Posted on 10/18/2004 6:24:49 AM PDT by burwellstark
Zarqawi Group Vows Al Qaeda Allegiance
Monday, October 18, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The militant group led by terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (search), believed to be behind many deadly attacks in Iraq, has declared its allegiance to Usama bin Laden (search), citing the need for unity against "the enemies of Islam."
The declaration, which appeared Sunday on a Web site used as a clearinghouse for statements by militant groups, said al-Zarqawi's Tawhid and Jihad (search) group and Al Qaeda had been in communication eight months ago and "viewpoints were exchanged" before the dialogue was interrupted.
"God soon blessed us with a resumption in communication, and the dignified brothers in Al Qaeda understood the strategy of Tawhid and Jihad," said the statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed.
The statement ran a Quranic verse encouraging Muslim unity and said al-Zarqawi considered bin Laden "the best leader for Islam's armies against all infidels and apostates."
The Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi is suspected of about a dozen high-profile attacks in Iraq, including last year's bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, and the beheading of numerous foreign hostages.
His relationship to bin Laden and the Al Qaeda leadership has long been the subject of considerable speculation. Although many experts believe al-Zarqawi had longtime ties to al-Qaida, others suspected that al-Zarqawi considered himself a rival to bin Laden for the mantle of chief defender of the Muslim faith.
The Bush administration said it was still trying to confirm the report.
"But we've always said there were ties between Zarqawi and Al Qaeda, which underscores once again why Iraq is the central front in the war on terror," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said in Washington.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Of course, I meant IRAQ.
I thought you meant al Queada in DRAG!!
If true, this statement may very well mean bin Laden is dead. In this fashion, Zarqawi can use elevate bin Laden's to matyr status, and as his devoted follower, be perfectly poised to be the new leader.
I'm predicting that Zawqari will be in a box before the election. And the Dems will say it's a Bush dirty trick.
I would go along with your assesment. But another ploy by Z-man may be he has heard circulations that binny boy might be dead, and is putting out feelers to see if someone from the west will respond to verify BL is indeed dead at this point. And in line with this, surely he must be getting a bit nervouse if he is actually in Fallujah or a close by town in the Sunni Triangle and now cannot get out, as our 1MEF encircle the city and pops anyone trying to sneak out.
He may be stretching out of desperation. He knows his days are numbered at this point. If most if not all his gang are actually using the Julian district (NE coridor of F) as his home base, there is little chance any of them are going to survive, as we slowly destroy that part of the city.
Guess time will tell.
No doubt, if Osama suddenly is captured before the election, the Dems will cry foul. The whacko theory that we had Osama in hiding will suddenly reappear. I don't think they can really get away with that with respect to Zarqawi, though. Zarqawi has been chopping westerner's heads off 1n videos released by his group. He's obviously still out there. Of course, the Dems will still accuse Bush of an October surprise, but they won't get away with it.
BTTT
No doubt your are correct. I, you, and many at this forum are quite aware, that as things continue to cave in for Al Qaeda, Zarquawi's group and others, the pressure continues to build on the less radical Islamic states to get together and formulate how best they can fight internal struggles in their respective countries. Thereby further eliminating many sleeper and semi active cells within their countries.
It should be obvious to the world at this point that the only way to stop a Jihidist of any form is to kill them. Most of them simply cannot comprehend at how they effect the lives of those that follow Islam. They have no balance other then learning how to be parrots that recite various passages out of the Koran, and listen to their hate filled religious leaders. Sad. But that is the way it is. And obviously to us, most if not all leaders in countries under Islamic rule, have to walk on egg shells as they try to figure out how to move forward and not get shot or blown up by the maniacs. Sometimes I wonder if some of them do not approach us in a more constructive way because they fear for their lives.
I think Zarqawi needs help, and this is a call for it. If he didn't, he'd be trying to be his own boss still.
Also it may mean he wants bin laden's job.
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