Al-Qaeda 'sets Iraq deadline'

AFP ^ | July 19, 2005 | AFP

[Go Gordon]

"It's a message we are addressing to the crusaders who are still present in Iraq: Denmark, the Netherlands, Britain, Italy and those other countries whose troops continue to criss-cross Iraqi territory.

Didn't Canada just announce 2000 of its elite special forces equivilent would be going over to Iraq? I wonder if Canada will blink, or if Al Quaeda will also try something in Canada.

[livius]

Personally, I don't think they'll try anything on this continent quite yet. I think they're afraid that it will make us even more determined, even if they strike the Canadians and not the US.

[Eurotwit]

I think reasonable folks can disagree whether Iraq prior to the military engagement was critical to the WoT, but now even Democrats and their ilk ought to realise that Iraq currently is front and center.

If the mujahedin "victory" in Afghanistan played a large role in launching the modern jihad, a Western victory in Iraq could be the anti-Afghanistan and help put the Jihad back into the bottle.

Cheers.

[Preachin']

Attention all infidels,

This is a kind hearted letter from Islamic radicals, from the religion known affectionately in the west as the "religion of peace".

We really appreciate your willingness to lay it on the line for removing Saddam Hussein from power.

He really was a problem for everyone. For you he presented a real potential nuclear threat, which we recognize.

For us, he stood in the way of our ability to get our hands on a nuclear arsenal.

Now that you've removed that MINO (Muslim in name only), stay out of our way while we kill Muslims in Iraq (especially children) in order to spread Mohammed's message of love.

Our warmest regards,


The Insurgents


PS: We were pulling for John Kerry.

[Preachin']

"Personally, I don't think they'll try anything on this continent quite yet. I think they're afraid that it will make us even more determined, even if they strike the Canadians and not the US."

In general I agree that this is the thinking of the AQ leadership.

However, as a movement gets grounded, new cells and splinters are formed who take matters in their own hands.

If I had a thousand dollars for every Islamic terror group in the world I'd be able to take an excellent (overdue) vacation.

One "benefit" we've had over the last few years is that the terrorists are organized. The September 11th incidents didn't happen by mere luck/accident.

It's horrific to think what could happen if a few idiots decided to take matters in their own hands.

They might not be able to take out the vast majority of people as we saw on 9/11, but could do MANY small episodes that could cripple us for a short period of time.

[PigRigger]

"If the mujahedin "victory" in Afghanistan played a large role in launching the modern jihad, a Western victory in Iraq could be the anti-Afghanistan and help put the Jihad back into the bottle....."

Iraq and Afghanistan may very well turn out to be the beachhead for reformed minded Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East.

In the end we (the West, the US in particular) can only supply them the opportunity to step forward. This war cannot be won based purely on military might. I pray those who wish to live in peace and prosperity find the courage to make the best of the situation handed to them....

[Eagle Eye]

I'm particularly fascinated with the idea that Al Queda and the Democratic party seem to want the same thing... a clearly defined deadline for the removal of all troops from Iraq.

I think that you could make a list of both groups agendas and you'd find a striking similarity.

Absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Washington Dems agree more with AQ than with GWB.

[jocon307]

"For every attack in our country, we will send 1,000 additional troops to Iraq and give them carte blanche to kill you and your brethren."

Right, they should have been doing this from day one. Not just "reaffirming" their support via talk, but actually increasing operational forces.

[Puppage]

While all the movie stars run around bloviating about how "unimportant" or "secondary" Iraq is to the WOT, it is evident that AQ thinks otherwise

That's a great observation!

[livius]

However, as a movement gets grounded, new cells and splinters are formed who take matters in their own hands.

That's true. Hopefully, they don't have access to anything that could cause mass casualties. However, even the most modest of these "movements" seem to have access to confused teenage boys and a few of pounds of plastic explosives.

[Just mythoughts]

"Have the French surrendered yet?"


To a plague of locusts. (Not kidding either)

[Personal Responsibility]

Once again, AQ and the Dims are using the same "troop deadline" talking points memo!

I wonder how the Islamic community can reconcile: "It will be a bloody war in the service of God"

with their repeated "religon of peace" line. It must take some serious inner word twisting to get to that kind of place.

[Stashiu]

I'm losing track here. Which final warning is this?

Anyway, maybe they don't mention the US, because they have been effectively thwarted in the US?

[Allegra]

That "P.S." just hits the nail on the head. LOL

[rebelyeller]

Canada has "elite special forces"? What are they going to do over there, give a mean spirited cross check and then set in a box for two minutes? LOL Canadian elite special forces now that's really funny.

[livius]

True. I do remember very early on, though, that Bush specified the fact that Iraq would be a focal point in the battle against AQ. This statement was promptly ridiculed by the Dems, who insisted that there was no connection between AQ and Saddam.

It is obvious now that there was, and in fact this was known at the time but rejected by the Dems (no amount of proof from all the spy agencies in the world would have been enough to convince them).

Saddam's Baathist Sunnis clearly were/are hand in glove with AQ. Obviously, they didn't need AQ's services to run Iraq while Saddam was in power, with the result that AQ was free to devote itself to planning attacks on the US, but the Sunnis certainly need those services to get Iraq back again.

[Romish_Papist]

They know they are wasting their breath on us.

No. They wish to isolate us, so they attack our allies in the hopes of getting them to abandon us. It has nothing to do with how they think we will or will not react.

[GVnana]

Iraq is the big test: if they can win there, by driving us out and fracturing the West, it shows that they are the future. If they lose there, it's all over for them.

Yep. Iraq will have a constitution within a few months and it's driving them nuts.

[Samurai_Jack]

this is the Hezballah strategy currently in use by the Hamas against israel. They hit the occupation forces when they are on their way out and then claim victory.

[iconoclast]

I hope europe comes to the conclusion that its time to put a "Sime Sime Sala Bime" up side Al Queadas head!

I hope George does!

Remember there was no outcry against us when we were in Afghanistan.