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AP: A look at Ansar al-Islam organization
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/8/05 | AP

Posted on 01/08/2005 9:33:32 AM PST by NormsRevenge

A look at the Islamic extremist group Ansar al-Islam, blamed for attacks in Iraq and supported by a network of members in Europe, according to authorities.

-HISTORY: Founded in late 2001 in Kurdish part of northern Iraq by Mullah Krekar, who has lived as refugee in Norway since 1991. Area was beyond Saddam Hussein's control thanks to Western-enforced no-fly zones. Supporters set up an enclave near the Iranian border ruled by strict Islamic law. Members trained in Afghanistan and provided safe haven to al-Qaida members fleeing after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

-SIZE: Ansar al-Islam fighters in Iraq, believed to number about 700, scattered by U.S. invasion. U.S. officials say some regrouped and linked up with Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for attacks.

-ABROAD: European supporters, including Iraqis and North Africans, believed to be concentrated in Germany and Italy. Authorities accuse them of channeling fighters to Iraq for attacks on U.S.-led forces. United States has declared Ansar al-Islam - Arabic for Supporters of Islam - a foreign terrorist organization.

-ATTACKS: Group and a suspected offshoot, Ansar al-Sunnah Army, blamed for numerous bombings and killings in Iraq. The Ansar al-Sunnah Army has been the most active recently, claiming responsibility for a Dec. 21 strike on a U.S. base in Mosul that killed 22 people, mostly Americans; videotaped executions of 12 Nepalese construction workers in Iraq in August; and Feb. 1 twin suicide bombings at offices of two main Kurdish political parties that killed 109 Kurds.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alislam; alqaida; ansar; ansaralislam; iraq; islamic; organization

1 posted on 01/08/2005 9:33:33 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
These are some truly Bad Guys.

They were exploring the use of weapons other than explosive types, when we and the Kurdish fighters sent them packing from NorthEastern Iraq.

2 posted on 01/08/2005 9:39:26 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Ansar al-Islam fighters in Iraq, believed to number about 700, scattered by U.S. invasion. U.S. officials say some regrouped and linked up with Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for attacks.

Correction. al-Zarqawi joined up with Ansar al-Islam long before the U.S.invasion.
3 posted on 01/08/2005 9:42:24 AM PST by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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This Ansar Alsunnah site seems to be Jewish !!!!!

http://www.ansaralsunnah.com/

Could the Mossad be working under cover in Iraq ???


4 posted on 01/08/2005 9:51:35 AM PST by SecondAndLong
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To: NormsRevenge
Dammit! If AP is going to produce little FYI capsules like this, they should at least "get it right".

Area was beyond Saddam Hussein's control thanks to Western-enforced no-fly zones.

The suggestion being that Hussein and Ansar al-Islam were antithetical to one another. However, Hussein was supporting the group and they cooperated with him by attacking the Kurds. See The Great Terror, by Jeffrey Goldberg, for the New Yorker.

U.S. officials say some regrouped and linked up with Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for attacks.

When Zarqawi escaped Afghanistan, he went to Iraq and joined up with Ansar al-Islam -- in December, 2001!

Don't AP researchers have the knowledge (or gumption) to use Google? Or come to Free Republic and let us do their research for them?

5 posted on 01/08/2005 9:57:56 AM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: okie01

AP - The Dis-Associated Press -- doesn't that say it all? The MSM spends as much time throwing out "what if" news as it does supporting the left.

The degenerate MSM. Take it for what it is worth -- nothing.


6 posted on 01/08/2005 10:02:32 AM PST by EagleUSA
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To: NormsRevenge
BIG lie !

Ansar al Islam was funded by Saddam Hussein-not "operating beyond his control" !!

7 posted on 01/08/2005 1:22:36 PM PST by genefromjersey (So much to flame;so little time !)
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