Posted on 02/10/2007 10:57:02 PM PST by fishhound
FRENCH intelligence has produced a dossier alleging that al-Qaeda plans an attack on the country during forthcoming presidential elections.
The Arabic-language al-Hayat daily newspaper has reported there were "several indications of a plot to copy the Spanish scenario in France", a reference to the explosions that rocked Madrid in March 2004.
The London-based daily quoted mainly "messages posted on internet sites close to al-Qaeda carrying threats against France, accompanied by pictures from the campaigns for the presidential elections", which are slated for April and May.
The newspaper said the eight-page intelligence report took three months to prepare and included contributions from different French intelligence services which identified "four sources of threat".
One came from "Iraqi networks", including returnee volunteers from European countries who had fought with the Iraqi branch of al-Qaeda.
"The north African networks linked to Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat" (GSPC) are another source of threat, the report said.
Al-Hayat also published a letter attributed to al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden addressed to a GSPC leader referred to as Abu Qassem, in which he recommends targeting France "to hit where it hurts most".
Although France was not mentioned by name in the letter, the Saudi-born terror chief - who has a $US25 million ($32 million) US bounty on his head - made clear references to it.
"This infidel country has colonised Muslim countries for a long time. Today it uses all its power to support the infidel group which rules Algeria with an iron fist," bin Laden said in the letter published by the daily.
"It is a religious duty to fight [this enemy] even in the heart of its land, especially that it chases the mujahedeen [holy warriors] within its country and in neighbouring ones ... and that it is a firm US ally," the letter said.
Paris has come under fire from Islamic radicals over its 2004 ban on religious insignia including the Muslim headscarf in state schools, as well as over its support for the Algerian Government.
In January, the GSPC urged Algerians to attack French nationals.
Formed in 1998 by dissidents of the Islamic Armed Group, the GSPC is the sole remaining radical movement that continues to wage an insurgency against the secular Algerian state.
Last September the group officially placed itself under al-Qaeda orders.
Wouldn't that be like us attacking Poland or something? AQ must be having trouble telling friend from foe!
Well, it worked out for Al Qaeda in Spain, when the scared sheep voted in a socialist candidate who is weak on terror, after the Madrid bombings.
I doubt that the French are any braver than the Spanish.
It's really disgusting, of course.
I guess we will know tehy won when the prayers start coming from the eiffel tower.
Someone needs to tell France that the war started for them awhile back.
No matter what. Instead of blaming the attackers, they will blame the US.
Anybody think France will realize they have opposed fighting radical Muslims and their opposition to America might cost them?
Nah, thought not. Me either.
If the AQ win France might be known as Europe's glass ash tray.
If, God forbid, that would happen in France, the results would be the exact opposite of those in Spain. The Right wing candidate, Nicholas Sarkozy, would win in a landslide.
Hopefully, he will win anyway, but any threat to France's security would propel him into the Elysee Palace.
>FRENCH intelligence has produced a dossier alleging that al-Qaeda plans an attack on the country during forthcoming presidential elections.
And the problem is...?
The 2004 headscarf ban was cool though.
Can't get a grip on that 'homicide bomber' thing the muzzies so adore. I ask only one thing of the Frenchies, protect the gravesites of WWII Americans
France will get it's bill in due course.
Attack France? One doesn`t attack France. One simply accepts one of their many offers of absolute and complete surrender that are thrown at you faster than the revolutions of an electric fan.
Nice. You support terrorist attacks against a democratic nation and an "ally." It's good to know that you side with Al-Qaeda.
Good point. The Eiffel Tower would make a terrific minarette(sp).
What an incredible waste of time and manpower on al-Qaeda's part. France in its current state could be taken over without a single explosion or gunshot.
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