as fraudulent.

Meanwhile, a European Commission report criticized implementation of European Union agreements to battle insurgency groups and called for a database of criminal records on insurgents throughout the continent. The report also called on EU states to honor orders to seize bank assets of Al Qaida-inspired insurgents.

"It is essential in the fight against terrorism for the relevant services to have the fullest and most up-to-date information possible in their respective fields, including information on convictions," the report said.

[MizSterious]

But think! It's the TRASH fer cryin' out loud! Who goes through the trash, except bums?

[mhking]

Anything to downplay the overall threat of AQ; Bottomline: Spain surrenders and joins the Axis of Weasels.

[HenryLeeII]

Who had the most to gain from these bombings? How about Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his minions?

Reichstag '04!!! But at least the Nazi's waited until night when there were fewer people in the building (as did that other left-wing terrorist, Clinton, with his aspirin factory attack).

[elli1]

OTOH, the polls indicated that the socialists were losing prior to the election anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained?

[truthandlife]

I would also like to know who organized the people in the streets after the terrorist bombings. Seems like it was organized quickly and I am wondering what group organized it. The Socialist Gov't?

[Eva]

No, it just means that the fifth column Muslim pr group in the US is concerned that the Democrats might be swayed to support the war on terrorism.

[Just mythoughts]

"Who had the most to gain from these bombings? How about Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his minions?"


Not out of the realm of possibility. Especially considering what the commies socialists in the US, running for president have been saying.

One does have to begin to wonder if the commie socialists are not the hidden hand of power for terrorists.

[elli1]

Who goes through the trash, except bums?

Exactly. And what use does a bum have for a videotape?

[genefromjersey]

Ah,wayover ! I posted the same ideas-with some documentation-on one of the liberal websites. They reacted promptly....by pulling my post altogether.

I don't know how many people here would be interested,but I did a bit of research on "el Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol" ( sorry-I don't know how to add the proper "tilde" mark to Espanol !)otherwise known as the Socialist Workers' Party ; on the Maoist terror group ETA (Euzkadi Ta Askatsuna), and on EE (Euskadiko Ezkerra) the political arm of ETA.

If anyone is interested,post a comment,or use the direct comment, and I'll work it up.

[elli1]

I'll let you in on one of my secrets. I have two teen-aged sons...guess where I ''hide'' their Christmas presents? Yup--black garbage bags in plain sight in the garage.

[hosepipe]

Wonder if the Spanish Socialists planted the bomb FOR the terrorists or aided them in any way.. they sure seem to be on the same page worldwide. Americas socialists are tearing their clothes and throwing dirt on themselves when any HARM comes to any terrorist.. Hmmmmmm. I just wonder..What have the democrats got planned..? An event at the democrat convention..?

[MizSterious]

You make my point for me. If they wanted officials or media to find the tape, why would they leave it in a trashcan? The story smells to high Heaven.

[sully777]

I sensed MEMRI's conclusion. The major factor for me was the statement about being responsible for the blackouts in the summer, Spain's role in Iraq (Spain has always been on the moslem shortlist since the Moors retreated to North Africa), and the coalition are pummeling AQ positions throughout world. I suppose you can add Spain's bombing HAILED by the worldwide socialists/communists. The communist-led "peace" movement is energized. The western media is jazzed.

Something is very wrong with this entire scenario.

[sully777]

Post away gringo.

[elli1]

Apparently you don't know the full story. The bad guys called a television station w/ info for the police to go to that particular trash can. Trash cans are a reasonably well-known ''dead drop'' location. This is NOT an unusual method---even if you personally are unaware of it.

[sully777]

Oh, I forgot another detail in this weird story. The premier-elect wrote a letter (I heard it on Rush) to the US government. The contents are Dem talking points about the Iraq war, almost as if Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins wrote it for The Shoemaker in their studio trailer, swigging lattes with Daniel Ortega.

[ampat]

The purpose of claiming credit for a bombing is to get the bombed party to give up, or negotiate. In order for that to happen, the bombed party must know who the bomber is. Otherwise, if the bomber wishes to remain anonymous, then there is, usually, a clandestine agenda. The last reason for not taking credit is to wage war while not identifying oneself. However, that is very small scale and would take centuries.

[Restorer]

Reichstag '04!!! But at least the Nazi's waited until night when there were fewer people in the building (as did that other left-wing terrorist, Clinton, with his aspirin factory attack).

The Nazis didn't burn the Reichstag, although they quickly took advantage of it politically. Apparently they just didn't think of it.

[sully777]

"Trash cans are a reasonably well-known ''dead drop'' location. This is NOT an unusual method---even if you personally are unaware of it."

---

LOL Yeah, love all those spy movies, but did they mark the special drop-off trash can with a chalk mark or with spray paint?

Question: Is this the MO of AQ? AQ prefers Al Jezeera. Yes? Yes.

[Atlantic Friend]

I should say it's a thought that crossed my mind, yes. We'll probably take turns, in fact.