Posted on 08/23/2006 4:18:16 PM PDT by jmc1969
Terrorism analysts say al Qaeda may have conducted their first operation in Gaza. This after a video was released today of the two Fox News journalists held hostage since August 14 along with an accompanying written statement issued by a previously unknown group calling itself the "Holy Jihad Brigades."
The language in the statement, which denounces the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is similar in style and content to the kind of dispatches issued by Abu Musab al Zarqawi when he was leading al Qaeda in Iraq.
One sentence states, "You infidels and masters of oppression: Convert to Islam and you will be safe We came to you with the intention of slaughtering or beheading." The statement goes on to denounce "democracy" and the regimes that seek secular goals, such as "democracy and freedom."
"The rhetoric is vintage al Qaeda," said Fawaz Gerges, an ABC News Consultant and professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Sarah Lawrence College. "This is consistent with what we have seen in Iraq and other places." snip.
Analysts believe that al Qaeda has expressed an increasing interest in the Arab-Israeli conflict for a number of reasons, one of which is their major setbacks in Iraq. Their tactics of beheading and mass murder of innocent civilians have not been popular with the majority of Iraqis, and their leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed by a U.S. air attack two months ago.
By contrast, the increasing chaos of Gaza represents an opportunity for al Qaeda to tap into the growing rage of young Palestinians, frustrated with the corruption of their leaders and the lack of any real progress towards a viable state. The impoverished camps of Gaza represent a "fertile ground" for al Qaeda, according to Palestinian observers.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.abcnews.com ...
Who didn't see this coming?
"We came to you with the intention of slaughtering or beheading."
Not good!
This unilateral withdrawal from Gaza sure is working out well.
Interviews with AQ members have revealed that this is part of their plan for further "legitimacy" by moving operations to attacks on Israel. They say there will be more a focus on Israel, Syria and Turkey in the next few years.
All western media should leave Gaza and the West Bank it is no longer safe to be there. AQ has come to take over.
I believe as you had suggested three months back that AQ has been setting up shop in the Gaza Strip. Now we shall perhaps see a bit of activities exposed. Pat yourself on the back to be the first Freeper to suggest they where Gaza bound.
But I thought the Democrat party said they hated our foreign policy, not Democracy and Freedom?
There have been rumors of an 'al-Qa'ida in Palestine' group, and Abu Musab al Zarqawi himself was Palestinian. It'd be interesting if they decided to push the war further West, in order to continue their march into destabilizing the region.
This is a nightmare...and interesting that on FOX they didn't read the "slaughtering and beheading" part...
BTW- I was under the impression that Zarq was Jordanian, not Palestinian.....
The story I heard on BBC Radio 4 a few minutes ago mentioned that AQ maybe behind the kidnappings.
Of course it went on to say how this could hurt the Palestinian cause to have AQ in the neighborhood and that Palestinian leaders didn't want those kind of people around.
When you run a rats nest of terrorists exactly what kind of people do you expect to show up?
He grew up in Jordan, and is commonly described as Jordanian, but his family is considered Palestinian, and he had a hatred for Israel that was profound, even by extremist standards.
BS! This is just an excuse so if they are killed the Palestinians won't be held accountable.
Al-Q is a franchise.
Exactly why I come to FR every day..always learn something I didn't know! Thanks:)
This is really pissing of the Palestinians too- very bad PR for them and it will make journalists think twice before venturing into their space to cover their side of things...
Al Q in Palestine is a whole other wrinkle..
Convenient isn't it? And what's all this 'previously unknown group' crap.
The Pales don't know who is there?
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